Mystery Man

Great Tongue in Cheek comment Scott. That 4th and 2 still irks me.

Fourth-and-2 in the fourth quarter of the Rose Bowl, the ball was given to the one and only SC player who had positive yardage every time he touched the ball that night.

You fixate too much on that one play; take the third down play just before. White smashes the pile forward several yards almost to the first down marker. The ball pops out and flys back a couple of yards where, luckily for the Trojans, lands in the hands of Smith, who wisely falls on it. If the ball isn't punched out of White's grasp, no little accomplishment, SC's looking at fourt-and-inches instead of fourth-and-two.

When I think of the Rose Bowl, different images come to my mind: Bush's errant/foolish lateral in a crowd deep in Texas territory. Leinart floating a pass into the Texas endzone that sailed so long their Safety was given a chance to make a play. Carrol going for it on fourth-and-two early in the game, surrendering 3 points. Vince Young's forward lateral after his knee was down that became seven points because the instant replay system that's supposed to correct bad calls couldn't do the one thing it's supposed to do. Instant replay in the Rose Bowl was like a condom that fails just once; that one failure changed everything.

I'm with you Scott. You know what, there is a pink elephant (not in the room) and his name is Norm Chow. Pete Carroll seemed a little overwhelmed trying to do everything (including make the right offensive calls with the talented but still growing twin wunderkinder Offensive Coordinators). Carroll may say that he was in on everything but who's kidding who. Chow is one of the best OC's ever and that takes a lot of weight off of a HC shoulders.

I'd say two things that probably no one wants to hear. USC's offense played down to the level of opponents last season and survived on an absurd amount of talent and maturity of the players. Secondly, USC's offense was a significant part of it's defense under Chow. It set the pace and demoralized teams with quick strikes when it had to and engaged in long, time consuming drives when it had to. Moreover, Chow seemed to almost "conduct" games setting up things to progress over the course of a game. Can 'SC still do that?

Imagine now what 'SC will have to deal with now that they will have QB's, schemes and play-calling that they develop post Chow. I sincerely hope Kifkin and Sarkasian are up to it.

4th and 2...SC likely makes the yardage if:

1) FB and lead blocker David Kirtman isn't still in a 3-point stance while the QB has already turned and taken a step towards handing off to White...

2) the young TE on the left side of the line gets a piece of the UT lineman...who slanted in on the play and the rookie completely misses the block...

if, if, if...

I agree that the jury's still out on Kiffin/Sarkisian: like against Fresno State, you've got a physical advantage and two of the Top 10 runners in the history of Tailback U., yet you insist on passing however many plays in a row in the first-half?

But 4th and 2 against Texas, you don't need to be Norm Chow to call a play-action pass ... fake the handoff, roll Leinart out, flip the ball to Fred Davis and collect the trophy. With Bush out, everybody knew LenDale was getting the ball; the Longhorns said so themselves after the game.

If Bush doesnt have a great rookie year, you know that will be the excuse from NO, "we havent quite figured out how to use him"

4th & 2 will haunt Carroll forever. An abortion of a call in that situation. 100,000+ sitting in the stands, millions watching at home and the entire UT coaching staff new what play was coming. Carroll can say that is what they did all year and they dont waiver. Well that stuborness cost him another NC, history, and the one game USC could not lose.

Keep swinging the hammer Scott...

Whine, whine, whine... Our critics are right. We ARE the University of Spolied Children. 4th and 2 happened. Move on. Get a life. There were 116 other Div 1 teams that would have given the left side of their offensive line to be in SC's shoes that naight. And Scott, you perpetuate this stuff. You of all people as the SC beat writer knows that all year long SC consistantly called that play in short yardage. Worked most of the time. What's the cliche -- "you come to the dance with who brought you here?" Geez, people. I can't wait to see what you guys are going to be saying when we start the season 0-3 (unfortunately). 4th and 2 will finally be a distant memory then.

Scott;

Could you get the opening page for the USC section online changed? The story about Francis has been up for 2 months. A bit depressing.

Thanks

I have a hard time believing the article has been up two months when RF has been dead just one month. And if it stays up to help us remember him, all the better.

First off, Lendale White himself said that if he would have had more patience and followed the block he would have made it on 4th and 2-who knows if he would've been right, but, that is right from his mouth, in the paper, online, etc., etc.

Secondly, Reggie should have been on the field. Then you have the threat of Bush.

Third, I agree with the poster about rolling Leinart out after a fake handoff to a back and looking for Dominique Byrd (my choice over Fred Davis) for the nice, safe five yard toss and a first down.

Lastly, for all posters, including myself, football is played by human beings and is an interesting game. If Bush was on the field and PC had given it to him and he did not get a first down, most people would have been wondering how the hell he didn't give it to White. Ditto for my play call, the roll out. If Leinart threw it away, or, got stuffed, people would be going nuts.

Because then, people would have said that White is the guy to get us the short yardage.

It's a great game to second guess.

All I know is that we couldn't find a way to stop Vince Young and that was the difference. It sure as hell wasn't the vaunted Texas defense that gave up a gazillion yards and 35 points.

That's not the end of the "what if's," but, it's the end of story.

Ditto James. I have to say that I started reading more b/c it keeping that pic and story up has been SO RESPECTFUL. I'm sure it has hlped raise money for the scholarship fund and hopefully got some folks to get money and condolences to his mother to help her out. I understand that she basically gave everything to raise her one and only son. I heard a few Southeast based 'SC (S&D) alum have visited and are dedicating themselves to continue doing so. I hope it helps.

I agree with all the posters who criticize the offensive playcalling for 2005. What I also found different in the 2005 season compared to the previous seasons under Chow was that SC was really promoting and pushing Bush to be the next Heisman. And I think that really hurt SC in many games when SC should have just pounded the ball with Lendale. Let's face it, when Bush gets hit with a good lick he goes down, whereas Lendale can keep chugging. That's why you always go thunder then lightning. Not the other way around.

THE TRUTH IS THAT CHOW WAS MISSED EVEN THOUGH THE TWINS DID A GREAT JOB ALL YEAR...THE RIGHT SIDE OF USC WAS WIDE OPEN-- A QUICK TOSS TO REGGIE OR A REGGIE DECOY WD HAVE PROB WORKED-S.C. DID NOT PLAY "SMART" IN THE 4TH QTR--- WE LOST IN A CLASSIC GAME... NOW LOOK TO THE FUTURE>>>>>>>>>

It was not the 4th and 2 call that grinds on me, it was the 2nd and 1 play just before that lost 7 yards that was the killer. That left 3rd and 8 instead of a first down with the 6 yard gain that White made after that. Oh well Fight On!!!

Kiffin is an absolute joke.

Carroll does a favor for Lane's dad, lets the little boy call the plays ... and USC loses a national championship. It's as simple as that.

If Pete didn't need to take the credit for everything under the sun, Chow would still be in charge of the offense and we'd be going for four in a row.

0@3 ur kidding right the trojans lose 1 game next year @ in 2007 win another national title

For those who think the play call on 4th and 2 was correct. PLEASE GET A CLUE. Bush needed to be in the game as a decoy ATLEAST! You don't just smash mouth the ball where EVERYONE IS EXPECTING with out freezing them for a second with Bush.