Gridiron Goddess

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

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 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-

A USC friend had the brilliant idea to organize Trojan Nation in light of the allegations against the University of Miami under the watch of Athletic Director Paul Dee. The very same Paul Dee who sat in judgement of USC as head of the NCAA’s Committee on Infractions.

Well, when a program and a man show themselves to be of such low moral turpitude, how can we, as faithful Trojans, not speak out? For years we’ve felt the COI’s treatment of our football program. Now is our chance to send a message to Mark Emmert, President of the NCAA. S

Stand up and be heard.

Sign the petition for Cancellation of USC’s Sanctions and pass it along to everyone you know.

by Karen Stevens, USC Alumna & goofy friend of the Gridiron Goddess

A new Polynesian poster-boy is jumping into USC’s offense, and he’s doing it with a gorgeous wavy mane that will cascade down his back.

The NFL is littered with long and lovely Trojan locks, think Troy Palomalu, Clay Matthews, Rey Maualuga. Even Brian Cushing sported a cool Mohawk as a rookie.

As a fan of Trojan football, I recently noticed that all the good hair graduated over the last few years… and we were drowning in a sea of crew cuts, baldies and shamefully, one or two Biebers plus a Dennis the Menace cowlick (I’m talking about you Matt Barkely!) So, where did all the Samsons go?

Sure, we have the cool dreads atop Nickell Robey and Tony Burnett, whom I have dubbed “USC Dreaded Corners”, and yes, we have an incredibly huge Age of Aquarious-esque afro sported by Khaled Holmes which although magnificent, unfortunately remains all but hidden during the game… damn those helmets!

Karen and the Trojan Manes

I freely admit I crave a more formidable hair sighting. I need to see long flowing manes wafting on the Southern California breezes as gridiron gods play their Trojan hearts out. For too long now, we have been missing the hair element we have grown accustomed to on our side lines.

And finally my dreams are about to come true thanks to incoming tight end, Junior Pome’e! His stats say he’s 6-3 and 240 but they forgot to mention the 20 plus inches of slick black tresses that tumble down to the middle of his back. Hurrah! Hurrah!

On his first day of practice, Pome’e was on the field running drills with the rest of the team but all I could see was his glorious Conan-The-Barbarian-hair, I’m sure he’s a great player but it was his locks that called out to me. And I thought to myself, now that’s a good head of Trojan hair.

by Karen Stevens, USC Alumna & friend of the Gridiron Goddess

Yesterday was historic… it was epic… and it was fun! No, I’m not talking about Paul Dee’s karmic explosion thanks to Yahoo sports and his own hubris, I’m referring to the fact that I got to see the boys in cardinal and gold on the practice field once again. That’s right people, for a few hours I was transported back to the Golden Era of Trojan Football, when the boosters and fans were beloved by the school and the players hammed it up on the field to the cheers and boos from the sidelines.

I was lucky enough to get an invitation to the patron’s party at Dedeaux Field that included surprisingly great food, abundant cocktails and a ring side seat to all the happenings on Howard Jones Field. For three hours I was perched on the observation deck watching Matt Barkley throw zingers to Marquis Lee, I heard the grunts of young men as they “finished” their tackles and I got to see how Dillon Baxter learned to find the hole to run up the middle for a perfectly executed play. This wasn’t Narnia… it was better!

While the Trojan Marching Band rehearsed in the background to Dr. Bartner’s husky voiced directions, Howard Jones was rocking some very cool tunes, although some of the music choices left me a little uninspired, (Kesha!!). What I did notice was none of the players were slacking off, they were focused and wanted to earn our respect. And, after the 11 on 11s the guys were still out there wholeheartedly doing drills. I never wanted it to end but it was time for speeches and I had to hear if Pat Haden was going to say we were going to “win the right way”, one more time, (I’ll let you wonder about the answer) and kid around with Coach Kiffin about his reputation at Tennessee which got a good laugh.

What I learned about my testosterone infused afternoon of USC football is that our defense looks great, our offense needs some work, we finally have a kicker and that it’s good to be a Trojan.

Last week, I wrote a guest post for The Sports Bank about USC’s 2011 team. Here it is:

USC, facing another year of sanctions, thanks to their unsuccessful NCAA appeal, won’t be looking to reinvent the wheel this season. That said, expect improvement from last year’s 8-5 squad (5-4 in the Pac-10) thanks to maturation from key players Matt Barkley and Robert Woods.  Offensively, the Trojans have every reason to improve on last year?s decent effort as the players have a full year of Lane Kiffin’s system under their belts.  The biggest question comes on the O-Line and true freshman Cyrus Hobbi and Aundrey Walker will likely be tapped to make a big impression early on in their careers at Troy. Last year?s dismal kicking game can only improve under wunderkind Andre Heidari. Legends of his leg have infiltrated the entire Trojan network.

Defensively, the Trojans enter the season with a number of serious questions to answer. Last year’s defense was amongst the worst in the school’s venerable history.  Trojan Alumni and Fans want to know:

• Will we be able to stop the run, any run this year?
• Is there any (or enough) depth at linebacker?
• Is there enough depth in the secondary?

Last season, the defense had several painfully memorable 4^th quarter collapses. Depth is going to continue to be a problem for this sanctioned team for a number of years, so how long the D remains healthy is going to go a long way towards determining what kind of defense USC puts on the field this year. During the Spring, several veteran players were still out rehabbing injuries, most notably linebackers Chris Galippo, Shane Horton and Devon Kennard. DT Christian Tupou’s knee was still bothering him and these injuries were part of the depth problem in 2010.  If this defense can stay healthy, fans should be happy to see a return to Pac-12 dominance.  The Trojan faithful are just not used to other teams hanging 30+ on us nor do we have any intention of getting used to it.

Questions surely remain. We have no idea if the kicking game is going to be there. Surely this highly touted Heidari kid was so recruited for a reason, but we just won’t know until he gets out there and wows us. USC will play in the Pac-12 South, facing off against division opponents UCLA, ASU, Arizona, Colorado and Utah as well as annually playing Cal and Stanford (an effort to preserve the natural inter-state rivalries between the Bay Area and Los Angeles schools. Out of conference, SC faces Minnesota, Syracuse and Notre Dame.

Honestly, I think this will be a 9-3 season. Optimistically, maybe even 10-2.  Troy may be down, but the swagger is still there, it just needs to be reignited.

Reggie Bush’s season for which the entire USC football program is fucked was SIX YEARS ago.  The reason I haven’t posted about the stripping of the 2004 BCS trophy is two-fold and simple:

1. Everyone at USC expected this would happen if the appeals were denied.

2. It was SIX YEARS ago, we’d all just like to move on now please.

The NCAA has done everything they can to us and we’re still goddamned front page news day in and day out.  Tennessee, Ohio State, UNC and WVU are doing their best to put themselves on the NCAA’s radar with various forms of flaunting the rules the institution is so inconsistent in enforcing and yet it is still USC I see on the front page of ESPN, SI, Facebook, Twitter, etc.

We get it. The NCAA spanked us. We’re taking our punishment and moving on.

Won’t you all do the same? The isht going on at Ohio State threatens to be even more program destroying than Reggie Bush’s ride at USC. “Systemic violations for over eight years.”  “Terrelle Pryor deposited checks for his signature on OSU memorabilia”   “Over 50 players/friends/family members and used car dealerships” – these are but a few of the things I’ve read that have me shaking my head.  I have no love for the Ohio State University but right now, I feel for their fans.

That said, I fully expect the NCAA to find someway to not enforce the rules at Ohio State. USC was ONE PLAYER FOR TWO SEASONS. Yet in the end, I suspect we will still be held up as the bad guys.

Please move on, I beg of you.

UPDATE 10:30pm:  That picture is a HOAX. Scott Wolf, who covers the USC beat for the Daily News, took them from what appears to be a very dubious source and ran with them. Local NBC & CBS affiliates reported that these were the unis. Fans, alumni and others blogged and tweeted and by and large, were in an outrage about these uniforms.  But it is a HOAX. And Scott Wolf should be ashamed of himself for once again reporting inaccurate and unverified information. There are many devoted USC writers, bloggers, fans and alumni who could do a better job at covering USC for the Daily News.

I’ve been told by someone close to the USC Football program that YES, these pictures are not real. But there is an alternate uniform. It has not been revealed yet. He promised I would love it. Which made me rethink things: I am a big fan of Nike and very impressed with their R&D and technology. They put real thought into the uniforms and shoes they create. They would not (I hope!) mess with a school with the devotion to tradition that USC has.  Oregon allows them to create a vast wardrobe of bizzarre uni combos because, let’s face it, they allow Nike to. Nike also makes Florida’s uniforms. They did a Pro Combat version of Florida’s uni that was very very close to their regular unis. The most subtle of changes I believe nearly all USC alumni, fans and boosters can support. Especially if it utilizes the insane technology Nike has developed for football uniforms.

Original Post:

According to KNBC Los Angeles, Nike approached USC about doing a special Rivalry uniform for this year’s game versus UCLA at the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum.  Look, I get it from Nike’s standpoint, it’s $$$.  But, as my good friend Randall said: “You Don’t Mess With a Classic!”

USC has always been monstrously protective of its brand, and these uniforms dilute that brand.  Reportedly, Oregon lures key recruits away because of the wide variety of uniform choices at the University of Nike.  Why USC feels the need to change it up is beyond me. After all, OUR PLAYERS GET DRAFTED IN THE NFL. Nine this year. We hold the all time record. How many Oregon players got drafted this year?

ONE.

Casey Matthews.

Don’t do it USC. I suspect this is Lane Kiffin’s doing, as he pulled a similar stunt at Tennessee vs South Carolina.

USC wears gold pants. Not cardinal. Our helmets are cardinal. Not black.

Of course ASU recently debuted their black uniforms. USC does not need to compete with ASU or Oregon in a fashion walk off. We are SC. We have tradition on our side. And you just don’t mess with that.