Just another break that did not go USC's way.
Like how and the hell does Stanford convert a 4th and 20 at the Coliseum with a backup QB?

What next, the hyphenated walk-on QB at UCLA sends USC to the Armed Forces Bowl with a :01 TD pass?

this is ridiculous...why do i have to sign in every time I go on this site????

wasn't that way before!

anyway Sark is pathetic...we're doomed. our only hope is that an nfl team takes PC away soon

To me, the first and ten (pass), was a bad call. After the turnover, USC should have run it right down their throats. And, I said this before the snap...It would have sent a real message. The worst thing that could have happened: a field goal! I know it's easy to sit, watching the big screen, and call plays without any pressure, but I still think the OC should be up in the box. Even 4.4 yards a carry puts it in the end zone. It's a sixty-minute game, and there is plenty of blame to go around. Put it behind, and finish Trojans, finish!

I would think the QB could have just taken the snap and gone over guard for the first down; didn't even need to call it. Does the fact he didn't reflect lack of confidence in Mark's decision ability, or is it lack of confidence in Booty to make a yard so they never considered it. Comes back to why you need a QB coach working on these techniques.

To HS Dropout:

I bet you were upset then in 02 after UCLA fumbled the opening kick and Carson hit Kareem Kelly on the first play.

And you were probably upset at Auburn in 03 after Bing intercepted the pass and Leinart went right to the endzone to Mike Williams.

If that pass gets completed, momentum is ours. As it stands, we still had a chance for the first down and momentum but we decided to get cute instead of just taking the old faithful play of a QB sneak.

Scott, did you say it was "ironic" or "moronic"? I'm confused.

Anyway, Jim stole my proverbial thunder with his post. An uncovered guard is the perfect recipe for my favorite short yardage play – the ol' Mark Sanchez quarterback sneak. The most consistently effective short yardage play the Trojans have run this year. That Mark did not run that play (whether there is an audible for it in the playbook or not) speaks to the colossal lack of preparation the coaching staff has performed with the backups over the years.

Just because Carson wasn't injury prone and Matt was never significantly hurt during his career at SC doesn't mean you shouldn't get the backup ready for serious minutes. I like the idea someone proposed from a previous post about getting the backup quarterback into at least one quasi-meaningful series per game in almost every game. Of course you wouldn't do in a game that's expected to go down to the wire or a national championship game, but since SC regularly wins by several touchdowns after throttling down near the end of the game, there are probably at least 8-10 games per year that you could do this. Then, if you had a situation where the starter goes down (like the Stanford game) you wouldn't have to continue to play your broken fingered qb. You'd get the next guy in there and you'd have confidence that he would do well.

What really hurt USC on the first drive was the stupid late hit penalty on Chilo Rachal. 3rd and 5 went to 3rd and 20. Just one of several bonehead 15-yd penalties this team has taken throughout the season. It shows a lack of discipline.

I don't know what has happened with the coaching staff this year. I just read Scott's article about how they are all finger pointing at each other and Caesar is just complaining about missed calls. Two things: One, Sark should get donkey punched in the face repeatedly until he wakes up and has some faith in his players. His lack of faith in his athletes to make plays is now costing USC wins. From a coaching perspective, I put the Oregon loss on Sark. Idiot! You have a ridiculous amount of 5 star recruits, more than any other school. Let them make plays and call plays that they can make. Sanchez went 80 yards in 50 seconds. Don't tell me you can't air it out. God I hate Sark right now.

Second, Pete really needs to step up and earn his "Big B*%ls" nickname we (students) so properly gave him over the last two years. The game shouldn't be in the hands of the refs. No one is perfect. Stop finger pointing, own up to the fact that you didn't prepare properly, and FIX IT (like the penalties situation). And honestly, someone here has it right; stick Sark up in the booth where he can do the least damage. I was so happy to see Pete in his ear at the end of the game. Clearly he wasn't happy with what little Sark was doing, but he should have gotten in his ear earlier.

The coaching this year is what's lost SC's shot at a title. Penalties, turnovers, and a lack of faith in the athletes. Throw the injuries aside, we have the depth. But the other three things that have plagued them, are coaching issues.

Palmer or Leinart were not the QB last Saturday. And no one even remotely, resembling Williams was on the field. Just an opinion.. USC has to establish the run, and that was a good place to start. I don't recall saying I was upset, and I've certainly never been, when a Trojan play is successful (like the two you mention). Leave the betting to Redcorn.

HS Dropout:

Since Leinart had even less experience when he threw that pass (since it was his first one ever) I certainly won't argue with Sanchez throwing to our best receiver this year, Fred Davis, on that play.

That being said, please give me some good reasons why we need to "establish the run." This isn't Big 10 or your father's football anymore. Go with what is open.

You can't get rid of PC he IS the program. The face of the program, the energy. Recruits come to USC to play for him.

BUT, you surely can find another job for Sarkisian, like, cleaning the restrooms at the colisseum, and oh, I don't know, let Pat "golden" Ruehl a little more free time to "pursue his interests" and whoever this "WR coach" is we brought in from the NFL can be returned to the NFL...

IT'S HOUSE CLEANING TIME FOLKS

Agreed some housecleaning is needed. But check carefully who. Everyone hated Kiffin. Now he's gone, wasn't he up in the booth? Seems that several coaching positions have weakened over the years and this year it became very obvious. Need some new blood and energy in some of those spots and a special teams coach. Can't figure out the 4th and 1 play but the 2 int's were just mistakes by a young QB. Remember,he had to step in in the middle of the year, I think Sanchez shows great promise.