Why Not?
If Michigan beats USC and Florida defeats Ohio State in the BCS title game, there is a theoretical chance the Wolverines could be crowned national champs in the Associated Press poll.
USC coach Pete Carroll was asked if he would use that as motivation if USC were in Michigan’s position.
``If you were going to be recognized as the AP national champs, sure,’’ he said
this is utterly stupid; there is no way in he11 that I'd or most people would recognize a 1 loss UM team to the champion over a 1 loss OSU team when OSU beat UM and played a tougher schedule
Geez, I HATE IT,..when we don't have the bell,...
Florida has a snow balls chance in "H..." of beating Ohio State.
As a USC fan,.. I wish this was the same for Michigan's chances,..BUT,..with LAME LANE STILL at the throttle gonna be a game!...
Why wasn't Walt Harris offered the OC Job?
Fight On!
Why are we even talking about Mich beating USC? The Trojans will prevail! If Troy wins big, and Florida should accidently eek one out, who will be number 1 on someones poll? Hmmm! Regardless, USC, after they beat Michigan, again, will be in the top 5 for 5 years running. Gotta be good for recruiting, now that we only get the creame de la creame for 3 years.
Maybe Walt Harris wasn't offered the OC job because it would be ridiculous to install a new offense right before a bowl game. Or maybe the powers that be at the USC athletic department realize that you don't fire a coordinator that has contributed to a 22-3 record over two years. Or maybe the coaching staff is made up of idiots! Fire everyone! Start Sanchez! Patterson deserves the #1 receiver spot because Jarrett doesn't have heart! Let's sign our O-line recruits early and start them in the Rose Bowl because they have lots of potential and Kyle Williams is a hack! If only Pete listened to us, eh guys?
Thank you Greg B for lending some sanity to all this fire Lane Kiffin madness. We all know that Walt Harris, a proven Head Coach at Pitt, is dying to come to USC as OC - he just likes PC that much. Oh and also can we get Allen Bradford or Stafon Johnson the freshman in at RB...everyone knows that the players we've never seen play at the college level are always the best options. Bench Chauncey, CJ and Moody.
Lets see,.. 22-3 over two years, with Matt, Reggie and Lendale last year,
..Geez, that would be easy to coach,......Do you remember how many points a team with Jarrett and Smith had against UCLA?
Install a 'new' offense,.. WHAT OFFENSE. We have GREAT PLAYERS on offense in every position,.. Why Change,..Just give them a chance to perform!!!
For instance,..UCLA 4th and 1 yard to go...Our offensive line was bigger and stronger,. .UCLA defensive line was faster,..OK,..NOW WHAT DID LAME LANE CALL,..Oh yeah,.an end around??? I wonder if any offensive calls LAME LANE made surprised DeWayne? It didn't seem so.
Install a new what?..
After we beat the Wolverines handily and Ohio State crushes the Gators we should end up #2 in all polls and preseason #1 for 2007
Gunny,
I understand you're pissed but you don't change your entire offense just because you lost a couple games. Prior to the UCLA game USC had the ridiculous record streak of 60+ consecutive 20 point games. That streak was a record for a reason - it doesn't just happen by coincidence. It's end does not automatically signal the need for a new offense - it was bound to happen eventually.
In the UCLA game there was no power running game and that is what cost USC the win eventually. Against a fast undersized pass-rushing defense the power running of Chauncey would have done the trick but he was unavailable.
I just don't understand how anyone can honestly say that another OC would definitely have done a better job with a team that lost 2 Heisman trophy winners and had major injuries scattered throughout the season. I'm not a fan of all Lane Kiffin's calls this season but I also understand what he had to work with experience and injury-wise and realize that it would have been difficult for even the most experienced OC. The team just never had a chance to build any chemistry.
Here's a short list of some of the injuries/losses USC had at various times this season:
Hancock, Powdrell, Havili, Jarrett, Moody, McFoy, Smith, Washington, Holland, Spanos.
It's a virtual who's-who of skill position players. It's impossible to build any kind of rhythm with that kind of injury bug - I don't care how much depth you think you have - starters are starters for a reason. It seemed like everytime someone would get well someone else would go down. On a young team injuries are a killer. Look at the injuries for teams like Florida, Michigan and Ohio St. Doesn't even come close.
If you really think replacing Heisman trophy winners is easy just because a team has talented recruits just wait and take a look at OSU next season. Thay are as talented as USC recrit-wise but I guarantee they will struggle to make it back to the MNC game without Smith. In game experience at QB counts for a lot in CFB and USC didn't have it this season.
(The last time I checked Walt Harris wasn't that great of an OC. I don't remember his offenses showing any sort of consistency either at Pitt or Stanford. What makes you think he's a good fit at USC?)
Got to love when you see on a USC blog a post that starts..."If Michigan beats USC..."
PS - "handily"...like how USC handily beat UCLA at the Rose Bowl or how USC hadily beat Texas at the Rose Bowl?
Sorry East Coast Trojan, after Michigan beats USC, and Henne, Hart, Long, Manningham and Arrington all come back next year, USC will be preseason No. 2...still behind Michigan.
IF????
If Michigan doesn't win by at least 14 points I will be completely surprised. Let's see what we are looking at...fired up UM team with a great offense, all around, fast defense that racks up sacks, good coaching..USC has a decent defense, probably couldn't care less about this game since they are not in the NC, and have Lane "everyone knows what I am going to call" Kiffin at OC, and an OL that has under-achieved all year.
UM 44 USC 14
East coast Trojan...1 problem with your prediction, although it sounds nice. We have lost 2 games...remember? 1 at OSU and 1 vs UCLA. 2 unranked teams. Sorry but there is no way USC with 2 loses to unranked teams jumps the 6 teams ahead of them, even if they all lose their bowl games which is doubtful.
Tyler,
Nice post, but that just sounds like a long excuse for why USC is going to lose to Michigan. I have a question...what is worse losing to UCLA or losing to Lloyd Carr?
Detroit Rob is talking alot of smack for a team that lost to Nebraska in the bowl game last year who USC creamed...Detroit Rob maybe you better go back to Detroit, "the land of check cashing and chinese food" and hope your '78 Pinto doesn't get "car jacked"
This coming from a guy whose team lost to Oregon State and UCLA THIS YEAR?Too bad for you that the Michigan Team that lost to Nebraska isn't the same Michigan Team playing in the this year's Rose Bowl.
Chinese food? Funny never new Detroit was known for Chinese food...Greek food maybe. And isn't the USC campus surrounded by check cashing shops?
Detroit Rob,
Lloyd Carr hasn't won a big game in about 4 years and Michigan will not win the RB!! Simple enough for you??
I just love the ridiculous Lloyd Carr man-crushes the Michigan fans have all of a sudden. Could this be the Coach Carr you were talking about firing back in August? It just can't be.
Last time I checked Michigan still plays in the Big 10 where the Olinemen are 325 + and slow. USC tuned up UM to the tune of 9 sacks in 2004. I expect only 6 sacks this time. USC 34 UM 21.
Who said all Michigan fans now have a love affair with Lloyd Carr? I said it would be embarrassing for USC to lose to Lloyd Carr, especially b/c Carrol is a better coach. However, I have to respect Lloyd b/c when his terrible Offensive and Defensive coordinators were not working out (which you probably know since you are familiar with the Nebraska Game), he fired them both and hired Debord and English.
As a Trojan I am sure you know what it is like to have to replace an inept offensive coordinator when change is clearly needed...oh sorry, no you don't, because it appears from reading all of the “Trojan fan posts� you still have Lane or Lame Kiffin. Maybe Michigan will give all of you Trojans what you want most for Christmas...the firing of Lane Kiffin, after Michigan gives USC as you say a "Detroit car jacking". If you though Walker did a number to your offense get ready for Ron English.
And I guess you haven't checked this year b/c our new offensive coordinator installed a zone blocking scheme and made all of our fat, slow 330+ linemen lose 30-40 lbs. That is why Jake Long lost 35 lbs and is now an AP All American LT...but you will see for yourself (last time I checked, I didn’t see any of the more athletic, faster USC O-Line on the 1st Team...maybe b/c they were embarrassed by UCLA 13-9).
Tyler, I am glad to see that you are optimistic. But unfortunately for you, Michigan will be the one with the 6 sacks because USC now has the tipped ball prone, led footed John David-Navarre Booty this year, and not Michigan. And 34-21, are you serious? You scored 9 points in your last game at the Rose Bowl against a bad UCLA team and all of a sudden Lane Kiffin is going to figure everything out and you are going to score 34 points against the best Defense you have played this year?
Keep thinking that you are playing a big slow Big Ten team b/c when you lose to Michigan by double digits for the first time in 5 years...I can’t wait to see that stunned look on your face...you know the one that I saw last year at the Rose Bowl when Vince Young ran in that winning TD, the same look I saw a few weeks ago when Booty threw an interception against UCLA on USC’s final drive. Keep talking little guy.