Near Tears
The emotional high point (low point) at the ESPYs probably occurred when former USC quarterback Matt Leinart talked about losing the Rose Bowl. Former tailback Reggie Bush appeared near tears. This would normally be where I might point out something about Leinart much to his fans´ dismay.
But I will refrain, because I just found out Leinart bought a bulldog puppy to live with him in Phoenix this season. Now that´s a family member no one could object to.
Too much has been said about Leinart"s personal life in the news. But that is what happens when you loose a big game. I still blame bad coaching and not him. I wish him well, and thanks for a great 3 years. He is one of the best QB's in USC football history.
Reggie Bush seemed to make dumb mistakes at times during games, but overall was a thing of beauty to watch. Thanks for all of your efforts as well! You are one of the greats at TB U!
Fight On!
Scott - Matt dated Paris Hilton. What could you possibly say that would sully his reputation more in the eyes of his fans?
Huh?
Wolfie-
Are you getting soft on us here?? And the buying of a bulldog just reminds us fans that no matter how "big" Lienhart gets, he'll always be just "Matty" to us....
Whats the status of ML's contract?
Jesus...so he did not like to talk to you. Get over it
Tough to read, but good because it shows how much these guys care about winning. It's been over six months, they're not coming back to school and are in NFL paradise, yet it still kills them when they think about the Rose Bowl.
It will stay with them forever, but will make them stronger.
Fight On!
What exactly do you mean? Does he not care?
I dont know if he does or doesnt but he certainly did nothing wrong in that game, cant say the same for Reggie...
What is this you might point out?
having just reviewed the tape of the game, not only did the refs take that game away from usc in the final mins.(check out the fumble of a catch which the refs called an incomplete pass with less than 2 mins in the game), but they did so on several other occasions throughout the game. not sure where the refs came from, but as i recall they were from the big ten and somewhere else... my guess - shading the calls - against usc, who kicks the big ten's butt on a regular basis -would not be too big of a stretch. after all "there is nothing either right or wrong, but thinking makes it so".
You are so right on Steve. i was at that game, and if you can see the entire field and watch what was going on you could tell the refs were trying to give Texas as many calls as possible.
Nevertheless, USC should still have won the game, but for the offensive coordinators being too inexperienced in these close game situations. But, no matter, Pete Carroll brought SC back from the ashes and I thank him for that.
Fight on!
July 29th, 2031
Canton, Ohio (AP) - In what was an otherwise uneventful induction of five players into the National Football League's Hall of Fame, there was one moment of disruption during quaterback Matt Leinart's acceptance speech. Two men from the press gallery, later identified as Pulitzer-Prize-winning journalist, Scott Wolf, and retired San Fernando Valley porn producer Petros "P" Papadakis, shouted in high-pitched voices:
"You'll always have Paris!"
The two men could not be reached for comment afterward, but Leinart dismissed the odd event by musing, "The past is the past..."
right on or is that fight on eddie...i know you know about woulda, coulda, and shoulda....the greeks call it hubris..... o well!! this yr's not far away...the gentlemen of troy are going to kick butt once again ...not to worry...
Steve:
I too was at the game, sitting in the end zone where it all happened: Reggie's "lateral" and VY's game winner.
Reggie, Matt, Lendale and the bunch were truly a thing of beauty to a USC football fan. But what did Reggie's screw-up show: That above-all he is still a "kid" and despite all of the attention, hype, heisman, endorsements and contracts, nothing substitutes for pure experience. He screwed up - his immaturity showed. Unfortunately, that should not have meant the game - the ref's deliberate refusal to review the play where Young's knee was down - allowing him to pass/lateral the ball was a bigger factor than that, as was the poor play-calling in the last series when USC had the ball - no Reggie on the field, etc.
BUT: Thanks to all of them, and PC too for the last 4 years and the many to come. Can't wait for the season to start!!! Already making plans to attend the scrimmage on August 20. Fight On!!
That comment by Ray is so way off. The P never retired.
Sorry; I stand corrected, c'los. The P will never stop slingin' it with the breezies, eh?
Short answer: USC was outplayed mentally and matched physically in the Rose Bowl.
Long answer: I agree with SocalMAB that the offensive play calling was unimaginative, and arrogant, most of the season.
Arrogant: Refusing to run the ball in 1st Qrt Vs Fresno.
Unimaginative: USC was unable to get more than a standstill on the O-Line when the season was on the line Vs ND and Texas. As an offensive coordinator, you need to win these critical downs, and use that thing being held up by your neck if the O-Line is unable to move the LOS. I was pleasantly surprised when USC began to use "FLY" motion (WR faking reverse) to start the 2nd QRT in the Rose Bowl. Then on 4th down USC tries to run a POWER (pull backside guard around) with Reggie Bush on the sideline. If their heart is set on running the POWER to Lendale, at least give the defense something else to consider.
I enjoy what Coach Carroll has put together at USC, but recognize that he excels in the living room, selling the program to recruits. His coaching staff last year was inexperienced, and it hurt most when he was unable to out athlete the opponent. The O-Line could not move the LOS Vs Texas or Notre Dame on 4th and short/goal. The defensive backfield was decimated by injury/suspension/graduation exposing a physically average unit that needed Linebacker help and causing Vince Young less pressure and more running lanes.