Following nine seasons at USC, highly respected head strength and conditioning coach Chris Carlisle has resigned to take a similar position with the Seattle Seahawks.Carlisle came in with Pete Carroll in early 2001 and now follows the former Trojan coach to the NFL. During his time at Heritage Hall, the 47-year-old Carlisle built one of the most successful strength... more »
Definition: An expression describing what UCLA would be doing by forcing Norm Chow to stay against his will and endure another season alongside Douchenozzle when he wants to be back with his old band at USC. Is anyone really surprised that Rick has to stand in the doorway, physically and/or contractually, to keep people at his party?
Classic Bruin.
Elsewhere, the EDSBS Curious Index recap is, as expected, priceless.
What we've heard from one source (purportedly) close to the program:
Jack Del Rio as the new head coach, bringing Kennedy Pola and Norm Chow with him (no word on Orgeron). And perhaps the bigger story, Garrett to be replaced by Rich McKay, son of USC coaching legend John McKay.
Stay tuned as we try to confirm from other sources. Or just indulge in the hopeful dream of a Garrett-free athletic department with USC fans worldwide.
For the first time since 2001, the Trojans are not playing its last regular season game for the right to go to a BCS bowl. A Trojan win over Arizona in the Coliseum on Saturday puts them in the Holiday Bowl, most likely against Nebraska. A loss and they fall from a tie for 2nd in the Pac-10 standings to 6th and most likely a Poinsettia Bowl Bid which would represent a significant fall from the top of college football world.
4 keys to a Trojan victory:
Trojans must tackle well and get hands up against quick hitting offense: Arizona has the most dynamic offense in the Pac-10. It is a combination of offensive coordinator Sonny Dykes pure aerial Texas Tech style offense (former Texas Tech offensive coordinator) combined with Head Coach Mike Stoops smash mouth style of football.
The Wildcats loves to dink and dunk in a passing game that features tons of screens, bubble screens, swing passes and quick reads while also balancing the attack with a power run game behind a veteran offensive line. Arizona has 5 Wide Receiver with more than 30 catches and has adjusted to a 4 wide receiver set very well after losing All-American Tight End Ron Gronkowski to a back injury before the season.
Redshirt sophomore quarterback Nick Foles, who took over starting duties in the Wildcats' fourth game has been outstanding throwing for 17 scores and just seven interceptions, while completing more than two-thirds of his passes in the Wildcats' short-game passing attack. Arizona's quick-hitting style has kept the sack totals down - the Cats have allowed just 11 sacks in 2009.
The defense looked like the defense Trojan fans are accustomed to. Interceptions, fumble recoveries, sacks, blocked passes, tackles for loss of yards was a common sight. Awesome performance!
The offense still sputtered, but it was enough to win the game and that's all that matters. Matt Barkley's 48 yard touchdown pass to Damian Williams late in the 4th quarter capped off a great win over the crosstown rivals. Rick Neuheisel's arrogance and refusal to accept a merciful loss offered by Pete Carroll and USC completely backfired on him. You want to play some football, Ricky? You got it!
The UCLA Bruins were a touchdown away from tying the score for most of the game, and they could have taken pride knowing they hung in there until the final minutes of the 4th quarter. Now the Bruins have nothing to take pride in, thanks to Rick Neuheisel poking a stick at the wasp nest that is Pete Carroll and the USC Trojans. Even the Toilet Bowl is no guarantee for these little cubbies. At least USC is going bowling and their dominance over the finest Westwood has to offer continues.
And basketball, once a source of refuge for the bRuins after a crappy football season, is now a sore subject. UCLA hoops is a laughing stock and to consider them the best team in Southern California is a tasteless joke. Whatever you do, please do not mention Cal State Fullerton or Long Beach State when talking about UCLA basketball.
But come on, it's UCLA! Things are not all bad, right? After all they are the first to 100 NCAA Championships. Even though most normal college sports fans care about the successes of football and basketball and to a lesser extent in baseball, let them take pride knowing their women's cross country team or their men's synchronized diving team just won another NCAA title. It's enough to make you not care.
Jim Weber, proprietor of Lost Lettermen, the site that allows you to rediscover your favorite college stars, has just completed his latest and perhaps greatest project. It's a six-part series titled "Before They Were Coaches." Jim went back and researched the background of every current coach of a Bowl Championship Series team. As you can see, he found some... more »
Jim Weber, proprietor of Lost Lettermen, the site that allows you to rediscover your favorite college stars, has just completed his latest and perhaps greatest project. It's a six-part series titled "Before They Were Coaches." Jim went back and researched the background of every current coach of a Bowl Championship Series team. As you can see, he found some... more »
With his iTunes blaring a random mix of techno songs, Coach Carroll reclines in his office chair and watches film of UCLA's offense right now in Heritage Hall. Coaches spend the initial part of every morning working individually before coming together as a staff around 9 or 10 a.m. each day. ... more »
Thoughts from Thursday's practice, through the eyes of USCRipsIt...- With football icon Jim Brown in attendance and cool weather in the air, the Trojans sped through a brief half-pads practice on a quintessential gridiron evening under the lights. The workout closed out the on-field portion of game preparation and pushed the team one step closer to the Stanford matchup... more »
The Trojans would like to point out that it's called a bye week and not an off week."This is not a week to sit around and relax," Coach Carroll said during Monday afternoon's team meeting. "We've got to get real good right now."So during this week, the Trojans will begin diving into the Notre Dame game plan and also... more »
History repeats itself for the Golden Bears; they enter the season with lots of hype, only to fold like a bad hand in poker. Time for them to enter hibernation!
Cal's Heisman hopeful tailback, Jahvid Bust, was held to a season-low 47 rushing yards against USC. Meanwhile Joe McKnight looked the best out there, rushing for 119 yards and two touchdowns.
Cal's quarterback, Kevin Riley, really outdid himself this time. Just when you thought his passing completion rate of 38.7% against Oregon could not get any worse, he sunk to a new low against the Trojans with a completion rate of 37.5%.
What a surprise! USC had another post-big game letdown entering Pac10 play.
Don't go into hibernation just yet; there are positives to be taken away from this game shown in the highlights.
Joe McKnight rushed for 100 yards on 11 carries, upping his current season total rush yards to 305. Could he be the first Trojan since Reggie Bush to rush for over 1000 yards in a season?
The offense struggled with the passing game, but there were some great runs by Stanley Havili, Stafon Johnson, and Allen Bradford.
USC's young defense did a great job containing Jake Locker and holding the Huskies to 16 points. If only the offense would have scored another touchdown or two. Sophomore Jurrell Casey and redshirt freshman Nick Perry set up camp in the Huskies' backfield.
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