STUNNED DISBELIEF. In the aftermath of last night's 27-21 loss to Oregon State, I along with the rest of Trojan Nation are wondering, "What the hell just happened?" Although unable to watch the game due to work, my beautiful wife sent text messages and updates throughout the game.
We're down 21-0 at the half. After sweeping victories against UVA and then #5 Ohio State, I admit that I was fully (over)confident that Saint Peter would have no problem capping the W against the Beavers. I do remember the failed 2-point conversion that cost us the game on the last visit to Corvallis, but little did I know that Reser Stadium would become a veritable Beaver trap for the #1 team in the nation.
We just scored on our opening possession 2nd half. Anyone who's followed the Trojans over the last eight years is well acquainted with St. Pete's ability to make adjustments during halftime and snatch victory from the very jaws of defeat. He espoused the philosophy that games aren't won in the 1st, 2nd or 3rd quarter, but rather at the very end, often in the closing minutes of the whole shebang (i.e. Notre Dame 2005, 4th and 9, 1:32 left, Leinart to Jarrett and then the glorious "Bush Push").
Another TD 21-14! ;) So I was thinking that it was par for the course. What I hadn't seen was the aggressive resolve that the Beavs displayed, showing that they would not be intimidated by the hype. I had seen a clip where their HB Jaquizz Rodgers (the ultimate tool of our destruction with 2 TDs) was talking smack to LB Brian Cushing. That would be the true freshman talking smack to the senior all-American and Rose Bowl Defensive MVP.
They intercepted Sanchez and scored but missed the kick. I wish I could say that it was a fluke, that it was their time, or that they just got lucky. I can't. Truth is, they straight out-played us. It wasn't a matter of turnovers, bad calls, injured starters, or dumb luck. The Beavers' O- line kept our defense in check. Rodgers slashed and juked straight up the gut. Their secondary took away the deep threat. They were more Trojan than the Trojans, and it showed.
TD 27-21! I believe that regardless of the outcome of the game, this final drive was poignant because it showcased Sanchez's ability to step up as a leader much in the same way that Matt Leinart did at ASU the week after a tough loss at Cal his sophomore year. Matt finished that season with the AP National Championship and added a 13-0 season, a Heisman and the BCS National Championship the next. Maybe, just maybe this loss will serve to be a catalyst for another run. Here's hoping.
It's over. Due to the PAC-10's dismal performance last week and the fact that none of the teams are currently ranked in the top 25, any chance that USC will regain any standing in the polls and eventually the BCS is tougher than hell. It would take one strange and uncanny season where upset follows upset (last year's Curse of the #2 Spot) and more powerhouses fall to the little guys. Until then, I'll be rooting for Texas, Oklahoma State, Kansas State, Ohio State, Michigan, and every single SEC underdog on the planet. Fight on, keep the Faith and Beat the Ducks!
One shout out: Happy Birthday, Pop. I love you!
Showing posts with label USC Trojan Football. Show all posts
Showing posts with label USC Trojan Football. Show all posts
Friday, September 26, 2008
Sunday, August 31, 2008
Conquest in the Commonwealth (Part 1- Go West Young Man)
Finally, Autumn is upon us once again. I love the cooler weather that promises a much needed respite from what has been a brutally hot and humid summer. I love that the new Fall Season will be premiering shortly. I love that the kids will finally be back in school. (whew!) But most of all, after a brutally long 311 days made bearable by repeated viewings of the 2008 Rose Bowl (2007 as well) saved on the DVR, finally, COLLEGE FOOTBALL IS BAAACK!
As a special treat, our beloved USC Trojans opened what promises to be another National Championship season by traveling 3000 miles to take on the University of Virginia Cavaliers in Charlottesville. No way would I miss this! After my dear wife surprised me with obscenely overpriced tickets bought online, we packed up our cardinal SUV with provisions, the grill, a cooler full of Yuengling, a suitcase full of cardinal and gold attire and the SCions, popped in a CD of the Spirit of Troy and made the drive west on I-64 with Tribute, Fight On and Conquest blaring.
I was pleased with the number of V for Victory signs I got from other Trojan faithful who passed me on the road. Apparently UVA only made 4000 tickets available for SC and none were sold by the ticket office. They were instead given to the high dollar donors and boosters and the rest of us were made to fend for ourselves. When Lisa tried to contact UVA directly, the dude in their ticket office told her that they were sold out of single game tickets. However, he further stated that they had a huge spike in season ticket sales with delivery addresses in Southern California. That's freakin' badass! Buying a full season pass to another school's games just so you can watch your own team whip the snot out of theirs, while sitting with their alumni?! Brilliant! Of the 64,000 capacity in Scott Stadium, I'd say that 10% were in Cardinal and Gold.
Anyway, I was even more pleased with the number of dirty looks (and middle fingers) I got from the larger number of Wahoo faithful on the road. I'll admit I presented quite a target with my cardinal vehicle festooned with decals, alumni plate frame and personalized tags. I just had to laugh. I have nothing at all against the Cavs nor the Hokies. We've been in exile here for five years and we are sick with seeing and hearing nothing but Tech this or UVA that. ACC this, SEC that. The PAC 10 sucks. . . blah, blah, blah. What the hell is a Wahoo anyway? Isn't that some kind of gamefish? I could go on and on. Maybe in a future post.
All the while I was on the lookout for my buddy Rob. Rob is a co-worker of mine and another displaced Californian from Chino who ended up out in Hampton Roads courtesy of the Marines. He's a jovial fellow who's quick with joke and/or cut down and is an avid fan of UFC and MMA. In fact, he studied with my son's Jujitsu/ Muy Thai instructor. Rob's stocky stature developed with an emphasis of strength and power over speed and agility caused him to be nicknamed the "Mexican Mudslide" by my old platoon- he may not be swift, but when he gets you, you're done. Mudslide never went to 'SC but he's a fan. In fact, his brother was a high school teammate of Sedrick Ellis. Needless to say, he too was excited about the game and he even paid more than we did for his tickets. He left later than we did, and we were trying to coordinate a rendezvous point to tailgate. Lisa was especially looking forward to this since Mudslide makes a mean carne asada, a favorite of ours that is difficult to come across in authentic form in our neck of the woods.
Anyway we arrived in Charlottesville fairly early, about 1045 for a 1530 kickoff. Even then I was somewhat concerned about being able to find a place to tailgate, what with all the game day traffic and all. After being told by the lot attendant that parking at the stadium was "reserved" (read: for those in orange and blue who pay lots and lots of money to the school year after year after year) I drove a bit further down the road and was guided into a parking structure. I'd never tailgated in a garage before, but what the hell. I paid my ten bucks, hoped for the best and drove in.
As a special treat, our beloved USC Trojans opened what promises to be another National Championship season by traveling 3000 miles to take on the University of Virginia Cavaliers in Charlottesville. No way would I miss this! After my dear wife surprised me with obscenely overpriced tickets bought online, we packed up our cardinal SUV with provisions, the grill, a cooler full of Yuengling, a suitcase full of cardinal and gold attire and the SCions, popped in a CD of the Spirit of Troy and made the drive west on I-64 with Tribute, Fight On and Conquest blaring.
I was pleased with the number of V for Victory signs I got from other Trojan faithful who passed me on the road. Apparently UVA only made 4000 tickets available for SC and none were sold by the ticket office. They were instead given to the high dollar donors and boosters and the rest of us were made to fend for ourselves. When Lisa tried to contact UVA directly, the dude in their ticket office told her that they were sold out of single game tickets. However, he further stated that they had a huge spike in season ticket sales with delivery addresses in Southern California. That's freakin' badass! Buying a full season pass to another school's games just so you can watch your own team whip the snot out of theirs, while sitting with their alumni?! Brilliant! Of the 64,000 capacity in Scott Stadium, I'd say that 10% were in Cardinal and Gold.
Anyway, I was even more pleased with the number of dirty looks (and middle fingers) I got from the larger number of Wahoo faithful on the road. I'll admit I presented quite a target with my cardinal vehicle festooned with decals, alumni plate frame and personalized tags. I just had to laugh. I have nothing at all against the Cavs nor the Hokies. We've been in exile here for five years and we are sick with seeing and hearing nothing but Tech this or UVA that. ACC this, SEC that. The PAC 10 sucks. . . blah, blah, blah. What the hell is a Wahoo anyway? Isn't that some kind of gamefish? I could go on and on. Maybe in a future post.
All the while I was on the lookout for my buddy Rob. Rob is a co-worker of mine and another displaced Californian from Chino who ended up out in Hampton Roads courtesy of the Marines. He's a jovial fellow who's quick with joke and/or cut down and is an avid fan of UFC and MMA. In fact, he studied with my son's Jujitsu/ Muy Thai instructor. Rob's stocky stature developed with an emphasis of strength and power over speed and agility caused him to be nicknamed the "Mexican Mudslide" by my old platoon- he may not be swift, but when he gets you, you're done. Mudslide never went to 'SC but he's a fan. In fact, his brother was a high school teammate of Sedrick Ellis. Needless to say, he too was excited about the game and he even paid more than we did for his tickets. He left later than we did, and we were trying to coordinate a rendezvous point to tailgate. Lisa was especially looking forward to this since Mudslide makes a mean carne asada, a favorite of ours that is difficult to come across in authentic form in our neck of the woods.
Anyway we arrived in Charlottesville fairly early, about 1045 for a 1530 kickoff. Even then I was somewhat concerned about being able to find a place to tailgate, what with all the game day traffic and all. After being told by the lot attendant that parking at the stadium was "reserved" (read: for those in orange and blue who pay lots and lots of money to the school year after year after year) I drove a bit further down the road and was guided into a parking structure. I'd never tailgated in a garage before, but what the hell. I paid my ten bucks, hoped for the best and drove in.
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