Carroll called it "an historic Competition Tuesday" for the Trojans. And no, he wasn't talking about how the first week of November is the first time USC goes without pads on a Tuesday. "Just a bit of a reward for all the hard work," Carroll said. They still go full speed, just not in full gear. Carroll, who said he was "fired up" about the election and his vote for Barack Obama, was equally fired up on the subject of the BCS rankings, in which USC has been dropping the past couple of weeks. Earlier this week, Carroll advocated an eight-team playoff, and Obama called for the same thing in his "Monday Night Football" halftime interview.
"I think it stinks," Carroll said of the BCS.
Carroll remains dissatisfied that the Sept. 25 loss at Oregon State is "still hanging there," dragging the Trojans down even as they dominate their conference. Is it fair that this team, which boasts the best defense Carroll said he's ever had, gets downgraded due to the Pac-10's perceived weakness? "Who said fair?" Carroll answered. "It is what it is." Without a playoff, Carroll finds himself in UCLA's corner this week, rooting for the Bruins to beat Oregon State on Saturday. The Beavers are tied with Cal for second in the Pac-10 at 4-1. "That would be good," he said. "We're talking about our conference now. We'd like to win this championship. We'd like to have the opportunity to control what goes on at the Rose Bowl also."
Cal Coming In
What USC can control Saturday is its matchup with the 21st-ranked Golden Bears (6-2, 4-1) at 5 p.m. at the Coliseum. Cal coach Jeff Tedford said he knows what he'll be looking for: turnover margin. "That's one of the stats that's critical," said Tedford, whose team leads the Pac-10 with a plus-8 to the Trojans' plus-6. "If you turn the ball over against USC, your chances of winning go way down. If you can force some turnovers, then your chances go up." "They drop eight guys (into coverage) and rush three sometimes," quarterback Mark Sanchez said of the Bears. "You can't force anything."
More USC Notes
Safety Marshall Jones is experimenting with cornerback, similar to the two positions played by Josh Pinkard. Tight end Blake Ayles will get an MRI today on the bone bruise in his right knee. Consider him day-to-day for Saturday. And yes, Carroll admitted, he knew he was going against family, against USC alum and former Song Girl Cindy McCain and her husband, both big Trojans fans.
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