More Kiffin

Lane blew it right at this point. The fact that Bradford was ripping off huge runs and that the field goal kicker needed every yard possible dictated that they should have run the ball on 3rd down. Additionally if he had only gotten three yards then you are in a better situation if you kick or go for it. The other big issue was clock management. why he did not use his timeouts when UW was driving was stupid! Right now unless the schemes change on Defense oregon could score 60+?

scmutz-totally agree

USC's offense looks tremendous at times. The defense looks atrocious. But all in all... we're still not UCLA.

FIGHT ON!!!!!

So lemme get my math straight... Two more plays plus six more yards equals a first down, right???? With how our defense was allowing UDub to waltz down the field on us, that meant it was four down territory because a five point lead would not have held up. He was putting way too much faith (even if Houston hits the field goal) in a defense which couldn't stop the Huskies when it needed to and/or when it had the tactical advantage (3rd & 18, 3rd & 14, etc). Bad call.

I felt SC needed a TD, since a field goal would only put them up by 5 and a TD by Wash would win it for them. Plus, that FG kicker isn't worthy of being on a Div 1 team, let alone SC's.

The one positive is we won't be debating this for years since it won't have much of an impact for this year. No BCS title chance, no bowl, and we'll probably get killed by Stanford and Oregon, let alone UofA.

I disagree with Kiffin's decision, but in his defense, his decision was rational. 3rd & 4 is usually a passing down. Play-action assing on 3rd & 4 should work when you've been running as well as SC had & when you have a QB as good as Barkley & a WR as good as Johnson (although the pass was intended for Cameron). If that pass had been completed. SC could have run 3 more times & WA would have had to use it's timeouts. SC would have been within Houston's range (he's pretty consistent within 40, no?). Heck, that was the conventional choice that NFL coaches are going to make 99 out of 100 times (especially since NFL kickers are paid to kick FGs from 40 yards).

But this was college, Bradford was rolling, WA's D was reeling, Houston was not proven at 40 yards & SC's D was about as stiff as a wet paper bag. Kiffin should have run it on 3rd & 4, and maybe even on 4th & 1.

Should have signed a couple more WRs last Feb.

Movie recommendation for Coach Sunshine. Clear and Present Danger. Pay particular attention to when Jack Ryan (Harrison Ford) says "It's my fault".

I completely agree with NJT's 1st paragraph, not his second. It was not 4 down territory. It was a perfect passing down. Your FG kicker was 1-1 on the night, and all of his misses this season have been very close, including a previous crossbar hit.

Kiff called it exactly like he should have. The pass was open. Not Kiff's fault that Barkley throws a bad pass and the FG kicker bonks the crossbar.

If Kiff had run and not converted, just as many people would have bitched about that play call too.

lbc: that one's going into "the file"

herh herh herh.

When will UCLA fans just shut up? It's fun and all.. but..
UCLA fans swear like Los Angeles suddenly belongs to the Bruins when UCLA football hasn't been relevant EVER.
You say you're close every year.
USC leads CFB in 1st round picks, #1 picks, NFL hall of famers, bowl wins, Rose Bowls, etc.
USC has a proud tradition, and despite seeming to be down this year, will show on December 4th why we'll always be #1 in Los Angeles.
Hell, even if we lose, you'll still just be ucla who upset (key word being "upset") USC.
What tradition does UCLA football have? The bruins will ALWAYS come second to USC in college football.
Fight on!

When you stop responding.
All of your tradition will make kiff a better coach?
Keep the coli packed when you go 6-6?
Make all the necessary walk-ons better once scholies are reduced?

@ lbc trojan
I guess you weren't around in the 90's, when UCLA won 8 in a row.
1991 UCLA 21 24 Coliseum* Start of the longest winning streak in the series (8).
1992 UCLA 37 38 Rose Bowl****
1993 UCLA 21 27 Coliseum* 1994 Rose Bowl on the line for both teams
1994 UCLA 19 31 Rose Bowl** 1995 Rose Bowl possibly on the line for USC. A USC win and Oregon loss to Oregon St. would have put the Trojans in the Rose Bowl. But USC lost and Oregon won.
1995 UCLA 20 24 Coliseum* USC already had clinched 1996 Rose Bowl berth
1996 UCLA 41 48(2OT) Rose Bowl** Only overtime game in the series, the first year the rule is in place. UCLA rallied from 17 point 4th quarter deficit
1997 UCLA 24 31 Coliseum*
1998 UCLA 17 34 Rose Bowl** UCLA had clinched at least a 1999 Rose Bowl berth and was ranked #1 in the standings. Legendary USC fan Giles Pellerin died during this game. This was the 797th consecutive USC game he attended, which included all previous games in this rivalry.

@h8karma @troganfan,
When will UCLA fans just shut up? It's fun and all.. but..
UCLA fans swear like Los Angeles suddenly belongs to the Bruins when UCLA football hasn't been relevant EVER.
You say you're close every year.
USC leads CFB in 1st round picks, #1 picks, NFL hall of famers, bowl wins, Rose Bowls, etc.
USC has a proud tradition, and despite seeming to be down this year, will show on December 4th why we'll always be #1 in Los Angeles.
Hell, even if we lose, you'll still just be ucla who upset (key word being "upset") USC.
What tradition does UCLA football have? The bruins will ALWAYS come second to USC in college football.
Fight on!

@h8karma, UCLA won all of the 90s.. USC won all of the 2000s.
And who has more national championships? more Heisman trophy winners? more bowl games/wins? more NFL players?
which program?

USC.

Fight on!

Oh, that's right. Don't forget 'alleged' killer and 'proven' cheater.
Enjoy on!

Oh, that's right. Don't forget 'alleged' killer and 'proven' cheater.
Enjoy on!

@h8karma, what do you think of Neuheisel being a 'proven' cheater by getting fired from Colorado AND Washington?
Please, do share your thoughts.

OK, so now we move on to coaches.
First, he didn't killed anyone, let alone 2, 'allegedly'.
Second, didn't he win his lawsuit against Washington?
Third, did he have to give any awards back or vacate any wins?
Fourth, I would worry more about CLK recent recruiting tactics and ongoing investigations, than about CRN's.

Even when UCLA was better than SC in the 90s, they couldn't capitalize and do anything with it. No National Titles. No dominating of the Pac 10. No Heisman winners. Heck, in the 90s USC even went to the Rose Bowl the same amount of times (2) as UCLA. The difference is that the Trojans won when they went. Unfortunately, UCLA fans are happy that USC isn't as good as they were for the last 10 years. If I was you, I'd be happier if SC was as good as ever and UCLA started being able to compete at THAT level. It'd be fun if the cross town rivalry had national meaning.

Let me put it another way......Now that the Trojans are playing at the level of UCLA in basketball, I'm not happy. I wish UCLA was still playing at the level they used to, challenging for National titles, and USC was playing at that level. Wouldn't it be fun if USC/UCLA was like Alabama/Florida or Texas/Oklahoma in football and Duke/North Carolina in basketball.

@Trojan Conquest, that's very well said and put. I hope they get it=)

T.Q.
Congrats...you played to our level last year...only because of EARLY DEFECTIONS to the NBA (K love would be a Senior this upcoming season, Westbrook would have been a senior last season, Holiday would be a Jr. this upcoming season. Yea ...you've had a couple of early defects too (Westbrook beat out O.J.(he's the reason your basketball program got in trouble) for the guard spot on this years NBA filled Intl. squad...and Davon, Dumber than a Sack of Hammers "opted to play" in Israel). Additional early defectors included Farmar, "LUC", Afflalo...all played important parts on their respective teams. Oh yea...I almost forgot about Trogans in the NBA...like. (I'm thinking...0...YEA SCALABRINE...., GREAT contributor!) My point is...every 50-60 years...Troxans comptete with the BRUINS in Basketball Once in a LIFETIME. May your children live long and experience their very own once in a lifetime experience!
Fite on Troxan!

H8, how many national championships has fucla won in football?

Please explain how your wonder teams in the 90's could win 20 in a row and still no NC.

You can't. BTW, I wonder why you are on this blog anyway. I wouldn't waste 2 seconds of my time on a bRuin blog. What a loser.

"EARLY DEFECTIONS".........really, you're playing that card? That is the biggest croak of sh*t. EVERYONE has early defections! That's the nature of college basketball. If you don't know how to navigate and recruit in it, you're toast.
And you're missing my point. I don't want UCLA to come down and USC to barely be better than a mediore Bruin team. I want UCLA to play great, and for USC and UCLA to both be relevant in the national title discussion. I would love for the rivalry to be great in both sports.
And concerning early defections..... I think the NCAA and the NBA should adopt the same policy as baseball. You can come out right after high school, but if you go to college you are committed for at least 3 years. This would help both the NCAA and the NBA.

Early defections are certainly a factor...even in F-Ball where there are 50 something scholarships available..I seem to recall Cheatey telling Sanchez what a mistake he was making...true or Cheatey covering his ass?
The premise of your post is filled with holes. SUC will NEVER EVER be "relevant in any NATIONAL Title discussion for Basketball...and as a result of SANCTIONS....the f-ball team will be irrelevant for many many years to come. Losing records (I've predicted 5 & 8)...poor recruiting classes, defections and finally (unfortunately) the firing of the HEAD Coach will put the program into a tailspin that will make the current N. Dame woes look like a bump in the road (look what happened at SMU).
BTW ...not everyone has to deal w/EARLY DEFECTIONS...Why do you think Florida(B-Ball) went back to back a few years ago? Because of defections?
Knubs....prepare for another azzzzz whupping this weekend...and the weekend after that....and the following weekend. If the team doesn't suffer any more defections, suspensions, arrests, I can see you guys squeaking out another win. 5 & 8.....ain't that GREAT!
This will be your year.
Fite on Trogan

True, UCLA didn't produce any Nat'l titles or Heisman Trophy winners during our run in the 90's...but that's because we won't cheat to get them.

Oh STFU BruinLuv you friken pansy. UCLA didn't win any Nat'l titles because they won't cheat? You're a damn pansy just like the UCLA football team. What a pathetic comment.

BruinLuv......Two words, Sam Gilbert.
I loved the John Wooden era, and was a huge UCLA basketball fan as a kid growing up, but UCLA cheated big time during this era. Fact.

Three more words.......Billy Don Jackson.
The convicted murderer who was found to be illiterate after playing football for UCLA. Gee, I guess UCLA didn't cheat when getting this guy academically approved to play. Stop being so fracken holier than now.

I agree with DFW Trojan. There was nothing inherently wrong with the Kiffin's 3rd down call. Barkley made an inaccurate pass.

Congratulations to Barkley for not throwing any interceptions. That is the most important stat.

However, crucial passes sailed in the 4th quarter. The first issue is whether Barkley is not a terribly accurate passer, or whether his footwork or other technique was sub-optimal at that point in the game. Then, once the problem is identified, the issue is what to do to improve Barkley's performance in this regard.

Luv, call me Papa.

@thaimex

Yeah, early defections hurt. Like you said, Scalabrine does not contribute much (nothing, really), but you conveniently forgot about Hackett, Gibson and Derozan. Two first round picks. Don't be surprised if SC sweeps UCLA this year, too. You'll have your hands full with Jio Fontan, Maurice Jones, and Nikola Vucevic. And if Alex Stepheson plays to his potential, we'll probably make the tournament and have a shot at the Pac 10. We'll see. Your recruiting class is obviously quite good.

haha, Trogan Conqust, here we go again - back to the 60's for some UCLA basketball discussions. SC football is being sanction now - FACT. UCLA basketball was never sanctioned - FACT. USC football has Kiffin as the head coach - FACT. USC will continue to lose this year, including to the Bruins, and will then see at least 10 players transfer - FACT.

HAHA. LOSE ON!

T.C. -- You make some great points. I wouldn't argue with ThaiStick. He just spouts the same nonsensical crap evey post and thinks he's novel with the "this could be your year" shtick. What the dope fails to realize is that it has been our year every year for many years.

You're also spot on about Sam Gilbert and the cheating at UCLA. Incredible how sanctimonious the UCLA people can be about basketball...especially considering they have one title in three decades and powerhouses are in the hunt every year.

The optimum course would be for the man making the millions — that’d be The Kiffer — to seize the wheel and steer this program to excellence on both sides of the ball. But if he could, wouldn’t we see some signs by now?

It’s the age-old question: What do you do when you’ve run out of ideas. He has not had an original idea since his 2004 coup to run off Chow. In 2005 Bush and Leinart bailed him out. Al Davis found him out real fast that he was not an HC.

I already knew he was not an OC. Even Mike Garrett knew this and tried to get him to hire one. But in his arrogance he was able to escape this. How long will Haden put on this incompetence?

Unfortunately, it does not get any better, his daddy is not a college DC. Monte only has one year of experience in recent years. And now we know that The Kiffer got his arrogance honestly. Monte and his "COVER WHO" defense does not dove tail with the Trojan talent. Monte, an old man, still believes you can hammer a square peg in a round hole.

The Kiffer refuses to get involved with the total program as an HC should. Almost any HC can out coach him in a one(1)score game. He will continue to look for the BIG PLAY to bail him out. Problem is he is not smart enough to set up a big play. In summary, we have three (3) incompetent coaches, OC, DC, and HC.

The thing that scares me the most is that by the time we get to play The Domers and the Ruins, they will have improved and we haven't. At this moment if you promise me a 6-7 season with defeats of these programs I would take it in a heartbeat.