UCLA Week (Hate Week Part 2)...
by Paragon SC on Nov 21, 2011 7:36 PM PST
in USC Football
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DC Trojan posted Neuheisel's comments in the post below...
The funny thing about those comments is that while pretty much every USC fan laughs and scoffs at Neuheisel's proclamation, many Bruins fans are shaking their heads as well.
Again, UCLA is in the picture to have a shot for the Pac-12 for no other reason than USC not being eligible for post season play.
Now, as I have said every year after the 2006 debacle...USC cannot take this game lightly. Lane Kiffin has to ensure that this team does not suffer a letdown....especially with UCLA seeing a glimmer of hope to try and make something out of this season. Neuheisel is literally playing for his coaching life with this one.
Lose and he is likely gone.
Win and UCLA fans could be looking at a repeat of Karl Dorrell getting another year.
In 2006 USC had a chance to play in the BCS title game if they beat USC. We all remember the result...
Many UCLA faithful want Neuheisel gone. I highly doubt any UCLA fan will openly root against Neuheisel, but they all know that if Slick Rick pulls off the win, Dan Guerrero may keep Neuheisel around.
The ramifications could give Neuheisel some breathing room to go out a sell his snake oil to any number of recruits...especially with USC taking their first scholarship hit in 2012.
Lane Kiffin hasn't given me any reason to think that he won't have this team prepared...but I don't want the same things I said about the Ducks not taking USC seriously to happen to USC.
LEAVE. NO. DOUBT.
- - -
So, lets take a quick look at the Gutties...
Who starts at QB will be the first question. Richard Brehaut (broken leg) practiced last week, but is still questionable for Saturday, that means that Prince will get the start. Of course, Neuheisel is pumping Prince up after his performance against Colorado...but as we have all seen CU isn't all that.
Mobile QB's have always given 'SC fits. Prince can run and he has shown he can throw the ball so 'SC needs to play disciplined.
Neuheisel is preaching aggressiveness to Prince...
"Our offense is one that's predicated on being able to control the line of scrimmage and being able to run the football," said Neuheisel. "When people stack up against it, we have to either get the quarterback involved in the running game or we have to get the ball down the field and over the top of them as safeties get more involved in the running defense."
Neuheisel called Saturday's 45-6 win over Colorado the prototype for his offense, as they shredded Colorado for 328 yards on the ground and 225 more in the air. Then again, there is a reason why Colorado 2-10 this season and 1-7 in conference, and are a far cry from USC (9-2, 6-2).
Uh huh,just like the article said...The Colorado defense is not USC's defense...
I will leave it at that.
At running back, Jonathan Franklin has some speed and can be a bit of a bruiser at times. Franklin had a pretty good game last week.
Johnathan Franklin had 162 yards rushing against Colorado, giving him 857 yards this season. He needs 143 to become the first UCLA player to have consecutive 1,000-yard seasons since DeShaun Foster in 2000 and 2001.
Franklin, a junior, had 1,127 yards last season, giving him 2,550 in his career....
The defense needs to get into the backfield and disrupt Prince and Franklin.
Monte may have found a way to defend Oregon's high powered offense for a good chunk of that game. Does Monte have a plan against Pistol Rick?
- - -
Aside from Neuheisel's asinine proclamations about gap closing. It would appear that Neuheisel may be losing this team.
Adam Maya offers up his observations...
After its biggest victory of the season (in terms of margin of victory), UCLA’s locker room was very, very quiet. That said everything. I can’t tell you how surprised I was to find half the players already dressed and gone by the time we’d wrapped up with Neuheisel. They’re typically there longer even when they get blown out, which is always much shorter than if they win, much less win in resounding fashion. As I noted in my notebook, it was a big party in the Rose Bowl locker room two years ago after the Bruins clinched a bowl berth and won their sixth game of the season the week before playing USC. This year’s team seems to have a totally different mindset.
Maybe it’s because the Pac-12 South title is still undecided, or the players are a bit jaded after all the ups and downs of this season, or from all the ups an downs the majority of them have experienced the past few seasons in Westwood. Whatever the case, they were clearly in no mood to celebrate after crushing Colorado. Cornerback Andrew Abbott said he had the same observation upon entering the locker room and that no one had specifically encouraged the players to keep calm or leave quickly. They just knew they still had work to do.
Hard to know the reasons for their quick exit...but I can see why trucking lowly Colorado would not be a reason to celebrate.
Some players may be focused on USC, others may be seeing light at the end of the tunnel and others may simply be tired of of the whole mess this year has turned out to be.
Either way USC needs to expect a fired up UCLA team...this is the last chance for some to actually do something.
- - -
Some links and video...
‘Special kids' help USC rise to No. 10 - The Orange County Register
First Look: Rivalry Week - ESPN Los Angeles
Matt Barkley, USC - ESPN Los Angeles (Radio Interview)
Can Kiffin coach? Maybe the answer is yes - Pac-12 Blog - ESPN
Coach Speak: Week 12 - ESPN Los Angeles
Kiffin Call: Oregon - USC Trojans
Photo Galleries: USC vs. Oregon - USC Trojans
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Where it's at
Aside from all else, the one thing the Trojans clearly have in their favor is the venue… the L.A. Coliseum. The last time UCLA beat SC at home was (I think) 1997… during that eight game winning streak back in the nineties. Since then, the bRuins have one once… 2006. Trojans were sleep walking that day but even so… THAT one was at the Rose Bowl. Something tells me everyone will be wide awake this time.
trojanWar
Listen to the Matt Barkley interview
I’m even more convinced that he’s coming back for his 4th year. Just listen to how he rationalizes the factors for both sides of the argument: for staying, he talks about the players coming back and the potential for next year’s team. For leaving, he dismisses the importance of NFL money and claims it won’t figure largely in his decision. You have to like what you hear when you listen to him talk about the UCLA game; he’s not thinking of it as his last game. Please, MB7, come back and fulfill your destiny!
Matt Barkey
Rose Bowl Champion. Has a nice ring to it.
_________________________________________________________________________
"You can't sanction heart, and you can't sanction the will to win" - USC QB, Matt Barkley
by WE ARE SC on Nov 22, 2011 7:56 AM PST via mobile up reply actions
I have never entertained the thought of Matt turning pro early.
He loves USC (its a family tradition) and seems to be one hell of a student that isn’t worried about the money. This man would play FB for free.
Yes we can't play in a Bowl and that is lucky for the rest of College FB' but next year we at USC will dominate.
by so.cal.native1952 on Nov 22, 2011 9:54 AM PST up reply actions
1st round NFL money isn't what it used to be
especially if he falls out of the top 10
"The people who cast the votes decide nothing. The people who count the votes decide everything." - Joseph Stalin
U feeling Loco?
But really I dont feel he is your a typical OC greedy person
Yes we can't play in a Bowl and that is lucky for the rest of College FB' but next year we at USC will dominate.
by so.cal.native1952 on Nov 22, 2011 10:37 AM PST up reply actions
Smart money
Barkley’s decision comes down to this… MONEY… what else?… and just where he’ll go in this year’s draft vs. next. Andrew Luck’s stock dropped a bit in that Oregon debacle… seems he can’t walk on water after all much less run and throw on it. Barkley’s mobility has never been the big selling point on his resume… rather his NFL groomed QB brain and arm. Meanwhile Barkley’s stock has risen given his and the team’s improvement over the season. Sure, he could still get better with one more year at SC BUT if that does not translate into being THE No. 1 pick following next season… and he’s pretty much there now… then in all probability he’ll go in next year’s draft. Two former SC quarterbacks had to make the same decision. Matt Leinart stayed and turned a “sure thing” No. 1 pick into No. 11. Marc Sanchez left (but graduated) ‘early’ and went in the top five with a matching payday. One is a starter and the other a back-up. Barkley will never admit to counting chickens (or cash) now and especially in public but there few human beings in the history of man who would not consider moreover start earning a lifetime’s fortune on their first job out of college.
trojanWar
Reflecting on Neuheisel Presser
I watched the first few minutes of the Neuheisel presser.
USC needs to play the most disciplined game of the season.
It will be easy to be goaded and baited by the trash talk from UCLA’s line.
The players should not take the trash talk personally.
Just move the ball on their D-line and make the tackle through their O-line.
USC will need to speak loudly on the field and not with penalties either.
Conversely, the more USC can stick to that discipline, the more it will unnerve UCLA and cause more trash talk to surface.
Neuheisel himself is being dissed by his own players (after seeing that Bruin blog video). That sort of team spirit explains the weakness of UCLA’s execution.
Why would UCLA permit this level of coaching performance? The answer is clear. Neuheisel is the least expensive coach that the State of California UC regents can buy. California is dead broke, and the UC campus life is taking the hit.
Meanwhile, USC is accepting multi-hundred million dollar contributions from George Lucas for School of Cinema, multiple donors for the Business school, and Keck Foundation for the Keck School of Medicine.
USC has Pat Haden, a Rhodes Scholar, handling the leadership of the sports programs.
Who’s over at the UCLA side?
And, now, Neuheisel himself says that he “hasn’t had time” to look at USC’s offensive films?
Um, Rick, man, give MB7 some credit will you?
You haven’t had time to look at the USC offense on film????
Interesting
I think both schools have lots of big time donors. I could rattle off a few recent ones for UCLA but I’m tired.
I agree with what Paragon said and I thought it was well-stated. Neuheisel is gone if he doesn’t win in all likelihood. But since we are talking about academic pedigree here, doesn’t that mean a Gould School of Law graduate loses his job?
Anyhow, it’s all in good fun. I’ll feel good for you guys and all my Trojan loved ones if you win but I really hope your football team loses. Enjoy the game and let’s not let any jack-holes ruin one of the meanest (hopefully) non-violent sports rivalry in the world.
EGO TROIORUM MALLEUS SUM
by Bruins102NCAA on Nov 21, 2011 10:39 PM PST up reply actions
Agree...
Police presence will be beefed up by 25% and the FBI and State cops will be joining the festivities. Pat Haden and Dan Guerrero issued a joint communiqué alerting fans that there will be zero tolerance towards the jack-holes in the crowd. Both teams will be thoroughly briefed. Let’s hope for a good clean game, and may the best team win.
"The people who cast the votes decide nothing. The people who count the votes decide everything." - Joseph Stalin
U feeling Loco?
Look at it this way
Saturday’s post game press conference will be the second to last time he does one of these in this capacity.
I concur -- I'm sick of the people who take it too far.
The USC – UCLA game is a great rivalry, that should be heated. However, no one needs to go home in an ambulance or a squad car.
I din’t think you will find many around here who don’t acknowledge that UCLA is a pretty good school. I’m not sure about the endowment stuff, but I know UCLA has plenty of donors. However, one thing that does limit UCLA’s ability to get top flight coaching talent is their Athletic department policy of not accepting donations specifically earmarked for the football coach.
Hey
I applied to your law school.
It’s the best rivalry except when it goes too far. I think violence is the worst way to show school spirit (that is, if anyone who does stuff like this actually attended either school). I think there are better ways to do it.
It’s a great irony in life. You try and dislike something so much but then you meet real Trojans and they are the nicest people. You may have family, friends, co-workers, and even the person you love, who are Trojans. In my case it’s all of these. IRONY!
I think if any of these people, who are never far from my thoughts, were hurt because they wore something that said “USC” on it, well, let’s just say the person that hurt them would come to know true fear.
EGO TROIORUM MALLEUS SUM
by Bruins102NCAA on Nov 22, 2011 9:20 PM PST up reply actions
Neuheisel comments on Prince
Honestly, if Neuheisel is trying to be supportive of your players, how supportive is it when you’re telling the press corp that you need your QB to be aggressive and run the ball?
The more I listen to Neuheisel, I hear alot of “uh’s”.
If Neuheisel is looking at the USC Defense, I’m fairly certain that Monte Kiffin has to be doing the match ups against the UCLA offensive line.
QB’s involved in the running game?
Doesn’t that mean that UCLA needs another blocker to advance the ball against USC?
If the QB is running, then you need the FB or HB to block instead of run.
“over the top of them as safeties get more involved in the running defense”?
hmmm…. on cover 2 or ?
Message to TJ McDonald from Rick Neuheisel?
Makes me wonder what the USC Strong and Free Safety thinks…. lol
Anyone at the presser point out that
what Neuheisel says is evidence of closing the gap was really just the conference changing the rules on how they determine the champion? In other words, he had no effect on that outcome.
Additionally, it was very insightful that playing a patsy like Colorado is the “prototype game” he would like for his team. Brilliant.
Agreed on both points
UCLA has done absolutely nothing whatsoever to actually improve. They had the same crap season that they’ve had ever year under Neuheisel. The difference is that this year, we split the conference in half and through nothing more than sheer luck, that mediocrity has a shot at being rewarded.
A lesson I stress to my own kids is to not base your success on someone else’s failure. If you did poorly at a particular task but just happened to suck less than your competition, then you shouldn’t feel particularly proud (Similarly, don’t beat yourself up when you do outstanding but someone else just does a little better). Rate yourself according to your own performance.
If Rick wants to argue that the gap is closing, then that prorotype game needs to come against a remotely quality opponent. We would consider the prototype game for USC this year against the number 3 team in the country. What sad expectations he is setting for himself and his university.
makes me think of one of my father's two management aphorisms
“Never confuse good times with good management.”
"When the seagulls follow the trawler, it's because they think sardines will be thrown into the sea"
That's a great quote
I’m going to remember that one.
Fight On! Beat everybody but us!
the other one:
More specific to a time when he was very junior, talking about some deal that would increase revenue by 50% if it came through, and he got the following response: “50% of of fuck all is still fuck all.” In other words, don’t worry about booking it until the deal is for real.
The guy who said that had been a regimental sergeant major for one of the Guards’ regiments in the UK – which you don’t get without a career of profound ass kicking (WWII in this guy’s case) and discipline. He was one of the pallbearers at Churchill’s funeral. So you didn’t argue.
"When the seagulls follow the trawler, it's because they think sardines will be thrown into the sea"
Who are the "gap closers" now?
Bahahahahaha!
"The people who cast the votes decide nothing. The people who count the votes decide everything." - Joseph Stalin
U feeling Loco?
Well I don't look at Lane as the same mindset as PC, for that and that alone I feel he will not let the boys take bRuins lightly.
On why the quick and quiet exit by the bruins last week, I would say they have had it up to here with tfe Weasel. They are probably tired of being browbeaten on national TV and see his BS right in front of him. Now I say these players are very dangerous, why because they are playing for themselves and not their carpetbagger coach. I really want a blowout but think it will be a close game because of the ucla players focus, they actually have some very fine players over there. But we win by 8
Yes we can't play in a Bowl and that is lucky for the rest of College FB' but next year we at USC will dominate.
by so.cal.native1952 on Nov 22, 2011 9:44 AM PST reply actions
I think you're right about the players
If they’ve become self-motivated, they’re far more dangerous on the field than if they are just trudging along with a half-full passion bucket.
"When the seagulls follow the trawler, it's because they think sardines will be thrown into the sea"
This great I reading the times and they are talking about the rivalry.
Well while they are at USC talking to the people guarding the statue, it’s a bunch of guys. But at ucla it is only girls, so when did ucla become a girls school.
Yes we can't play in a Bowl and that is lucky for the rest of College FB' but next year we at USC will dominate.
by so.cal.native1952 on Nov 22, 2011 10:16 AM PST reply actions
If I was a a college kid -- I would join that UCLA group
I like the ratio.
Yes 55 I know you have those Charlie Harper qualitys
Yes we can't play in a Bowl and that is lucky for the rest of College FB' but next year we at USC will dominate.
by so.cal.native1952 on Nov 22, 2011 10:35 AM PST up reply actions
Amusing typo note
In 2006 USC had a chance to play in the BCS title game if they beat USC. We all remember the result…
Seems about right.
yeah...Kyle Williams had a rough game.
He had a flawless performance against Michigan the next game in the Rose Bowl, but it still hurt. =/
Fight On! Beat everybody but us!
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