Thanks Rose Bowl

I posted part of this elsewhere, but it bears repeating:

How on Earth is VT ranked so highly? Did you know that VT lost by more points in one game (41) than USC has lost by in the last six seasons combined (30)??? Really, that's a fact. USC has lost by a grand total of 30 points in six years, VT lost by 41 in a single game this year. It's almost incomprehensible.

I know teams have bad days (see Stanford game for evidence) but come on, 41 freaking points? That's just absurd. And I've actually heard "experts" talking about how VT should have jumped LSU to get into the big game. Did I miss something, or wasn't LSU the team that put the total beat-down on VT in the first place. Can you imagine if SC had beaten someone by 41 points and then had to sit there while the other team got to go to the National Championship over us? LA would go nuts.

I'm not saying LSU should be in the title game. Losing the last regular season game to Arkansas was not a good move. Maybe Oklahoma or Georgia should've gone, but certainly not VT.

By the way, does anyone else find it funny to see Les Miles minimize a triple overtime loss? He says no one can beat LSU in regulation and that voters need to see those triple overtime losses as something less than a full loss. I for one agree. Let's go back in history, and turn all triple overtime losses into half-losses. Of course then, LSU would have to give back their half of the 2003 title since USC only lost one game that year – in triple overtime. We'll expect that crystal football anytime coach miles... anytime.

Fight on!

Scott, did you really type this:

“As an AP voter, I'm open to the idea of choosing another team to win the national title besides Ohio State and LSU, who stumbled into the title game.”

First of all, there is some question whether you should actually be classified as a voter. AP flamer would be more like it. I don’t think you have the capacities to be a voter nor have you ever taken the task seriously.

Second, how can YOU criticize LSU that they barely got into the title game? What does that say about your AP vote that LSU is #1? You think it probably makes people think you’re disingenuous?

Third, if in deed you are open to choosing another team for the national title, based on your last AP vote wouldn’t that at least require Georgia and uhmmm Florida to lose?

You are an absolute hypocrite and if it wasn’t for the USC program so generously giving you information, you wouldn’t have anyone visiting your site. You’re a TJ Simers wanna be.

Scott, as you pointed out, the Rose Bowl got burned by their own rule (aka, the Iowa rule).

They also got burned by WVA losing to Pitt. WVA wins, its OSU v. WVA in the NC game, with LSU in the Sugar and Georgia available to the Rose as an at-large.

Overall, the Rose Bowl has taken it on the chin from the BCS. Without the BCS: you have Ohio State v. USC for the national championship this year, USC v. Michigan for the national championship in 2004, No. 2 Oregon playing in the 2002 game (rather than the Nebraska-Miami national championship), No. 2 Ohio State in 2003(rather than getting pulled to the NC game), No. 1 USC in the 2005 game (rather than playing for the NC in the Orange Bowl) v. a 9-1 Michigan, and No. 1 USC v. No. 3 Penn State in the 2006 game, probably for another national championship.

Without the BCS, the Rose Bowl would surely be the Granddaddy of them All. Now, it plays second fiddle to the NC game. For shame.

In my opinion it seems like the country is somewhat regretting holding Kansas and Missouri so highly. W. Virginia still has some respect and probably been a more exciting game, which would impress more voters.

But I really don't think USC would be able to snag any part of the championship without an Ohio State match-up, no matter who they chose.

Might as well go with tradition. The only thing I know for sure is that I'm not selling my tickets.

Scott's just laying the groudwork to put west virginia at #1 if they can eke out a win against the sooners.

After the Stanford and Oregon losses, we should be thrilled to win the PAC-10 title and go to the Rose Bowl, no matter the opponent. It would be nice if we could've played Georgia to improve our overall ranking at the end of the year, but Illinios is an up and coming team, who just beat the No. 1 team in the country a few weeks ago.

The other "near miss" teams are also facing a much weaker opponent. In fact, each "near miss" team plays an opponent that is five spots lower (i.e, No. 3 Va. Tech has No. 8 Kansas., No. 4 Okl has No. 9 W. Va., and No. 5 Geo has No. 10 Hawaii). USC is playing a team that is six spots lower than it.

Thus, given these matchups, there is no way that some other team can sneak in and steal a portion of the NC. Wolf is crazy if he thinks otherwise.

Simply put, the winner of the LSU-OSU game will be crowned the Nat'l Champ by not only the BCS, but also the AP, USA Today, and Harris polls. End of story.

Les Miles is a clown! All of the lobbying over the last few days has been sickening, yet very successful. Numerous sportswriters today have borrowed his words verbatim "undefeated in regulation." What utter and total BS! "Both teams had NFL first rounders on them"! Total CRAP! Sure, they had McFadden and Woodson, but you play the TEAM, not the individual. And, even if you lose in OT, it's still a loss! And, you lost to an unranked Arkansas team at home, just a few weeks ago! And, Va Tech, who was ranked ahead of you, beat a higher ranked team (BC vs. Tenn) much more convincingly. And, you you totally lucked out against Auburn and Alabama, and scheduled cream puffs like Middle Tenn St and La Tech. Les Miles is completely full of crap, and I can't wait until SC gets a shot at LSU on the muddy bayou marsh of Baton Rouge, or the crisp, clean grass of LA, or wherever. ANYTIME, ANYWHERE! Until then, go Buckeyes, and get ready for an ass whippin' in Sept!

Before we start to complain too much about Illinois, lets not forget how vulnerable we've been to really mobile quarterbacks, i.e. Vince Young and Dennis Dixon. We shouldn't complain too much about our matchup - rather we should try and figure out how to stop a running QB. Illinois did beat Ohio State afterall!

jdusc is right on target about the Rose Bowl consistently losing out on prime matchups thanks to the BCS. USC vs. Ohio State? We can only dream.

None of the other possible matchups looks great. I don't see how you get any style points for beating Missouri or Kansas. Oklahoma beat a #1 Mizzou team by 3 touchdowns and look where it got them.

Too much of a leap anyway. Can't blame the Rose Bowl for not being NC this year. We should be grateful for the Rose Bowl invitation. A month ago, we were looking at a very bleak bowl picture.

Beat the Illini and Fight On!

The only complaint about this match up is that Ohio State should be coming and not Illinois. OSU has no right to the BCS title game...period. They should be the Big Ten representative in Rose Bowl. But that's something USC cannot control.
They have been dealt the team that BEAT Ohio State IN Columbus. This team is loaded. The Illini run the ball REAL well, with a quarterback at the controls that can hurt you with his arm and his legs. Sound familiar? Sound like something SC has had problems with in the past?
This USC team has fought through the injuries. It has fought through the growing pains. It has fought through the inept game time coaching. They have bound themselves together and have righted the ship. They have realized the goals that they set out to accomplish...those that they can control. They have won the Pacific 10 Conference and now they are bound for the Rose Bowl. This is a major accomplishment. Don't you try to diminish it because you think there might be a better game that could leave USC ranked higher when it's all done. The Trojans remain focused, continue to play together, execute a game plan to their fullest potential and the entire country will be scratching their head, wondering who the best team in the country is. Support this team in this endeavor!!

The point of picking Illinois had everything to do with making the game biggest possible ratings winner for ABC. It's their only BCS game, and now they have teams from the #2 and #3 TV markets. USC-Georgia could have had national title ramifications and generated some heat, but other than that, if you are the Rose Bowl committee, why would you not pick Illinois. The West Virginia, Kansas and Missouri TV markets combined aren't the size of the Chicago market. Kansas and Mizzou each lost their final game, and don't have a track record of traveling to bowl games. The Illini alums, most of whom live in the Chicago area, aren't going to stay in RV's and buy ready to eat meals from Costco, they'll stay in hotels and eat at restaurants. Can you say that for WVU fans? No, you cannot.

The Bears are done for the year, the Bulls don't grab anyone's attention until March, it's going to be the only game to look forward to in Chicago until opening day in April. Picking Illinois makes sense to me.

As for bitching about not doing any favors for USC, well, USC didn't do any favors for itself, losing at home to a 41-point underdog. 'Nuff said.

I see Illinois as another Fresno State -- they'll play better than anticipated and nobody will think any better if you beat them because it's expected. Total trap game.

Overall, horrible matchups this season. Nothing to get excited about. I mean, Kansas? Hawaii?

Great threads posted by everybody. This is where ALL of you failed:
[Respect your enemy.]
Illinois has a Dixon/Vince Young type of QB that gives USC defense a hard time. Where does it say it is a done deal? Wake-up guys didn't you learn the Stanford lesson? Please allow that to penetrate your brain barriers.
Thank you