Yes, It Really Did Matter Sam Darnold Did Not Start Sooner

darnold-ucla-3Here is what Kirby Hocutt, who is the chairman of the College Football Playoff committee, said today about USC:

“Obviously, Southern California’s a team that impressed the selection committee over the last eight weeks. Probably one of the most talented teams in the country. Had they not lost three early games, they probably would have been in the conversation for participation in the semifinals.”

56 thoughts on “Yes, It Really Did Matter Sam Darnold Did Not Start Sooner

  1. What if Darnold’s first start was vs Bama? What if the Bama beatdown demoralized him or got him injured?

    USC is in the Rose Bowl, couldn’t ask for more for this season.

    • What if the coaches saw that sammy obviously fit in better with the kind of style they can commit to earlier on in the spring, and did at least what Bama did and gave the older guy a chance but switched just as fast as they did in that first game?

      Regardless – great outcome and a really good chance to beat a good Penn State team

      • It’s all a game of what-ifs and hindsight. The only thing that matters now is the Rose Bowl and hopefully going into next season at full-swing

        • Looks that way, would be great if we can recruit more qbs like Tagovaiola from oahu that fit the power/action/spread attack

    • Precisely. Scottie’s headline lacks foundation (or point) and is a non sequitur.

    • Scott had to try an lay a turd on the announcement of USC to Rose Bowl. Funny when we beat PS at Rose Bowl will equal amount of wins UCLA had at Rose Bowl this year.
      #whoownsLA?

      • It helps when Colorado had to play an extra game to drop behind USC in the polls. But keep telling yourself you did well against Arizona, UCLA and Notre Dame with the combined 11-25 record.

  2. Wolfie, or, should I say “neuro?”

    So, Darnold starts and USC gets flattened by Alabama. Darnold starts and they still lose to Stanford because in the midst of all your hand-wringing about Browne/Darnold, you forget that USC’s defense was still learning how to play (Clancy’s words, not mine) and that they always have a problem beating Stanford. So, they have those two losses. Darnold still does what he did at Utah (fumbles, etc., etc) and USC still has those 3 losses. Darnold had ball security issues early on.

    Why IT (Darnold becoming the starter) matters is because USC is a young team and they found their leader going forward. Darnold got experience. Holton keeps his job with an AD who did not hire him.

    And, again, for you, you hyper-neuro, what if Darnold started right away and did poorly vs. Alabama and Stanford and .lost his confidence? The team lost all confidence. Browne, who is not exactly the guy in the room with the most swag takes over and USC does not win 9 straight.

    I mean, there are all sorts of scenarios.

    The season turned out great. USC is back on the track. Stability has been achieved.

    Of course, none of that makes you happy. You are Wormtongue…

    • Good post, and beleive it or not it could even be more complex than that. If SC played Stanford when Washington did with both corners out as well as the 2 most exsperianced O-line men. Max Brown would of won that game. Remember that we wanted to switch to Sam because he’s moblie and Max was runniung for his life.

      To the point at hand, If Sam was the starter from day o

  3. I remember Darnold played early against Alabama. He had to run for his life, and the team still didn’t move the ball. Had he shown that he could be more productive than the guy who started the game, like Hurts from Alabama did, maybe he would’ve stayed in the game and started the next.

  4. SC obviously could not figure out Alabama or Stanfords McCaffrey, or however you spell his name. That kid had SC’s number, so those were 2 losses. Darnold did not lose the Utah game, that was on the defense. And so what if we lost to Wasington in the Pac-12 championship, which was a strong possibility, things would be as they are now– Washington in the Final-4 and SC in the Rose Bowl.

    Now, SC beating out Colorado, and Ohio St beating out Penn St (despite Colo and Penn St being the “champions,”) means the body of work over the entire season is more important.

  5. We had one of the most remarkable turnarounds in recent college football history. We have a great history and tradition at the Rose Bowl. After the Utah game, many were thinking of how and when to replace Helton, and whether the team could even achieve a .500 record. Congrats to the Trojans and the coaching staff for pulling off a tremendous record after Utah, and congrats to Sam D. for inspiring the rest of the team. Let’s enjoy what we have, and not second-guess the past any more.

    • I’m beyond Peeeeeaced about not hiring Les Miles. Great season with Sarks players. In 3 years we realize we got Jim Mora as head coach.

      • I was also hoping for Miles early in the season. Keeping fingers crossed that Helton will continue to succeed at or close to the the current level. in terms of comparing him to Mora, I hear you, though they are totally different personalities. I view Mora as a Harbaugh-type personality, but without nearly the ability to win as Harbaugh. After a few years, Harbaugh wears out his welcome wherever he goes, despite a great W-L percentage. Mora will as well, without the W-L. I guess his golden parachute is saving his job now.

    • The Players went from boys to men.
      Coaches from being green without direction,to seasoned and focused.A star was found,which led to many stars.

      Lost in all the talk is Pac 12 strength..3 top ten teams.As for The Granddaddy of them all,The Penn State vs USC represents 7 of the top ten teams…Nice

  6. Day 1 of the Wolfman’s negative spin on a great season. Look for future chapters: where was Ronald Jones?; where was AJax; what if…; where is Kevin Sumlin…

  7. The whole team was jacked up at the beginning of the season. If Darnold started it wouldn’t have mattered, he wasn’t the 50 point gap with Bama, and however much Stanford won by. Utah should’ve been a win with the blind kid playing QB. Still don’t know how SC lost that one.

  8. Oh Wolf, you fall back on the “Darnold should have started sooner” theme? Come on where are the “James Franklin should have been hired by Haden/SC”.

  9. The Pac 12 belongs to SC next year as well as a playoff trip. SC is just LOADED. They will pull in a monster recruiting class this year, too.

    The good days are back. Sorry NCAA and rest of Pac.

  10. Was anyone not excpecting this to come from debbie downer himself? Had Darnold gotten hurt in the first game, debbie downer would be asking why did Helton start him.

    • His way of covering for calling for Helton’s head after the slow start. Helton has proven himself and SW just can’t accept it so he needs to find something to continue to harp on.

      • …and Clay has been polite and respectful to him by acknowledging him and answering his questions in a professional manner – even when the questions are so stupid grass wouldn’t grow on them. It just goes to show us all that being nice to someone who doesn’t support you doesn’t get you squat and isn’t worth a bucket of spit.

  11. So glad USC is not going to El Paso or San Antonio this year. Sanctions are officially over, USC is back, recruiting is going to be top 5 and finally there is hope in southern California.

  12. Is this one last knock (there will surely be more “I told you so’s”) on Max Browne? A player that the team voted as Captain of the team. Why can’t the headline just read,”Two of the hottest teams in the country will meet at this year’s RB”.

  13. Yes, it really did matter that Stevie T transferred from UTAH to USC.

    Now you’ll be playing for Roses while Utah basks in the glory of the Foster Farms Bowl. Good move Stevie. You were a key to USC’s improved D!

      • You’re the one who predicted USC would be going to some bowl game in San Francisco or Vegas. What an idiot.

        The Rose Bowl’s in Pasadena and USC is there because we kicked the crap out of top 10 teams UW and CU. Duh.

        • Hey Jack. You didn’t kick the crap out of anyone. You are a FAN. You did nothing on the football field. Enjoy your crappy life. 🙂

        • Hey Jack, you got to Pasadena because you didn’t have to play an extra game. Because you got the crap kicked out of you by Lane Kiffin in the season opener. Duh.

  14. I think SC jumps out to a big lead against the lions. PSU will come back some in the second half some but not enough. PSU couldn’t stop a one dimensional Wiscosin team and McSorely was just throwing the ball up and letting his receivers outfight the UW DBs. I like PSU’s fighting spirit but if Helton and Pendergast game plan well, SC wins.

  15. Where does Hocutt say “‘Had they started Sam Darnold sooner they would be in the playoff?'”

    I’m looking for that comment, but can’t seem to find it.

    You don’t know what would have happened if Darnold started the first three games, Scott. Nobody does. As others have pointed out, he could have been injured against ‘Bama or Stanford and been out for the bulk of the season, for all we know.

    What was clear during those first three games is Clay knew he had to get Sam some valuable playing and playbook experience by putting him in during goal line situations.

    I’m sure your memory is selective on this Scott, but you criticized that as well, in favor of Max staying in.

  16. It’s a shame the Blogger isn’t the coach. He’d get a pay raise and he’s clearly qualified.

    I hear USC should have run Bush against Texas rather than White. And should have secured the airports on 9/11

    • And Clinton should have taken bin Laden when he was handed to him on a sliver platter but Clinton was too busy running around the Oral Office chasing fat Monica with his pants down around his ankles.

  17. No one talking about UW’s chances versus Bama. Gonna be cheering for a big DAWG upset. Won’t happen but that is why they play the games.

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