Rare Comments
In case you missed today's notes on our website or in the paper, fullback Stanley Havili talked about the different feeling before and during the Stanford game.
``It seemed like last week intensity dropped off and the attitude of playing for USC dropped off,’’ Havili said.
The redshirt freshman said the Cardinal had nothing to do with the lethargic attitude.
``I don’t think it was because it was Stanford,’’ he said.
Havili added USC was even flat in the first half against Stanford.
``In the first half, guys weren’t feeling it,’’ Havili said. ``Everyone wasn’t there.’’
That comes directly from the coaches. Tommy Tuberville syndrome is seeping into Troy.
Seriously, how can the coaches not get these guys fired up to crush a team like Stanford? Don't they enjoy destroying those snobby s-o-b's by 50?
This is good that somebody on the team took notice to that. I think its good for the team as a whole.
A team cannot "get up" for every school on the schedule, if "up" means playing at 110%. But it seems 100%, or playing to your capability every time out is possible, and should be a badge of individual pride if nothing else.
Teams should be "up" for every game. Give me a break, DO YOU WANT A NC? Treat every game like it is, because in college football, one loss means youre done most of the time.
And if some players have a had time, even if it is JDB or Keith Rivers, get them out and get guys who are hungry. USC's third string should have been able to beat Stanford, BUT none of them wanted it, there was no hunger, no desire.
You know the old saying, the games you are suppose to win are the hardest ones to win.
I love all these people getting hacked at the team because they did not get up for the game. I'm assuming all of you "get up" every day you go to work and give 100% all the time!
There were times in the past when this happpened and we were lucky to escape. Notre Dame with the Leinart sneak, Stanford with the Bush punt return, etc. The only difference here was turning the ball over 5 times. Hopefully the team learns they need to "get up" for everybody, but what should happen and what actually happens are not always the same things.
Not making an excuse. SC should have blown them out. But it is a reality.
Most of us probably don't work for a national championship. And no one's asking for 100% every single day, but I'm thinking maybe the team should get together and pick one day of the week--oh, I don't know...let's say Saturday? with an odd Thursday thrown in just to keep things lively?--to give it 100%. I think I'd be happy with that.
But maybe I just have lower standards than everybody else...
This team lacks a killer instinct. They didn't have it last year, and they surely don't have it this year. John McKay WOULD go for 2 up 70 vs. Stanford to make a point. That was the expectation. Complete dominance on every play. That passion is gone. Gone are the Groettegood's, the Patterson's, the Tatupu's, the Palamalu's, the Cody's. Those kids rebuilt the program. They took pride in and poured passion into every sprint, every lift, every single damn play. There is entitlement now. You saw that on 4th and 1 before halftime. You saw that on 4th and game. This team thinks they are supposed to win. They are supposed to dominate...but they don't. Fans keep saying that SC is supposed to blow out this or that team. That only happens if every player dominates in their preparation all week and drive each other to be better every single day. Wins don't happen on Saturday. Wins...championships take shape in the spring...in the summer...Monday morning during weight training workouts when it hurts...Thursdays when it's time not to repeat the past, etc.
You'll know that this team is ready when a lineman drives his man into the end or into the ground on a dive play. You'll know this team is ready when the comp route is eliminated by the cover 2 corner. You'll know this team is ready when a LB takes the helmet off the quarter back and hands it to Nick Holt on the sideline. Until then, expect nothing better than a trip to San Diego come bowl season.
Every man has this in them. The true leader will unleash the beast.
What we talkin' about here? A game? A game? Not a practice... not practice... a game. What are we talking about here?
This isn't Major League Baseball here. There aren't 162 games plus Cactus League plus postseason. This is Division I football. This is the Pac-10. 12 games, 13 with a bowl. The team could show a little emotion 12-13 times a year, I would think.
FIGHT ON!
Hey Keith15 :)
That was a great commentary on how you "see" the state of USC
Football. Very well done.
Please mail to the coaches for them to read too.
THE COACHES NEEDS TO HEAR FROM US. !!!
recent comments are right on. Attitude counts and there's no reason not to be up each Saturday. These kids have only a few college games and even for USC, most then are done. But some of thes young guys are pretty cool, and all.
It was that way before Pete came, and it may be back.
The outstanding Stanford defense held the Gutless Wonders (the team that was going to put at least 70 on the board) to 23 points. What is a real defense going to do?
24-23
38-35
Mike Stoops should state in his press conference that this will be Pete Carroll's last year. It won't be such a stretch now once the Reggie Bush situation is resolved. It is going to be hard to for Slick Petey to not know that the Bush family was getting some type of special benefit because they were at every game (home and on the road) and they weren't in the cheap seats!
Death Penalty On!
Choke on!
Keith15...THAT was brilliant. Thank you very much.