The day USC became greater

Monterey Herald ^ | January 3, 2006 | JIM LITKE

[Mr. Mojo]

And it proved that USC's grip on the crown was less about pedigree than toughness.

Sums up the article nicely.

[toomanygrasshoppers]

Hook 'Em Horns!

[Dog Gone]

Could be a classic game like USC's at Notre Dame was. We'll know soon enough.

[Zeppelin]

HOOK EM HORNS!

(currently a Sr. at UT!)

[Maximus of Texas]

"If Southern California beats Texas in the Rose Bowl to win an unprecedented third straight championship..."

Uh, I think the folks at LSU would say "second".

[BigTex5]

And that's a big resounding IF ;) Go Horns!

[MikefromOhio]

I will solve the championship controversey right now.

USC has either 2.5, or it has 3, because the BCS RECOGNIZES the AP championship as well.

[Dog Gone]

Uh, I think the folks at LSU would say "second".

Let them say that. The AP has been awarding the "national championship" trophy for longer than most of them have been alive, and they never gave it up when the BCS was formed.

The AP even refused to allow the BCS to use its rankings in the formula this year.

A USC victory would be a third consecutive national championship. Not an undisputed one from a couple of years ago, but the upstart BCS is still trying to figure it out.

[Maximus of Texas]

Anything supported by "the press" should be viewed as suspicious. This is the same liberal media that rakes Bush over the coals. Yes, I know, this is sports but they are part of "the press" and are not above politics when casting their votes. Outside of a true playoff system, the BCS is the best alternative.

[MikefromOhio]

Outside of a true playoff system, the BCS is the best alternative.

LOL. Tell me you are kidding. Please.

[Dog Gone]

Gimme a break. Oklahoma didn't even win its conference and made it to the BCS championship.

Even honest Oklahoma fans felt a little guilty about being there, and more so after they were thumped.

And USC put an end to any controversy with showing Oklahoma the door in last year's Orange Bowl.

It should have been USC against LSU in the BCS championship two years ago. Just about everyone admits that.

I don't know how it would have turned out, but those that think the BCS has figured it all out and it's the only title that matters need to explain why the BCS keeps changing the formulas each year. THEY obviously don't think they've got it all figured out.

[Maximus of Texas]

Is the BCS perfect? No. Does it need to eliminate the automatic bids that put 8-4 teams like Florida State into a BCS bowl? Yes. Do I want media folks determining the national champion? No.

A few tweaks and the BCS would be fair and elimate the backroom politics that goes on in the AP.

Remember, this is the same press that used to award the Heisman to NE schools year after year. The history of the AP is full of stories that are as bad as the BCS.

[MikefromOhio]

A few tweaks and the BCS would be fair and elimate the backroom politics that goes on in the AP.

I am guessing that by your screen name, you are a Texas fan? Anyone want to fathom a guess as to WHO was doing the "backroom politics" with the COACHES POLL that got Texas into the Rose Bowl last year??????

The Bowl Coalition was 100000X better than the BCS. It is absolutely insane to call something the "Bowl Championship Series" but NOT have a series to determine it's champion.

EVERY other sport in the NCAA chooses it's champion via a playoff. Until that happens, NO system is good enough.

[raptor29]

"Anything supported by "the press" should be viewed as suspicious."

Look, no argument there generally, but here's the thing about USC's 2003 AP title. The media is going to trumpet USC's 'half' of the 2003 championship because (a) they voted for that half (the coaches voted USC #1 on the other half as well, but that's another story!), and (b) what has happened since has reinforced their position. Many in the country recognized two years ago that USC had a special group, and they were proven right, as USC hasn't lost a game in the two years since and is riding a 34-game winning streak. LSU should feel fortunate to be able to claim their 'half' of the 2003 title, and leave it at that.

[Dog Gone]

Hey, the BCS is an improvement in that it eliminated the locked in bowl matchups. Other than that, it's a work in progress.

Unless you're willing to assert that all other national champs in American history awarded by the AP are questionable, then USC's quest for a third one is just as valid. This year, it's going to work out. The AP champ is going to be the same as the BCS champ. That happens when there are only two undefeated teams. Lucky for them.

They figured it out when it's a no brainer. Bring out the confetti.

To assert that LSU's win over Oklahoma erases USC's national championship in the minds of thinking adults is silly. We know better. They have the AP trophy. It's there.

[hole_n_one]

Some 90 seconds earlier, facing fourth-and-9 from his own 26-yard line, Leinart brought the Trojans to the line, scanned the defense and checked off to a different play. Then he wedged a wobbly spiral between the Notre Dame secondary and the left sideline, where Dwayne Jarrett latched onto it and raced 61 yards to the Notre Dame 13.

That's what seperates the men from the boys.

[raptor29]

In 1978, USC and Alabama 'split' a national title. USC won the UPI coaches title, Alabama was voted number one by the AP writers. The two teams played each other earlier in the year, AT ALABAMA, and USC won 24-14, and was ahead 24-0 in the 4th quarter. Both teams finished up with the same overall record, 12-1, I believe. They played each other(!!!) and USC won, but they had to split the title??!!!! Hell, AP owed us one.

[Dog Gone]

USC is playing for a third consecutive national title. When another team comes anywhere near the same claim, I'll listen with an open mind.

The Coaches Poll is the BCS. They sold out when they agreed to vote for the BCS Champion as #1, Maybe that's right or maybe it isn't but it doesn't change the fact that the AP, which is not part of the upstart BCS, has been awarding national championships far longer than anyone else.

It's still the most prestigious in my opinion until the BCS finally settles on a formula and sticks with it for more than a few monthts.

[soccermom]

All these news stories are getting ahead of themselves and making me nervous! I love USC, but how can they possibly hold up to all the hype? USC has everything to defend -- 2 consecutive National Championships, a 34-game winning streak and back to back Heisman winners. They have everything on the line, while the Longhorns have nothing to lose. I'd rather be the underdog. That said, "FIGHT ON, SC!"