Post-Rose Bowl Forum

Scott, Can you introduce me to Emily Nerland? Thanks

You made a dig at one point about the 0-2 Versus conference. Do you have anything to say about the 4-2 Pac-10?

Do pro scouts and pro agents view Maualuga as OLB or MLB at the next level?

Without saying "yes" or "no", is there any chance that you would consider voting USC #1 in your final AP ballot? Assuming Ohio St beats LSU in a sloppy 17-14-ish game, or even vice versa. If there is a chance, would you mind giving us a range of probability....20%, 50%, 90%? Alternate question, if LSU loses their bowl along with Florida and Arkansas, will it still be possible for you to vote 5 SEC teams in your final top 10 AP ballot?

What is the betting line on Slick Rick Neuheisel plunging the Boys of Westwood into NCAA probation before his contract runs out?

With another 11-win season, don't you need to retract your circa-Oregon post that the Carroll dynasty was over?

With both Va Tech and the okies losing, and if Ohio St. beats LSU on Monday, does USC get a shot at being #2 or #3 on your final ballot?

Any news on the Coliseum lease? Sitting on those miserable Rose Bowl benches for four hours made me homesick for the old dump.

Does USC have a chance in your final ballot to surpass Ga and Missou?

Also: Is there any chance a rehabbed Coliseum could entice the Emerald Bowl to move to Los Angeles? The cold and soaking wet Beavers fans would have appreciated it this year; and maybe more than a dozen or so Marylanders would have bothered to come out for the game. The rudeness of those “sophisticated” San Franciscans towards football tourists is legendary.

Who would have been the better fantasy pick this past year, Reggie or LenDale?

Does ABCESPN plan to keep that stupid thing where famous alumni introduce the starting lineups? That was nothing short of lame.

Finally, since you didn't say one question per questioner... What is the chance of Jeff Byers going pro?

190 pound Joe McKnight is an "every-down back?"

I have heard a rumor that Tim Floyd may leave USC for the LSU job (despite previous public statements that USC is his last job). Have you heard anything about this? Louisiana is his home state and my understanding is he was interested in the LSU job before coming to USC.

With the tailback logjam still in effect for next year (barring injury or transfer) do you see any potential position changes to get obviously talented players on the field more regularly?

In the post Rose Bowl TV show, Petros and Rodney scoffed at the idea that there would be a QB controversy (other than in the media's eye) next year since they both felt that Sanchez had the starting spot locked up.

Your pal Petros went so far to say that he had heard that the SC coaching staff was shocked at how crude Mitch was when he arrived in September. He also said that he had no idea why they recruited Mustain, and in his mind Corp is the backup.

Any comments?

Is Mitch Mustain was capable of learning an all-new offense every week, then how difficult could it be for him to learn the playbook over the course of several months? Besides, aren't there new plays introduced for next season since opponents have seen the old plays?

Scott:

I was wondering if the Annenberg student in that Rose Bowl picture with you is the same one from the now-infamous John Cusack interview? They do look very similar...

Since the issue of the Stanford loss does not seem to go away, with theories all over the place as to why it happened, how's this one:

Stanford was playing a back-up QB who had a total of one pass in his entire college career up to that point. So there was practically no footage of this QB for USC's coaches to scout. As a result, the defense didn't know what to do since the Stanford offense was an unknown entity, so all the preparation that week was simply guessing rather than basing it on past performances. End result - Stanford's offense scored 25 points against the USC defense.

I think that's as good an explanation as any as to why Stanford beat USC. Your thoughts?

What does Joe McNight need to do in off-season to take it to next level, and is he committed to doing that?

Scott,

I read your response last week saying that you did not think Booty's back surgery had an adverse effect on his performance, but I have to disagree with you on this.

For the past several years, I have attended practices as much as just about anyone and there is no doubt that Booty clearly was not the same QB after the operation that he was before it. The main differences being:

1) He was not as mobile after the operation. Now I am not saying he did not have the capability of being mobile, but maybe he was more hesitant about running around and risking injury.

2) His passes were still accurate after the operation, but they often tended to be thrown either too low or too high. This was not an issue prior to the surgery.

3) He did not run as much into the line of scrimmage after the operation.

So can you not say that you saw these same differences with Booty before and after his back operation? He was a much more dynamic and complete QB prior to his operation, then became more hesitant and for the first time, threw balls that were either too high or too low.

Compare the running styles of Broderick Green and Marc Tyler from what you have seen in practice.

During the Rose Bowl telecast, the ABC broadcasters talked about how USC might be the best team in the country right now. They mentioned the several injuries (Booty, assorted running backs, offensive linemen, Pinkard) as probably the key reason why USC was not in the Championship Game this season. Do you think that is accurate? What is your take on that assessment?

just4sc:
There isn't a bigger Mark Sánchez fan in this forum than me. I watched that FSNP post game chat that you're talking about. Petros did NOT say what you're claiming, period. Yes, Petros was very vocal about NOT being a Mustain fan. He said: "is his job to lose". That is far from being locked-up. Like I said I am Mark's fan número uno but I don't buy into that lock-up interpretation of yours. I hope he wins on the field like he's supposed that way all the MM pundits swallow their garbage, digest it and flush it. To that effect instead of taking two weeks off after the Rose Bowl Mark is working as reported by SW in a separate article.
Thank you

Do you see any MAJOR recruits committing to USC ( TJ Bryant, Telemaque, Harris,Perry etc ) ? Are there some under the radar guys out there? How many scholies does SC have to hand out and will they hand them all out?

Portsmouth FC??? I had you pegged as a West Ham supporter

Discuss Alan Bradfords future at SC. Scholastics/attitude/coachability/best positioning/his place in the hearts of the coaching staff/teammates etc. It boggles my mind how this tremendously talented athlete has to watch his teammates from the sidelines every game, especially when he seems to perform magnificently imho when he "rarely" sees the field.
thanks in advance for your answer(s)

Our major weakness was at wide receiver this past season. Should John Morton be looking over his shoulder and not answering calls from Carroll or does the majority of the blame rest with Turner, Hazleton et al?

You only have 25 questions so I'll ask another. should we be baking up a humble pie for all the Steve Sarkisian detractors? I thought he did a solid job down the stretch and is really growing into an outstanding offensive coordinator. Your comments Mr. Wolf?

Is their any truth behind the rumor that Ryan Mallett may be transferring to UCLA? Mallett is a pure drop-back QB, and might not be a good fit for the new system. I've seen him in person, and he's legit and a transfer like that would be huge.

HI SCOTT:

I have heard a lot of talk lately about how ucla has higher admission standards for it's football players than USC--I find this hard to beleive, yet I have heard no rebuttal--so you could you tell us if that is true or not--and, if so, where? [It doesn't seem likely to lie in the area of higher SAT scores, or more required CORE courses in high school.]
Thanx, Scott, for any info on this that you may know.

PS Those old photos are great! I saw that 14-12 game in 1952--I am pretty sure that that is the only season both teams came into the game unbeaten and untied. Elmer Willhoite, a guard, ran about 63 yards with a lateral, for a TD for us.

Other than the teams who have yet to finish their season who is the best?

Please disregard that first you in my question-8 lines from the bottom--3rd word--------lol

Since lots of readers are asking multiple questions on this forum, here is my 2nd query;
Can you please give us ALL the SCOOP on Emily--inquiring minds want to know!!!!!

When the Rose Bowl hosts the next BCS Championship game, who broadcasts? ABC or Fox?

If you take career passing yardage minus yards after catch then divide by passes completed, who has the best ratio? Booty, Palmer, or Leinart? In other words, who got the ball downfield most efficiently? (I'd do the math myself if I knew where to find the stats.)

Scott:

Maybe if you just came out and said to your "internet flock" that Mustain will not be the starting QB in 2008 (possibly 2009) now this madness would stop. He has openly admitted that he does not know the offense as of last week so he better have the ability to cram quickly otherwise he is looking at probably QB #3 on the depth chart for next year because Aaron Corp will start here at some point provided that he does not transfer! That is the guy that poses the most threat to Sanchez as of today in my humble opinion.

Scott,

Assuming Mark Sanchez wins the starting job next year, do you think he has the leadership and skills necessary to lead SC to a national championship?

Scott,

Assuming Mark Sanchez starts at QB next year, do you think he has what it takes to lead SC to a national championship?

Scott, were Rachal to leave early, I assume Byers and Parsons would probably be the starting guards, but who do you think would be the two back-ups for them?
Thanx much.

How important is it to the coaches that there is chemistry between Mustain and Williams, and do they acknowledge this as a factor that works in their favor?

Clarence:
It doesn't make any difference how good is the MM-Wms connection. Sánchez will start. Secondly Williams has to beat Turner, Ausberry, Hazelton and RoJo. Do you get it? What part you don't "comprende"!-I mean what part you don't comprehend?
SW i have a good question for you:
Do you know if the NCAA ruling or competition committee will look into outlawing the horse collar tackle?
Thanks