Doing Things the Hard Way

B-Daddy here. Despite showing flashes of brilliance, USC repeated their loss at Corvallis of 2006 by giving up a big lead early and then having a come back fall short. These guys are hard to fathom, but give some credit to the Beavers, whose running attack, led by Jacquizz Rodgers, pictured at right, rolled up 178 yards of rushing.

USC, who looked like the unstoppable national champs against Ohio State, got manhandled in the first half by the other OSU. For personal reasons, I watch the line play more closely than the average fan. In the first half, the USC defenders just could not get off the blocks of the Beaver lineman. What looked like bad tackling of the low to the ground rusher, was really due to the fact that USC's defense was never in good position to make a tackle. On offense, USC never got much of a ground attack going, and this really killed them in the first half, with too many three and outs.

USC put up 21 points in the second half, but the last and very impressive one minute drive, was going to be too little if they couldn't get the ensueing onside kick, which they did not. Dean has previously pointed out what great half time adjustments USC usually makes, and tonight was no different. They need to make those adjustments sooner.

I don't think the Trojans are out of contention, but they have again given themselves an uphill battle. And no, I don't think the pollsters were wrong to have them at number one. This is the joy and the agony of college ball, with all of its unpredictability.

Finally, congratulations to Oregon State for playing some great football.