Sigh.

I am so out of steam with this whole NCAA COI and Sanctions and injustice and bullshit. I mean, really. I know as a governing body they do not have to consider precedence, but HOLY MOTHER OF GOD WHAT THE FUCK?

In a move that should be predictable by now, but nevertheless shocked many, the NCAA handed out sanctions to Ohio State that fell far short of what they did to USC despite Ohio State’s infractions being worse, more egregious and there being direct proof the head coach knew about it, willingly played ineligible players and then repeatedly lied about it to the NCAA.

The NCAA is not a universe that ever makes sense, I’ve learned this from experience.

Two years ago, based on tenuous and circumstantial evidence provided by an ex-felon with an axe to grind and no ties to the USC football program, the NCAA issued sanctions just shy of the infamous Death Penalty to USC.  The University of Southern California football program was slapped with a 2 year bowl ban, a loss of 30 scholarships over 3 years, 4 years probation, vacating of wins, trophies and championships, etc.

Oh, and they also slapped that ugly “Lack of Institutional Control” label on Troy.

Curiously, Ohio State didn’t get the lack of institutional control badge of dishonor despite appearing to be a role model for it.

Consider if you will, the fact that Ohio State’s transgressions, by any reasonable measure, were worse than USC’s, ran deeper, involved more deceit and included more than the one player responsible for taking down the men of Troy.  Ohio State’s infractions started back in 2008 and involved 14 players the NCAA found to have accepted more than $16,000 in extra benefits.

USC was told they “should have known,” when Reggie Bush was driving a “flashy, tricked out” Chevy Malibu – by the way, since when is that a flashy car (ESPECIALLY at USC) and “should have known” what kind of home his parents were living in 130 miles away from campus.

Over at Ohio State, on the other hand, some reports claim Terrelle Pryor swapped out cars more often than he changed his underwear, but not only did no one apparently notice or care,  but also Ohio State was not told they “should have known.”

INTERESTING.

Former Ohio State Head Coach and Sweater Vest Enthusiast Jim Tressel knew exactly what was going on and kept not just the Buckeye AD, but also the NCAA in the dark about the violations for nine months.

Why?

Well, because we can only assume that Tressel knew exposing his star QB and other players would render them ineligible. By keeping it to himself they were allowed to play for the entire 2010 season even though they were, in retrospect, they ended up vacating those 2010 games in which ineligible players played.

To add to the controversies in Columbus, over the summer it was found that nine players had taken cash from or been overpaid by an Ohio State University Booster  in their summer jobs.

Ohio State’s sanctions, for the record:

• 1 year bowl ban

• 9 scholarships lost over 3 years

• 5 year show-cause penalty for Jim Tressel

WHAT?!

If USC and their sanctions had never happened or were less than what was meted out to tOSU, I’d say these sanctions were nearly fair. Personally, I think the Buckeye football program should have gotten docked 5 scholarships per year but otherwise, fine.

However in what fucking universe does USC getting slapped the way we (yes WE) did and Ohio State getting off SO LIGHTLY even make the slightest bit of sense?

USC – one player and his parents 130 miles away with a wannabe agent with no ties to the USC football program

What can I say that hasn’t already been said?

MATT BARKLEY IS COMING BACK TO USC FOR HIS SENIOR SEASON.

And just like that, the NCAA COI can go fuck themselves. 2012 will be OUR YEAR. Barkley for Heisman and a team returning 20/24 starters and 77% of their total offense from a 10-2, top five team this season.

The NCAA tried to break us and failed.  Sure, there are likely to be leaner years ahead as scholarship reductions thin our ranks, but first, we have 2012 and a roster of extremely talented student athletes returning to play their hearts out – to play for what they’ve been denied the past two years — it will be a special and magical season.

With TJ McDonald announcing on Wednesday that he’s returning and Matt Barkley making his One More Year official today, I think the drink of choice for all USC Fans in 2012 needs to be a 7 & 7 to honor these two athletes and their contributions to the Trojan legacy.

USC 50.

UCLA 0.

It was glorious. Better than any die hard Trojan could ever have hoped for. The hapless Bruins of UCLA walked into the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum wearing “special” all white uniforms that signaled their immediate surrender. The Trojans looked, well, looked like USC. Specifically like 2002 USC, Pete Carroll’s 2nd year when Carson Palmer and Mike Williams and Justin Fargus ran all over competitors in November. Only this time it’s Matt Barkley and Robert Woods/Marquise Lee and Curtis McNeal.

It was amazing.

Obviously, it sparked the first post in eons here.

Football fiends, I am at a crossroads with this site. Gridiron Goddess is not going away, or going anywhere, I am just re-evaluating.

I am disillusioned with the game I love so much. I am not making any money with this site at a time when I need to focus 100% of my writing efforts on projects that are making me money.

There will be a state of the Gridiron Goddess post soon, as soon as I figure out what I am doing. I will also be back to talk USC’s season, recap it, look to the future and prognosticate on both Matt Barkley’s Heisman chances and whether or not he will declare for the draft or come back to cement his immortality at USC.

In short, I think this is going to become either a strictly USC blog with occasional posts about other teams or a Pac-12 and NFL blog. I am figuring it out.

In the meantime, I will be savoring the amazing 50-0 Trojan domination of fUCLA’s bRuins.

Remember folks, don’t bRuin your life!

Fight On!

by Amy Lamare

So USC at ASU.  Yeah, the thing is, basically Burfict scares the crap out of me. USC’s O-line is both woefully inexperienced and plagued with injuries. With no consistency in personnel, they haven’t found their stride yet. Which leaves Matt Barkley open to the wrath of Vontaze.

Yeah, that’s pretty much my take on the game. Can SC win? OF COURSE.  Is this the toughest team we’ve faced so far this season? Absolutely.

But, and this is a significant but, there is always the very good chance that ASU will “ASU” itself. You know what I mean. This team is never lacking talent, but year in and year out, the Sun Devils find a way to beat themselves. Stupid mistakes, penalties, lack of discipline – it’s a combination of all those things.

The Sun Devil team that beat a (then) ranked Missouri team was a great team.

The one that lost to Illinois, “ASU’d” themselves.

Consider also, that USC has defeated Arizona State 11 consecutive times. In fact, they are the only Pac-10/Pac-12 team in the era of USC domination to never beat the Trojans.  ASU Coach Dennis Erickson is 1-8 versus the Trojans.  Erickson’s streak extends through his tenure at ASU, Oregon State, and Washington State. That one win was in 2000 when Erickson was in Corvallis, and that win broke a Pac-10 record 26-game losing streak against Troy.

The last time ASU beat USC was in 1999 at the Coliseum. If you remember (and I know you do), the 90s were not a bright spot in Trojan history.

USC comes into Tempe as a 2.5 point underdog. I like this position. As we know, USC doesn’t necessarily do well when they are expected to win big. (See: Stanford 2007)

Tomorrow the Trojans can extend their Sun Devil domination to 12 consecutive games.

They just have to stop Brock “6’8” Oswelier and his receiving corps and contain the fury known as Vontaze Burfict.

Sure, no problem. After all We. Are. SC.

Football Fiends,

It has been a busy busy week!

Over on Bleacher Report I Picked the Winners of all Week 4 games and made 50 Bold Predictions About Week 4 – which has had almost 35,000 reads.  For the month of September so far, I am the #2 College Football Writer with 151,000 reads of my pieces.

Work is slammed, and I haven’t abandoned my baby here,  I promise. There might even be a USC-ASU preview later.  There WILL be, but it will be short.

Have a great weekend!!!

Hey there Football Fiends!

It is finally Friday again! I’ve got 200 jello shots in my fridge all ready for Psycho Gate tomorrow. It has been so much fun opening our season with three home games in a row, but MAN I need a Saturday to decompress, relax, sleep, clean my house, take my dog to the park, etc. Next week. This week, well, come join us at Psycho Gate – it’s going to be crazy fun!

This week I had enormous traffic and controversy for my Bleacher Report pieces.  The commenters over there like to complain. A lot. And do not recognize sarcasm when they see it. Oh well!

I predicted the winners of all Week 3 Games and that has had nearly 36,000 reads.

I also made 50 Bold Predictions for Week 3 and that has had 23,000 reads.

All of that has put me in the #1 position as the most read Bleacher Report College Football Writer with  103,000 reads this month.  INSANITY!

I have every intention of writing the Pac-12 North Preview before next weekend. I have been unbelievably busy and working 15 hour days, 6 days a week and then there have been 3 home games in a row. So you can see where I am pressed for time.

Do you know what I am not pressed for?

CRAZY CUTE OUTFITS to wear to USC tailgates and games. Have you guys checked out Simply Sporty?  They make very cute and fashionable fan gear for women.

Simply Sporty has clothes for USC, UCLA, Cal, ASU, UNLV, Hawaii, Fresno State, Wake Forest and is adding schools all the time so if you don’t see yours, check back.

Guys, the Simply Sporty tops and dresses make great gifts for the women in your life, so go check it out and BUY BUY BUY, as Lusine, the designer is a TROJAN.

Fight On!

by Amy Lamare

Well, I’d say we’re going down to the wire with the previews except since I’ve got Arizona State-Mizzou on in the background, clearly I am writing this preview on September 9, 2011. BUT, in my defense, the Pac-12 season hasn’t technically started until USC and Utah kick off at the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum tomorrow. (Note, though Cal and Colorado play in Week 2, that game was scheduled before conference realignment and does not count as a conference game.)So, let’s do this, shall we?

The Pac-10 was previously one of the longest continuous conferences in the country. (I think Ivy is longer) Meaning, the conference hadn’t added or subtracted members for many many many years. In fact, ASU and Arizona were invited to join the then Pac-8 Conference in 1978. And for 32 years, they remained a very balanced conference. Two Southern California schools, Two Northern California Schools, Two Washington Schools, Two Oregon Schools and Two Arizona schools. Perfect symmetry with built in rivalries.

Now we’re 12. Utah and Colorado joined us this season.  The divisions are North – the Washingtons, Oregons and NorCal schools and South – the SoCals, Arizonas, Utah and Colorado. Um, OK.  And of course, who knows what we’ll look like next year with potentially Oklahoma and Oklahoma State?

But this is 2011, so we won’t worry about that. In the North, it’s clearly all about Oregon and Stanford. In the South, it’s more of a toss-up, and of course USC is not eligible to play in the inaugural Pac-12 championship should they win the South. Whatever. Bygones. We’ll getcha next year, Pac-12.  The South looks to be, frankly ASU’s or Utah’s to win or lose.  That said, the Utes struggled in their opener versus Montana State and ASU is holding off Missouri as we speak, so…

Let’s just get into it. We’ll start with the South, from Worst to First, as is my habit.  (Also, I am assuming ASU is winning tonight and Utah is losing tomorrow)

2011 Pac-12 South Division:

COLORADO

The new kid on the block also has a new coach and frankly, things look rather dismal for the Buffaloes. This program has been in need of an overhaul for YEARS, but is new head coach John Embree the man to do it?   The Buffs return a chunk of their offense from last year including RB Rodney Stewart, QB Tyler Hansen, WR Paul Richardson, WR Toney Clemons, TE Ryan Deehan,  andG Ryan Miller – now obviously there’s a bit of talent there, it is, after all, still COLORADO.

However, when you line the Buffs up against the talent in the rest of the Pac-12? It doesn’t look so great for them.  The biggest differences in talent come at the QB position and on defense.  The Pac-12 boasts several of the NCAA’s top QBs in Andrew Luck, Matt Barkley and Nick Foles.  Who is the last truly great Colorado QB you can remember? Kordell Stewart? Yeah and that was a lifetime ago.

If Colorado focuses their season on getting Bowl eligible, they have a chance. But the Buffaloes will be an underdog in their last seven games and has nonconference games against Cal and at Ohio State. CU plays at Stanford, at Arizona State, at UCLA, at Washington and at Utah and gets Oregon, Arizona and USC at home.

Yeah, six wins might be optimistic. There’s… Washington State! And Colorado State! (They’ve already lost to Hawaii.)

UCLA

Oh UCLA, what are we going to do with you?  Rick Neuheisel was supposed to be your great hope, but what has he done for you not just lately, but ever?  As a Trojan, I hope his reign over Westwood is long, as Bruin mediocrity is as the world should be (from my Cardinal and Gold colored lenses at least).  But seriously, it doesn’t look much better for the Bruins than it did last year. And we all know how that “revolutionary” pistol offense went over.

The Bruins continue to have fragile quarterbacks. How else to explain their near constant injuries, often before the season ever starts?  There are a lot of players back on offense including: QB Kevin Prince, QB Richard Brehaut, RB Johnathan Franklin, WR Taylor Embree, WR Nelson Rosario, WR Randall Carroll, WR Ricky Marvray,  and TE Cory Harkey. For any other team, that would be good news. But this is the same UCLA team that went 2-7 in the Pac-10 with the worst passing offense in the entire country. So, yeah.  Good luck.

Then, there’s the quarterback issue. The Bruins haven’t had a competent QB since when? Cade McNown?

Defensively –well OLB Sean Westgate, MLB Patrick Larimore, S Tony Dye, DE Damien Holmes, CB Aaron Hester, DT Cassius Marsh, and CB Sheldon Price are back. But again, they were all a part of a team that went 2-7 last year.

And got beat, badly, by Houston in Week 1.

The Bruins will surely pull off a handful of wins, they usually find a way to. But bowl eligibility may be a pipe dream this year.

ARIZONA

It speaks to the strength of the Pac-12 South that this fairly talented Arizona team looks to finish fourth in their division. (Who’s a strong conference now, eh SEC?!)  With such outstanding offensive players as
QB Nick Foles, WR Juron Criner, RB Keola Antolin, WR David Douglas, and WR David Roberts returning, one would think Wildcat fans would be excited. There’s only really one teeny weeny problem.

Alright, so maybe not teeny weeny. The entire offensive line is brand new.

GULP.

And it isn’t much better on the D-Line, either.

There are exactly ZERO starts on the O-line and at defensive end. NONE.  Foles, Criner and Antolin are amazing, but how much are they going to be able to do if the offensive line can’t block anyone.

On defense, injury has devastated the squad. LB Jake Fischer and FS Adam Hall went down with torn ACLs during spring ball.

There are a couple of redshirt freshmen — Fabbians Ebbele and Mickey Baucus—who, if they can step up and play with a maturity that belies their actual experience, this Arizona team could be exceptional.  But, expecting the level of play this team will need out of two unproven players –that’s not a lot to hang hope on, you know?

Plus, there was the whole Oklahoma State debacle. Twice. In a row.

UTAH

Kyle Wittingham and Utah have put together a few remarkable seasons. Wittingham took over for uber coach (sarcasm) Urban Meyer when he bolted for greener (I’m talking about cold hard cash) pastures. Since taking over at Utah, Whittingham is 59-20 overall and has had three consecutive 10-win seasons: 13-0 in 2008, 10-3 in 2009 and 2010.

Here’s the issue. No doubt this team has talent. However. While Utah was an elite team in the land of mid-majors, they are now playing with the big boys. And the level of competition they are going to face week in and week out in the Pac-12 is going to be a gigantic step up from Mountain West competitors.

That said, Norm Chow is the Utes Offensive Coordinator. And he’s got QB Jordan Wynn under his wing. Do you know what other QBs Chow has mentored? Oh only: Jim McMahon, Steve Young, Ty Detmer, Philip Rivers, Carson Palmer and Matt Leinart. Of course Chow did literally nothing for the Bruins, so it’s easy to dismiss him and think he lost his touch. That would be unwise.

Defensively – well the entire secondary lacks experience which could cause massive issues in a league where they face quarterbacks like Andrew Luck, Nick Foles, Matt Barkley and Brock Osweiler.

The Utes struggled mightily against FCS Montana State in Week 1. The game at USC this weekend will tell us a lot about this team and their ability to compete in the Pac-12 South.

ARIZONA STATE

Oh man, well, regulation time just ran out and ASU-Mizzou is heading into OT. The Sun Devils let a 14 point lead midway through the third quarter AT HOME evaporate. So in some ways, same old ASU. But, Mizzou is not Washington State. Or even Arizona. Remember last season ASU nearly beat Wisconsin at Camp Randall. And I watched QB Brock Osweiler and WR Aaron Pflugrad put together a drive in the third quarter that was GORGEOUS.

So this Sun Devil team has what it takes. Unfortunately, they are also still penalty prone, shooting themselves in the foot, and from the looks of it, not quite adept at finishing the game as strong as they started it.

HOWEVER, this team has a lot more talent and experience than those Sun Devil teams of the past that started well and imploded.  Offensively, the Sun Devils return QB Brock Osweiler, RB Cameron Marshall, RB/WR Deantre Lewis, WR Mike Willie, WR Gerell Robinson, WR Aaron Pflugrad, as well as the entire offensive line.

Defensively the Sun Devils have a MONSTER MLB in Vontaze Burfict – possibly the best in the country. Also returning is DE Junior Onyeali, DE James Brooks, OLB Brandon Magee, S Eddie Elder and CB Osahon Irabor.

ASU has the talent. Do they have the discipline and follow through and ability to CLOSE OUT THE GAME WITH WINS?

This Mizzou game is telling us A LOT but also, it is coming down to the wire.  Much like I expect ASU’s season to.

USC

Oh, what can I say about my men of Troy? They didn’t look great last week.  (Well Barkley to Woods, certainly looked good, but we’ve got to have more offensive options than that.) However, I don’t think that was the players. I think that was the coaching.

Offensively, the majority of the O-Line is young, inexperienced and shaky. However we’ve got experience in QB Matt Barkley, RB Marc Tyler, WR Robert Woods, TE Rhett Ellison, OT Matt Kalil and two other starting linemen.  The passing game looks to be humming along delightfully. The running game is a mystery, but without an o-line to actually create gaps, that may continue to sputter.

Defensively – GOD last year was painful. And it came down to a lack of depth. Our D was tired at the end of the game and that’s when we lost three of them, at the end, by a small margin, because our defense wasn’t fresh.  Well  with returning players DE Nick Perry, MLB Devon Kennard, LB Chris Galippo, DT Christian Topou, DT Armond Armstead, DT DaJohn Harris, CB Nickell Robey, S T.J. McDonald, S Jawanza Starling, S Marshall Jones and DE Wes Horton – well, we no longer have a depth issue.  The only starter from last year not at USC now is new San Diego Charger Shareece Wright.

Despite sanctions and not being able to play for anything but Pride (and Arrogant Nation), this is the most talented team in the Pac-12 hands down.  Whether they can actually prove that on the field is the test. Remember, these are 18-22 year old BOYS and not being able to play for the conference championship, the Rose Bowl. The National Championship does affect their motivation.

ASU wins the Pac-12 South by Default.

ACC Preview 2011 Coastal Division

by Amy Lamare

I bet you all thought this wasn’t going to happen, right?! Ha ha Psych! (As we used to say in high school.)

Well here I am with your ACC Coastal Division Preview for 2011. Here is the Atlantic Division Preview, where I had a longish intro about the state of the conference this year, and blah blah blah what it comes down to is:

Virginia Tech and Florida State

However, it occurred to me this morning that this Seminole team is largely an unknown quantity and will be until Week Three when the Oklahoma Sooners roll their pioneer wagon into Tallahassee. And this worries me, because I am pulling for Florida State. Yet Jimbo Fisher’s team has played Louisiana-Monroe and this week faces Charleston Southern.  Are they really going to be adequately prepared for the total attack the Sooners will bring? Landry Jones and Justin Blackmon are a scary combo to face. Will the Seminoles D be up to the task?

Anyway, enough Atlantic Division talk.

Let’s take a look at the Coastal division, from worst to first.

Note: I am not taking Week 1 into consideration.

DUKE

Do we need to discuss this? Duke is the perennial bottom feeder in the ACC.  The Blue Devils, like Indiana, are a basketball school. They’ve won 13 games in the past five seasons.  But, let me tell you a story about a similar school out west. They too were a perennial bottom feeder with academic requirements for admission that often ruled out the best athletes. But now look at Stanford.  All it took was a hot shot coach (Jim Harbaugh) and things fell into place.  Duke’s head coach, David Cutcliffe, believes the talent is getting better and they are building depth. Whether this means they will start winning is yet to be determined. Doubtful though. There are some cultures you just can’t beat and Duke’s losing one in football might be one of them.

That said, Blue Devil QB Sean Renfree is the only QB in the ACC that passed for 3,000 yards last year and is still in college t

his year.  Renfree has a pair of wideouts to pitch to in Conner Vernon and Donovan Varner (what? That’s confusing.)  Five experienced running backs return for the Blue Devils, led by Desmond Scott.

Last year, Duke’s D finished last in all categories but one. DT Charlie Hatcher and S Matt Daniels have the experience, but can they hold his defense together ?

I wouldn’t call Duke pitiful. But it’s not going to be an 8 or 9 win season, either, so…

Georgia Tech

Y’all, I literally have nothing to say about the Yellow Jackets. Sad, isn’t it?  The offense is going to be young. QB Tevin Washington had limited playing time last year. As for weapons, it looks bleak. RB Roddy Jones fills the A-back slot well, but at wideout they’ve got a couple of guys that have issues with holding onto the ball. (I’m looking at you Tyler Melton and Stephen Hill)

Defensively , all three linemen return but the entire secondary needs to be replaced.

Last season GA Tech lost five of their final six games, and if the D can’t pull it together, and the O can’t find a way to move the ball… well, it could be a grim season for Georgia Tech.

Virginia

The offense is a wreck. The QB and RB positions need to be replaced. The good news is the Cavaliers  have a pair of senior wide receivers to throw to in Matt Snyder and Kris Burd.

STOP. I have to take a moment here folks. One of my dearest and best friends was a proud UVA (and Delta Gamma) alumna. She passed away in April. She was an amazing woman and a beautiful soul and not a day goes by that I don’t think about her.  So, to say I have a soft spot for Virginia is an understatement.  And, for the love of all you hold dear, get screened for cancer! My friend was only 42.

OK shake it off.

Offensively, the Wahoos have two 4-star recruits (good for them!) that should give the Cavaliers both speed and a deep threat.  The bit of good news is that the O line has experience, which should give the QB time to settle in, eh?

Defensively, things look a bit better, Seven starters return for the second year of the 4-3 scheme that was installed in Charlottesville last year. If the D can bring more pressure and close the gaps – UVA could be in decent shape.

North Carolina

UNC  lost 14 players to graduation and the draft, not to mention longtime head coach Butch Davis. Their QB is a sophomore (Bryn Renner- dude, can we talk about that name, does it conjure a certain image for you? HA! Just googled him- spot on!) but he has a pair of WRs in Dwight Jones and Jheranie Boyd to make his job a bit easier.

Defensively the Tarheels do have All-American DE Quinton Coples, which is good especially considering the secondary is crazy inexperienced.

Yeah, that’s all I’ve got for UNC.

Miami

Well now, isn’t the situation down in Coral Gables interesting?  Without talking about last week, which almost doesn’t count since so many starters had to sit out NCAA suspensions… Jacory Harris didn’t have a great year last year, yet great things are expected of him.  There is talent on this Hurricane team and it will be up to brand new head coach Al Golden to keep them focused and on track. WRs LaRon Byrd and Travis Benjamin had a habit of making a lot of mistake last year, including wrong routes and dropped passes, but RB Lamar Miller will lead a crop promising running backs.

Defensively, the Canes lack critical depth. LB Sean Spence, DE Olivier Vernon and S Vaughn Telemaque return and are both experienced and talented. Beyond that – it is dicey. The Canes also have a very rough road schedule this year, playing at Virginia Tech, Florida State, South Florida and UNC.

Virginia Tech

Well, it’s going to come down to the Hokies and the Seminoles for the ACC title. And by the way, VA Tech head coach Frank Beamer should easily cruise his way into win number 200 for the Hokies this fall. The Hokies are breaking in a new starting QB (Logan Thomas) and RB (David Wilson) but this is a team that is pretty good at reloading. Sure Tyrod Taylor and his tandem backs (Williams and Evans) will be missed but the towering (6’6) Thomas can look to WR Jarrett Boykin for assistance.

Defensively, this is a young unit. The leadership of returning LB Bruce Taylor and CB Jayron Hosley should help carry and gel the defense a bit. Hosley led the NCAA in interceptions last year with nine – so that’s a big help to an inexperienced D. The plus side is that the Coastal division isn’t that tough, to be honest, and VA Tech should not have a problem running the table in their own division.

Of course a signature of Virginia Tech is special teams and this year should not be any exception. The Hokies have a great home schedule that includes Miami, Clemson and UNC, so, like I said it will be VA Tech vs. FSU for the ACC crown.

And that concludes the official Gridiron Goddess 2011 ACC Preview. Holy Crap, only one more to do.

by Amy Lamare, Gridiron Goddess, head Cheese around these parts.

Last week USC faced off against Minnesota on a blazing hot day at the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum.  It was supposed to be a cake walk for these “much improved’ Trojans. And it was, for two quarters.  The second half, as you all know by now, was not pretty for Troy.  And neither were those two point conversion attempts. Nor Lane Kiffin’s failure to make significant adjustments in the second half, making the Trojans dependent on a late interception to preserve the win. USC 19, Minnesota 17

On the bright side, if USC can win games with the Matt Barkley to Robert Woods play alone, the offense doesn’t look bad. Seriously. Was Jeremy Bates calling this game? It seemed every single call was Barkley to Woods.  In fact, both the QB and the WR set USC records last Saturday afternoon. Woods caught a school-record 17 passes for 177 yards and three touchdowns, breaking a record formerly held by Trojan Great Johnnie Morton.

Most Receptions in a  Single Game – USC All-Time

Hey Football Fiends!

IT’S COLLEGE FOOTBALL SEASON!!!! Can you believe it? I’ve got 200 Jell-O shots in my refrigerator, getting ready for the first tailgate and game of the season.

This week, well, I’ve failed to finish the ACC or do the Pac-12 previews due to being swamped with, you know, PAID work. Silly thing, those rent, car payments and other bills and their needing to be paid.

I am staying in tonight and finishing the ACC and Pac-12. Before the first Saturday game of the 2011 College Football season kicks off, they will be up. Which reminds me, I am out of Diet Coke.

The news I have to share is pretty cool:

I am a voter in a top 25 College Football poll, officially!!!!

Bleacher Report is launching their own poll to compete with the other major polls. It will come out at 9amET on Sunday mornings (Tuesday this week).  I will link to it when it is up and running.

Check me OUT, with a poll vote!

OK my football fiends, I have to get back to work on the ACC and Pac-12 previews.

Have fun this weekend!