It's Almost Kickoff!!

Well Triad Trojans, you'd have to have been living in Bin Laden's cave since June to NOT know what has happened to the Trojan football program via the NCAA Committee Of Infractions (the COI, or more commonly referred to as the "Committee of Idiots"). No bowl games for 2 years, loss of 30 scholarships over 3 years, 4 years probation, open season on any Junior or Senior, who can leave the Trojans at anytime. It was a bloodbath of biblical proportions, especially considering how little if anything USC, its coaching staff, administration, and boosters were involved in the Reggie Bush scandal. That was what so shocking, the amount of carnage leveled at a program in which the allegations didn't center around the football doing anything that was giving them a competitive advantage on the field. Alabama, which a few years ago was caught having coaches paying for players, having players paid, were punishes less than the Trojans. The "lynchpin" of the NCAA case was so flimsy as to be disconcerting as to the level of incompetence the COI has in its members. Here are a great summary of the failing of the NCAA findings:

NCAA Missteps on McNair

USC filed it appeal to some of the sanctions against the program, and considering the NCAA not following its own protocal by allowing USC to sit in on the Lloyd Lake interview, which is granted by the NCAA bylaws, and also due to the very flimsy case it has connecting USC to Lloyd Lake via running backs coach Todd McNair, if the NCAA has any credibility, it will halve the sanctions against the Trojans. Time will tell.

BEAT the Wildcats!!!

It's game day Trojans, the last contest of the regular season. Some great Trojan players will be walking out of the Coliseum tunnel for the very last time in the college careers, and hopefully Pete Carroll and company can get the offense in gear, keep the D at a high level, and those Trojans can leave the Gray Lady with a well-deserved "W."

A win also puts the Trojans in a tie for 2nd place, and would all but assure them a berth in the Pacific Life Holiday Bowl.

Fight On and BEAT the Wildcats.

Game is on at 3:30 PM on ABC/ESPN.

One Last Look, USC Draws Inspiration From Fan

If you haven't had a chance to watch this video, it is MUST SEE stuff! Oh, and grab some tissues!!

Playing For Pride...

So this is what it has come down to, Pride.

The Trojans will need to dig deep down and regain some pride and try to end the season on some high notes by winning out and going 10-3 including a bowl win.

10-3, and awesome season for 95% of most teams, unfortunately, USC is one of the 5% where 10-3 is considered a major disappointment.

By the way, Florida lost 5 games defending its National Title in 2006, including losing to Michigan in a bowl game with a lame duck coach. Yup, that was the same team that lost to Appalachian State at home, earlier in the year. Oh, don't forget Florida went on to win the National Championship the following season.

Let's see if Pete Carroll and company can put away the surging Bruins, regain some momentum, and finish the season on a high note.

Happy Thanksgiving!

8 More Years, 8 More Years!!!

"So this man and his dog walks into a bar..."

Some of you may have remembered that joke told by Notre Dame fans when they were in the midst of their 11 game winning streak (14 game unbeaten) against the Trojans. Well, the times they are a changing! To paraphrase a great line in the movie "Inglorious Basterds"

"In case you didn't know, we in the IRISH killing bidness, and brother, bidness has been good!" (Cue the NEXT Hitler video, this time, for Notre Dame)

8 magnificent years. Pete Carroll now goes down as the USC coach with the most wins in South Bend, and by the way things have been going with recruiting, I don't see that streak ending soon.

Matt Barkley...what more can be said, 380 yards, 2 TDs, and one INT. He was masterful in this epic rivalry and will now become the "Tim Tebow" as nauseum for the next 4 years...get used to it.

We had a GREAT turnout at R | E | F | S Sports Bar and Grill in Greensboro, and in case you haven't been, it is starting to pick up some serious steam. The food was good there and the drink prices are reasonable.

I'll post some piocs soon, but for now, I am just enjoying another USC battle victory in the Great Irish/Trojan War.

Still, there is a LOT of unfinished business. If you look at the Pac-1o standings right now, we are only heading into the most difficult part of our schedule, with only UCLA left as a "dog."

Next step, REVENGE vs. Oregon State.

Game One of "The Gauntlet" Goes To Troy...

Game 1 of a 4 game Gauntlet goes to Troy, with road tests against Notre Dame, Oregon, and a home revenge game against Oregon State looming.

I don't know, it seemed like this should have been USC 42, Cal 3, as the Trojan's Red Zone offense is sputtering right now. There should have been 3 more TD's and 3 less FG's, and perhaps if Carroll & Co. had the services of Stafon Johnson, the Trojan's Red Zone RB, USC would have had TD's instead of FG's.

But I am NOT complaining, a 30-3 beatdown of the Bears who were #6 2 weeks ago before being completely exposed by Oregon last week is always a good thing. Fun fact, this was the first time Cal has been kept out of the endzone in Strawberry Canyon since 1999. It was also the Bear's first home loss since losing to USC (who else?) in 2007.

Now the Trojans have a BYE week to rest and heal, then a trip back to South Bend against a scrappy Notre Dame team that is starting to believe in itself after winning another squeeker against UW. The Huskies are obviously a MUCH better team under Sark and Holt, and I believe the Irish are in for a rude awakening when Troy rolls into town.

See you at REFS on the 17th, game time I believe is 3:30 PM.

Hitler Defends Pete Carroll...

Okay, if you haven't seen this video by now, it has been re-done about 1,000,000 times for every type situation, and it really never gets old...

Here is the most recent version...pretty funny stuff!!

BEAT the Cougars!!

Hey Trojans, due to the late starting time of this week's game, there will be no viewing party. However, there will be one next week for the California game, which will be a BIG one.

Enjoy your soggy Saturday (GREAT day to stay home and watch games) and we'll see you next week.

Also, we are soclose to reaching our goal to build George Tirebiter's House for the Carolina Veterinary Assistance and Adoption Group's "Garden of Life Animal Sanctuary." Won't you please consider sending your donation made payable to CVAAG and mail it to:

Mayon
1 Boxelder Court
Greensboro, NC 27405

You learn more aboout our organization by visiting our NEW website at:

http://www.carolinavetasst.com

I have already purchased the plans and I have the materials list out to a friend of mine who works at Home Depot to get me a quote on the costs. Cold weather is around the corner and I would like to get this shelter built soon, so please donate! Thank you!

Fight On!

New Season, Same Result.

As I mentioned in my previous post, the UW game made me very nervous, and my worst fears were realized as the Trojans handed the Huskies a 16-13 win by turning the ball over 3 times and committing drive killing penalties.

Make no mistake though, Washington wanted it more. This has become an annual ritual with Trojan football under Pete Carroll (who is still an swesome coach), struggling in their first road conference game. I don't know if it was due to the Trojans running on fumes after the escape from Columbus the week before, only having to take another long journey a week later up to Seattle, or if the Trojans underestimated a team that gave LSU all it could handle. It makes no difference, the Trojans find themselves having to fight from the losers bracket in the Pac-10 to make it an unprecedented 8 conference championships in a row.

There is still a lot of football left to be played, but road trips to Cal and Oregon and Notre Dame loom ahead, we'll see if the Trojans can regroup for a needed home game against Washington State to try and right the ship.

On the plus side, we had another GREAT turnout at Refs Sports Bar & Grill, and I believe we have come to a consensus that it will be the official sports bar for the Greensboro gang of the Triad Trojan club.

Fight On!

Fight On and BEAT the Huskies!

This game always makes me nervous as Pete Carroll's teams always seem to struggle with their first conference road game of the season.

See you at Refs Sports Bar and Grill.