University of Shoulda Coulda

I am conflicted with how I should write this blog. If I talk about the many mistakes that led to USC's loss, and the officials errors, I will look like I'm hating on Texas. Let me say in advance that I respect Texas, and they won that game fair and square. They deserve it.

However, so did USC. Actually, we deserve the title just as much, but not that win. We played one of the worst games I have seen us play this season and only came up three short. This is a sad day to be a USC fan because we easily could have won that game.

Reggie said is best though in his post game interview when he said that Young was a play maker, and he made the plays. Watching Vince Young move in person, being about 250 feet from the game winning touchdown, was incredible. You really need to see him move in person to appreciate his skills. He moves like a running back. On both of the rushing TD's he had in our end zone, there were at least 3 USC defenders in the immediate vicinity, but they just couldn't handle his speed and jukes.

Now...what was Reggie thinking pitching that ball in the 1st quarter? Was he expecting his teammate to see it coming considering he hasn't done that once in the 3 years he's been here? That play made the difference in the game if you ask me. It gave Texas something to bite down on, and it made a potential 14-3 lead into a 10-7 deficit, that eventually took us into halftime in the hole. If Reggie would have taken the hit and gone down on the 10 yard line, this blog might be totally different.

Should I even mention the Texas TD where Young pitched while his knee was on the floor, but wasn't reviewed because the TV's in the review booth were not functioning. That would have been called back without a doubt. You know what though, the way Texas was moving the ball, Young probably would have run it in untouched on the next play.

But how about the fumble in the 3rd quarter that was ruled an incomplete pass? I disagree with the ruling, and this would have made a big difference. It would have gave SC the ball at midfield and erased the points that Texas scored shortly thereafter.

Then the 4th and 2 call to go by USC in the 4th with 2min to go. You know what? Where I was sitting, there were about 10 of us there that were talking it up throughout the game. All but one wanted to go for it. When LenDale came out, we were right behind them. But he came up short. He hadn't come up short all game, and he doesn't come up short often. The call was the right one. What if we would have punted...20 yards. Would that have made a difference in the outcome? Probably not. Texas was going to score no matter what. We had to win or lose right there. It payed off in the Notre Dame game, and everyone loved Carroll for it. Now they want to string him up because the Texas defense made an incredible stop. I support that call.

The one I don't support was the use of the final time out before the 2 point conversion. That was a ridiculous call. So what if they scored the 2 points? We needed that time out since there was only 19 seconds left and we had to cross the whole field.

We made lots of mistakes. We didn't put ANY pressure on Vince Young all game. We played poor. Our defense should hang their head in shame for letting a 12 point lead with 6 minutes to go turn into a loss of the National Championship that we should have had. But the bottom line is that Texas was on point, and they brought the heat. They stole the game from out of our hands, and they deserve it.

But I still bleed USC colors. They are still my team and my alma mater, and I will be rooting for them next season.

FIGHT ON!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!