No longer the Premier Program of the Pac-10?

It always sucks when your team looses and it suck even more when they loose like they dic last night. But its only one game I still think this team has the players and staff to be a great team. They have 4 games left plus a bowl game to prove to everyone that this Trojan dynasty is not going anywhere. I’m vary confident that this team will win out and end the regular season at 10 and 2 play in a bowl game that they will use to spring them into next season as an elite team. I know its tough to think about a 10 and 2 season as a great or even a good season but that is what happens when you have such high expectations but I wouldn’t want it any other way. I’m proud of our Trojans and I believe they will continue to be the best team in the PAC 10 and one of the best teams in the nation. USC isn’t going anywhere even the great ones have a bad day Fight On

the key word you mention is “sustain.” Several times over the course of the USC run USC has lost and put other contenders in position to win the conference, and in each case the other team has simply failed to win out. USC has won several titles because after stumbling, they were ble to regroup and win out the rest of the way (2006 being the exception and I forget who managed to choke away the Pac-10 title that season.) The loss demonstrates nothing regarding the Pac-10’s premier team-that is USC-but it does demonstrate that this year USC is not the best team in the conference (assuming that Oregon wins out or only loses one the rest of the way.) USC will continue to be the premier team for the foreseeable future, although the end of their perpetual domination appears to be in sight.

Or HireChow.com or BringBackChow.com . . . starting one of these Web sites is kinda tempting. Talk about giving some spread looks to the SC offense, he would be the man. And maybe a D coordinator who doesn’t just say “Yes Coach.”

I could see it. This win could have long-term ramifications. If Oregon takes advantage and finishes strong, then they should have significant recruiting momentum this offseason. This wasn’t the close, heartbreaking loss to which we are accustom where a crucial mistake or two cost us the game. This was a behind the woodshed ass-beating on national TV. And, this Oregon team doesn’t look to me like the once a decade, superman player leads team on historic run (Dennis Dixon), flash in the dark Oregon team of 2007. This is Chip Kelly’s first year as head coach. Masoli is coming back. This Oregon team looks like one built for a multi-year run of their own.

In chaos lies opportunity. I have heard PC say that every offseason his staff reviews their peers and and the landscape, looking for interesting new innovations and schematics to study for possible implementation. A best of breed standards review, if you will. Let’s hope that PC has some stability among his assistants this offseason, and that they seriously consider an overhaul of both our defensive and offensive schemes. Per the Wolfman, it is now only 11 times in the last 33 games against PacX opponents that USC has scored more than 30 points. USC has not finished in the top 10 of a major offensive category since 2005. This despite having arguably the most offensive talent on the field year after year.

No, this wasn’t one of those losses that was bound to happen eventually simply due to the law of probability. This loss was symptomatic of a deeper deficiency that has been building in the program since 2005. Too much assistant turnover, too few experienced assistants hired, and too little innovation. When you are green you are growing, when you are ripe you are rotting. The great coaches in the PacX know our schemes too well. Offensive systems have evolved significantly over the last 5 years. PC needs to adapt to a changing game this offseason or risk chasing Oregon for the next few years to come.

at tOSU, ND, and Oregon. The die was cast when Mark Sanchez decided to go, but it was already a very tall order with our entire linebacker corps leaving and further complicated by the recruiting debacles with Teo, Burfict, and poor Frankie Telfort.
 
It was an unexpected surprise that we beat two of those three; and it was easy to overlook the choke job at Washington, our suspect offense and our bend but don’t break (sometimes) defense. But getting real, if we learned anything from ND and OSU it’s that our offense is not ready to close-out anybody and our linebackers are who we thought they were. And while we’re at it, I wish people would stop banging on Mays, the guy’s been reduced to acting as a backstop for the beleaguered backers. Worse, the post-Oregon injury report is devastating, with Smith out indefinitely, and Galippo and Jones in neck braces. Who knows what kind of unit we’ll be fielding at ASU.

Recruiting will be more critical than ever this off-season, there are few good LB prospects in-state, and if last winter is any indication we may be in for more disappointment. PC has gotten older and some of the magic and coolness has faded (it was palpable at the MS departure press conference, then Barkley went and spent a day with Slick), therefore some new blood is needed pronto! I mentioned in another thread that we could really use the recruiting prowess and back to basics defensive toughness we had with Ed Orgeron. It’s time for the Kiffins to return a favor to PC.

As far as the offense is concerned, you can not beat the spread if you keep handing them the ball. When our offense stopped moving the ball we got destroyed. I’m confident that Bates will improve things in this area, and Barkley can certainly get it done. We should be able to return the favor to Oregon when they visit us next year. I’ll be there to celebrate it; for now we can celebrate that we’re not bruins.

One issue hasn’t been mentioned, and it’s our dowdy facilities. There’s a building boom going on at SC, but for some reason the football facilities are still stuck in the disco era. The plans are ready and USC can afford to fund the project, so it’s time to pull the trigger on it. As usual the donors will put up the money once they see the buildings go up.

There is absolutely no excuse for losing recruits to other schools due to them having better facilities; furthermore, in honor of Stafon we should strive to set a new standard in safety. The facility should be Steven Sample’s parting legacy to the Univeristy, and it should carry his name:

The Steven Sample – Heritage Football Center
… hmm, it has a nice ring to it!

As far as I’m concerned, USC is still the premier program in the Pac-10—-just not this year. If someone other than USC wins the conference in 2010, then, maybe, we can start talking about the Trojans’ run being over. But one season doesn’t kill a dynasty any more than one game does.

We got you this year, and of course we’re enjoying the hell out of it. But let’s wait and see how it goes at your house next year before we start talking about anyone replacing USC as the top program in the conference.