WEEK 6
Off week.
USC BCS RANK: #2
BCS puts us at #2 this week, wow. An off week gives Donny Cash some more time to rehab, which is good for us.
On the recruiting front, not so good news, we get a slew of early rejections. Well, just got to keep plugging, we'll land some of these kids.
PAC 10 (1-0-0) Overall (4-0-0)
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(Ed note: Ok, I changed it, it's just easier to post the composite "BCS rank, so that's what I'll use for consistency. Apologies to any readers confused).
WEEK 7
@ Arizona (1-4-0)
(USC -26) USC RANK: #2
We're a mess regarding injuries atm. We lost DE Irv Wiggs and WR Willie Davison - Davison probably for the year. Ev McDaniel is hurt but may be able to go. Good news is Donny Cash has been upgraded to questionable, so he may play this week. But we're really banged up right now.
More rejections on the recruiting front. We seem to be getting out-recruited by everyone this year. We need to land some big fish or things aren't going to be pleasant with the alumni (or the talk radio folks).
Tailback Donny Cash came back big, rushing for 171 yards on 32 carries (5.3 ypc) and Wingback Jimmy Schultz added 49 yards on 11 carries (4.4 ypc) as the trojans ran all over the Wildcats 51-20. OG Gilbert Lucas led the way with 7 key run blocks, dominating his man on the line of scrimmage all day
QB Ev McDaniel had a big day, throwing for over 300 yards and 3 TD's while only being picked once. Once again, Ev's favorite target was 5th year senior Dominic Walyuchow, who made 8 catches for 153 yards and 2 touchdowns. Freshman Brian Robinson had the other touchdown reception, making 4 catches for 84 yards.
Bucky Riley's defense held Arizona to -7 yards rushing on 18 carries.
Another fine win for us as we continue to play very good football.
USC 51 Arizona 20
PAC 10 (2-0-0) Overall (5-0-0)
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WEEK 8
@ Washington State (3-2-0) (PAC 10) *TV5*
(USC -16) USC RANK: #1
BCS has us ranked #1 in the nation this week, which places a big target on our backs for every team we play this year. We're almost halfway through our schedule and playing good football - but we still haven't played CAL or UCLA, two of the teams that always give us trouble. A lot of how we do down the stretch will depend on the arm of Ev McDaniel. He's shown spurts of greatness at times this year, but then self-destructed at others. But like they say, you play the games with the quarterback you've got, not the one you wish you had.
We got two committments this week, one a really big signing. Maurice Napiecek, a cornerback from Lindhurst High School in Olivehurst, California. Maurice is a 90++ defensive back and was rated as the 16th best player in his recruiting class - and second best CB. He comes from a solid all-around high school both academically (65) and athletically (70) and is an honor roll student and scored over 1200 on the SAT's. A good, solid addition to our program who might be able to step right in and make a contribution next year. Also signing a letter of intent with USC was Walter Perez, a kicker from San Leandro High School in San Leandro, California. He's a kicker. Nuff said.
(Ed. note: For those not real familiar with TCY, the number "90++" refers to how the player has been scouted, then seen by the Head Coach. The number itself, 90 in this case, indicates how the scout rates the recruit on a scale of 100, 0 being worst, 100 being the best. "++" means when the Head Coach (me) saw him play, he looked "much better" than the scout's projection. "+" means he looked "better" than the scout projected. "-" means he looked worse than the scout projected and finally "--" means he looked "much worse" than the scout projected. A number with no modifier after it means one of two things. Either the Head Coach did not see the player play, or the player looked as scouted. As I almost never (99.9%) offer a scholarship to a player without seeing him play, the reader may assume that a recruit with a scouting number with no modifier after it appeared "as scouted" unless otherwise indicated in the text.)
Beat the bushes looking for more recruits we have a chance to sign. Despite my high hopes earlier in the season, this doesn't look like it's going to be a good recruiting year for me. The Napiecek committment was big, but we're losing out on most of the other highly ranked recruits. Hopefully I'm not to late in making contact with some of these kids and we can still hav a decent incoming freshman class.
Donny "Big Money" Cash showed up for today's game dressed in black and demanded the PA announcer play "Ring of Fire" when the USC team took the field - a request Washington State promptly disregarded. Cash, taking his vengeance, "walked the line" and plowed through it, walking all over State's front line while rushing for 150 yards on 26 carries (5.7 ypc) and 1 touchdown while also hauling in 4 passes for 58 yards. Freshman wideout Brian Robinson had a big day, Making 6 catches for 98 yards and two touchdowns. Ev McDaniel theew two TD's but continued his consistent inconsistency by tossing 2 picks. OG's Gilbert Lucas and Barry Humphrey dominated the line of scrimmage and on defense, ILB Johnny Coles made 11 tackles and picked off a pass he ran back four a score as USC dominated all facets of the game en route to a 31-10 win at Washington State.
I'm very pleased with the way we're playing. OG Gilbert Lucas has really improved on his run blocking technique since the season began and we've seen significant growth and maturity in OT Warren Taggart. Wingback Jimmy Schultz has provided good experience and plays well in a secondary back role to Donnell Cash's lead. The defense always seems to come up big at the times we need it to. I'm very pleased indeed.
USC 31 Washington State 10
PAC 10 (3-0-0) Overall (6-0-0)
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WEEK 9
MEDIA SNIPPETTS
USA TODAY
Week 9, 2011
There's a little controversy about the BCS standings right now, which ranks the University of Florida Gators over the Southern Cal Trojans. Southern Cal has 1 more victory than Florida and also has stronger strength of schedule. But let's face it, no one expected USC to be up here at the top of the rankings - they're like the uninvited guest to the party. What's hurting them are the polls, where the coaches have them at #8 and the fans have them at #5.
Winning those two groups of voters over will be a lot more difficult than convicincing the computer, that's for sure.
Code:
The College Years
2011 BCS Week 9 Overall Rankings
School Record Conf Comp Poll Loss Sched Total Rank
Florida 5-0 SEC 6.00 1.00 0.00 2.20 9.20 1
**Southern California 6-0 P10 1.50 6.50 0.00 2.00 10.00 2
Nebraska 7-0 B12 5.75 2.00 0.00 4.12 11.87 3
West Virginia 5-0 BGE 3.75 8.00 0.00 2.32 14.07 4
California-Los Angeles 7-0 P10 6.25 5.50 0.00 3.52 15.27 5
Marshall 6-0 MAC 3.25 9.50 0.00 2.80 15.55 6
Wisconsin 6-0 B10 1.25 12.00 0.00 2.96 16.21 7
Texas A&M 6-1 B12 12.25 3.00 1.00 3.56 19.81 8
Iowa 6-0 B10 9.75 7.50 0.00 4.20 21.45 9
Virginia 6-0 ACC 12.00 5.50 0.00 5.00 22.50 10
Louisville 6-0 USA 10.00 10.00 0.00 4.76 24.76 11
Rice 5-0 WAC 8.25 13.50 0.00 4.96 26.71 12
Pittsburgh 6-1 BGE 10.00 14.50 1.00 1.60 27.10 13
Michigan 5-2 B10 12.00 15.00 2.00 0.32 29.32 14
Penn State 5-1 B10 18.75 7.50 1.00 3.80 31.05 15
Texas Christian 5-1 USA 13.25 21.00 1.00 4.32 39.57 16
South Florida 5-1 USA 19.00 17.50 1.00 3.32 40.82 17
Texas 4-2 B12 19.75 18.00 2.00 1.80 41.55 18
Utah 5-1 MTW 18.50 20.50 1.00 3.20 43.20 19
Colorado State 6-1 MTW 16.75 22.00 1.00 3.48 43.23 20
Boise State 5-1 WAC 17.25 23.50 1.00 3.24 44.99 21
Notre Dame 5-2 IND 25.00 16.50 2.00 3.12 46.62 22
Virginia Tech 5-1 ACC 26.00 19.00 1.00 4.68 50.68 23
Green Mountain 6-1 NNE 23.25 26.00 1.00 4.72 54.97 24
Miami of Florida 5-2 ACC 26.50 24.50 2.00 2.36 55.36 25
(Ed. note: For those unfamiliar with TCY, "high school development" refers to how well certain high schools are at preparing their athletes both academically and athletically. A school's reputation in some part determines how well developed a player will be and what his grades will be when he shows up for his freshman year. Each school's academic program is rated on a scale of 0-100, 0 being the worst, 100 being the best. The same for athletics. Occassionally the author will refer to a high school as having a good football program or being a lousy school academically etc. These are the numbers the author uses to make those judgements. FYI, the numbers have no bearing in reality, they were randomly assigned by the game, so if your HS gets dissed, chalk it up to a bad roll of the dice. Apologies to the reader, should have added this info sooner.)
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