Is TEXAS college football’s new ALABAMA? Where does USC fit?
Colin Cowherd (The Herd) — “TEXAS my entire life has always been USC in cowboy hats. I don’t trust ’em. Good lookin’, a lot of style, a lot of vibe, a lot of energy. Coach always makes a lot of money. Cool stadium. Cool city. But where are all the natty’s?
“TEXAS football is cool. It passes the eye test. But they’re not ALA. They’re not gritty. TEXAS is the prom king. He’s the coolest guy in school. He may be the best looking guy in school. ALA was like the best wrestler in your high school. He didn’t always look good in clothes, but nobody wanted to mess with him. Didn’t have the coolest car. Was never really the coolest, the quarterback was.
“But nobody’s afraid of the prom king, and that’s the problem. ALA intimidated you. GA intimidated you. USC and TEXAS — they create envy. They’ve got money. But ALA was about O-line, run game, toughness and linebackers. ALA was fundamental over flash. TEXAS is always like USC. Their good teams always have a lot of flash.
“You go back to the USC dynasty, and most people would say two words. Reggie Bush. Right? Like that’s what you would say. Would you trust TEXAS in a big spot if they are playing a hyper-physical SEC team, or a tough, physical ND or OHIO ST team? Do you trust ’em? I don’t.
“I may be a USC honk. But I don’t trust ’em. If it’s drizzling, you won’t get their A game. You will not get USC’s A game if it’s overcast and there’s a light drizzle in the second quarter. I kinda feel like TEXAS has always always been USC in cowboy hats.
“In college football to me, three football programs have always been sort of like Rodeo Drive: MIA Hurricanes, TEXAS Longhorns and USC. College football is always better when they are all good. And they rarely have been simultaneously. But to me they don’t feel the same as like the Big Ten.
“That’s why I’m so fascinated with USC going to the Big Ten. ORE and UW going to the Big Ten, they play in crappy weather all the time. They both have to work hard to go get players out of state. USC football and TEXAS football — they’re pretty.
“And Pete Carroll briefly made USC really tough, and really physical. And Sark didn’t. Lane Kiffin didn’t. Lincoln Riley hasn’t. Clay Helton didn’t. Doesn’t mean they can’t coach. Doesn’t mean they’re not good coaches. But there is something about USC and TEXAS in these big spots against tough physical teams … I trusted the Pete Carroll teams. I haven’t since. I’m tellin’ ya, if it’s raining, USC doesn’t feel like the same team. And I feel a little of that with TEXAS too. It’s a lot of fun, a lot of sizzle, and a lot of flash, but ‘Bama doesn’t worry about that. GA doesn’t worry about that. That’s just my take.
“TEXAS and USC played, in my opinion, the most memorable college football game ever. The 2006 Rose Bowl. I was at it. It was unbelievable. It was the best looking crowd in the history of college football. Even in a very busy city, full of glamour, like L.A. It was the coolest thing in L.A. for months.” — Cowherd
I sure wish Reggie Bush had been on the field for this crucial 4th-and-2 stop which turned the ball back over to MVP Vince Young one more time — TEXAS 41, USC 38. USC’s amazing 34 game win streak was over.
USC and Sam Darnold (397 yds/3 TDs) returned the favor in 2017, winning a double OT thriller in the Coliseum 27-24 on freshman walk-on Chase McGrath’s walk off 43 yd FG.
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ROT has a story about the B1G throwing out the idea of the playoffs going to 24-28 teams. Hope they put it to rest.
Last seasons playoffs showed there are barely 12 teams worthy, maybe only 10. Leave it be as is.
I say 8 teams with 4 power conf champs and 4 at-large. But since that horse is out of the barn, leave it at 12, no more.
Agreed. 12 teams is enough, for a lot of reasons IMO.
The NCAA lets MICH off the hook for blatant cheating. Who’s surprised? NCAA fines Michigan football, bans Sherrone Moore a third game for sign-stealing scandal. The Wolverines were facing 11 separate violations, including six of the Level I variety — deemed as the most serious of offenses. Tony Garcia (Detroit Free Press) — The NCAA has handed Michigan football a laundry list of punishments for the sign-stealing scandal from 2021 to 2023 after it found “overwhelming evidence” of the impermissible scouting scheme. Although the NCAA found “sufficient grounds for a multiyear postseason ban,” the panel decided that would “unfairly penalize student-athletes for the… Read more »
Ever since the USC draconian punishment the NCAA has been chopped down bit by bit. It is now a shadow of its former self. Shown to be the corrupt good ole boy club that it is. Good riddance.
A certain savior was crucified taking away mankinds sins of the World. Seems familiar as the NCAA thought “they were the World” in abusing its membership as they chose. Although worse offenses were made and delt with, it took the crucifixion of USC to cause a reaction which eventually brought the bully to its knees. And now compared to before, these slaps on the wrist given to rule breakers today are the result of USC being the sacrificial lamb?
I’m certainly not for over-punishment towards any school. Justice that fits the crime would be a lot more like it!
Unfortunately, USC was so severely and radically over-punished that our program was literally decimated by the NCAA while they did everything they could to hide their corruption and justify their obvious negative bias.
It was an unbelievable intentional miscarriage of authority.
Most farcical organization in the history of sports “governance”, if that’s what they call their primary responsibility. Just a joke of an institution.
LOL with a bit of contempt……if USC had punished today….instead of three years of sanctions we probably would have received 6 months of financial training for the players and staff with each receiving a certificate good for one free In and Out burger.
I have two thoughts with respect to the “penalties” levied by the No Consequences Athletics Administration (NCAA). First it isn’t fair to punish current players for the sins of past mistakes? Then wipe out the “wins” of the past players. When the NCAA wiped USC from the record books and took away scholarships and bowl appearances in the future, they didn’t seem so concerned about players who were not in school when the “infraction” occurred. Second, while it is blatantly cheating to steal signs and use them to your advantage, nobody ever noticed that teams were daring them to try?… Read more »
Gilbert: Michigan Got Off Easy; NCAA Takes Easy Out Jeff Gilbert (pressprosmagazine.com) — The NCAA confirmed Friday that Jim Harbaugh’s former program was engaged in an “elaborate, impermissible scouting scheme.” How many times did Harbaugh, et al., claim ignorance of the entire scheme? So many times they probably began to believe they were truly innocent. TTUN will never stand for The Truth Up North. At its wishy-washy worst, the NCAA claimed there was “insufficient evidence” that cheating influenced who won and lost. So it’s not what you do? Wrongdoing only matters if someone gets hurt? Can I logically conclude that… Read more »
Is Cowherd is saying we are soft. All this stuff about rain. The kids are playing hard to the last seconds.
but he is correct….we’ve had a run of horrible head coach hires mixed with some admin failures.
Most on this site agree that the losses last year are directly tied to the bonehead head coach. Not much to do with softness. Just plain stupid game planning and down right idiotic game decision making. The team was a playoff team that was screwed by its head coach.
.
Abso-f’ing-lutely! Dummy head coach happened in 2024, Illinois.
ATL…..what percent do you think his royal highness will become a workable head coach this year……I’ve got him at 50% on the basis that he must have been reasonable at Oklahoma. Believe it or not I’ve only watched seven OK games in my life…..all against USC…..so I’ve no idea what he was like at OK.
I wouldn’t give up on this guy. He’s got great potential for a very young head coach. He’s a good recruiter. He hires good assistants. He’s known for his ability to coach QB’s and great offenses. I think last year was an anamoly on offense. He needs a great O-Line. He’s bringing in outstanding O-Line recruiting classes. One of the reasons why Zach Hanson is O-Line coach is because his wife has been such a huge part of the USC football program and is probably expected to be in the future(IMHO). If Zach Hanson doesn’t do the job I think… Read more »
All I would add is it’s too bad almost every asst and so much of LR’s original staff were total crap and had to be fired or shifted to lesser positions. Also, LR’s 2023 offense, where he turned over the show to “Hero Ball” Caleb Williams also sucked. Sometimes, they couldn’t even get the play off in time with all the frantic hand-signaling back and forth. Caleb basically ran around like a chicken with his head cut off before tossing the ball to someone he could finally spot open. Combine that with the horrible Alex Grinch and USC predictably fell… Read more »
Without the addition of Chad Bowden, I think the chance of Riley improving drops to 20-80
Chad’s hard core and smart as a whip. Thank God we have him!
He publicly said that once he spoke with Jen Cohen, he was ready to come to USC.
He definitely let Caleb get away with murder although I think a lot of coaches would have backed off in disciplining such a generational player.But he’s young and still learning. I’d give him 2 more years unless next year is downright terrible. That’s all he is going to get anyhow…..2 more years if he doesn’t produce. I just feel good about this year. He’s probably got a chip on his shoulders(as do the players because of the ratings they are getting in the preseason polls) because so many people like Paul Fineburn have been trashing his reputation as a coach.… Read more »
I like your optimism but I’m skeptical he will change. I hope he does for the team’s sake and my blood pressure. The O Line was good enough last year to run the ball effectively he just wouldn’t do it. We’ll see, one of the keys I’m looking for, like all of us.
Keep in mind they just hired a guy who is a long time pro O line coach to work with the defense.
And Adrien Klemm has been a great O-Line coach in the past especially when he was with UCLA. Maybe they hired him to put Hanson on the hot seat mentally…..keeping him thinking that if he doesn’t get the job done they already have his replacement on staff.
Bingo. A little insecurity can sure be motivational.
best motivator there is
50-50 sounds about right.
Interesting take! Never looked at Texas as USC with cowboy hats. I have always thought of the Texas Ora as how they think of themselves being the big boys in town with a unabashed forever Texas ego. Even their unofficial team song is The Grandioso March. Makes absolutely no difference if they win or lose, they think they’re better than anybody and always will. It’s in their blood & mindset. I think USC is the most envied-hated program in CFB with its flash and style being Hollywood hotshots from the West coast. We’re not meat & potatoes or even mom… Read more »
But until the post-Pete Caroll era of sorry ass coaches, we had the tough as hell stones to back up the arrogance. Since then, we became a finesse, big 12 team
That’s exactly what Riley intended us to be even going in the Big Ten conference because it’s all he knows where he learned & came from. And why he called the plays he did at the end of the games. It’s all he knows and if it wasn’t for Jen & Chad taking over the recruiting, we might still be a Big 12 lookalike. He can thank his lucky stars AD Boone backed a brinks truck into his driveway or he might be looking at job offers right now?
I think the comparison, for what it’s worth, with Miami is more appropriate. Both private, both coastal, both glamorous, both with periods of near invincibility. That said, while I hate Texas, I despise Miami beyond hate for their former leader, whose name I will not mention, and the infractions they’ve committed for which they’ve received mere slaps on the wrist comparatively.
The infamous Paul Dee. May he never rest in peace.
Thanks a million, looking at Jabba the Hutt just ruined my day.
😅
Sometimes I’m not too bright. Forgive me please. ✌
Horrible fat fu**!
Dee only lived to be 65 when he croaked due to a recurrence of tongue cancer. I don’t think USC sent any flowers.
Wow, that’s got to be a bad way to go.
Not bad enough.
Wow Cowherd fell hard off the band wagon. History favors USC long before Pete came along. As for weather I remember a game at the coliseum where it rained so hard my father suggested the unthinkable “Let’s head home and listen to the game on the car radio.” In those days who did that? (Mom said No)
All those linemen and linebackers in the NFL must have been before Cowherd learned to lift a pencil. Cowherd can pass wind at both ends and nobody knows which end it’s coming from until they get a strong whiff.
“What have you done for me lately” always applies. What you say is totally accurate RT. But in the last 15 years, USC football has simply been bad. We’re in a very prolonged slump (initiated by the NCAA of course), and the last two years LR’s performance stunk, at least by all objective accounts. USC hasn’t played with the big boys in a long time and the final post season rankings and bad bowl opportunities support that conclusion. Unfortunately, USC football has become an expert at losing big games and gets pushed around too often. Until that changes, USC will… Read more »
What can we say about the USC football program the last 15 years due to the decisions of Max Nikias. It was he who put the ADs in place and eventually that included a HC that has kept the USC football program in hibernation long enough the where the whole football operation had to be replaced. What would have kept the program from falling as deeply as it had was the firing of Lane Kiffin, which it has been said was by the orders of the upper administration. Only after Max resigned has the football program had the opportunity to… Read more »
Agreed. Big mistake to fire Kiffin. He had really no chance to succeed based on NCAA penalties.
On charts like this if I have to look more than two rows for SC I know the chart is wrong 😆