Doug Krikorian
I don't understand Pete Carroll. He puzzles me. I mean, I ask the USC coach if he'd prefer his team playing Western Carolina Saturday night rather than California, and he says, "Oh, I prefer playing Cal for the Pac-10 championship." Well, the school that is right behind Carroll's No. 3 Trojans in the BCS standings, Florida, has the privilege Saturday of getting to beat up Western Carolina, which has lost eight games in a row, including last week's 31-9 setback to Appalachian State.
Of course, California, with a terrific coach, Jeff Tedford, a terrific running back, Marshawn Lynch, a terrific cornerback, Daymeion Hughes, and a terrific receiver and punt returner, DeSean Jackson, poses a slightly greater threat to USC's national title dreams than would, say, Western Carolina. Yet, Pete Carroll opts for the Golden Bears rather than the Catamounts - that's Western Carolina's nickname, in case you wondered - and he has to know that California will be at an emotional pitch for the Trojans with a spot in the Rose Bowl on the line. You must understand Cal hasn't appeared in Pasadena on New Year's Day since Dwight David Eisenhower was president in 1959, and so the Trojans figure to face a focused opponent that will be in a maniacal mood. "Wouldn't you have preferred Cal to come here with a big victory over Arizona rather than an upset loss?" I asked Carroll, expecting him to answer in the affirmative. He shook his head, and said, "It wouldn't have made any difference. The Bears would be ready to play us no matter what they did against Arizona." You would figure the Golden Bears just might have been slightly less focused for the Trojans had they breezed past the Wildcats, but Carroll doesn't see it that way. Pete Carroll does foresee the Trojans qualifying for the BCS title game on Jan. 7 in Glendale, Ariz., if they can get past the Golden Bears, Notre Dame and UCLA. "I don't see how they can keep us out if we accomplish that," he says. "I think when you start looking at strength of schedule, we come off pretty well." On that account, I agree with Pete Carroll. But it's doubtful the Trojans will remain unscathed in the upcoming weeks. "Too bad you don't get to face the likes of Ball State, Northern Illinois and Central Michigan," I said, referring to some of the more renowned opponents this season of Ohio State and Michigan, the two teams in front of USC in the BCS ledger. Once again, Pete Carroll disagreed with me. "I'd rather play teams that present a challenge," he replied. Well, Carroll and his Trojans will be facing daunting ones in their next three games. ... Pete Carroll is higher on his quarterback, John David Booty, than I am. Oh, I know Booty has the impressive numbers - 183 of 292 for 2,142 yards and 20 touchdowns - but I want to see how he reacts against tough opposition in crisis situations. You can be sure Jeff Tedford will have the Cal defense coming after Booty with a vengeance - and try to force him into making mistakes which he has been prone to do this season.
I told Carroll there are still Trojan loyalists who believe that his team would have been better off had he gone with Mark Sanchez instead of Booty. "David has had a terrific season," responded Carroll. "He's been an All-Pac-10 caliber quarterback. He's played the way we thought he could play." I'm still skeptical. If John David Booty plays well in his team's next three games - and the Trojans win them all - I no longer will be. ...
1 comment:
Has SC's success spoiled some of its more naive and narrow-minded fans??? So you want to see how Booty reacts against tough opposition and in crisis situations??? Have you selectively forgotten a few vital parts of the season? Let's start at the beginning, at Fayetteville, which is one of the toughest places to play college football in America (think about it... a whole state of rednecks with only one D-1 school.) How did John David do in that game with 56,870 sooie-ing Razorback fans? Pretty good. Or did you forget that the only loss that the #5 team in the nation has was handed to them by SC? And as far as crisis situations, how about J.D. at OSU leading his team back to score the last 21 points of the game in the final minutes. Other crisis situations, you may ask? Losing almost every running back we have, 2 of the teams best WRs, and still throwing only 6 INTs amid the horrible running and inexperience of the receivers. Doug, it would be great to take Mark Sanchez - MV's and Southern California's temporary favorite football son - and let him throw the ball around; however, he's not the best man for the job. His first and ONLY attempt last week was a completion.... TO THE OTHER TEAM! Making matters worse, it was a freshman CB intercepting the ball. WHAT OTHER REASON WOULD YOU CHOOSE SANCHEZ THAN POLITICS!!!?
Then, there's the leadership aspect. Who was voted a team captain? Who has the respect of his teammates? John David Booty. Sanchez will be great, but it's not his year. USC has an incredible QB in JD. Let me ask you this last question, how many SC practices have you been to? Because, DOUG, Pete Carroll has been to all of them, and I trust his judgment over yours or any other fan with a boneheaded opinion. JOhn David is an excellent QB. Sackchez will be, but not yet.
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