The Rose Bowl

[JeeberD]

We finally did it. I lived to see it.

It ain't over yet, Sen. It ain't over yet...

[KWhit]

Well, now I guess we don't have to worry about whethor or not this USC team is the best college team ever. I'm glad that is settled.
Nope. Texas is the best team ever.

Duh!

[Tasan]

If Reggie takes it back, I'll crap my pants.

[kingfc22]

All hell will break loose if Bush runs this back

[Galaxy]

Terrible decision making.

[Dutch]

:16 second, this is what Doug Fluties are made of...

[biological warrior]

It come sdown to dis ple!

[kingfc22]

30 yard pass to Jarrett and then a FG

[Eaglesfan27]

Throw it to Reggie.

[mauchow]

That defense is so clueless it's almost comical. They had over 4 weeks to prepare?
Yeah, all they needed to do was use Bush as the QB to mimic Young.. losers

[bronconick]

Carroll has shit the bed in his decisions in the last 5 minutes of play.

[Craptacular]

Umm

[KWhit]

I bet USC wishes they had a time out.

[mauchow]

NOT! OVER! YET!

[wade moore]

Good play by Leinart.

[JeeberD]

I dislike Bush.

[Eaglesfan27]

Oh my! That gets us in FG position, possibly.

[cthomer5000]

Reggie Bush: scariest man alive

[Tasan]

Um, wow

[Logan]

Think they wish they had a timeout now?

[sterlingice]

Man... see, that stupid time out might just bite them in the ass.

(61 viewing thread, btw)

SI

[ISiddiqui]

Nice run by Bush. Now, they have some options.

[biological warrior]

At leats 1 mo ple!

[kingfc22]

10 yd. out

[mauchow]

Gotta get 8 or more yards here!

[GrantDawg]

I haven't read all this, but I only have two things to say:

1) Vince Young is the King of College Football. He is better football player than Reggie Bush is. He looks like a man among boys.

2) The calls after they got down to the 15 yard line told me all I need to know about VY going into the NFL. He has already proven he could not be stopped from going in at that distance with his legs, they still call two risky pass plays. Both were exactly were they should be to have any shot of being caught. The guy reads defenses, throws hard, throws accurately, and is big enough and fast enough to make the first guy miss at any level.

[PineTar]

BRILLIANT

[Galaxy]

Man, Leinart is a tart!

[biological warrior]

Troy has been sacked!

[JeeberD]

AND IT'S OVER!!!!


Congrats Horns!!!! :)

[ISiddiqui]

Texas WINS!

[tucker rocky]

Leinart wasted too much time.

[mauchow]

Way to play real smart Leinart! NICE DECISION! Run around for 8 seconds... then finally throw it no where near the end zone..

What a game though.

[Tasan]

Congrats horns.

Maybe the Ags will be able to stop your winning streak next year.


If Vince doesn't come back.

[Eaglesfan27]

What a terrible play by Matt. You gotta throw it quick. Even if no one is open, throw it over their head and out of bounds.

Of course, that one play didn't cost us.


Congrats Texas fans.

What a crappy ending to an otherwise great birthday.

[kingfc22]

Congrats to Texas.

[Dutch]

Good Ole Boys win!

[cartman]

YYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEESSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[oliegirl]

Game Over...Texas Longhorns - National Champions!!!!!

Congrats to all the TX fans on the board :)

Good game USC, just not good enough...

[ISiddiqui]

Man that was a fun game to watch! Two amazing teams. Instant classic :D.

[Craptacular]

See you in a couple of weeks.

[biological warrior]

See you in the 7th rouund LA pretty boy.

[wade moore]

wow.

as we've said several times.. bst title game i've seen in a long time.. heck.. best college fb game i've seen in a long time...

and MAN did VY take that team on his shoulders more than anyone i've seen in awhile also...

[sterlingice]

Awesome game!!

SI

[kingfc22]

And Vince has still not been tackled.

[tarcone]

helluva game

[tucker rocky]

Man... see, that stupid time out might just bite them in the ass.

(61 viewing thread, btw)

SI

65 viewing.

[KWhit]

That dude had some trouble with the flag, didn't he?

[biological warrior]

greatest.game.ever!

[Dutch]

This will go down as one of the best football games I've ever watched. Credit to Texas and USC both.

[DaddyTorgo]

wow. let me eat crow.

although i'll point out:
1st half=in my room listening on radio
3rd quarter-9 mins left 4th quarter=watchin tv
end of game=listen on radio.

so clearly it was all how i was listening to the game that mattered! why did i ever go to watch it on tv???

[cthomer5000]

Man that was a fun game to watch! Two amazing teams. Instant classic :D.
Absolutely. What a game. Vince Young, you are a legend!

[Radii]

bad last play by leinart, holy crap what a game though.

[Noop]

Best.Game.Ever.

[Cuckoo]

From an OU fan, a big congratulations to the Texas Longhorns and their fans.

[SirFozzie]

so, will the phantom pitch TD (the one by Texas they rushed to avoid a review) be controversey tommorrow? 6 points.. makes all the difference..

[tarcone]

young is one of the best college players ive seen esp in a clutch situation

[Schmidty]

1) Vince Young is the King of College Football. He is better football player than Reggie Bush is. He looks like a man among boys.

Hell, he's a better player than Vick will ever be right now.

Lions need to trade up for him.

[tucker rocky]

Ok, odds on who's going to be in the NT game next year?

[Tasan]

Man, something tells me that even if Carrol kicks the punt, Texas still does this on Vince's legs.

[mauchow]

That dude had some trouble with the flag, didn't he?
heheh.. swung it around instead of swaying it back and forth smoothly.

[SackAttack]

#!: Congrats, Longhorns.

#2: I'm really not surprised that the final margin was 3 points after that terrible "no-fumble" call that led to a Texas field goal.

#3: Bush probably goes pro, now that the option of a BCS three-peat is gone.

[kingfc22]

so, will the phantom pitch TD (the one by Texas they rushed to avoid a review) be controversey tommorrow? 6 points.. makes all the difference..
Anyone remember the down and distance on that play?

[JeeberD]

Best.Game.Ever.


I may just have to agree with you there...

[Rizon]

I don't really follow college ball, but after the game why did they interview John Mayer?

[Logan]

"It's a great wi--uh, hard-fought loss." - Matt Leinart

[BrianD]

so, will the phantom pitch TD (the one by Texas they rushed to avoid a review) be controversey tommorrow? 6 points.. makes all the difference..

It will certainly be talked about, but if that call is reversed, they still have a first down on about the 20. Hard to say if things would have been different.

[kingfc22]

Man, something tells me that even if Carrol kicks the punt, Texas still does this on Vince's legs.
I would agree. That is why I'm not to troubled with Carrol's decision.

[Craptacular]

#3: Bush probably goes pro, now that the option of a BCS three-peat is gone.
And Young goes pro.

[SackAttack]

so, will the phantom pitch TD (the one by Texas they rushed to avoid a review) be controversey tommorrow? 6 points.. makes all the difference..

Well, that and the late FG.

I thought Dad said there was some controversy about a USC TD, too, but it seems like the poor calls that put 9 on the board for Texas will loom large in the SoCal media.

[st.cronin]

And Vince has still not been tackled.

I honestly don't think he ever will be.

[Senator]

I am numb.

[cmp]

so, will the phantom pitch TD (the one by Texas they rushed to avoid a review) be controversey tommorrow? 6 points.. makes all the difference..

They still woulda scored after that anyway.

[mauchow]

so, will the phantom pitch TD (the one by Texas they rushed to avoid a review) be controversey tommorrow? 6 points.. makes all the difference..
No.

They score on that drive regardless. It would have been 1st and Goal. They wouldn't have stopped Young on three draws.

[bronconick]

so, will the phantom pitch TD (the one by Texas they rushed to avoid a review) be controversey tommorrow? 6 points.. makes all the difference..



1st and goal for Texas from the 8? Something tells me that Young's in the endzone anyway moments later.

[Young Drachma]

Wow..Vince Young is such a beast.

[timmynausea]

Anybody else think Vince might've moved himself up to consideration at the number 1 spot?

[wade moore]

Anyone remember the down and distance on that play?
Would have been around the 10 or 11 and a first down...

So, odds are it's a TD anyways.. yeah, USC fans will moan about it (and it wsa a bad call), but I don't think you can blame the whole game on it...

[tarcone]

no controversey.....the way USC played Young he would have scored on the next play

[Buccaneer]

Well that sucked. UT is deserving of the championship.

[mauchow]

"It's a great wi--uh, hard-fought loss." - Matt Leinart
heheh

[Tasan]

Gotta love the ESPN SC love fest...their headline starts...:



<!-- TOPSTORY COPY & BULLETS --> USC failed to make history, but the Rose Bowl (ABC http://espn.go.com/i/ls.gif) lived up to the hype

[cthomer5000]

Anybody else think Vince might've moved himself up to consideration at the number 1 spot?
It was an epic performance. I've been telling a few co-workers all year that he was one of the top 3 players potentially entereing the NFL next year. Now I hope, hope, hope he both comes out and the Jets grab him (at 4, or move up a spot or two if necessary).

[jbmagic]

USC failing on two 4th downs attempts hurt them tonight.

[KWhit]

So who would you guys vote for MVP??

:)

[JW]

Let me see if I get this right, per ABC and ESPN. Best team ever. (ABC and ESPN) Best defensive coach ever, Carroll. (ABC) Best player ever, Bush, rating a new Heisman trophy pose. (ABC) How could they possibly lose?

[Grammaticus]

so, will the phantom pitch TD (the one by Texas they rushed to avoid a review) be controversey tommorrow? 6 points.. makes all the difference..
Nah, Texas got robbed of an interception and USC got the majority of the crappy calls in their favor on top of that. Not to mention the announcers jizzing all over themselves talking about Bush and Leinart.

[SirFozzie]

200 yards in one game rushing. By a QB

7 Rushing touchdowns in two rosebowls. By one QB

Goooollllyy

[tarcone]

young just won the heisman.....screw bush

[PineTar]

don't get caught up in the moment... USC's defense made a lot of guys look good this year.

[cthomer5000]

Wow..Vince Young is such a beast. His final statline is insane:

30/40 for 267 yards (0 TD, 0 INT)

20 carries for 200 yards, 3 TDs


http://www.operationsports.com/fofc/images/smilies/eek.gifhttp://www.operationsports.com/fofc/images/smilies/eek.gifhttp://www.operationsports.com/fofc/images/smilies/eek.gif

[Rockstar]

I cant believe that Texas just beat the best team in the history of college football. LOL.

[KWhit]

don't get caught up in the moment... USC's defense made a lot of guys look good this year.
But they're the best team evah!

[wade moore]

young just won the heisman.....screw bush
you gotta imagine if the voting happened now it might look a little different ;)...

[biological warrior]

Somewhere a highly touted recruit just signed with Texas.

[tarcone]

467 total yards by young
didnt that 500+ yd game win bush the heisman?

[ISiddiqui]

Classy move by Mack Brown, congratulating USC before he said anything else.

[SirFozzie]

Wow. That was classy, Texas=good

[Young Drachma]

His final statline is insane:

30/40 for 267 yards (0 TD, 0 INT)

20 carries for 200 yards, 3 TDs


http://www.operationsports.com/fofc/images/smilies/eek.gifhttp://www.operationsports.com/fofc/images/smilies/eek.gifhttp://www.operationsports.com/fofc/images/smilies/eek.gif

That's sooooooooo crazy....

[biological warrior]

His final statline is insane:

30/40 for 267 yards (0 TD, 0 INT)

20 carries for 200 yards, 3 TDs


http://www.operationsports.com/fofc/images/smilies/eek.gifhttp://www.operationsports.com/fofc/images/smilies/eek.gifhttp://www.operationsports.com/fofc/images/smilies/eek.gif Didnt he pass for 0ne too?

[tucker rocky]

Currently Active Users Viewing this Thread: 85 (70 members and 15 guests)

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A cheap post. :D

[mauchow]

VY is funny.

[SirFozzie]

don't believe so, the Jarrett TD was the first passing TD

[sterlingice]

Young just seems like a bit of an ass, tho, I gotta say.

SI

[tucker rocky]

Just to make page 18 in the thread. :)

[Blade6119]

# of mobile QBs faced all year by USC=1...losses=1...they just couldnt contain a mobile, Vince Young was just a plus...so dont glorify him too much...his passes were all short, as you can see with his stats

[biological warrior]

So, was that THE greatest game ever?

[cthomer5000]

Young just seems like a bit of an ass, tho, I gotta say.

SI
Really? I think he just seems like a really relaxed, funny guy.

[Ksyrup]

don't get caught up in the moment... USC's defense made a lot of guys look good this year.
Exactly. Young is very good, but I can't believe NFL scouts will be so wowed by this performance - as opposed to evaluating everything he's done up until now - that they'll upgrade him for singlehandledly beating a bad defense. I don't care how dominant USC has been, they still have a Pac-10 defense. And that's what lost them the game.

[cuervo72]

Young just seems like a bit of an ass, tho, I gotta say.

SI

Yeah, babee!

[aran]

One thing that might've hurt USC: 20-35 lost seconds at the end of the game because of botched clock work the entire game. In at least two instances a player has been out of bounds after a play and the clock has not been stopped. Combine that with iffy officiating and this game is a mess.

I was routing for UT, though, so i'm pretty happy.

[kingfc22]

<table class="tablehead" cellpadding="3" cellspacing="1"> <tbody><tr class="oddrow" align="right"><td align="left">
</td><td>http://espn.go.com/i/teamlogos/ncaa/sml/trans/30.gif</td><td>http://espn.go.com/i/teamlogos/ncaa/sml/trans/251.gif</td></tr><tr class="colhead" align="right"><td class="bi" align="left">1st Downs</td><td>30</td><td>30</td></tr><tr class="evenrow" align="right"><td align="left">3rd down efficiency
</td><td>8-14</td><td>3-11</td></tr><tr class="evenrow" align="right"><td align="left">4th down efficiency
</td><td>1-3</td><td>1-2</td></tr><tr class="colhead" align="right"><td class="bi" align="left">Total Yards</td><td>573</td><td>557</td></tr><tr class="colhead" align="right"><td class="bi" align="left">Passing</td><td>367</td><td>267</td></tr><tr class="evenrow" align="right"><td align="left">Comp-Att
</td><td>29-41</td><td>30-40</td></tr><tr class="evenrow" align="right"><td align="left">Yards per pass
</td><td>8.5</td><td>6.7</td></tr><tr class="colhead" align="right"><td class="bi" align="left">Rushing</td><td>206</td><td>290</td></tr><tr class="evenrow" align="right"><td align="left">Rushing Attempts
</td><td>41</td><td>36</td></tr><tr class="evenrow" align="right"><td align="left">Yards per rush
</td><td>5.0</td><td>8.1</td></tr><tr class="colhead" align="right"><td class="bi" align="left">Penalties</td><td>5-30</td><td>4-34</td></tr><tr class="colhead" align="right"><td class="bi" align="left">Turnovers</td><td>2</td><td>1</td></tr><tr class="evenrow" align="right"><td align="left">Fumbles lost
</td><td>1</td><td>1</td></tr><tr class="evenrow" align="right"><td align="left">Interceptions thrown
</td><td>1</td><td>0</td></tr></tbody> </table>

[Radii]

I went back and replayed the Bush fumble/lateral/pass in slow motion a few times, someone(cthomer I think?) asked about it. Bush is going forward at pretty increidble speed, he starts the lateral attempt at like the 23 and doesn't fall down until the 16 or so, but from what I can tell he released the ball on the 21 yard line, and the ball hit the ground at around the 19. Almost without question Bush released the ball before the 20 and the ball landed inside the 20. It was a forward pass.

[Swaggs]

Great game by two great teams.

It actually lived up to the hype.

[cthomer5000]

I went back and replayed the Bush fumble/lateral/pass in slow motion a few times, someone(cthomer I think?) asked about it. Bush is going forward at pretty increidble speed, he starts the lateral attempt at like the 23 and doesn't fall down until the 16 or so, but from what I can tell he released the ball on the 21 yard line, and the ball hit the ground at around the 19. Almost without question Bush released the ball before the 20 and the ball landed inside the 20. It was a forward pass.
Thanks for the homework. I have no idea how everyone involved in the game (and apparently almost all of us watching) totally blanked on that.

[biological warrior]

http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/football/ncaa/boxscores/2006/01/04/33973_boxscore.html

[Ksyrup]

I went back and replayed the Bush fumble/lateral/pass in slow motion a few times, someone(cthomer I think?) asked about it. Bush is going forward at pretty increidble speed, he starts the lateral attempt at like the 23 and doesn't fall down until the 16 or so, but from what I can tell he released the ball on the 21 yard line, and the ball hit the ground at around the 19. Almost without question Bush released the ball before the 20 and the ball landed inside the 20. It was a forward pass.
Who cares? Didn't Texas recover, meaning they would have declined any penalties against USC?

[tarcone]

greatest game ever? iowa -lsu last year or iowa-michigan in 85 i believe iowa ranked #1 michigan #2 iowa wins 12-10 but im biased

[Grammaticus]

# of mobile QBs faced all year by USC=1...losses=1...they just couldnt contain a mobile, Vince Young was just a plus...so dont glorify him too much...his passes were all short, as you can see with his stats
I don't think VY is the best ever, but he just beat the best college team in history and it was fun watching. It will be even more fun watching all the ESPN dorks continue to fawn all over USC, what gives?

[Noop]

Vince Young would have beaten any team tonight. That guy played lights out and for him to step up in a big game like this is just special.

[Senator]

I am so damn happy.

[cthomer5000]

Who cares? Didn't Texas recover, meaning they would have declined any penalties against USC?
You can't "recover" an incomplete pass. It should have been a penalty from the spot of the illegal pass, and USC would have retained posession.

[Buccaneer]

Exactly. Young is very good, but I can't believe NFL scouts will be so wowed by this performance - as opposed to evaluating everything he's done up until now - that they'll upgrade him for singlehandledly beating a bad defense. I don't care how dominant USC has been, they still have a Pac-10 defense. And that's what lost them the game.
Singlehandedly. Let's see how that plays in the NFL.

[INDalltheway]

I don't think anyone can realize how amazing of a game we just witnessed.. The game had everything. Vince Young was simply amazing, and he probably had one of the best performances ever.. Also, USC celebrated every TD during the game, while Young was humble as can be. WOW.. amazing.

[Dekanth]

Regarding the NFL, outside of a short stretch by McNair and the early part of McNabb's career, a running QB still does not equal great success in the NFL. The defenses are faster and stronger and they will chase the QB down and hurt them. VY at least has a big frame going for him, which could help make him more durable than a Mike Vick, but I am not sold on his NFL ability.

Still, greatest single game performance on a big stage...ever.

[jbmagic]

Matt Leinart just said we are the better team still. did anybody catch that?

[sachmo71]

Didnt he pass for 0ne too?

No, but Matt did.

[biological warrior]

Now I can finally say.......................................................................................................................reggie WHO????????????????????????????????????????????????????????http://www.operationsports.com/fofc/images/smilies/biggrin.gif

[Ksyrup]

You can't "recover" an incomplete pass. It should have been a penalty from the spot of the illegal pass, and USC would have retained posession.
Did I mention it's 2 hours past my bed time? :D

[Dutch]

You can't "recover" an incomplete pass. It should have been a penalty from the spot of the illegal pass, and USC would have retained posession.

Exactly. But I must admit, I like this ending better. :D

[tarcone]

Young led the nation in passing efficiency

[Swaggs]

I am so damn happy.

Congrats. I was telling my wife down the stretch that I was happy that WVU wasn't in this game, because my stomach would have been in knots in the last two minutes (well, probably the whole game, but especially the last two minutes).

[Galaxy]

# of mobile QBs faced all year by USC=1...losses=1...they just couldnt contain a mobile, Vince Young was just a plus...so dont glorify him too much...his passes were all short, as you can see with his stats

Please, this is a load of crap. Young went 30/40, and ran for over 200 yards.

[cthomer5000]

Exactly. But I must admit, I like this ending better. :D
Me too. http://www.operationsports.com/fofc/images/smilies/smile.gif

[Dutch]

Now I can finally say.......................................................................................................................reggie WHO????????????????????????????????????????????????????????http://www.operationsports.com/fofc/images/smilies/biggrin.gif

I was pretty impressed with "Thunder".

[Radii]

Who cares? Didn't Texas recover, meaning they would have declined any penalties against USC?


Can you decline that? If its called a forward pass its not a fumble, so no change of posession can occur, i think. I dunno, I'm not a rules expert at all.

I'm also not trying to take anything from the Texas fans here, I am just showing off that I have tivo and that its totally awesome ;)

[astrosfan64]

Matt Leinart just said we are the better team still. did anybody catch that?

Yeah I caught that. The greatest team of all time wouldn't lose the championship would they?

[cartman]

Ryan Perrilloux and Adrian Peterson, go ask the LSU and OU recruiters again why you wouldn't have a chance to win a championship at Texas....

:D

[kingfc22]

Now I can finally say.......................................................................................................................reggie WHO????????????????????????????????????????????????????????http://www.operationsports.com/fofc/images/smilies/biggrin.gif
The guy had 275 total yards in the game.

[sachmo71]

Now I can finally say.......................................................................................................................reggie WHO????????????????????????????????????????????????????????http://www.operationsports.com/fofc/images/smilies/biggrin.gif


That's Reggie Bush, 1st overall pick on my crappy, rebuilding keeper league team! WHOOT!


But will it be Houston? Or New Orleans?

[cmp]

Matt Leinart just said we are the better team still. did anybody catch that?

I've never liked Leinhart, that makes me dislike him even more.

[astrosfan64]

Vince Young would have beaten any team tonight. That guy played lights out and for him to step up in a big game like this is just special.

A healthy penn state woudl of beat them.

[Ksyrup]

Apparently Leinart is suffering from the same delusions which allowed USC to claim it was going for a threepeat.

[VPI97]

We finally did it. I lived to see it.Congrats dude. Have a beer for me.

[PineTar]

I will say this... Vince Young would be making the exact same mistake Matt Leinart made last year if he forgoes the NFL draft. He's definitely a top 3 pick if not higher.

[GrantDawg]

Please, this is a load of crap. Young went 30/40, and ran for over 200 yards.

But he should have went 40 for 40. I mean, come on! Leinart didn't miss on any passes, did he? Oh, wait....

[duckman]

Simply an amazing game. Congrats to Vince and the Longhorns!

[DaddyTorgo]

leinhart actually said that?? what a putz. compare that with what Mack Brown said first thing.

[VPI97]

Matt Leinart just said we are the better team still. did anybody catch that?So did Carroll in his post-game words. I guess they've forgotten how to lose gracefully.

[mauchow]

I've never liked Leinhart, that makes me dislike him even more.
Well, he was put on the spot with a question.. All he said was..

Hey, it was a hard-fought battle, I felt we were the better team but they came up big at the end.

It wasn't like he said..

"Man, we were so much better than them, we shoulda won, wah wah wah.."

[GrantDawg]

A healthy penn state woudl of beat them.

You're on crack.

[kingfc22]

You're on crack.
PSU would have gotten smashed by either team.

[Senator]

Congrats dude. Have a beer for me.


And a first kid on the way in June. I think I have used up all my good fortune in just a few months.

That was a game I think all of us who watched it will remember for the rest of our lives.

[SnDvls]

as a Pac-10 fan I wanted SC to win, but after the coments by crybaby Matt I'm glad Texas won. Congrats on a great game and win.

[vtbub]

I dunno if it was the best game ever, but it sure will be in the top 5.

A hearty congrats to the 2005 National Champion Texas Longhorns

[Deattribution]

Young just seems like a bit of an ass, tho, I gotta say.

SI


Lienart seems like a real prick - lose the game and still say theyre the better team - while the opposing coach is naming your accolades before his own teams.

[Galaxy]

Just curious, who will start at QB next year for USC?

[kingfc22]

Lienart seems like a real prick - lose the game and still say theyre the better team - while the opposing coach is naming your accolades before his own teams.
He was probably just pissed that his defense couldn't make a tackle to save their life. Meanwhile he is leading his team up and down the field with ease.

[PineTar]

Leinart's head was still squarely up his ass (as evidenced on the last play of the game) when he did his post game interview.

[sterlingice]

Lienart seems like a real prick - lose the game and still say theyre the better team - while the opposing coach is naming your accolades before his own teams.Yeah, Leinart came off as a giant prick, too.

SI

[cthomer5000]

And a first kid on the way in June. I think I have used up all my good fortune in just a few months.

That was a game I think all of us who watched it will remember for the rest of our lives.
Congratulations Senator. I hope to one day have one of my teams win a championship (no, IHOF doesn't count).

[cartman]

Just curious, who will start at QB next year for USC?

Booty, Josh David

[Senator]

Congratulations Senator. I hope to one day have one of my teams win a championship (no, IHOF doesn't count).


Hopefully my kid won't have to wait 35 years.

[cthomer5000]

I dunno if it was the best game ever, but it sure will be in the top 5.

A hearty congrats to the 2005 National Champion Texas Longhorns
These 2 teams were involved in the 3 best games I watched this year. OSU-Texas, Notre Dame-USC, and obviously this game.

[kingfc22]

Another key play was that 2nd down incomplete pass prior to getting stopped on 4th down. That would have taken off another 30-40 seconds.

[sachmo71]

Well, he was put on the spot with a question.. All he said was..

Hey, it was a hard-fought battle, I felt we were the better team but they came up big at the end.

It wasn't like he said..

"Man, we were so much better than them, we shoulda won, wah wah wah.."


Thanks for putting that in perspective. Not nearly as bad as it's sounding.

[Celeval]

This was one hell of a year for good games... ND-USC was incredible, all the BCS games were close, great games to watch.. one of the best Nat. Chmp games, too. As much as I don't like the BCS, this year was a dream scenario for them.

[Tasan]

Hey people, remember we are talking about 21-22 year old guys that have just battled through a nasty game. Sure, Mack will sound great, but how many 18-22 year olds are going to give props to a team that just beat them in the biggest game of the year? Not many I'd imagine, and I wouldn't really fault them either.

[jbmagic]

Just curious, who will start at QB next year for USC?


Booty

[sooner333]

Congrats to cartman, Senator, and the other Horn posters...35 years is a long time to wait, and I hope it takes longer until next time. But, the better team won today, and as much as I hate to admit, the best team this year. Can't wait till we get to knock off the defending champs next year and start another five game winning streak against you.

[cthomer5000]

It must also be that much sweeter for Texas to take down the evil empire of college football. I mean people were seriously talking about "greatest team ever" and "dynasty" - and all of that talk was actually justified because USC has been unstoppable. To pull that win off like that is just awesome, it was just an outstanding game from start-to-finish. Congratulations, Texas.

[kingfc22]

Heck of a run for the kids at SC. 34 straight games (including 16 vs. top 25 teams) and 2 titles. Huge props to them.

[Craptacular]

It must also be that much sweeter for Texas to take down the evil empire of college football.
I don't think Notre Dame has any competition for the title of evil empire of college football.

[Vegas Vic]

Booty, Josh David

That's not a given. Sanchez is extremely talented, and he might win the job.

Senator, Huckleberry, Cartman, and all of you other Longhorn fans -- congratulations on a hard earned championship.

Man, what a game. Both teams left it all on the field tonight.

[GabeRivers]

You can't "recover" an incomplete pass. It should have been a penalty from the spot of the illegal pass, and USC would have retained posession.

It was not an incomplete pass by any definition. He was running with the ball well beyond the line of scrimmage and attempted a lateral. If it was in fact a forward lateral, it was still a free ball. If USC had recovered, and IF it was indeed ruled a forward lateral, UT would have been awarded a penalty. However, after reviewing the play, it was not forward anyway.

[cthomer5000]

It was not an incomplete pass by any definition. He was running with the ball well beyond the line of scrimmage and attempted a lateral. If it was in fact a forward lateral, it was still a free ball. If USC had recovered, and IF it was indeed ruled a forward lateral, UT would have been awarded a penalty. However, after reviewing the play, it was not forward anyway.
I'm pretty sure the ball clearly lands forward of the spot he released it.

Now what is the college rule on an illegal forward pass? In the NFL that would have been an illegal pass, USC would have been peanlized, but would have retained posession. Does it differe in college? Anyone?

[Vegas Vic]

Classy move by Mack Brown, congratulating USC before he said anything else.

Mack Brown has always demonstrated a lot of class.

I was also impressed with Pete Carroll's post-game comments. He was very gracious in defeat.

[mauchow]

I'm still in awe. I watched that whole game smiling, and giggling like a little kid all the while saying, "wow every other minute". I will not be sleeping anytime soon as I'll be juking in my thoughts.

[Noop]

A healthy penn state woudl of beat them.
Your talking about Penn State who needed 3 overtimes to beat a badly coached offensive team? Sorry but Vince Young the way he played tonight would have beaten any college team in America. He put up video game numbers on USC I have only seen those stats when I turn the difficulty down and rack up stats.

[ISiddiqui]

Your talking about Penn State who needed 3 overtimes to beat a badly coached offensive team? Sorry but Vince Young the way he played tonight would have beaten any college team in America. He put up video game numbers on USC I have only seen those stats when I turn the difficulty down and rack up stats.Hell, and USC would have beat any other team in college football. Both of these teams showed how great they were.

[GabeRivers]

I'm pretty sure the ball clearly lands forward of the spot he released it.

Now what is the college rule on an illegal forward pass? In the NFL that would have been an illegal pass, USC would have been peanlized, but would have retained posession. Does it differe in college? Anyone?

It would not have been an illegal forward pass even in the NFL. Had it been forward at that point it would have been an illegal forward lateral.

[cartman]

So, how much longer is sooner333 gonna keep his 2 year old sig?

;)

[VPI97]

Sorry but Vince Young the way he played tonight would have beaten any college team in America. He put up video game numbers on USC I have only seen those stats when I turn the difficulty down and rack up stats.Yep...I was talking with my wife about how Young would do against a FSU, Miami or VT defense since those teams have more experience in handling mobile quarterbacks, but by the end of the night I strongly believe that no defense could have done anything to slow him down.

[biological warrior]

Lienart seems like a real prick - lose the game and still say theyre the better team - while the opposing coach is naming your accolades before his own teams. Im savoring the look on his face when he has to wait until the 7th round in April.http://www.operationsports.com/fofc/images/smilies/biggrin.gif

[cthomer5000]

It would not have been an illegal forward pass even in the NFL. Had it been forward at that point it would have been an illegal forward lateral.
As far as I'm aware a "forward lateral" does not actually exist in the nfl (the term itself makes zero sense).

A pass is when the ball is thrown forward. A lateral is when the ball is thrown sideways (laterally) or backwards.

[Noop]

Yep...I was talking with my wife about how Young would do against a FSU, Miami or VT defense since those teams have more experience in handling mobile quarterbacks, but by the end of the night I strongly believe that no defense could have done anything to slow him down.
Pretty much. That guy is on a whole other level. I mentioned to my brother that he reminds me of Micheal Vick except he is a bit of a better passer. I can think of maybe one defense maybe two who can slow him down LSU and Florida State(Not a homer pick we have shut down all running QBs except Haggins) but we might have been able to stop him to the tune of oh I dunno five yards less then what he got in total. In other words we still would have gotten beaten badly.

[cthomer5000]

Ok, after digging a littler further I've at least found the NFL rule. The defensive team would have the option of declining the penalty and going with the result of the play (in this case, a Texas recovery).

I'm going to assume it's the same in college, and therefore my original point was moot.

[Karlifornia]

Wow. Just got home from watching the game (not at the stadium..I wish I were there, though!). UN-FRICKIN-BELIEVEABLE. While I was definitely rooting for USC to bring the PAC-10 another title, Texas definitely earned this victory. Even if Pete Carroll had not gone for it on 4th down, I am totally convinced Vince Young would have found a way to score. He was just a machine tonight. The whole game I would say "here comes a QB draw", and VY still made magic happen on every one.

I'd say this puts USC alongside the Miami team of a few years back. It was basically the same situation, except people thought this year's Texas team was better than the 2002 Ohio State team. Both teams played an absolute beast of a game, and USC didn't lose (okay, they lost, but...), they just ran out of time. Whoever had the ball last with any amount of time would have won this game.

The Vince Young lateral was a bad call, but Reggie Bush's lateral was a bad play that didn't have to happen, so let's call it even.

Congratulations, Texas, and Texas fans. You guys party hard tonight, because this is a special moment.

[sooner333]

So, how much longer is sooner333 gonna keep his 2 year old sig?

;)

fixed it for ya.

[Swaggs]

Pretty much. That guy is on a whole other level. I mentioned to my brother that he reminds me of Micheal Vick except he is a bit of a better passer. I can think of maybe one defense maybe two who can slow him down LSU and Florida State(Not a homer pick we have shut down all running QBs except Haggins) but we might have been able to stop him to the tune of oh I dunno five yards less then what he got in total. In other words we still would have gotten beaten badly.

Wouldn't you put him in front of Vick, as a college player, at this point? I think Vick somehow looked faster and a little shiftier, maybe because he has/had a leaner body, but VY made a lot of great athletes look like they were moving in slow motion today. Vick had an awesome career and was one of the most exciting players I have ever seen, but VY now has two BCS wins and a title, with a year left to play.

[TazFTW]

If stats in bowl games now count as regular season stats then why is the Heisman awarded before the bowls?

[aran]

Speaking of pricks... Brian Kushing (i don't really even know how to spell his name :p) comes from my hometown. He was a prick when i used to play schoolyard pick-up football with him. I smiled when USC lost the game thinking of what a sore loser he used to be.

Heh. First kid from my town to be even remotely successful at college football.

[sooner333]

If stats in bowl games now count as regular season stats then why is the Heisman awarded before the bowls?

Probably tradition, but I think the Heisman is an award that isn't and shouldn't be all about stats. There are no qualifications of the award except "most outstanding college football player". Young probably would have won after tonight...but I don't think you could argue against Reggie Bush either...even after tonight.

[Karlifornia]

If Young really wants the Heisman that bad, he can always come back next year.....

[sooner333]

Texas probably faced the third best defense they have all season tonight. I'd take Ohio State's and OU's over the way USC played. Maybe even Kansas'. I know USC wasn't in the top 25 in defense before the game, and they certainly won't be after tonight. They were exposed today on the national spotlight...and in a big way. Texas did face the best offense they have faced all season though (though Texas certainly is better than them at that too).

[dawgfan]

Exactly. Young is very good, but I can't believe NFL scouts will be so wowed by this performance - as opposed to evaluating everything he's done up until now - that they'll upgrade him for singlehandledly beating a bad defense. I don't care how dominant USC has been, they still have a Pac-10 defense. And that's what lost them the game.
A bad defense? Are you high?

USC ranked #35 in the NCAA this year in overall defense (out of 117 teams) giving up 344.7 YPG. They were #23 in rush defense at 117.3 YPG and #38 in pass efficiency defense at 117.7 rating. You can say that this wasn't an outstanding defense, but to say it was bad? Major hyperbole.

Here are some more numbers to chew on:
USC offense this year - 50.0 PPG (#2), 580.3 YPG (#1)
Texas offense this year - 50.9 PPG (#1), 508.4 YPG (#3)
USC defense this year - 21.3 PPG (#27), 344.7 YPG (#35)
Texas defense this year - 14.6 PPG (#5), 280.3 YPG (#5)

Now tell me this - was the Texas defense that much better than the USC defense tonight? The numbers suggest it's a lot closer than you seem to imply, unless you also think the Longhorn's defense is "bad".

And maybe, just maybe, the difference in defensive numbers between teams in the Pac-10 and Big-12 has as much to do with the potency of the offenses in the Pac-10 as compared to Big-12 offenses...?

[larrymcg421]

Heh.


Welcome to vDeck
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This is what you get now when you go to www.firemackbrown.com

[sterlingice]

Texas probably faced the third best defense they have all season tonight. I'd take Ohio State's and OU's over the way USC played. Maybe even Kansas'. I know USC wasn't in the top 25 in defense before the game, and they certainly won't be after tonight. They were exposed today on the national spotlight...and in a big way. Texas did face the best offense they have faced all season though (though Texas certainly is better than them at that too).Woo! We (Kansas) got a mention :D

We really did have a stud defense. Too bad our offense couldn't do a thing the first half of the season so the defense was out there 40 minutes and more for some of those games. Seven seniors, tho, so we're going to take quite a step back next year.

SI

[korme]

Got to this thread late. But here's my thought on Texas' final play on offense. You know when a great scrambling QB has it on 4th and goal and you just know he's going to scramble for the score, but instead he makes a quick throw incomplete and like that the game's over? I had a feeling it'd happen, but out of nowhere like "I cant believe hes actually running", Young runs in for the game winner. For 5 minutes straight I just kept saying "I can't believe SC actually lost... holy shit."

[korme]

We finally did it. I lived to see it.Congrats Sen. I still remember in Jan '03 when OSU did the unthinkable. Enjoy it.

[korme]

I dislike Bush.How can you, honestly? Best college player I have ever seen.

[TazFTW]

Probably tradition, but I think the Heisman is an award that isn't and shouldn't be all about stats. There are no qualifications of the award except "most outstanding college football player". Young probably would have won after tonight...but I don't think you could argue against Reggie Bush either...even after tonight.
I wasn't necessarily saying Young should have won but it should have been a closer race. It just seemed like everybody (i.e. ESPN) torched Vince Young for not matching the performance of Bush vs Fresno St. (I believe it was the A&M game). If the Heisman were held after the bowls, I'd say Young's performance in the Rose Bowl tops Bush's performance against Fresno St. and the vote would have definately been closer. I'd expect Leinart to have lost more votes to Young if this were the case.

[sooner333]

VY proved so much to me this game. All season I had been a VY-doubter. I simply did not beleive he could have gotten that much better...especially when he never fixed his throwing motion. I always thought he could be contained in the pocket and never do the right thing. I saw him against OU throw looping passes into gaping holes in our inexperienced secondary and didn't think much of it, as he also was stopped to below 50 yards rushing. I saw him against A&M overthrow recievers where a good defense would have picked him off. Now, Texas does have a great line, and USC couldn't get the pressure, but I saw him make great reads, take off only when he needed to or when they called it, and do so effortlessly. He didn't make many of his bad decisions. I finally think VY can be an NFL QB...he is really a beast out there.

[korme]

Hell, he's a better player than Vick will ever be right now.

Lions need to trade up for him.Young is a great college player. I just don't know if he'll be an outstanding NFL QB. I hope he will be, because he's spectacular to watch, just sayin'.

[mtolson]

Young is a great college player. I just don't know if he'll be an outstanding NFL QB. I hope he will be, because he's spectacular to watch, just sayin'.

I agree. Somehow, as great as VY's performance was all night I kept thinking to myself how badly USC tackled and the fact the on just about every pass he completed the ball was going to a receiver that was at least 4 yards away from a USC defender.

One thing I found real odd is how Reggie Bush basically disappeared on the next to last drive where they failed the 4th down attempt. White was in on every play. Hell, I would have thought they put Bush in for deception alone along with White.

And why in the hell do you call a timeout on a extra point attempt. They had a snowballs chance in hell to stoping him. The way they were tackling, the were better off giving them the 2 points, saveing the timeout and going for the tie. The timeout was needed much more then stoping the 2 point conversion.

[sooner333]

Young is a great college player. I just don't know if he'll be an outstanding NFL QB. I hope he will be, because he's spectacular to watch, just sayin'.

Yeah, great in college certainly doesn't translate to great in the pros...I certainly don't think Vick is a great NFL quarterback unless he runs (which he is too stubborn to do as much anymore). However, I think Young will be better than Vick at least, and could be a good NFL QB, but its such a crapshoot (think of how many NFL starters went to smaller schools...its a lot more than you think).

[Karlifornia]

How can you, honestly? Best college player I have ever seen.


Correct me if I'm wrong, but I believe Jeeber was, in fact, referring to the second to last play where Bush got down to the Texas 40 yard-line. He meant it as in "He makes me frightened"

[Mr. Wednesday]

JESUS! LATERAL WORKS! Touchdown!

Was he down?Not only was he down, I think there was a 50/50 chance it was an illegal forward pass (although I don't know if there would have been a camera angle to review that aspect of the play).

[cthomer5000]

Not only was he down, I think there was a 50/50 chance it was an illegal forward pass (although I don't know if there would have been a camera angle to review that aspect of the play).
Vince's lateral was quite clearly a legal lateral on the replays.

[mtolson]

Vince's lateral was quite clearly a legal lateral on the replays.

May have been legal, but he surely was down.

[cthomer5000]

May have been legal, but he surely was down.
I was about to edit that. THere is zero doubt his knee was down, but there is also zero doubt the lateral itself was a legit lateral. I don't think that call was that big a deal in the course of the game anyway, since it would have just been 1st and goal from the 10 (?). they were really rolling.

I think the bad calls evened out. Both teams had a number of missed opportunites.

[mtolson]

I was about to edit that. THere is zero doubt his knee was down, but there is also zero doubt the lateral itself was a legit lateral. I don't think that call was that big a deal in the course of the game anyway, since it would have just been 1st and goal from the 10 (?). they were really rolling.

I think the bad calls evened out. Both teams had a number of missed opportunites.

I agree, the rate things were going they would have scored about 3 plays later baring a turnover.

[mtolson]

I was about to edit that. THere is zero doubt his knee was down, but there is also zero doubt the lateral itself was a legit lateral. I don't think that call was that big a deal in the course of the game anyway, since it would have just been 1st and goal from the 10 (?). they were really rolling.

I think the bad calls evened out. Both teams had a number of missed opportunites.

It was kind of funny when they showed the replay officials after the break who appeared to be looking at the monitor and shaking there heads in disbelief like they had realized the mistake.

[sooner333]

I was kind of runny when they showed the replay officials after the break who appears to be looking at the monitor and shaking there heads in disbelief like they had realized the mistake.

Keith Jackson said something later in the game like there was a malfunction that didn't allow them to replay it. Then again, Keith Jackson is senile and can't pronounce names correctly, so who knows what he meant.

[Mr. Wednesday]

I'm pretty sure the ball clearly lands forward of the spot he released it.

Now what is the college rule on an illegal forward pass? In the NFL that would have been an illegal pass, USC would have been peanlized, but would have retained posession. Does it differe in college? Anyone?I dunno if anyone else has looked it up in the next two pages, but...
...if it's ruled an illegal forward pass, then SC retains possession and the five yard penalty from the spot of the foul is enforced -- rule 7-3, article 7-A. I wonder if they might rule it a fumble instead of a forward pass?

Playing rules available here: http://www2.ncaa.org/media_and_events/ncaa_publications/playing_rules/index.html

[Mr. Wednesday]

Dola, here's the definition of a fumble:

Fumble
ARTICLE 1. A fumble is any act other than passing, kicking or successful handing that results in loss of player possession (A.R. 2-19-2-I, A.R. 4-1-3-I and A.R. 7-2-2-I).

[mckerney]

It was a fantastic game and I was happy with the result both because I was rooting for a Texas win and it was nice not to see USC match Minnesota's 3 consecutive championships.

[Mr. Wednesday]

Oops, I poked around a little further. "Lateral" appears once in the rules, referring to positioning of an official and not a backward pass. "Backward pass" is pretty fruitful, though... we come upon this interpretation on p. 170 which appears to cover the exact situation that occurred:

A Team A runner attempts a backward pass that is ruled forward and
illegal. The pass strikes the ground. RULING: Penalty—Five yards
from the spot where the pass was thrown and, unless thrown after a
change of team possession, the scrimmage down counts (7-3-2-a).

[LionsFan10]

I'd like to see what all the ESPN analysts have to say now about the 2005 USC Trojans, and them beating all up on every great team in the last 30 years. I bet their story has changed a bit, thank God for the Longhorns.

[Ragone]

How can you, honestly? Best college player I have ever seen.


Thats the key statement right there.. Bush will be an AVERAGE pro player.. at best.. whats his posistion?

Rb.. I really don't think he's a 20+ carry a game back, Everytime i've seen him take a big hit he's either a. Fumbled.. or B. Had to come out for a few plays

Wr.. Perhaps but doesn't have the ideal size you'd want out of a 1st round wr

Honestly, i feel Bush is going to be a better version of Dante Hall

[Deattribution]

Thats the key statement right there.. Bush will be an AVERAGE pro player.. at best.. whats his posistion?

Rb.. I really don't think he's a 20+ carry a game back, Everytime i've seen him take a big hit he's either a. Fumbled.. or B. Had to come out for a few plays

Wr.. Perhaps but doesn't have the ideal size you'd want out of a 1st round wr

Honestly, i feel Bush is going to be a better version of Dante Hall

Huh? The guy has had 1 fumble all season, minus the lateral tonight.

[Vegas Vic]

Yep...I was talking with my wife about how Young would do against a FSU, Miami or VT defense since those teams have more experience in handling mobile quarterbacks, but by the end of the night I strongly believe that no defense could have done anything to slow him down.

Believe it or not, last year Oklahoma shut out Texas (the first time any team did so in about 40 years). You need great defensive talent to go up against Vince Young, and this year the OU defense was no match for him.

[cartman]

Believe it or not, last year Oklahoma shut out Texas (the first time any team did so in about 40 years). You need great defensive talent to go up against Vince Young, and this year the OU defense was no match for him.

Not quite 40 years. The last time was 1980.

That was also the game before the famous talk between VY and Coach Brown, where they cleared the air and took the reins off of VY and let him loose.

[cartman]

dola,

I just got back from downtown Austin, where it is still a madhouse. Evidently they are having to send police out to the airport, because there is a huge group out there waiting for the plane to arrive. I can't believe I forgot my camera, to snap some pics of the tower lit up in burnt orange, with the lights in the offices on the side lit up in a pattern of 1s.

[Ragone]

Huh? The guy has had 1 fumble all season, minus the lateral tonight.

one lost fumble.. i am fairly certain he's had several recovered by his own team

[Ben E Lou]

Just watched the Young pitch.

1. It wasn't "clearly" a lateral by any means. It was dadgum close. From watching it six or seven times, I can't say conclusively.
2. The ball would have been spotted just outside the 10 had it been reviewed, first down Texas. I agree wholeheartedly with the sentiment that there's very little chance Southern Cal stops them from scoring a TD there.

Still, great thought by VY on that play. I love it when the playground gets taken to the big stage. :)

Great game. Loved watching VY. Exciting player.

[cthomer5000]

Still, great thought by VY on that play. I love it when the playground gets taken to the big stage. :)
Oh, absolutely. Stuff like that makes for some of the truly great sports moments. I think Youngs lateral play was that much more exciting having seen the disaster of the Reggie Bush play only a few minutes earlier. It was as if he was showing him how it was done.

[Vegas Vic]

Not quite 40 years. The last time was 1980.



OK, I stand corrected. I didn't look it up in the record books, and I was wrong. In 2004, OU shutout Texas, the first time that any team had done so in 24 years.

[Raiders Army]

Great, great game. Pete Carroll showed a lot of class after the game when he said, "it's their night."

Leinart on the other hand said, "I still think we're the better team." STFU and go to New Orleans you crybaby. I'm also laughing at the Heisman voters.

[WSUCougar]

Fantastic game. A couple comments:

1. Texas won the game and deserves to celebrate their championship, but I personally think neither can claim to be "the better team." That was a fierce struggle between two very talented squads that obviously could have ended either way. Play 'em 10 times and you might split it 5/5.

2. I think the biggest reason USC lost was that on virtually every defensive play their DEs blew too far up the field, opening up avenues for Vince Young to exploit. I kept asking Pete Carroll why he didn't make an adjustment to contain, especially on the right (defense's left), but he never answered me. On the final, last-second TD - how on earth can you let Young run to the right like that?

3. Young had one of the most dominant games by a college player I've ever seen. Wow.

4. Leann Rimes' has a pretty voice, but her version of the national anthem was painful at times. Is it really THAT difficult a song to sing?

5. Dear ABC: Next time, show more USC cheerleaders and less of Matt Leinart's dad. Thanks.

[govols]

Was it just me for was that the most bias announcing of a game ever?

I am not a fan of either team but Keith Jackson and Dan Fouts should not have been announcing that game if they are such big fans of USC. You could tell the were just jumping for joy everytime USC made a play. It sounded like I was watching USC TV instead of ABC.

[WSUCougar]

Perhaps a slight angle that way, but both are Pac-10 guys who call games on the west coast all year. Their familiarity was with USC. But I thought it much more balanced than you apparently did.

[Ben E Lou]

2. I think the biggest reason USC lost was that on virtually every defensive play their DEs blew too far up the field, opening up avenues for Vince Young to exploit. Not just up the field, but they bit to the inside on the option on a regular basis, too. If you're Southern Cal, you've got to have your DE's in containment, particularly considering Young's size and the difficulty that the LB's and DB's were having just bringing him down.

[Honolulu_Blue]

Was it just me for was that the most bias announcing of a game ever?

I am not a fan of either team but Keith Jackson and Dan Fouts should not have been announcing that game if they are such big fans of USC. You could tell the were just jumping for joy everytime USC made a play. It sounded like I was watching USC TV instead of ABC.
I am with Cougar. I didn't think it was that biased at all. I never got that sense of things.

[Rockstar]

Was it just me for was that the most bias announcing of a game ever?

I am not a fan of either team but Keith Jackson and Dan Fouts should not have been announcing that game if they are such big fans of USC. You could tell the were just jumping for joy everytime USC made a play. It sounded like I was watching USC TV instead of ABC.

Same here. But TV announcers are that way every time there is a dominant team playing. Too bad for the announcers that USC lost. Remember the Miami teams and how the guys calling that game vs OSU had an orgasm every time the Hurricanes touched the ball? But I know exactly what your saying.

[tarcone]

lienart and bush went into the Texas lockerroom after the game to congratulate the longhorns
there is the classy move that should overshadow the we are better comments

[Honolulu_Blue]

A few observations:

1. All season long I thought Vince Young was the best player in college. When it finally came around the Heisman time, I figured people were right about Reggie Bush given the landslide. I just didn't see Bush play enough to know. From what I saw he is an amazing player, dangerous each time he touches the ball, but I stand by my original thought: Vince Young is the best player in college.

2. I am still not convinced that Vince Young will succeed in the pro game. Despite his dominance over the last few games, I just don't see it. He has a great completion percentage, but I have rarely seen him complete too many passes where his WR isn't wide open by a few yards. His passes seem to lack any sort of zip and he has that odd throwing motion. He has great speed and elusiveness, but Pro-level defensive players will be faster, bigger, and better tacklers than what he faced in college. He wont make almost everyone around him look like a smurf wading through pudding.

3. USC seemed to be a little cock when things opened up, like they had already bought into their own legend. There was that ill-advised Bush lateral. The 4th down sneak by Leinart. They seemed to re-focus in the second half (which appears to have been their MO for much of the season), but I feel they had a bit of chance to really put the screws to UT early on and failed to do so.

It was a great game. A near perfect national championship game. Almost all of the great players in it played a great game.

Good times.

[Ksyrup]

A bad defense? Are you high?

USC ranked #35 in the NCAA this year in overall defense (out of 117 teams) giving up 344.7 YPG. They were #23 in rush defense at 117.3 YPG and #38 in pass efficiency defense at 117.7 rating. You can say that this wasn't an outstanding defense, but to say it was bad? Major hyperbole.

Here are some more numbers to chew on:
USC offense this year - 50.0 PPG (#2), 580.3 YPG (#1)
Texas offense this year - 50.9 PPG (#1), 508.4 YPG (#3)
USC defense this year - 21.3 PPG (#27), 344.7 YPG (#35)
Texas defense this year - 14.6 PPG (#5), 280.3 YPG (#5)

Now tell me this - was the Texas defense that much better than the USC defense tonight? The numbers suggest it's a lot closer than you seem to imply, unless you also think the Longhorn's defense is "bad".

And maybe, just maybe, the difference in defensive numbers between teams in the Pac-10 and Big-12 has as much to do with the potency of the offenses in the Pac-10 as compared to Big-12 offenses...?USC's defense is not good. If you can't see the correlation between great offense and the position that puts your defense in 95% of the time, then you don't understand football. When the games are close, the defense has done little to nothing to win games for that team. The offense has been forced to outscore the opponents. Look at how many times they've had to come back to win. The defense put them in that position; the offense bailed them out.

The fact that they pad stats in 50 point blowouts because by the 5 minute mark of the 1st quarter the other team has to resort to passing the ball 50 times a game or simply puts in its subs, doesn't demonstrate that their defense is anything more than average, at very best.

And I don't think Texas' defense is all that great either, but the difference for me is that they showed up in the biggest games of the year prior to tonight, and they took on a legitimately great offense and still prevailed, whereas USC couldn't stop the one guy they needed to in order to win. I think Texas' D had the far greater challenge in trying to stop a half-dozen great players, as opposed to one or two.

[Ksyrup]

I didn't think the announcing was all that biased, but maybe that's because (a) I recognized that Keith Jackson and Dan Fouts are obvious West Coasters; and (b) I was so numb from having to listen to Brent Musberger that I appreciated the good job they did, regardless of bias.

[Raiders Army]

lienart and bush went into the Texas lockerroom after the game to congratulate the longhorns
there is the classy move that should overshadow the we are better comments
I went to sleep before that. I sit corrected.

Damn East Coast timezone. *grumble*

[bob]

Keith Jackson said something later in the game like there was a malfunction that didn't allow them to replay it. Then again, Keith Jackson is senile and can't pronounce names correctly, so who knows what he meant.

There was a malfunction with replay during the Michigan - Nebraska game too, which caused Michigan to use a timeout to get a play reviewed.

I think they need to replace the buzzer system with a flare gun.

[bob]

Can anyone answer why USC used their last timeout right before the 2pt conversion? I couldn't hear the announcers b/c people were going crazy after the score.

[Ben E Lou]

I think they need to replace the buzzer system with a flare gun.Given enough firepower, that could make games in domes a good bit more interesting. :p

[WSUCougar]

Can anyone answer why USC used their last timeout right before the 2pt conversion? I couldn't hear the announcers b/c people were going crazy after the score.
I think Pete Carroll said they had a personnel problem with the defense on the conversion.

[moriarty]

I think Pete Carroll said they had a personnel problem with the defense on the conversion.

Pete looked either upset (as in he didn't call the TO) or confused. IIRC the defense was shuffling around late - I think one of the linebackers came in late, so they may not have had enough players on the field. Either way, they looked unprepared for the 2 point conversion. I still would have saved the TO, but I'm not sure Pete actually called it (I think it was one of the defenders).

[moriarty]

Was it just me for was that the most bias announcing of a game ever?

I am not a fan of either team but Keith Jackson and Dan Fouts should not have been announcing that game if they are such big fans of USC. You could tell the were just jumping for joy everytime USC made a play. It sounded like I was watching USC TV instead of ABC.

I didn't find it to be that biased, but good lord Keith needs to hang up his cleats. He was a great broadcaster, but now he can't see the field ... misplays calls all the time, makes mind numbing comments, and several times was babbling on as it cut to commercials.

Almost as painful as watching Dick Clark on New Years Eve.

[Vegas Vic]

Was it just me for was that the most bias announcing of a game ever?

Jackson is a Pac-Ten homer. I've never seen such blatant partisanship as his telecasts of the Rose Bowl and Holiday Bowl.

Having said that, I love the guy. He's Mr. College Football.

[Butter]

2. On the final, last-second TD - how on earth can you let Young run to the right like that?

Totally agree. You have to bring the house and make it so where there's nowhere to run. Make him beat you throwing it. If he beats you throwing it, so be it, but don't let him walk into the frickin' end zone!

[albionmoonlight]

The best compliment that I can give Reggie Bush (and I am not even being sarcastic here) is when Dan Fouts compared him early on to Walter Payton, and I said to myself, "having just watched Bush run, I don't that that comparison was 100% off base."

I think that Bush, with the right coaching, has the ability to be the next Marshall Faulk. Which means that I think that you need to take him #1 overall in the draft. (Not a great revelation, I know, but it was the first chance that I had to really see the guy in action with pro potential in mind).

[Kodos]

I was torn between rooting against Matt Leinart after his I don't want to be drafted by New Orleans stuff and my urge to see Texas lose and make HornsManiac unhappy. In the end, I decided to root for Texas. Fun game to watch.