USC defense trying to course-correct after letdown performance
From missed assignments and poor execution to miscommunication, there is much to work on…
USC safety Isaiah Pola-Mao and his defensive teammates are working to correct the assorted issues that helped Oregon State roll up 535 yds against the Trojans last week (322 on the ground). (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/SCNG)
Adam Grosbard (OC Register) — LOS ANGELES — Four days of space, ample film study and three practices did little to diminish the anguish in defensive coordinator Todd Orlando’s voice when asked about USC’s loss to Oregon State last weekend.
“I’ve beat myself up about 450 times going through it,” Orlando said.
The raw numbers for the Trojan defense’s performance on Saturday are ugly. Oregon State gained 535 yards. Three hundred and twenty-two of those came on the ground as the Beavers used both power rushing and a series of sweeps to break contain on the outside. USC allowed four touchdowns in five red zone trips and let the Beavers move the chains five out of 10 times on third down.
After practice Wednesday, though, USC was preaching simple corrections to help the defense move forward.
A common refrain was missed assignments and poor execution. Another was miscommunication.
“On that wheel that Tyjon Lindsey caught, it was just a miscommunication between our safeties,” safety Isaiah Pola-Mao said. “A lot of people just not doing their jobs, jumping out of gaps and stuff. It’s little things we can fix so it’s not the end of the world. It’s just being locked in, trusting each other and being on the same page with each other.”
There’s just a sense of urgency to get it right with the upcoming dates on the schedule.
This weekend’s opponent, Colorado, is a run-heavy team that returns sophomore running back and Pac-12 Offensive Player of the Year Jarek Broussard. The following week is Utah, another team that relies on its ground game.
So Orlando expects to see a similar game plan from Colorado as he did against Oregon State, with sweeps attacking the perimeter, an area that USC has struggled to defend in recent years.
“We know we’re going to see it, so we’ve been working at it to get it ironed out,” Orlando said. “These kids are eager, I think we all are eager to get back on the field on Saturday.”
FOREMAN NEEDS TO EARN SNAPS
Four games into his college career, former five-star recruit Korey Foreman has yet to make a mark.
The former No. 1 recruit in the country has seen limited playing time at defensive end. Foreman had one tackle against Oregon State and only has three this season.
USC was initially hopeful that Foreman would be able to make an immediate impact after enrolling this summer out of Corona Centennial High, with the idea of working him in more and more as the season progressed. But that has not turned out to be the case.
Asked on Wednesday whether injuries have limited Foreman’s playing time, defensive line coach Vic So’oto instead put the impetus on Foreman to earn his snaps.
“I’d say just being young. He’s still 18-19 years old and still learning how to play football,” So’oto said. “That’s up to him. The players that play have earned it in practice. He’s got one more practice to earn more playing time and build confidence in us.”
BRIEFLY
Outside linebacker Drake Jackson was limited in the second half against Oregon State by some nagging injuries, Orlando said, adding, “We’re being mindful – that’s the one thing I always want to do because I know these guys will go out and do anything we ask them to do. That’s almost being protective of them.”
Starting cornerback Isaac Taylor-Stuart did not participate in practice for the second straight day, watching the team from the sidelines.
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I know we have been over this territory before, but is Lane Kiffin a legit candidate to be the new HC? He is no longer the young inexperienced Lane who dealt with the sanctions and scholarship limitations USC had during his tenure. It appears he has matured and had success in Florida and working with Saban at Alabama. I can not think of a new HC with his connections for local recruiting better and his play calling and development of players. Is he possibly the right guy at this time for USC? Alan and fellow Trojans please give me your… Read more »
Personally, I don’t believe Kiffin will ever reunite with USC. He could do the job for sure IMO and would be well-suited. But with all the USC/Kiffin backstory, I just don’t see a return. But none of us really knows who Bohn is even intent on pursuing yet, or if Bohn has even narrowed things down. No leaks yet. I think the first thing Bohn has to do realistically, so he doesn’t waste time, is cross off those guys who won’t take the job. That in itself is a big, convoluted, treacherous process, which I presume Bohn and his staff… Read more »
So much for Lane as our possible next HC. Lane laid an egg against Saban. He was out coached once again. We need a HC that can beat Saban.
Glad for the victory today. All victories this year I will take with pleasure.
Joel Klatt on Colin Cowherd yesterday was talking about one of the things that impressed him about Brian Kelly, after attending practices before the Wisconsin game, was that he didn’t have the hubris to say things like”I don’t care if they’re hard to run on, we are going to do it”, like a lot of coaches with huge egos do. He was going to game plan to what his team could do well against the team they were playing. This is supposed to be a down, rebuilding year for ND, but here they are, improving every week, and in every… Read more »
I’m afraid USC’s loss to Notre Dame this year in South Bend is going to be one of those really lopsided affairs, like when Pete Carroll used to just rattle the Irish out of their skulls. Not good. Brian Kelly’s a much better coach now than when he first started at ND. I think he might win a NC, probably with next year’s team. But I don’t see anyone on ND’s remaining schedule who is gonna beat them now. So ND will get into the playoffs again, and have to prove they don’t get blown again at that final stage.… Read more »
Corey Foreman came to USC as the top rated recruit in the nation. At the time it was a victory for the program. The Helton effect has come down on him hard, he just needs to restart his college football career and get his butt to working harder than he ever has before. I think about the linebacker that transfered to Ohio St, he is so far behind the curve because of Helton he can’t play there.
The USC defense is just slow, and I mean not even quick. Everyone knows they do not have the speed to contain the outside, or to cover the deep passing patterns. Watch the db’s trying to catch up with receivers running the post routes. So is Orlando aware of it and scheming to compensate. Is the 6 man rush the answer? I think not. Orlando is trying to be to sophisticated, he needs to simplify so there are not so many mistakes made by defenders.
I was really surprised to see Orlando talk immed after the ORE ST loss. He looked really shaken to me about what he had just witnessed, and like he had been just rocked hard about a reality he had to somehow quickly change.
If you watch the replay, when USC did not come with a blitz, usually 6 rushers, but stayed home they contained OSU much better because the defensive zones were not vacated. The vacated zones were right where OSU was running the ball, directly into the blitz they could see coming that USC is not able to disguise. To much going on, Orlando needs to dial it back a bit.
What I had thought all along was that the SC D front 7, particularly the middle three (NT and ILBs) were not very good. I thought Hufanga covered incredibly well last year for the lack of talent at the ILB position. While Bullock is a true surprise, there is no one at safety who is at Hufanga’s level of talent. As I understand this D scheme (and I am far from an expert), the most important positions are the middle three. If they are not very good, then a team can run up the middle or to the edges. I… Read more »
The BUFFS are going to be fired up! They can finally break their streak while at home too against a bad USC team with a million questions in front of it that need to be worked out.
Folsom Field in Boulder is just a fantastic place to see a game. Were I a BUFF fan, I’d be looking forward to a great, maybe a history-making time.
Think of all the distractions the SC team now has. Let’s see if Donte can get the kids to focus. I saw you took CO and the points. I might to the same. I do not think Bohn had any idea how bad this team was. A few of us on this Board saw it (bad front 7 on D, bad O scheme and OC, and bad OL). Hufanga (and a ton of luck) was the glue that held SC together last year. Without him, the D is in real trouble.
I didn’t expect our D to be THIS bad. Geeezzz. I was just hung up on the Hufanga exit. He was just the tip of the iceberg.
You had the team pegged right more than most. It looks like your 6-6 prediction is the closest to being correct. If USC loses to CU, they might only win four games.
I love this new move to shore up their DL with the shift of Bosco frosh Max Gibbs, almost a 400-pounder, to NG. No sweat Max!
Freshman so-called “phenom” Korey Foreman not wowing anyone in practice, that’s for sure. “I’d say just being young. He’s still 18-19 years old and still learning how to play football,”Vic So’otosaid of Korey Foreman. “That’s up to him. The players that play have earned it in practice. He’s got one more practice to earn more playing time and build confidence in us.”
Hard to predict how a high school phenom will do in college when you are no longer bigger-stronger-faster than other players around you. It’s up to Korey to will his way by working harder in the weight room, on the practice field, studying film, learning new technique and when you make mistakes on the field you learn from it. Each day you get better and don’t regress. It becomes habitual. He has that moniker on his chest “5-star phenom” so he has the attention of those around him expecting to see great things from his play. If he takes this… Read more »
I remember AJ took three years to realize that even with his considerable talent and speed, his technique was terrible. When he applied what he had been taught he became the player he should have been earlier.
So many 5 star fragile ego phenoms don’t want to put in the work their freshman year, enter the transfer portal, and blame the staff. It’s going to be important for Bohn, if things continue to go south quickly, to name the new coach sooner than he might want to so he can keep the players you want to keep and maybe salvage the early signing period
I’ve given up worrying at all about the early signing period results. USC simply has to get the right guy this time, and the stakes are higher than they’ve ever been for USC football. Another bad-to-mediocre choice for HC will just cause a further cratering of the program. Just imagine 3-4 more years for USC football led by the wrong guy. If the new guy’s not available until January, I don’t care. I’m not hoping USC can salvage anything about already laughable 2021. At least not seriously. For USC and me now, it’s all about 2022 and the new HC.… Read more »
They studied film? Which one Goofy’s how to play football? We need to watch Bambi vs, Godzilla. Of all the squads to be disappointed by, I never thought the defense would fall apart. I think its time to go back to play cards being held up on the sidelines, except they should all read, “TACKLE THE GUY WITH THE BALL!”
Our defense is where mediocre opposing players go to become legends. I’m not even sure I will record the game to watch later this week.
The roof continues to cave in on USC football. Somehow, it seems to get a little worse every day. I’m sure Bohn never dreamed he’d be facing this huge pile of mess pretending to be the USC Trojans. If he did, then he has a much stronger stomach for USC football misery than I do. And if he’s still taking orders from above to shoot for mediocrity, then I agree. He should resign. But since that won’t happen, I can’t wait to see how our Trojans stack up against a very crappy CU team in Boulder. BUFF fans must be… Read more »
I guess he was hoping the discipline/accountability crowd would be able to rise up and take charge. Maybe there just aren’t enough of them to make a difference. You would think the staff would be trying to get a fire lit if only to help get another job.
USC has huge talent, coaching, scheme, and culture problems. That’s more evident to me now than even when Gentleman Clay was patrolling the sidelines. Based on what I’ve seen so far (emphasis on “so far”), this USC ship is simply wrecked, inside and out. Even the wonderful Trojan tailgating has been ruined, along with a few other great Trojan traditions of the past. Frankly, I’m surprised many of us even hold out any hope for this year’s team. Last year USC was one of the luckiest teams in the history of CFB (okay, I’m exaggerating). This year we’ve got Drake… Read more »
Utah, You forget last year! I have never seen a game like the ASU game; SC won that one with two plays I have never seen in my 50 + years of watching football – a tip play and the best onsides kick I have ever seen executed. The onsides kick was never practiced. And then Kedon won it with an incredible throw to London (best throw of the year for Kedon). Against AZ, AZ was down to walk ons in the defensive backfield and one of those kids dropped a sure interception. If he had caught it, SC would… Read more »
Oh I remember last year all too well. There were plenty of lucky moments. But you can’t discard the Helton effect. We’re those wins lucky when the prolonged the Helton legacy?
I think he may have realized the fate of USC football was just a matter of time before it noticeably started to crumble due to all the weakened areas that form the foundation of a football program. But yet, when you are told you cannot rush to remove the face of the program (the HC), how successful can you be trying to put a quick fix in with a new staff as Bohn attempted knowing his HC has melted on the hot-seat for years and your coaches know they are only there until a new HC comes in and clears… Read more »
Former DC Clancy P. always seemed to get our defensive edges collapsed and teams such as the Ruins come to mind several years ago prancing around our ends as if they did not exist. (They DID NOT EXIST) because coach Clancy allowed teams to turn the corner on us. We had the same problem last Saturday. Coach Orlando, SET AN EDGE and don’t give it up. Please give this Korey Freeman kid an opportunity to set an edge and keep things flowing back inside to get offside support. If teams use TE’s for blocking and our front 4 are outnumbered,… Read more »
I saw the ever stoic and totally boring Clancy on UCLA’s sideline, hovering around Choc Chip Kelly. It looked to me like Clancy was trying to put on some serious weight to get to Choc Chip’s level.
Didn’t we have a story last week how the OL/RBs promised to play better? This week the D is making the promise. Your hearts are writing checks your brain/body can’t cash!
Promises, promises, promises. I’ll start believing them when the new USC coach starts making them. That first intro presser with Bohn and Folt grinning in the background will be a sight to see.
Week 5 college football picks per LAT: USC at Colorado The last time the Trojans hit the road to take on a struggling opponent, they started slowly before blowing out Washington State 45-14. Of course, they had freshman quarterback Jaxson Dart as a spark. Back in the Coliseum with Kedon Slovis, USC had another uninspired performance. Whether it’s Slovis or Dart, the Trojans should benefit once again from getting away from the negativity in L.A. and just playing football against an inferior team. USC 31, Colorado 20 No. 7 Cincinnati at No. 9 Notre Dame The Fighting Irish have had a wild start to… Read more »
I am staying away from the Pac 12 and ND/Cinci this weekend, betting wise. Every game is a toss up IMO. Should be hugely fun to watch. Will Oregon and UCLA continue to rise to the top or get “cannibalized”?
ORE and UCLA are going to play for the Pac-12 championship IMO. They’ve both got big obstacles to overcome (even though the Pac-12 sucks), but I think those two schools have the best shots at doing it. I’m gonna end up taking ND over CIN. I just don’t think CIN will be ready to deal with the ghosts of ND Stadium. It can be very intimidating. I was there when they rolled the wooden Trojan Horse out carrying Irish players before the USC game. The raw noise and excitement was tremendous. The game was already over. I think our crew… Read more »
I remember that “Wooden Horse” and “Green Jersey” game Allen. My classmate Rob Hertl was the USC QB and he was harassed by the Irish Defense all day long. Rob would later redeem himself that season (1977) with a stirring comeback against the little gutties were Frank Jordan kicked the winning field goal as time ran out. Even with that, I think UW went to the Rose Bowl and SC went to the Bluebonnet Bowl (just from memory-didn’t Google it).
“I’ve beat myself up about 450 times going through it,” Orlando said.
USC was initially hopeful that Foreman would be able to make an immediate impact after enrolling this summer out of Corona Centennial High, with the idea of working him in more and more as the season progressed. But that has not turned out to be the case.
I know we have been over this territory before, but is Lane Kiffin a legit candidate to be the new HC? He is no longer the young inexperienced Lane who dealt with the sanctions and scholarship limitations USC had during his tenure. It appears he has matured and had success in Florida and working with Saban at Alabama. I can not think of a new HC with his connections for local recruiting better and his play calling and development of players. Is he possibly the right guy at this time for USC? Alan and fellow Trojans please give me your… Read more »
Personally, I don’t believe Kiffin will ever reunite with USC. He could do the job for sure IMO and would be well-suited. But with all the USC/Kiffin backstory, I just don’t see a return. But none of us really knows who Bohn is even intent on pursuing yet, or if Bohn has even narrowed things down. No leaks yet. I think the first thing Bohn has to do realistically, so he doesn’t waste time, is cross off those guys who won’t take the job. That in itself is a big, convoluted, treacherous process, which I presume Bohn and his staff… Read more »
So much for Lane as our possible next HC. Lane laid an egg against Saban. He was out coached once again. We need a HC that can beat Saban.
Glad for the victory today. All victories this year I will take with pleasure.
USC played it tough today. I thought it was a very good win. Good aggression overall. This team doesn’t look like it has any quit in it to me.
It just never ends!
Secret USC payoff stuff…
Joel Klatt on Colin Cowherd yesterday was talking about one of the things that impressed him about Brian Kelly, after attending practices before the Wisconsin game, was that he didn’t have the hubris to say things like”I don’t care if they’re hard to run on, we are going to do it”, like a lot of coaches with huge egos do. He was going to game plan to what his team could do well against the team they were playing. This is supposed to be a down, rebuilding year for ND, but here they are, improving every week, and in every… Read more »
I’m afraid USC’s loss to Notre Dame this year in South Bend is going to be one of those really lopsided affairs, like when Pete Carroll used to just rattle the Irish out of their skulls. Not good. Brian Kelly’s a much better coach now than when he first started at ND. I think he might win a NC, probably with next year’s team. But I don’t see anyone on ND’s remaining schedule who is gonna beat them now. So ND will get into the playoffs again, and have to prove they don’t get blown again at that final stage.… Read more »
Corey Foreman came to USC as the top rated recruit in the nation. At the time it was a victory for the program. The Helton effect has come down on him hard, he just needs to restart his college football career and get his butt to working harder than he ever has before. I think about the linebacker that transfered to Ohio St, he is so far behind the curve because of Helton he can’t play there.
Gibbs might play some DT this week. He’s slow but not easily moved. We shall see.
As we regress further with slower players. This will be interesting to watch.
The USC defense is just slow, and I mean not even quick. Everyone knows they do not have the speed to contain the outside, or to cover the deep passing patterns. Watch the db’s trying to catch up with receivers running the post routes. So is Orlando aware of it and scheming to compensate. Is the 6 man rush the answer? I think not. Orlando is trying to be to sophisticated, he needs to simplify so there are not so many mistakes made by defenders.
I was really surprised to see Orlando talk immed after the ORE ST loss. He looked really shaken to me about what he had just witnessed, and like he had been just rocked hard about a reality he had to somehow quickly change.
If you watch the replay, when USC did not come with a blitz, usually 6 rushers, but stayed home they contained OSU much better because the defensive zones were not vacated. The vacated zones were right where OSU was running the ball, directly into the blitz they could see coming that USC is not able to disguise. To much going on, Orlando needs to dial it back a bit.
What I had thought all along was that the SC D front 7, particularly the middle three (NT and ILBs) were not very good. I thought Hufanga covered incredibly well last year for the lack of talent at the ILB position. While Bullock is a true surprise, there is no one at safety who is at Hufanga’s level of talent. As I understand this D scheme (and I am far from an expert), the most important positions are the middle three. If they are not very good, then a team can run up the middle or to the edges. I… Read more »
The BUFFS are going to be fired up! They can finally break their streak while at home too against a bad USC team with a million questions in front of it that need to be worked out.
Folsom Field in Boulder is just a fantastic place to see a game. Were I a BUFF fan, I’d be looking forward to a great, maybe a history-making time.
Think of all the distractions the SC team now has. Let’s see if Donte can get the kids to focus. I saw you took CO and the points. I might to the same. I do not think Bohn had any idea how bad this team was. A few of us on this Board saw it (bad front 7 on D, bad O scheme and OC, and bad OL). Hufanga (and a ton of luck) was the glue that held SC together last year. Without him, the D is in real trouble.
I didn’t expect our D to be THIS bad. Geeezzz. I was just hung up on the Hufanga exit. He was just the tip of the iceberg.
You had the team pegged right more than most. It looks like your 6-6 prediction is the closest to being correct. If USC loses to CU, they might only win four games.
I love this new move to shore up their DL with the shift of Bosco frosh Max Gibbs, almost a 400-pounder, to NG. No sweat Max!
I think we are seeing the effects that dismal recruiting class from two years has had on depth and development
Chickens are coming home to roost, as they say.
Freshman so-called “phenom” Korey Foreman not wowing anyone in practice, that’s for sure.
“I’d say just being young. He’s still 18-19 years old and still learning how to play football,” Vic So’oto said of Korey Foreman. “That’s up to him. The players that play have earned it in practice. He’s got one more practice to earn more playing time and build confidence in us.”
Hard to predict how a high school phenom will do in college when you are no longer bigger-stronger-faster than other players around you. It’s up to Korey to will his way by working harder in the weight room, on the practice field, studying film, learning new technique and when you make mistakes on the field you learn from it. Each day you get better and don’t regress. It becomes habitual. He has that moniker on his chest “5-star phenom” so he has the attention of those around him expecting to see great things from his play. If he takes this… Read more »
I remember AJ took three years to realize that even with his considerable talent and speed, his technique was terrible. When he applied what he had been taught he became the player he should have been earlier.
So many 5 star fragile ego phenoms don’t want to put in the work their freshman year, enter the transfer portal, and blame the staff. It’s going to be important for Bohn, if things continue to go south quickly, to name the new coach sooner than he might want to so he can keep the players you want to keep and maybe salvage the early signing period
I’ve given up worrying at all about the early signing period results. USC simply has to get the right guy this time, and the stakes are higher than they’ve ever been for USC football. Another bad-to-mediocre choice for HC will just cause a further cratering of the program. Just imagine 3-4 more years for USC football led by the wrong guy. If the new guy’s not available until January, I don’t care. I’m not hoping USC can salvage anything about already laughable 2021. At least not seriously. For USC and me now, it’s all about 2022 and the new HC.… Read more »
They studied film? Which one Goofy’s how to play football? We need to watch Bambi vs, Godzilla. Of all the squads to be disappointed by, I never thought the defense would fall apart. I think its time to go back to play cards being held up on the sidelines, except they should all read, “TACKLE THE GUY WITH THE BALL!”
Our defense is where mediocre opposing players go to become legends. I’m not even sure I will record the game to watch later this week.
The roof continues to cave in on USC football. Somehow, it seems to get a little worse every day. I’m sure Bohn never dreamed he’d be facing this huge pile of mess pretending to be the USC Trojans. If he did, then he has a much stronger stomach for USC football misery than I do. And if he’s still taking orders from above to shoot for mediocrity, then I agree. He should resign. But since that won’t happen, I can’t wait to see how our Trojans stack up against a very crappy CU team in Boulder. BUFF fans must be… Read more »
I guess he was hoping the discipline/accountability crowd would be able to rise up and take charge. Maybe there just aren’t enough of them to make a difference. You would think the staff would be trying to get a fire lit if only to help get another job.
USC has huge talent, coaching, scheme, and culture problems. That’s more evident to me now than even when Gentleman Clay was patrolling the sidelines. Based on what I’ve seen so far (emphasis on “so far”), this USC ship is simply wrecked, inside and out. Even the wonderful Trojan tailgating has been ruined, along with a few other great Trojan traditions of the past. Frankly, I’m surprised many of us even hold out any hope for this year’s team. Last year USC was one of the luckiest teams in the history of CFB (okay, I’m exaggerating). This year we’ve got Drake… Read more »
I have a hard time calling any team “lucky” that is coached by Helton.
Utah, You forget last year! I have never seen a game like the ASU game; SC won that one with two plays I have never seen in my 50 + years of watching football – a tip play and the best onsides kick I have ever seen executed. The onsides kick was never practiced. And then Kedon won it with an incredible throw to London (best throw of the year for Kedon). Against AZ, AZ was down to walk ons in the defensive backfield and one of those kids dropped a sure interception. If he had caught it, SC would… Read more »
Oh I remember last year all too well. There were plenty of lucky moments. But you can’t discard the Helton effect. We’re those wins lucky when the prolonged the Helton legacy?
I think he may have realized the fate of USC football was just a matter of time before it noticeably started to crumble due to all the weakened areas that form the foundation of a football program. But yet, when you are told you cannot rush to remove the face of the program (the HC), how successful can you be trying to put a quick fix in with a new staff as Bohn attempted knowing his HC has melted on the hot-seat for years and your coaches know they are only there until a new HC comes in and clears… Read more »
Next year every current player will move down the pecking order and walk ons will be walking out the door we hope.
Former DC Clancy P. always seemed to get our defensive edges collapsed and teams such as the Ruins come to mind several years ago prancing around our ends as if they did not exist. (They DID NOT EXIST) because coach Clancy allowed teams to turn the corner on us. We had the same problem last Saturday. Coach Orlando, SET AN EDGE and don’t give it up. Please give this Korey Freeman kid an opportunity to set an edge and keep things flowing back inside to get offside support. If teams use TE’s for blocking and our front 4 are outnumbered,… Read more »
I saw the ever stoic and totally boring Clancy on UCLA’s sideline, hovering around Choc Chip Kelly. It looked to me like Clancy was trying to put on some serious weight to get to Choc Chip’s level.
Didn’t we have a story last week how the OL/RBs promised to play better? This week the D is making the promise. Your hearts are writing checks your brain/body can’t cash!
Promises, promises, promises. I’ll start believing them when the new USC coach starts making them. That first intro presser with Bohn and Folt grinning in the background will be a sight to see.
Week 5 college football picks per LAT: USC at Colorado The last time the Trojans hit the road to take on a struggling opponent, they started slowly before blowing out Washington State 45-14. Of course, they had freshman quarterback Jaxson Dart as a spark. Back in the Coliseum with Kedon Slovis, USC had another uninspired performance. Whether it’s Slovis or Dart, the Trojans should benefit once again from getting away from the negativity in L.A. and just playing football against an inferior team. USC 31, Colorado 20 No. 7 Cincinnati at No. 9 Notre Dame The Fighting Irish have had a wild start to… Read more »
I am staying away from the Pac 12 and ND/Cinci this weekend, betting wise. Every game is a toss up IMO. Should be hugely fun to watch. Will Oregon and UCLA continue to rise to the top or get “cannibalized”?
ORE and UCLA are going to play for the Pac-12 championship IMO. They’ve both got big obstacles to overcome (even though the Pac-12 sucks), but I think those two schools have the best shots at doing it. I’m gonna end up taking ND over CIN. I just don’t think CIN will be ready to deal with the ghosts of ND Stadium. It can be very intimidating. I was there when they rolled the wooden Trojan Horse out carrying Irish players before the USC game. The raw noise and excitement was tremendous. The game was already over. I think our crew… Read more »
I remember that “Wooden Horse” and “Green Jersey” game Allen. My classmate Rob Hertl was the USC QB and he was harassed by the Irish Defense all day long. Rob would later redeem himself that season (1977) with a stirring comeback against the little gutties were Frank Jordan kicked the winning field goal as time ran out. Even with that, I think UW went to the Rose Bowl and SC went to the Bluebonnet Bowl (just from memory-didn’t Google it).