Answer Tuesday (More Football, Baby)
I'm jacked up for the USC-UCLA game! Oh wait, for a second, I thought I was Pete Carroll.
Q: Scott, seriously how can you rank Texas Tech over SC when they got blown out last week and barely beat Baylor at home this week? Doesn't how you end your season mean something? And doesn't SC deserve a higher ranking with maybe the best defense in the last 10 years?
A: My basis is that a loss to Oklahoma is better than a loss to Oregon State, which lost two games by nearly 60 points if we want to start using point margins. But that's just my opinion. This is one of USC's best ever defenses as I noted it is one of just a handful of Trojan teams to surrender only 19 points at the Coliseum. I just wish they were playing a Big 12 team in a bowl game.
Q: Scott, are the Trojans looking to fill any specific needs with the remainder of their recruiting class? I see where we have a lot of offers out to a whole bunch of guys that, I guess, we have only a small chance of getting.
A: They would like a fullback, linebacker, defensive end and cornerback for sure.
Q: What does the term or word ' Nittany' mean in the nickname Nittany Lions? Thank you, Scott, and also thank you for the forums.
A: It refers to Mount Nittany, which is nearby the Penn State campus, where mountain lions once lived. Now only Joe Paterno roams the mountain.
Q: Word is Notre Dame's band director, Kenneth Dye, has already been tapped to succeed Art Bartner. What have you heard?
A: I've heard similar stories but when would ``succeed'' actually take place?
Regarding Q1.
I love the selective use of point margins to make your point, but only when it matches your bias. If your justification is true, then why is Florida ranked ahead of USC in your poll this week, since you have Oregon State ranked higher then Ole Miss?
Or why for that matter would Florida be ranked ahead of Alabama, Texas, Oklahoma, and Texas Tech, since it's loss is to Ole Miss? The other teams either have no losses (Alabama) or have lost to each other...
Neuheisel's Bookie..the answer is.. Because Scotts poll ballot is strictly designed to play devils advocate in order to create participation and controversy here! He has displayed continually over the past couple of years that he is either not capable of or not really interested in posting a legitimate ballot!
Scott Wolf as Pete Carroll. That'll be the day.
B
Scott wrote: "I'm jacked up for the USC-UCLA game! Oh wait, for a second, I thought I was Pete Carroll."
Any self-respecting Trojan is excited about the USC-UCLA game (regardless of the point spread). It is a chance to beat the hated cross-town rival and win bragging rights over friends and co-workers for the next year. Moreover, this year it is a chance to seek a small measure of revenge for losing to UCLA at the Rose Bowl two years ago.
I understand that Scott's job requires him to remain objective in reporting facts. While he went to USC games as a kid and graduated from USC, Scott overcompensates for any USC allegiance with the current disdain he displays for USC. Scott has grown too cynical for this job, and his quote above is just another example of this sad fact.
Beat the bRuins!!
Fight On!!
I wish the Daily News would give us a beat reporter who actually knew something about football.