College Football Discussion 08

[hops_scout]

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last couple of posts

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<p>I’m too lazy to actually look, but I’ll get if I were to check that over 75% of the posts would mention how great USC is. </p>

<p>I’m starting to think USC fans have a lot in common with Cubs fans… very loyal which is good; intelligence…</p>

[Rachel_Dawes]

<p>Well, can you really blame us for discussing a high profile team, hops_scout? Even you prefer to center your posts here on USC/the PAC-10 instead of the Ohio Valley Conference.</p>

[hops_scout]

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can you really blame us for discussing a high profile team

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<p>Missed the point. I don’t care how much you discuss USC, but all you say is how they deserve to be ranked in top 5, be in National Championship game, how much better they are, etc. But they don’t SHOW it on the field. I was SO happy to see Oregon State beat USC but that hasn’t gotten USC fans to shut up about how Immortal they think they are…</p>

[Rachel_Dawes]

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I don’t care how much you discuss USC, but all you say is how they deserve to be ranked in top 5, be in National Championship game, how much better they are, etc. But they don’t SHOW it on the field.

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<p>There HAS been a lot of criticism for USC not showing up on the field here. Many people besides yourself have noticed. I’m not sure anyone here has said USC “deserves” to be in the NC game. The general sentiment is that they “wish” it were so, or that on paper, USC’s talent depth and experience “should” or “can” make it so. Which, hey, is true. </p>

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I was SO happy to see Oregon State beat USC but that hasn’t gotten USC fans to shut up about how Immortal they think they are…

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<p>You’re complaining about USC fans? Have you ever been around SEC fans? Every other LSU, Georgia, Alabama and Florida fan thinks their team is “Immortal.” Go up North and you’ll see it from Penn State fans. Go halfway West and you’ll see Texas and Oklahoma fans give USC fans a run for their money. You’ll even find Ohio State, Michigan, UCLA, Tennessee and Auburn fans feeling the same way.</p>

<p>In short: it’s football. Every team that has ever made a name for itself, no matter how long ago or recent, has its share of outspoken, perhaps arrogant, fans. So, so what?</p>

[jbusc]

<p>I’ve not once said here that USC “deserves” to be in the national championship game, and I’ve only said once (quite a while back, I might add) that USC deserved its top-5 ranking (at least at that point in time). I had two or three posts discussing the possibility USC in the championship game, otherwise, I’ve only discussed USC in specifics (either statistics or specific subjective criteria, not “USC iz sooo MUCH bestest!!”). So I’m just going to assume you’re not really referring to me.</p>

<p>On the other hand I’m more than glad to go with hard facts. Since 2002: 5-1 in BCS bowls, 6 straight consecutive 11-win seasons, 4-0 vs SEC, 5-0 vs. Big-10, 2-0 vs. ACC, 4-2 vs. Big-12, never played a scholarship-handicapped FCS team, lost only 2 non-conference games by a combined 10 points to two teams with final records of 11-2 and 13-0.</p>

<p>note how none of those things have anything to do with how anyone “thinks”.</p>

[hops_scout]

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SEC > Big12 > Pac10 > Big10 >> ACC/Big East

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6. USC 4-1

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<p>After a loss that should have dropped them further than 4-5 spots…</p>

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3 Reasons USC will be in the title game:.</p>

<p>1, The schedule is not as weak as people say.
Virginia (3-3), Ohio State (6-1), Oregon State (3-3), Oregon (5-2), Arizona State (2-4), Washington State (1-6), Arizona (4-2), Washington (0-5), Cal (4-1), Stanford (4-3), Notre Dame (4-2), UCLA (2-4)</p>

<p>That’s 8 teams that are currently .500 or above, and likely at least 7 of them will go to a bowl. Plus there’s (or will be, if USC wins out) quality wins over Ohio State (especially if they beat Penn State), Oregon, and Cal (who had beat Michigan State)</p>

<p>2, history suggests it. A 1-loss USC would have for-sure been in the 2006 and 2007 national championship games (and probably won them, too, considering that it would have been against Ohio State both times)</p>

<p>3, it’s still upset-time. 2007 was the year of the upset, but 2008 will figure to be the same. The new clock rules make it far more difficult for top-ranked teams to make a comeback if they fall behind in a game (case in point, with the old clock rules, USC might still be undefeated!)

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<p><a href=“for%20the%20record,%20USC%20has%20never%20played%20a%20FCS%20or%20I-AA%20football%20team”>quote</a>

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<p>They don’t exactly play strong Pac10 teams or other I-A teams either… the Mountain West??</p>

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USC’s stats actually do definitely look like a top 2 team

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<p>Keep playing Washington…</p>

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But a USC vs. SEC championship is something we all want to see,

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<p>USC shouldn’t be in a “championship” conversation</p>

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I just don’t see where the Big 12 (namely OU and Texas) can stack up with USC

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<p>If this isn’t proof enough…</p>

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I know, but you can’t overlook the fact that when you see USC’s big game performances and that you are giving Pete Carroll about two weeks to prepare. The results are impressive-the only exception being Texas in 2005. Even then, it took a last minute drive on 4th down by one of college football’s best quarterbacks, as well as a questionable decision to run with LenDale White instead of Reggie Bush on 4th down.

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<p>But Pete Carroll is the greatest coach to ever coach. Only he could do what he does…</p>

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Do you think if #2 was Florida or Georgia or LSU or USC, Texas Tech would have jumped them?

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<p>USC doesn’t compare to Florida or Texas Tech this year…</p>

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But speaking purely about who would win - who here honestly believes that if USC and Oregon State played again tomorrow, that Oregon State would win again? USC outscored Oregon State 21-6 in the second half. If USC played like that for another two halves, it would be awful comparable to Penn State.

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<p>Just because it happened one time doesn’t mean it would happen every time. Face it, the Beavers beat the Trojans. Teams normally only play each other once per year… therefore an “underdog” only has to beat the favored team ONCE. The Beavers did just that.</p>

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I am not sure how Penn State’s wins historically make any impact on their season right now.

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<p>So Penn State’s history doesn’t matter, Alabama’s history doesn’t matter, but USC’s history does? Makes sense…</p>

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They are the best team in the nation when prepared and mentally focused

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<p>WHEN…</p>

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I know it doesn’t mean a whole lot (since things can change very much in 3 years) but frankly, USC’s defense this year is infinitely more experienced and capable than that 2005 defense and would certainly hold any high-powered offense in the nation in check - the only real question mark is whether the offense can keep up anywhere close to back in 2005 (the 2005 USC offense was clearly the best in school history and some might argue one of the best in the history of college football)

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<p>There are several offenses this year alone that could be in that argument too… none of which come from the “great” Pac-10.</p>

<p>Oh, and BTW… I live in Big Ten/Big 12 territory. Don’t you think that’s all I hear about???</p>

[jbusc]

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I am not sure how Penn State’s wins historically make any impact on their season right now.

So Penn State’s history doesn’t matter, Alabama’s history doesn’t matter, but USC’s history does? Makes sense…

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<p>I’m not going to debate any of your other quotes (since they’re mostly just subjective discussion, anyway) but I’d like to point out, there’s a major difference between discussing what a team has done in the past 5, 6, 7 years, and what a team did 30 years ago.</p>

[MartinSMC]

<p>Wow, you put in a lot of work on that post, hops_scout. I will hold myself responsible by saying that most of my discussion is subjective-because it’s college football! :]</p>

[MartinSMC]

<p>Okay Penn State fans let’s hear it–what exactly happened?</p>

[akalboy]

<p>And Penn State goes down…</p>

[jasoninpines]

<p>Yayayaya…just clearing the way for Florida to take it all the way this year!</p>

[ledwards1109]

<p>alabama and texas tech will lose which will create a problem for the bcs. This could leave 3-5 teams with one loses that each believe they deserve to be in the championship game. Barack said it best “its about time we had playoffs in college football.”</p>

[jasoninpines]

<p>What makes you say Alabama will lose? This game isn’t over and I don’t think they will lose any of the remaining. I’m calling a Florida/Texas champ game now</p>

[MartinSMC]

<p>Not a bad game at all.</p>

[jbusc]

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What makes you say Alabama will lose? This game isn’t over and I don’t think they will lose any of the remaining. I’m calling a Florida/Texas champ game now

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<p>huh? The only possible way that florida will be in the championship game is if they beat alabama (i.e. alabama loses one).</p>

[Saxonthebeach6]

<p>Arrrrgh USC looked like crap today. We should’ve had them.</p>

<p>Damn Pac-10 officials…giving them a TD and taking one away from us.</p>

[Xcellerator]

<p>Florida and Texas Tech in the BCS title game.</p>

[jbusc]

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Arrrrgh USC looked like crap today. We should’ve had them.

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<p>Correction. The USC offense looked like crap. Joe McKnight shouldn’t get any more carries until he learns the #1 rule of running backs: under no circumstance, cough up the football. </p>

<p>Defense looked dominating like usual.</p>

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Damn Pac-10 officials…giving them a TD and taking one away from us.

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<p>Plus taking those two consecutive Longshore interceptions away from USC on two questionable penalties that led to Cal’s only points…Pac-10 officials are trash.</p>

[amciw]

<p>The illegal receiver call was legit, just so you know.</p>

[MartinSMC]

<p>USC’s defense looked great–their offense? Not so great. It’s beginning to look like USC isn’t the be-all end-all team I once thought they were. Nonetheless, they’re still a very good team–just not the best in the nation. However, is it just me or is anyone else excited for the Oklahoma vs. Texas Tech game in two weeks? That score is going to be insane, with national title implications. Geez.</p>