Okay, I was going to start this thing off with the perfunctory Cheerleaders Comparo—never going to pass up an opportunity to check out and likely post more pics of USC Song Girls—until I went searching for Stanford pics and immediately came across this...
Not sure what is more disturbing there, the Condi Rice Meets Kato experiment on the bottom, or Kirstie Alley circa Fat Actress in the second row.
Wait. Yes, I am sure. It's that terrifying "Boys From Brazil" freak tripping on Berchtesgaden shrooms while holding up Kirstie Alley that takes the prize.
Okay, with all the Andrew Luck Kool-Aid the media keeps feeding me, including Lane "He's the perfect QB! The best EVAH!" Kiffin's subtle sobriquets, the more I'm thinking this will end up being Stanford 108, USC 17.
Well, as expected, USC sold out against the run on that first drive. It worked. Stanford had little success on the ground. Also as expected, this allowed Luck to do whatever he wanted through the air. That was too easy. Aside from one episode where pressure up the gut forced him to roll away and out of trouble, he had no difficulties at all on that drive.
Two things really stand out: the size of some of USC's defenders, and the size of Stanford's TE's. After one play, Luck was standing beside a USC LB who's a converted safety. The guy looked like a wideout compared to Luck. Stanford's seemingly endless assortment of TE's are all nine feet tall, and they can run.
Woods just dropped a perfect throw that would've been either a TD or at least a long one deep into Stanford territory. Then he dropped a short slant route. Third and long, as a result.
Three straight incompletions, two of which were drops, the third being a miscommunication between Barkley and Woods.
USC is already faced with a must-stop on this drive.
Another thing that stands out is that the USC Dbacks obviously attended the Taylor Mays tackling clinic and, while they might make the big hit, they don't wrap up. Something they would have learned in the 5th grade if they'd been fortunate enough to play for ToeJam.
Mace, at least they wrapped up on that screen pass. No YAC that drive.
With the way Luck stands so tall in the pocket while delivering with that picture-perfect high overhand motion, he really does remind me of a young Peyton Manning.
Horrible call. That was P.I. all day long on Woods in the endzone. No question. It wasn't even close.
A FG instead of a TD is huge there. USC cannot afford to leave points off the board, and that was a certain first-and-goal on the one.
7-3 at the end of the first quarter.
A good sign for USC is that they're moving the ball well, both on the ground and through the air. They're gashing Stanford.
A bad sign is that they've already left ten points on the field. Woods drops a TD on the first drive, then he's denied the P.I. in the endzone on the second one. Stanford is going to score their points. USC cannot afford this shit.
Gotta give Monte credit, his D-Line is putting an unexpected degree of pressure on Luck.
Crazy stat: Luck has only been sacked twice all season. It's easy to see why, too. Good protection, quick decision-making, decisive delivery, nice wheels when all else fails.
Okay, I finally figured out who that Allstate "Mayhem" guy reminds me of: Dinsdale!
Just fucking with shit everywhere he goes.
Now Marquis Lee lays out for a long TD catch...and drops it. Goddammit. The next play? A stupid fumble by another receiver. Third-and-forever. Goddammit.
50-yard FG try...
Good!
10-6 at the half. Other than for the first drive USC's defense has kept Stanford in check. It's those ten points they left on the field in the first quarter that are the killers. Fucking ref. It should at least be 10-10 right now, never mind Woods' drop.
Opening drive of the second half. Woods makes a tough catch for a big first-down. Good sign...especially with Curtis McNeal exploding on the next play for a 61-yard TD! Fuck, he's stupid fast! The Stanford guy had the angle on him and still McNeal simply accelerated away. Wow.
13-10, USC. Is this really going to be a four-quarter ballgame?
Huge USC sack on third-and-five! Damn, they're fired up. Other than the miscues from the receivers, USC is playing inspired football. I really didn't think they had it in 'em.
Shanked punt...great field position for USC.
Watch out, Stanford. Don't let USC start to roll downhill.
You're talking to yourself in this thread... Long way to go in this game, bro. Sorry to say I picked the other way. Hope everything works out for you. Gotta say I'm regretting my pick right now....
Huge third-and-five deep in their own territory, and again Woods screws up a route. He is just not mentally in this game. That was an enormously bad time to fuck up.
Now Stanford has the ball, already in FG position.
Hate that call on the personal foul. It has to be called, but there was nothing the defender could do. He led with his shoulder. No way he can know the receiver is going to go down, thus bringing his head in line with the defender's shoulder.
Huge play. Maybe the biggest of the game so far, along with the missed call on the Woods P.I. in the endzone. Instead of fourth-and-forever it's first-down on USC's side of the field. Now Stanford is blithely driving down for the tying score.
First and goal on the two and...TD. We're a PAT from OT.
Because Woods didn't have the presence of mind to go to the ground, thus saving the last few ticks of the clock, we may be looking at a Nebraska-Texas deal from two years ago. They're reviewing the final play to see whether Woods got out of bounds in time to stop the clock. If they rule that he did, they could put one second back on the clock, giving USC a chance to kick a game-winning FG.
Waiting...waiting...Herbstreit saying the reviews show the guy got out in time...waiting...
...pfffft. It goes to OT.
Goddammit. Woods has been at the center of every big (bad) play by USC tonight. Hate to say it, but USC should have already won this one fairly comfortably.
Stanford ended a number of USC's streaks a few years ago. They're riding a number of their own now. I guess turn-around-is-fair-play would be apropos here.
Fuck. Now it is time for a poop joke. What a shitty way for a great game to end.
Congrats, Stanford. I just hope this close game doesn't cost you a chance at the national title. It shouldn't, not with Clemson getting clowned by Georgia Tech. The SEC winner and Okie St still control their destinies, with Stanford next in line.
Status quo, I suppose.
USC fought harder than I thought they would. They gave it their best. Unfortunately, their best on this night included a few too many unforced errors plus a blown call by the ref which they could not afford against a team like Stanford. Those missed ten points early on came back to get them.
Oh well, gotta be proud of their effort.
Go Cardinal. Run the table. Okie St will lose somewhere for you.
Nice game by SC. They still have the superior athletes. Stanford's weaknesses are very apparent and were well exploited by the Trojans. Have to admire Stanford's cajones for being able to come back and win this one - first time they've been tested at all this season.
I'll never understand the pooch kick that gives the opponent the ball somewhere near the forty anyway. Just kick it deep and do your job.
Dammit, Mikey, you left me all alone here! I may as well have been pushing a shopping cart while warning people about the black helicopters buzzing overhead.
Oh, and Wags, you're welcome for that awesome Pick 'Em advice I gave you regarding this game. Stanford is a covering MACHINE! I mean, so what if it took a stupid fumble that led to an eight-point differential in the third OT before you could cash it in? It was always in the bag!
No moral victories at USC, just losses and this was a tough loss. The lack of depth killed those kids in the OTs, Dee doesnt make 15 Trojans free agents 2 years ago and maybe USC has the depth to Fight On in OT. Heard Jarvis Jones had a great game today, if he is brought in during the second OT instead of true freshman Tre Madden, maybe the results are different.
I expected the Trojans to lose big, didnt bother going to the game or game day, went and with the family and missed the first half of the game completely. The Trojans are growing and getting better as a team, they had this one won but the call on McDonald let Stanford back in to it.
Congrats to Stanford and the schools alums, good, hard fought win, now go beat Oregon.
