Gridiron Goddess

Hello Football Fiends-

The media has been all abuzz for the past 24 hours not with news of the Super Bowl winning Giants, Peyton Manning’s potential retirement, Bill Belachick’s golf scores or just which of the couple’s mansions Tom Brady & Giselle Bundchen are sulking in – no, the hot news is about one Chad Ochocinco, or the football player formerly known as Chad Johnson.

This summer, the bizarre era of Ochocinco is over, not because he is retiring, but because he is getting marrried.  TMZ and Ochocinco himself have reported that the wide receiver plans to legally change his last name back to Chad Johnson before he ties the knot.

Seems like it could be a good bet to place some wagers on how long the name change, and maybe even the marriage will last.  A quick Sportsbook review can tell you how fans are feeling about this turn of events as well as look ahead to the NFL draft and next season’s matchups. 

As @Ochocinco reported on twitter:

It’s true, the NFL “star” will go back to regular old Chad Johnson this summer in preparation for his wedding.  In a bizarre fit of lucidity, Johnson stated that he doesn’t want his wife to have a made-up last name.

Huh. Go figure. How much of a part do you suppose his “Basketball Wives” fiancee Evelyn Lozada had to play in this decision? My money is on a HUGE PART.”

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.

This is the last time I am going to address USC’s NCAA Sanctions at length. I don’t even want to do it now, but there seems to be a rabid pack of asshole football fans from other schools that have re-emerged from the woodwork as if this is hot news.

It happened in 2004-2005 folks. The Sanctions were handed down, appealed and settled on (re: appeal denied) in June 2010.  USC has served out its two year post-season ban. It is a thing of the past.

But here’s the thing – It seems people are pissed off that USC went 10-2 and largely steamrolled through their November schedule like the proverbial Trojan horse.  It doesn’t sit well with these people that USC is doing well.  And that is pure sour grapes. That’s jealousy. That’s you hating USC because you aren’t USC. That’s not OUR problem, it’s YOURS.

Seriously, you would not believe the arguments I’ve gotten in because someone spewed vitriol in my direction.  Most of these comments have been of the “Well we would beat you 50-0 too if we cheated.” Or “Matt Barkley might as well stay in school, USC pays him more than the NFL will.” Or “It’s not winning when you cheat.”

For the LAST TIME: USC DID NOT CHEAT

USC did not offer Reggie Bush or his family money to come play at USC.

Boosters of USC did not pay Reggie Bush or his family to stay at USC.

An unscrupulous agent with no ties to USC approached Bush and his family on his own, not at the directive of Coaches, Administration or Boosters.

This is about Reggie’s improper benefits which in no way are tied to USC the actual university.

In fact, read the NCAA report – they could not prove anyone at USC knew about it and fined us largely because “we should have known.”  Of course they let other schools off saying “they didn’t know, “ but this is not a rant about the wild inconsistencies of the NCAA.

This is about certain UCLA*, ASU, Washington, Arizona, Utah, Colorado, Stanford, Cal, Oregon, Oregon State, Washington State, Syracuse, NOTRE DAME *, and Minnesota fans who’ve lobbed the “CHEATERS” label at us so many times in the past two seasons it is ridiculous.

And frankly I am sick of it. None of you have any idea what the NCAA case against USC’s football program (which was really ALL about Reggie Bush) is really all about.

So, because of actions happening 130+ miles away in San Diego associated with a player long since departed for the NFL, USC had/was given:

• 1 BCS Title Taken Away
• 1 Heisman Trophy Taken Away
• 2 year post-season ban
• 4 years probation
• 30 lost scholarships

Meanwhile, the kids playing for USC now were in ELEMENTARY school when Reggie Bush and his family were breaking the rules. REGGIE BROKE THE RULES, not the USC football program. However, under NCAA lore, it is the school and innocent kids that pay, not the offender. This is in no way fair, nor is it a deterrent, since the offenders are never reprimanded, fined, or sanctioned themselves in any way.

So Reggie had to give his Heisman back, big deal. Matt Barkley, T.J. McDonald, Matt Kalil, Nick Perry, Robert Woods, et al have played for two seasons, become bowl eligible for two seasons, WON THE PAC-12 SOUTH and been denied the opportunity to play in the Championship game because of something Reggie Bush did when they were in 5th grade.

Tell me how this is fair. I dare you to. Also, tell me how this is CHEATING by the USC football program. I’d like to see how anyone can possibly call what happened “USC Cheating.”

My friend and fellow Trojan Zack Jerome over at the hilariously arrogant Lost Angeles Blog sums it up brilliantly in this Xtra Normal video,  so go give it a watch, be enlightened and STFU because USC will always be better than you. That’s what makes USC, well, USC. I’m sorry you don’t get it, you’re not a Trojan.

Bruin Tries to Explain Sanctions to USC Fan

* Especially those damn bRuins and Domers

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 Kieryn Brooke Graham, Cal correspondent

We’re Three and Oh!

No, the Bears have not met Oklahoma, nor have we lined-up against any team from Florida.  If you threaten us with captivity in Kabul, we will cave, admitting we have not met any squad with a little number before its name on the ESPN ticker.  But you say that like it’s a bad thing.  From from our spots in the cheap seats, we’re lovin’ it!

We are still undefeated; and, better, we are three and oh!  Uno-dos-tres y zero, ¿que no?

Doesn’t that mean we are about half-way to bowl eligible?  Happy times at Bancroft and Telegraph Avenues.

Slaughtering buffalo just isn’t our thing.

We squeaked by Colorado in overtime as a show of ethnic sensitivity and multi-cultural awareness.  Among the People of the plains and front range, buffalo slaughter is just rude and disrespectful.  We wanted and needed the win, but we took only what we needed.  This week, even with an upset alert in effect, Colorado two-touchdowned their in-state rivals from Colorado State, so we have a little trouble assessing how good or bad we should feel about pulling-out the squeaker.

Blue hose coordinate well with our team colors.

Okay, in our alleged “home opener,” we played the Presbyterian University “blue hose,” and we reeled ‘em up while we cleverly made fun of their monicker.  C’mon, when you’re running-up the score to five-times your opponent’s total, you require more amusement than the gridiron alone provides.  They pray; we pun.  “Their players suffered ‘blue hose’,” we said, “because they wore their cups too tight.”  We added that it might have been worse: “The balls might have turned the same color as the hose.”  Naturally, we wondered if blue hoes service the Blue Men; seemed a reasonable inquiry at the time.  At no time, however, did we resort to use of a “hose” homonym in any way similar to Don Imus’s characterization of the Rutgers women’s basketball team.  We’re snarky and irreverent; not stupid or elitist.

Was last Saturday’s game any more than a simple afternoon’s amusement?  Did we learn anything?  Did we get some exercise?

The pundits claim we learned all about the power and potency of Coach Tedford’s offense, his passion and pet project.  Running-up sixty-three points does strongly suggest that the Bear-bois can run, pass, and kick.  This season, as promised, Coach calls the plays, and he maintains continuity among offensive personnel so that he can pass or throw from one simple formation.  The blue-hose bash effectively demonstrated how “creative” offense keeps the defense guessing until the play develops.

As Golden Blogger “Kodiak” points out, “We saw pro-style power I, single-back spread, bunch formation, empty backfield, pistol, and a few variants using different shifts and motions.  I was particularly impressed that we used each of these formations with 12(one back, 2 TEs), 22(two TE, 2 backs), and 21(two backs, one TE) personnel packages;  the defense couldn’t determine which formation we’d use simply based on our personnel in the huddle.  It says a lot for the versatility of Cal’s tight-ends and backs as well as the willingness of all the wide-outs to get their noses dirty with downfield blocking.”

We could not have said it better ourselves.

Now, it gets real.

On Saturday the 24^th, our beloved Bears officially launch their Pac-12 campaign, taking-on Washington in the Emerald City.  In Hawaii, the Huskies beat-up a healthy, talented crew of Rainbow Warriors, suggesting they have a little potency of their own.  Last week, they played respectably against Nebraska.  Because the University of Nebraska soon will join the NFL, playing respectably against those monster machines represents, at least, a moral victory.  As we read the pre-game weather, astrology, condition reports, and tea leaves, we look for a tight, tough game—really the best one of the season so far.

Bears, we really like the way “undefeated” rolls off our tongues.  We know you do, too.

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 Matt Lowry, ASU correspondent

The whole nation had their eyes on the Arizona State Sun Devils as they took on the Missouri Tigers. Arizona State showed of being a deadly team. But they also showed signs that they can be the same old Sun Devils, luckily they still managed to pull off a 37-30 OT win. (Gridiron Goddess says: ASU almost “ASU’d” themselves.)

Arizona State had a 30-17 lead over the Tigers but Missouri managed to come back and tie the game up. The Tigers drove into field goal range only for Grant Ressel to miss the game winning feld goal (After his own coach iced him twice) forcing the game into overtime. Overtime is when Arizona State stepped up and pulled off the win.

The offense came in and controlled the game. QB Brock Oswiler came in and continued to show why he is the Quarterback the Sun Devils were missing. Spreading the ball out for 3 Touchdowns in the air and showing his scrambling ability rushing for one. The passing game was also very effective thanks to Aaron Pflugrad who really put on a show out there. Pflugrad grabbing almost everything that was thrown to him. Maybe the people in Tempe should start a Pflugrad for Heisman campaign. The run game led my Cameron Marshall had its moments against a talented Missouri Defensive line. The power run seems to be effective but the speed hasn’t been which can hurt them at times.  The offensive line looked pretty good giving up no sacks but the penalties have to stop.

The Defense on the other hand looked dominant at times but the need to learn how to tackle. Arizona State defense looked as if they were trying to go for the big hit and made yard lost turn into gains missing the tackles (Big Run almost cost them the game.). The secondary also continued to give up big passing plays which will hurt them in a lot of games.  As I stated many times the Arizona State Secondary have to improve quickly. Tackling and Secondary issues must be addressed before they face Illinois or else they may suffer a letdown before the showdown against USC. The defense has to make stops before it cost them games and not blow 14 point leads

Overall the Sun Devils got the win but improvements have to be made, mainly on the defensive side of the ball and penalties have to be cut down. Illinois may not be Missouri but they still pose a challenge. My main worry is the emotional stand point. The Sun Devils got the big win and now have to focus on Illinois before they go into another on the 24^th against the Trojans.