Lane Kiffin Deflates Air Out of USC

If the late Al Davis were alive today, he’d feel vindicated and like he’s the world’s smartest person. The more it’s brought to our attention, the more fans learn the truth about Lane Kiffin, the second-year coach at USC, whose bizarre play calling and methods have smudged the Trojans’ national title aspirations.

With five losses this season, it’s hard to trust Kiffin, and his father, Monte, who is USC defensive coordinator. Whether they are athletic director Pat Haden’s guys or not, the Kiffins don’t deserve merit or applause for sabotaging the beauty of a prestigious and distinguished program that a multitude of Southern Californians marvel for its history of triumph, names and Heisman trophy winners. The Kiffins aren’t the centerpieces of the USC culture, just a step backwards, which could very well turn into a dilemma.

It was conceived that Lane and Monte are unfitted for demanding coaching jobs, a more notable and respected athletic program, where expectations are immense. The perception of the Trojans suddenly fading into the background is real, with no standards like before when USC used to be the powerhouses of college football, and weren’t vulnerable or substandard. Fact is, the Trojans are standing by someone who has proven he cannot coach an elite program, which is now on decline. This is something USC fans, students, faculty and alumni are not all too familiar with, but in the post-Carroll era, the Men of Troy are hurting without a first-rate coach who has an acute understanding on how to groom an attractive program inured to triumph and accumulating bowl titles.

Haden is absolutely serious about Kiffin returning next season. But what about your program, Haden? What about protecting the school, and not someone who had familiarity with the university under the tutelage of Pete Carroll from 2001-2006? What about keeping a winning team intact, and not caring so much about Kiffin’s recruiting brilliance, needing Ed Orgeron by his side to lure a top recruiting class?

Through it all, Haden assures Kiffin that he will return regardless of the Trojans (No. 18 BCS, No. 21 AP) finishing 7-5, after entering the season ranked No. 1 in the AP poll. For so long, the Trojans have been on top of the mountain. The tale of this storied program is something many would prefer not to tell when USC lost to Stanford, Arizona, Oregon and UCLA, three of those losses in the past month. Of course, no one ever saw this coming, since the Trojans were projected to contend for a national title, with all their talent, athleticism and depth. Unlike UCLA or Notre Dame, USC was devoid of Rose Bowl consideration, after an embarrassing loss to UCLA, which sent the Bruins to the Pac-12 title game Nov. 30.

The man who was hired to clean up the mess and purge all of the scummy violations is counting on Kiffin to change the culture and guide the Trojans to the promise land, failing to realize that he’s deflating just as fast as a football, quickly exposing himself to unfavorable judgment. The man who was brought on board to clean house is allowing Kiffin to demolish USC, and ride another season of hell and torture. The truth of the matter is, Haden is smarter than that, and should know better, who was once a Rhodes scholar and is a retired NFL quarterback. The bottom line is, Kiffin is a cheater and failure on so many levels.

In all seriousness, Kiffin wasn’t ever coaching material, although he worked in the shadows of one of the greats in NCAA history. And the longer he’s in Los Angeles, the faster the program will submerge under his watch. Bad as his past is, bad as his reputation is, Kiffin cannot be trusted, not anytime soon, not ever. If USC looks to move forward, they’ll have to divorce Kiffin and both parties would have to go their separate ways.

Until then, the Trojans won’t succeed with Kiffin on the sideline calling ill-advised plays and exploiting weird schemes, which gives him and his father bad names, as the vast majority are impatient and outraged hoping to run the Kiffins out of town. The most hated person in college football, undoubtedly, is easily Kiffin. From Knoxville to Los Angeles, Kiffin has encountered a tremendous amount of hatred and seems unwanted at every institution in the US of A. The spotlight placed on Lame Kiffin, the most scorned person at USC, is too much — and not once this season did Kiffin take responsibility for this team’s suffering, long suffering – to be exact.

He is not a hero in the sense of reviving a program, but a saboteur of some sort and a con artist whom we’d like to see disappear into the darkened clouds of his own allegations from the past, and never step foot on campus ever again. It’s utterly repugnant that he ignored NCAA rules at Tennessee, where Kiffin was cited by the NCAA for his involvement in coaches and student hostesses making improper contacts with recruits. For a long time, he was in people’s heads, beating and abusing the system, just what he had in mind. As a scumbag with no morals and no sense of integrity for the game, Kiffin violated the rules as if he was above the law, arrogant and reckless during the NCAA investigations, which led to another boneheaded action.

That was when he forayed into the Tennessee Titans and hired running backs coach Kennedy Pola as his offensive coordinator, without getting permission from Titans then-head coach Jeff Fisher. For much of his coaching career, Kiffin has been a sneaky, untrustworthy person who’s out to create mishap and play loose with the rules that enables him to behave impolitely and wrongly, which usually results in infractions. What we can take away from Kiffin’s arrogance and self-indulgence, along with his lack of awareness and concern about an institution, is the fact that he refuses to consult the rulebook and just go about it his way.

Kiffin, from the first day, was never the guy for USC when, in fact, he was hired by ex-athletic director, Mike Garrett, another former Trojan football legend, leaving USC in an absolute mess and tarnishing his legacy with a reputation as the worst sham in college athletics. The humiliating 22-13 loss to Notre Dame on Saturday night marked the first time since 1995 that the Trojans were swept by their rivals. So now there’s blame on Kiffin, which seems accurate with his play calling in critical situations.

The criticism of Kiffin is understandable, after failing to call timeouts after two runs were stopped in the Notre Dame game and after he didn’t signal for a timeout in a goal-line situation early in the game, which might’ve taken away a touchdown pass. Kiffin, who has more enemies than friends, is blamed for the Trojans disappointing season because of his dumb mistakes and clock management issues. This is something the Trojans don’t need, because the fall from grace has been horrendous, particularly when they could and should have beaten the unbeaten Irish Saturday.

While USC could have smeared No. 1 Notre Dame from playing for its first national championship in 24 years, the Irish celebrated on the field in Los Angeles and finally had bragging rights over USC, with the versatility of Everett Golson, championship-building guru Brian Kelly and senior linebacker Manti Te’o. The Trojans talent was unlimited, with Marqise Lee and Robert Woods of a lethal USC receiving core, along with Matt Barkley, who the Trojans missed on Saturday night. The injured quarterback was replaced by redshirt freshman Max Wittek, who had a solid debut. He completed 14 of 23 passes for 186 yards and one touchdown with two interceptions, but it certainly wasn’t good enough to end the Irish’s hopes.

And so the Trojans lacks leadership and have a lethargic, futile and flawed defense. But the bigger issue here is Kiffin, folks. It won’t get any better for USC, until Haden realizes that he’s essentially not made to be a coach. For his career, he is a staggering 37-32 as a head coach with the Oakland Raiders, Tennessee Volunteers and USC. It sounds like Kiffin can only beat unranked opponents, and loses to top-ranked opponents. That’s become his trait, and it’s a bad trait.

As long as Haden calls Kiffin his guy, well, then, expect the worst.

Matt Barkley Knows Staying in School Is Cool for USC

Yet, even as we grow attach to Matt Barkley – chanting, simply pleading for him to return next season as a senior – we now realize that he’s not a mercenary but feels there is unfinished business. The prestigious football institution is widely appreciated and nurtures the welfare of pedigree, remarkable dynasties, idealism and great pride at USC that has a strong influence on many student-athletes.

Such was Barkley, a three-year starting quarterback and team captain who led USC to a 10-2 record this season. It’s the beginning to a new tale — more precisely, as Barkley announced Thursday that he will return for a final college season. It began, like any other nerve-racking announcement, with a brief news conference and then he made the announcement standing at the podium in front of a Christmas tree surrounded by six Heisman trophies.

The swarms of reporters packed Heritage Hall, and when he conveyed that he will forgo entering the NFL draft and return for his senior season, he was cheered by spectators and then serenaded by the school band. He’s like the god of the city – a humbled icon in a town that canonize college football, where the folks are deprived of a pro football franchise.

And when he announced that he’ll come back next season – and thus favorites to win the national championship – Barkley delivered an early Christmas present to every Trojans fan. He walked onto campus and into Heritage Hall wearing a smile on Thursday, well-groomed and proud to acknowledge that he’ll be back next season to possibly lead the Trojans to a BCS bowl game.

If nothing else, USC is certainly more exciting and in prime contention as one of the top football programs in the nation, after the Trojans were in the second year of a two-year postseason ban for NCAA violations from Reggie Bush accepting improper benefits.

What the program retained was an NFL-ready quarterback, as well as a collegiate star on a mission to finish on top for what has the makings of a legendary tale, especially if he leads USC in its first year off probation and direct the well-respected team into national triumph. It comes as no surprise that he returned for the gratitude of USC fans, and more than ever, to compete for the crystal football.

“I know in my heart I have not yet finished my journey as a Trojan football player,” Barkley said. “The 2012 team has some serious unfinished business to attend to and I intend to play in it.”

The letters started arriving early in the mail on most mornings. The letter of recommendations were mailed and delivered to his house for signs of encouragement to coax Barkley in verbally committing and attending a university that expressed the deepest interest in the most decorated high school football player in Orange County history during four seasons at quarterback for Mater Dei.

He waited for his dream to turn into reality, and indeed, mastered an ultimate goal with his signed letter of intent. The ink was drying slowly, his signature was glowing brightly and he had chosen to exemplify the recent installment of much promise at USC. Before his commitment to the university where he has excelled to the fullest, he had attended commencement at Mater Dei. His graduation tassel was proudly beside him.

Barkley recalled as he entered as a non-redshirt freshman – and he felt honor and delighted when he earned the nod to be No. 4 Southern California’s starting quarterback in his first game. Embraced as the nation’s most coveted high school prospect, he’d believe he had the intangibles and worked out on campus. Barkley, ladies and gentlemen, is one of the best quarterbacks in the nation, and more importantly, has a chance to play for the championship. By now, it’s a clear explanation as to why he returned. And we now know that he turned down millions in NFL riches – for now, as he had been encouraged to go for money. But in the end, he stayed for pride and education.

The USC doors by all accounts were open and Barkley could have ventured to fulfill his lifelong dream in playing at the highest level. It’s good that he’s not money-hungry, all about fame and apparently not buying into the hype of being a top draftee in April. It’s good that he’s staying to fulfill his ambition on the collegiate level realizing top-dollars will be available next year, particularly if he can elevate his draft status next season.

Barkley, an unflappable kid and true leader poised for the moment, probably can lead USC to a national championship next season. The world is dominated with talk about Barkley, and now there’ll be plenty more Trojan Walks, in which he’ll stroll through a walkway of fans on his way to the Coliseum.

It’s exciting but he’s taking a risk by staying in school for another year, a dicey move if he sustains a career-threatening injury and devalues his chances in being picked as top player in the draft. While he’s not the first and only player to pass on an opportunity to turn pro, he’s at high risk of suffering a severe injury. He’s the most recent – and thus he’ll become the best quarterback arguably in the nation next season.

If he suffers an ailment, then he’d lower his draft status even with an unpredictable NFL draft class. There’s a strong chance the Southern California native and son of a former water polo star – a blonde with blue eyes, a devout Christian, can possibly win a 2012 national championship. There’s a strong chance he is a possible 2012 Heisman Trophy winner.


The most popular player, probably in the country now, is forever growing as a well-rounded athlete and has quarterbacked one of the highest-profile programs in the land. This is Hollywood, where so many athletic stars are treated like celebrities, in which they are in a sense, particularly Barkley.

He’s in a place of stars and where they blossom – he’s the star of a university and fits in perfectly with the crowd. Based on his blonde hair, white teeth and his emergence to stardom, he is one of the likable athletes in Southern California. It wasn’t long ago when a saddened Barkley called USC head coach Lane Kiffin to come to his house with his wife to meet him and his family to talk about his decision Wednesday evening.

So maybe it’s what came from everyone’s encouragement that helped Barkley make his choice, listening to all advice and now he’s staying. He asked Kiffin and USC athletic director Pat Haden for advice, making his decision a few days prior to the announcement.

It’s not easy turning down bundles of NFL money, but Barkley’s heart is with the Trojans and community, ready for his first and final opportunity – mind you – to lead USC to its first conference title and 12th national championship. Whether there is some good or bad to his decision, Barkley’s presence is felt and he can guide USC in one of the most historic moments in school history.

Ever thought?

“Our USC football team has been through some tough times, and we have preserved, but the 2012 team has some serious unfinished business to attend to, and I intend to play a part of it,” Barkley announced in his sentimental, eloquent speech. “So yes, I’ve firmly decided to forgo the NFL draft in 2012 and finish this exceptional and unique journey that I’ve had here at USC.”

This was even a proud moment for Kiffin, stepping onto the podium to share his kind words as the endless cheers and screams finally stopped. The point is, in what may have been his toughest decision ever, Barkley turned down high-draft pick money in guaranteed for an opportunity to fulfill his memorable journey at USC. Although a serious injury could permanently cripple the dream to play in the NFL and risk money, he’s on the verge of being regarded as one of the finest USC legends.

“I am prepared to play quarterback in the NFL, it is my dream to play quarterback in the NFL, and I intend to make that dream a reality,” Barkley said. “But I also know that I came to USC to compete and have a rare journey as a USC football player, earn a degree from this exceptional university and forge lifelong bonds with the Trojan family.”

The negative side is, he can turn out like former Trojans quarterback Matt Leinart. Years ago, he returned to school, lost the national title in a heartbreaking upset to Texas and lowered his draft stock, turning into an absolute bust.

For Barkley, this was a tough decision, very tough, a choice many student-athletes would not have chosen. This season, he threw for 3,528 yards, with 39 touchdown passes and just six interceptions.

“I love being a USC student-athlete, it is truly a once-in-a-lifetime experience, but I am not postponing my dream and objective of playing in the NFL for one year so that I can just have one more year of college life,” Barkley said. “I’m staying because I want to finish what I started … finish alongside the most dedicated and courageous teammates I could ever have, and know for a few short years, I dedicated myself fully to achieving all that I can as a USC football player.”

With the heavy expectations, Barkley told his coach he was staying by giving Kiffin a Christmas ornament and had him turn it over. It was his sweet way of saying he was staying for one more year. The back of the ornament read, “One more year.”

Leave Reggie Bush Alone, Let Him Keep Heisman

For all the crazy corruption that has shamelessly obliterated a regal program, the most prominent athletic department in collegiate sports, Reggie Bush won’t give back his Heisman Trophy. In other words, the Heisman Trust must take it from him to confiscate the noble prize. This comes as no surprise, during a period when USC is mired in disarray and currently has been penalized with sanctions for infractions simply in relations to Bush’s ghastly scandal.


The university has no relevance with the former tailback and has removed traces of Bush, and sadly believes he’s accountable for the school’s severe punishment. In the end of a three-year investigation, the ugliest scandal publicly turned into a crisis and USC returned the replica of Bush’s award, as the school no longer had the desire endorsing the former star. His infamous sins, without a doubt, embarrassed the university, particularly when the NCAA delivered a two-year postseason ban, four years’ probation, loss of scholarships and forfeits of games for improper benefits.

As if all of this isn’t why Pete Carroll hurried and fled the storied program, the notion now is that he abandoned USC, realizing the circumstances and welfare of handling distasteful plights. In other words, he hightailed to avoid all the tension and any setbacks circling at USC. This story is epically draining and sickening in a way, as our nation derides a famous running back in the history of USC. Surely, the dreaded fallacies ruined its image.

But in fairness, it’s amiss to place all the blame on Bush, now a scapegoat in the midst of a rotten controversy that either has the nation furious or satisfied with the latest hearsay of Bush likely losing the Heisman. What mostly bothers me is that everyone is pointing the finger at Bush. And according to Yahoo Sports, reports are speculating that the Trust is expected to take the honorable prize away from a singular athlete whose exploits were valuable and efficacious to USC’s achievements in the past. The conspiracy surrounding Bush is disgraceful and awful for college athletics, but even more so, it is shameful and horrible for USC.

Hardly ever does an adorable school accept guilt or admit to wrongdoings, but in this instance the university seemed uncaring and said they were unaware of the sins that materialized. All along, from the seam of things, Garrett had a suspicion Bush had accepted cash and benefits as the institution fostered to traditionally excel in a spotless culture, until hideous infractions ruined the beauty of a well-respected university.

All along, Garrett was careless of fixing a troubled environment and refused to address the suspicious chaos. Next thing, all of this cast severe destruction and labeled the Trojans as a fraud, to sadly cripple a beautiful image. Rest assured that his arrogance, derelict personality and the lack of responsibility spelled doom. That said, it has launched a cleaning process to restore some faith in a downcast culture. And still, you are faulting the man with the stiffed-arm statue. Right now, the Trojans are pledging compliance, and perhaps waited too late to crack down on a reckless disaster, finally realizing the consequences involved for violating NCAA rules.

This time, with the sanctions leaving an admirable school in tatters for pathetically allowing too much unlawfulness and influential depravity to manipulate the minds of student athletes, the new president Max Nikias, and Pat Haden, the successor of the negligent Garrett, are cleaning up the dirtiest program and have encountered burdens by taking stern actions. The negligence and self-indulgence of Garrett forced an elite program to intensely deteriorate. There are no longer any invaluable images of Bush inside Heritage Hall, still disappointed with the outcome after the investigation surfaced that he really received improprieties. If the Football Writers Association of America vacated USC’s 2004 championship, and the BCS is prepared to vacate it as well, then does it make it acceptable for Bush to return his trophy?

Not necessarily.

How will this one end, I wonder?

All of which, the Trust has every excuse to seize the trophy. If so, runner-up Vince Young won’t be given the noble prize, even if Texas’ coach Mack Brown has considerably lobbied for his former quarterback to be honored with the 2005 award. But the truth is, Bush was one hell of a player whose stardom emerged and work ethic showed weekly. On the contrary, he broke the rules and never confessed to the truth. If he was truthfully and never sugarcoated the actual facts, maybe he wouldn’t be belittled by cynics and critics. This is a good reason to take it right?

Not a chance.

Go ahead, take his Heisman. But in the meantime, the folks should consider stripping Mike Garrett, too. It was arrogance and unawareness that ended a miserable tenure, blinded strongly by the insidious mess. He allowed slimy agents to tarnish an illustrious program, while Bush accepted improprieties from a wannabe agent. It was wrong to take cash and extra benefits from third parties that has erroneously created a nightmare at USC and ruined what could have been a meaningful season for mostly the deep and talented Trojans, who entered the year with an us-against-the-world mentality.


How mind-blowing college football is singling out Bush. How fascinating that he’s liable amid the scandal. It’s essentially irresponsible of reports to release that the Trust is planning to strip Bush when there hasn’t been enough reports unmasking accurate details. It’s an absolute disgrace to make Bush the epicenter, while the trustees and college football wrongly condones the university as the innocent ones with all the turmoil shattering much aspiration for a school once invincible.

But nowadays, Southern California is just as guilty and liable as Bush.

Meanwhile, it would be interesting to see how the Trust handles the ongoing issue, since it seems as if they are becoming enforcers more than enablers. Faced with ultimate shame, he denied any wrongdoing and still has claimed innocence to this day. Whether he’s trying to protect his image or the university’s image, Bush is making matters worse. But either way, he shouldn’t lose his Heisman and the Trust shouldn’t expunge it.

Not long ago, he met with the Heisman executives during an investigation. In his defense, he hasn’t been very cooperative, but very narrow-minded and defensive to the point where it’s difficult to believe anything.

What has happened lately is that obstinacy could cost him his Heisman. He could have been nice enough and confessed, but nothing is sincere if he continuously denies all wrongdoing.

As for Bush, he’s very delusional and ashamed by all the malfeasance. Of course, it isn’t his entire fault. However, it seems like that because of his inability to come clean. But his partners in crime are just as guilty, which is why Carroll fled and Garrett stepped down. For that, he has lost dignity and has been tarnished since infractions left a grotesque reflection on USC.

As much as Carroll and Garrett denied the violations in front of investigators, with all glaring evidence that Bush pocketed an estimate of $300,000 and moved his family into a $757,000 house during his playing days at USC, clearly we all know it happened. But to see a player stripped of the Heisman is unprecedented, and this is very unusual. What is amazing is that no one is stripping 1968 Heisman winner O.J. Simpson. The sad thing is, he is serving a 33-year prison sentence and was acquitted on double-murder charges, but he’s permitted to keep the award.

For all the tableau of legends, he is the one who committed the most horrendous crime?

In short, Bush is owed credit for offering a remorseful apology to Haden and the university. And most of all, he deserves to keep his award.

What harm is that?

If the Heisman Trust is formulating an agenda, a modern standard to minimize the dishonesty in college sports, it would be reprehensible to take it from Bush. If the Trust is concerned with good character, well then encourage the NCAA to fix an unsound system. And unfortunately, the fingers are pointed at Bush and he now levies a punishment if he is deprived of the trophy.

Because of all the devastation and public humiliation, it’s still unfair to strip the scrutinized running back. But momentarily, the Heisman Trust has denied any possibility of taking Bush’s 2005 award bestowed to the potent rusher when he had a highlighted season with 1,740 yards and 16 touchdowns and contributed in Southern California’s rush attack with his explosiveness and brilliant footwork.

If there’s one thing certain at a time a fraudulent system and hypocrisy ruptures a disingenuous sport, he’s not the biggest criminal although he received cash and benefits from a sleazy agent. Earlier this week, Heisman Trophy Trust executive director Robert Whalen told the Associated Press that a decision hasn’t been made, which means we are worried about the unknown, something that is out of our control.

Go ahead, take his Heisman.

But this isn’t fair punishment, just unfair treatment.

Lane Kiffin Welcomes in Sins at USC, But Overlooks Red Flags

Here in the origin of Southern California, a prestigious university is tattered in tremendous dysfunction and tainted with all the latest sanctions and scandals at USC. But it turns out Lane Kiffin is back in the news as horrid headlines surfaced of the scrutinized coach, hated for fleeing a program after recruiting nine prospects and committing allegedly six infractions at Tennessee.

If the pedigree at USC is embracing triumph, then the coveted program must regret ever hiring Kiffin, who has committed dreadful sins and selfishly walked out on Tennessee, departing Rocky Top and traveled to Hollywood. By reputation, however, he’s the most despised citizen in football, an outlandish collegiate coach encountering such litigation as the Tennessee Titans filed a lawsuit against a misbehaved buffoon.

If he endures in flirting with coaches and asking kids to skip out on class sessions to enroll at USC, the scandals and poison will stain a corrupted program. But it’s obvious that his frequent pattern of troubles is incurable, with his arrogance and self-indulgence to run a fraudulent business and rise above the law. In this predicament, though, he’s not enabled to avoid legal actions, or escape the bad karma of leaving a program in a maelstrom.

In all likelihood, the recent sins are a red flag of utter ruination among an elite program. As he arrived to USC with an unproven track record, he was hastily justified as the finest recruiter at a premium, but the Trojans desperately brought aboard Kiffin, blinded of his uncivil departure and immoralities.

Fourteen months spent at Tennessee, he failed to enlighten and lead a program in football’s best conference, and led the Volunteers to merely a 7-6 record with several infractions. Then lastly, he bailed out when a job opportunity opened at USC. It was a joke as the players he recruited meant nothing at Tennessee.

But it’s a hiring the Trojans will regret as his alleged infractions were archetypes of doom and torment, sauntering into a school with traditionally modest standards and pure accomplishments. For instance, he forayed into the Tennessee Titans, a franchise furious of his cowardice and arrogance in stealing an employee on the eve of training camp, and wrongly hired running backs coach Kennedy Pola as his offensive coordinator.

“I am very disappointed in Lane Kiffin’s approach to this,” coach Jeff Fisher told the Tennessean Saturday. “Typically speaking, when coaches are interested in hiring or discussing potential employment from coaches on respective staffs, there is a courtesy call made from the head coach or athletic director indicating there is interest in talking to an assistant.

“So I am very disappointed in the lack of professionalism on behalf of Lane, to call me and leave me a voice mail after Kennedy had informed me he had taken the job. It is just a lack of professionalism.”


All you need to know about Kiffin is that he’s a sham who really isn’t a recruiting expertise, but instead a phony and sordid moron. He indeed plays fast and loose with the rules and violates NCAA principles, which are prohibited or unnecessary.

It’s very abnormal that a lawsuit is filed against a coach, unless its Kiffin crucified and ridiculed for a Lane Violation of breaching the law and protocol regularly. This is the beginning of a controversy and the latest dirt at USC. Pathetically, he lied directly in the faces of trustees during his introduction at Heritage Hall and also pledged that he’d never commit immoralities months ago.

Consider it a red flag, folks.

The hyperbole of iniquities is that he cannot be trusted, and the unlawful attitude won’t cease, either. He’s not aiming for prosperity, but thriving as a way to beat the system and has been very unsuccessful. A few days removed from the university ousting all the dreadful sins of poisoning and tarnishing the etiquette of a school as well as the prestige, USC returned its replica of Reggie Bush’s Heisman trophy, getting rid of the images of a former star tailback.

Just recently, low-keyed, stolid athletic director Mike Garrett was dismissed and replaced with stern Pat Haden, who emphasizes spotless and compliant reversal. But as long as Kiffin is inhuman and tries acting intelligent in bamboozling the system, USC will endure a pattern of infamy and rebelliousness.

The oblivion eventually becomes a clearer understanding as to why the good people dislike Kiffin. First of all, the Titans are suing the fool and USC for “maliciously” hiring Pola, who left the Titans for Southern California, “inducement of breach of contract.”

Secondly, in his tenure at Tennessee, he was hired as the head coach of one of the most prestigious programs in collegiate football, but blew his reputation and had two players booted off the roster for an attempted armed robbery. And thirdly, the NCAA is still investigating whether the program used recruiting hostesses.

“We’re going to have a culture of compliance. We’re going to think about it in the morning, think about it before we go to bed,” Haden said. “We’re going to have issues, but we’ll fess up and be better than the way we have been. We have to do better. We don’t have any choices here. We stub our toe, there’s going to be some problems.”

The least proudest is entering president Max Niklas and begins officially on Aug. 3. But he elaborated on the ongoing burlesque in college football.

“USC, which experiences both the opportunities and challenges involved with a high-profile athletics program at a global hub, will seek to excel in the coming years in a manner that is consistent with the highest values of the academy…The Trojan family honors and respects the USC sporting careers of those persons whose actions did not compromise their athletic program or the opportunities of future USC student-athletes.”

When he previously finished 5-15 in the NFL for the Oakland Raiders, he failed miserably but wasn’t given a chance to predicate a proven capacity, and was accused of deceiving a sullied owner Al Davis, who referred to Kiffin as a “flat-out liar.” And months later, he literally finished with an identical track record and left the Vols in favor of USC.

The athletic director of Tennessee Mike Hamilton was unhappy of his departure, and fans were setting fires and vandalizing city property in the state incensed of his abandonment. The caveat of the recent obstacles is traces of a coaching job in uncertainty and would be jeopardized for all the misconducts, if USC evaluates Kiffin’s latest impurity.

“He is my coach, and I love my coach,” Haden said. “I don’t want to say we’re not going to have any issues. We will. We’re going to have guys whispering in our guys’ ears, but we’re going to do our best. I don’t think we’re going to have a problem with compliance with Lane. I think he knows where we’re coming from.”

Not when he’s committing sins, again. He impetuously stole Pola. So, he’s not an excellent recruiter after all, but a sham. When he was first hired by USC, I actually felt he blended in well as the Trojans head coach, but now he’s a regrettable hiring, one the university needs to carefully consider dismissing.

Reggie Bush Void of Heisman Because of Greed: Prestige Dwindles at USC

Somewhere this week, a gifted running back is dropping his head in shame. With all the sanctions tarnishing USC a once-prestigious atmosphere for exquisite athleticism and higher education is now defaced of self-destruction and embarrassment because of arrogance and indulgence.

But with all the turmoil poisoning a regal university, casting gloom over the spacious campus, it’s elementary to believe USC priorities were glitches as the school alleged it had no awareness of the hypocrisy tainting the program.

However, the essential dismantling of collegiate sports is the manipulation of slimy agents and has emerged as the vernacular in the realm of the NCAA, sadly demolishing spirit and placing ignominy within an elite program.

It’s the ugliest fallout ever, a disgraceful and awful terminal, ousting a historic mark and a noteworthy era where the Trojans relentlessly prevailed each weekend and, as a result, won national titles and were advertised as powerhouses.


But now, the crystal ball trophies are profoundly dirty and blemished with the corruption of Reggie Bush, the star tailback whose attainments bolstered the Trojans to two national titles, while winning a bronze, stiff-armed statue for himself.

If ever there were a time to take accountability and cautionary actions, it would have been a long time ago, but the severe punishment was announced that Southern California was returning its replica of the 2005 Heisman Trophy.

The latest sanctions and annihilation, hazed under farce with four-year probation, postseason forfeits, and now the loss of one’s Heisman award, is the parody of stigma at a program that toyed with academics and the standards of education.

But it’s very mind-blowing and preposterous that the trustees aren’t accountable and somehow weren’t aware of Bush accepting $300,000, or his parents moving from an apartment to a wealthier house when sordid agents offered costless housing. All while attending USC as a "student" athlete, not a professional athlete, Bush was young and mindless.

But around the nation, of course, he’s accused as a disgraceful fraud, and he’s responsible for all the harsh sanctions. With all his achievements, nonetheless, he was unaware of what the sleazy businessmen presented and lavished to him, just as predecessor Mike Garrett had no knowledge whatsoever. The arrogance and forbearance of former athletic director stained legitimacy and a symbolic brand of traditional accomplishments.

So, as anticipated, he was booted and Pat Haden was hired to revamp a treacherous program for which rising stars are becoming fallen stars. The new president of USC Max Nikias is demanding strong character and a spotless image, ready to escape the wicked era of NCAA penalties that toppled a storied program.

The ramifications of fraud were clear, but instead Garrett was in denial and failed to take stricter measures by setting barriers for a disoriented atmosphere.

Doing so, he installed further embarrassment and inconvenience for mishandling the burlesque scandals that better defined a tainted program, battered in a national holocaust of committing infractions and making a mockery of academia.

But the successor of Garrett is handed a tougher task by playing the role of an enforcer to avoid compliance and investigations after amplifying deeply in an athletic department, suffocating under the latest sanctions and with the lack of perspicacity.

In fairness, the Heisman Trust must vacate Garrett’s trophy, too. In his tenure as the overseer of USC athletics, he allowed too much immunity and lacked knowledge. The reality of a dreadful ordeal is that he was too damn apathetic and ruined his credibility within a masterful program harmed with asterisks.

Meanwhile, Bush should be showing remorse instead of denying the truth, secretively refusing to utter the honest evidence of wrongdoing.


He’s obviously guilty of taking money and accepting improprieties, but he’s unwilling to release the truth, arrogantly endangering his wondrous legacy and respectability. It’s very unfair that the entire university is punished and liable of someone else’s wrongdoing, suffering severe penalties for a star athlete who no longer attends USC and a careless athletic director who was recently banished in a significant role.

Five years later, Bush is stripped of the Heisman for obviously taking counterfeit money and having a greedy, arrogant, self-absorbed modus. It doesn’t take long before an innocent paragon becomes the evilest enemy at an illustrious university where he represented a high-powered offense, if not only in the Pac-10, in college football, as one of the singular tailbacks in Trojans history.

Maybe it was appropriate to void his Heisman, in many ways, to avoid any nonsense of athletes bonding with manipulative agents or accepting benefits and gifts. At first, when reports surfaced of his relationship and the alleged infractions, he said that he had no involvement and the accusations were false.

He lied.

That was a common perception of Bush refusing to confess in violating the NCAA rule, which prohibits the acceptance of benefits and improprieties. He crippled his description as the best, most explosive running back in USC history, he ruined believability, and lastly, he ravaged the Trojans, who now have to live and suffer with disgrace as winning national titles are out of the equation.

Surely, he was a national attraction and was highly targeted by agents with the exceptional talent he exposed regularly on the field. The hierarchy of the top running back at USC does not exist, and he’s a forgotten Trojan even when he inflated revenue in advertisements, ticket sales, scholarship funding, and team apparel.

Between a defiant Garrett, whose reign ended so miserably and embarrassingly, and Bush’s greed and unbearable stance in a despicable situation, USC badly plunges and attenuates as a relentless program. By the time Haden arrived, it felt like he transformed the culture instantly, as no one miss the incompetence of Garnett, who left a program in bedlam and nearly on life-support until Haden’s presence revived promise.

It’s very unfortunate that Bush’s spectacular season in 2005 is forgotten. In the aftermath of sanctions and infractions, he brought it on himself.

Without Needing Time to Think, It's Time USC Fires Mike Garrett

Whenever USC trustees do an entire town a favor that immerses in the most famous football program in a region where supporters are devoid of a non-professional football franchise, mend respectability of tarnishing and remove the toxic stains turning an illustrious institution into a toxic wasteland and dismiss athletic director Mike Garrett, the Trojans will avoid sanctions for being deceitful criminals of violating NCAA rules.

Apparently, the mood at the spacious and amiable campus located off of Figueroa Ave, is perturbed and overwrought after hearing the latest penalties imposed on an athletic program.

The program remains known for triumphant feats and producing Heisman trophy winners. Now, the unbraced university is known for committing infractions, portrayed as dirty and duplicitous sleazes following a significant NCAA investigation amid unspecified scandals that unveiled the truth.

From Heritage Hall, to the tallness of the Tommy Trojan bronze statue, to Doheny Library, all the students and average fanatics are raving over the unpleasant sins, suffocating and devaluing the recruiting classes of the future at Southern California University.

Battered with much tainted perceptions and harsh penalties, the prominent university is delayed from winning another crystal ball or even smelling roses in an annual appearance at the Rose Bowl.

There were legions of mischievous and deceptive frauds to blame and point fingers because of the infringements in violating NCAA rules.

For years, investigators have probed a troubling dilemma that has ruined the integrity and purity of collegiate sports, but the most noticeable scandals existed at USC, a famous university now buffeted notoriously for wrongdoings and declining to follow traditional principles.

The chronicles and headlines no longer address winning or recruiting the best high school prospect, enveloped by former tailback Reggie Bush, then-basketball phenom O.J. Mayo and coach Tim Floyd, the pseudo who fled the program when pending accusations transpired and were a messy burden.

This is a college football team, with a numerous of scapegoats. This is a college football team, with tainted corruption and will be labeled as an asterisk, forgetting all the championship wins it has compiled over the years with the top quarterbacks and running backs in the nation.

Because of arrogance and recklessness, the Trojans went from the most powerful program to the most powerless program, without having the last word.

All the foolish sins caused ruination within collegiate sports greatest dynasty, and smudged the memories of sheer greatness and exultation. Few want to believe that it’s Bush’s fault when the NCAA learned he had accepted and was lavished with improper gifts and cash from two phony agents.

There are others who want to believe that Floyd is the goon to blame amid a crisis for which he vanished to relieve headaches.

Remember, he allegedly bestowed $1,000 in cash transactions to Rodney Guillory, an event promoter who acted as an agent to Mayo and represented him unlawfully.

Remember, USC self-sanctioned its basketball program for infractions that happened before Mayo’s one-and-done season with the Trojans and Floyd attended the infractions committee hearing. However, he still isn’t the one to blame for USC’s impaired gloom, costing the bleak program a two-year postseason ban and a loss of 30 football scholarships during four-year probation.

Of all the violations, the man to blame isn’t Bush, who played an important role in the Trojans momentous dynasty.

Of all the turmoil, the man to blame isn’t Mayo, but instead he should be credited for reforming an impoverished basketball program in a season he almost led the Trojans to the Elite Eight.

Of all the foolishness, the man to blame isn’t Floyd, even though his arrogance and egotistic morals sabotaged the emergence of the basketball powerhouses in the Pac-10.


But recently, with all the conspiracy the one to deem as a liable and egocentric imbecile is Garrett, a permissive overseer who should have been fired long ago, inexplicably smearing his credibility for the unnecessary sanctions.

He certainly has unhinged his legacy as well as rupturing the legacy of Pete Carroll, a triumphant architect and most winning coach.

There was too much latitude allowed and he was unaware with the unlawful troubles that deflowered mystique and the beauty of purity and believability in one of the commendable programs.

Before he filled in the vacancy as Seattle Seahawks head coach last winter, Carroll acknowledged that his intentions weren’t to elude USC for the scandals.

It’s difficult to believe now that the Trojans must vacate every win between December 2004 and the end of the 2005 season. All of which he was the focal point in the majority of the national titles and wins during his nine-year tenure.

It’s very telling that the most dynamic football university in the nation possibly will be the first school forced to forfeit a championship after the Bowl Championship Series. By viewing this situation, the Trojans are doing whatever it could to downplay further humiliation after USC reprehensibly lost two seasons and scholarships, which wreaks the stability of luring student athletes.

To some extent, it’s an insult to Southern California’s academia and athleticism, but a severe punishment that sends a message and a reality check.

Maybe it sent a reality check to the administrators that it’s time to get rid of a helpless Garrett and hire someone else who’ll be willing to purge the poisonous devastation in the aftermath.

The NCAA held the Trojans hostage as President Steven Sample, Carroll and running back coach Todd McNair and school attorneys and compliance officials eagerly waited since meeting months ago of the NCAA Committee on Infractions.

And finally, it was unveiled that the ruling was unpleasant and destructive enough to hinder the Trojans of dominating the turf on Saturdays.

This is a scandal that obviously gave us an advisable description, knowingly understanding that USC is oblivious and pompous.

For nearly an entire decade, the entire university was highly regarded as the top football program in the nation, constituting an exulted culture with top-notch prospects that verbally committed and forged signatures within a school that had the greatest memories in sports by garnering two national titles, three Heisman winners and seven consecutive Pac-10 titles.

But it’s a shame that none of the indelible moments in school history will last after a player was paid off and a coach was hired by the name of Lane Kiffin, who selfishly left a program in shambles for committing allegedly six infractions.

It’s really a troubling situation when Garrett doesn’t have the audacity to maneuver his program. It’s really sad that he has been manipulated and badly deceived, without setting stricter boundaries to taper all the madness, causing a heinous disaster.

There’s one thing certain about USC. They won’t Fight On, unless the administration waves farewell to a man who destroyed the pride and character of the mighty warriors. His arrogance and indifference has damaged the culture and the apparent symbol of Trojans football.

If Garrett isn’t dismissed, then there’s no fight in Troy.

Lane Kiffin Makes a Perfect Blend at USC, Despite Immoralities

If there is sensibility under the dim lights in Hollywood, the latest arrival of Lane Kiffin might be an antidote to abandon the ugly mess. Most are aware that a toxic wasteland has polluted the coolest and popular atmosphere in Los Angeles, with outrageous scandals diagnosing the uncertainty for an impaired program.

At USC, pending investigations are currently putting a freeze on a multitude of potential recruits, forcing the former coaching staff to flee the monstrous havoc. That’s not the case for Kiffin, who promptly came to the Trojans’ rescue, expected to be named the next head coach of USC. He is, the new football coach, reducing tears and generating smiles as Pete Carroll’s successor after the Trojans former coach left for the airport a day ago to prepare for an NFL coaching job.


Kiffin is the main attraction returning to the West Coast and departing from the South to attain employment in Southern California, an environment where he is used to the warm receptions, the traditional melody of the “Fight On” anthem. He worked under Carroll for six years, studying and mastering the formation and integral methods to football.

Never mind the horrific downfall at Tennessee, a program that gave Kiffin a shot to strengthen an impotent school after a divorce badly ended with the Oakland Raiders, during a brief assignment in the NFL.

Put aside the alleged NCAA violations, even though he’s still being probed for committing six infractions. Forget about the alleged female recruiting hostesses that the New York Times investigated and acknowledged that women visited prospects in North Carolina.

There are populace believing he’s not suitable to coach a program with a quantity of issues. USC cannot allow more sanctions to ruin credibility, arguably at the most respected program at least before the preface of scandals became ugly. If he committed minor crimes at Tennessee, the latest slip ups are hard to elude and makes it hard for Kiffin to convince that he has grown and past the rogue stages of his flowering coaching career.

In two-plus seasons, Kiffin’s 12-21 record isn’t flawless or something to rave heavily on. The demoralizing 37-14 loss to Virginia Tech wasn’t impressive in his first season as a college football head coach, especially when Kiffin hasn’t had much without his former boss Carroll. He leaves Rocky Top for a Hollywood makeover, given the privilege to take on a steeper role and excel as an acute successor.


Fourteen months in Knoxville, his reputation teetered for acting childish and blubbering with SEC coaches. He had a verbal confrontation with Florida coach Urban Meyer, when he accused him of illegal recruiting. And ever since losing to its archrivals, Kiffin was described as the laughingstock of the SEC, the little kid who wasn’t sure of how to manage a program alongside the old timers.

All over the nation, he was derided for all the foolish nonsense. Losing control of a disoriented team, three of his freshman players were arrested and charged with armed robbery. In an attempt to revamp a program of unforeseen failures, he’s a great suit for the program.


Lots has to do with Kiffin’s fiery attitude, bringing intensity and is powerful in luring top prospects. His ability to persuade goes a long ways, even though much of his crafty exertion appears impractical for the alleged conspiracies.

Bringing aboard Kiffin to a program when times aren’t suitable, the polarizing athletic director Mike Garrett isn’t terrified of a regal athletic department degenerating. Nor should the average Trojans fan.

If they are brave enough to understand and trust in Kiffin, very well he could be the next greatest head coach after he observed and listened to Carroll. One ghastly season isn’t enough proof to say whether he’s a joke as a head coach.

In Oakland, under an ill-tempered owner All Davis, he wasn’t given enough time to transform a pessimistic franchise. Same goes for the year spent in Knoxville, where simplicity and inexperienced underlined first impressions.

The headaches have yet to expire, and probing still persists whether former running back and Heisman Trophy winner Reggie Bush allegedly was lavished with improper gifts and benefits by two businessmen who shouldn’t had been allowed to influence student-athletes.

And suddenly, prolific running back Joe McKnight is hightailing, trying to escape a sanction that he’s being held liable for. He has decided to expand on a promising future, and will declare for the NFL Draft as well as receiver Damian Williams.

However, the disturbing headline these days revolves around McKnight, who is being investigated for driving a Land Rover registered in the name of a businessman who has a website called www.4joemcknight.com.

The Trojans aren’t in bad shape able to rebuild around a sensational quarterback Matt Barkley, who has the potential and talent to lead the Pac-10 in statistics. Just a day ago, Matt’s father said he’s expected to return for his sophomore season.

It isn’t such a bad suggestion to rebound under the 34-year-old Kiffin, either. Bringing a reliable staff he has instituted, a workable nucleus that could present problems for the emergence of Oregon and Stanford.

While grudges are shown toward Kiffin, he’s bringing a crafty staff along, which makes the Trojans favorable. Monte, his father and defensive coordinator, and Ed Orgeron as his recruiting coordinator will travel to Los Angeles. And to top things, Norm Chow may revisit the Trojans as offensive coordinator.

With seemingly a lot of questions, the players are satisfied by the replacement. Kiffin could be mistaken as a student, but the players already have tremendous respect. Barkley and running back Marc Taylor calls it the perfect replacement for Carroll. And Garrett issued a statement, elated of the greatest gift since Carroll accepted the job last decade.

“Lane brings a lot to the table,” Garrett said. “He has a coaching background both in the pros and in the best collegiate conferences. He has a great command of the X’s and O’s. He is familiar with the Trojan landscape and will be a great representative of our university. He keeps the game fun. And, very importantly, he has proven to be one of the finest recruiters anywhere.”

Having familiarity is the key to building upon success, a brilliant recruiting coordinator, a father who has great knowledge of defensive methods to fight on. We’ll see if this measures up to multiple national titles.

But according to my senses, the Trojans will hoist the crystal football.

Pete Carroll Ditches School for Pros as USC Hurts

For years, he has built a foundation and declared citizenship. The masses, in the Southland, are wondering why a college genius has chosen to ditch the campus life, where he has clearly been the symbol of USC football. As a baffled community tries to figure out why he’s fleeing the Hollywood lifestyle for the rainy days in Seattle, Pete Carroll is running and leaving behind a corrupted athletic department.

Maybe it doesn’t have to do with all the scandals, but maybe he feels it’s time to make a transition to the next level. People in Los Angeles were used to seeing ferocity, built and formed by the clever-minded Carroll. The crafted coaching trait were signs of brilliancy, thriving as a valuable architect USC never envisioned losing.

However, the unforeseen fiascoes last season and repugnant scandals, may have dictated Carroll’s future. You can’t blame, arguably, the greatest coach in USC history of evading the toxic haze. All the grotesque messes are headaches, are enough to make a successful coach resign. So Carroll isn’t on vacation, but leaving for the airport, where he’s ready to catch the next flight to Seattle.

In a country where decisions are suitable usually in any giving situation, there’s no law stated in the constitution that he must remain the coach at USC. There’s much negativity floating around USC in which Carroll could be burned out, nauseated of the pending investigation and alleged infractions.

Because issues continue to unfold, the Trojans are caught in a horrific predicament and mystique is ripped, not grasping a sense of what is transpiring such as the latest outbreak. Of late, the messes have stained the pride of a prominent program, facing all sorts of headaches. But the latest spill came when news surfaced that tailback Joe McKnight allegedly drove a Land Rover owned by a businessman.

Meanwhile, there’s an investigation still pending on if Reggie Bush received gifts and cash, including renting a free home while attending USC. Four losses last season could’ve compelled him to leave and not spend the rest of a productive livelihood in Southern California.

Where he presented nine years of excellence, Carroll is thrilled and takes on a greater challenge. He’s leaving the campus for the pros. He’s leaving USC for the Seattle Seahawks, a franchise where he has to start from scratch, similar to the arrival at USC.

For years, NFL teams organized interviews and pleaded for Carroll’s assistance. But every time, he ignored and turned down NFL jobs to relish an illustrious profession at the college level.

As the executives in Seattle were desperate and elated to give Carroll a wealthy deal, he refused to turn down a chance at redemption. Reportedly, the five-year deal ranges at an estimated $32.5 million to revitalize a stagnant organization that has won nine games in two seasons. From two standpoints it seems unforeseen.

First of all, hardly, everyone in L.A. is stunned Carroll has resigned and is leaving for the NFL. Secondly, everyone in the Pacific Northwest is shocked the local franchise faltered instantly in Jim Mora Jr.’s renaissance era. Agreeing in principle with Seattle, seems like a perfect fit in an atmosphere where he has a chance to vindicate to all doubters.

Last time he coached the pros, Carroll seemed mediocre and committed failure by rupturing an image. But now, he has a chance to redeem burdens and confirm his magnitude of success, if meeting the pro criteria is as simple as the college game.

And the idea now, after he graduated from the campus life with a degree of prosperity, is to make a statement by surviving the pros. But given his horrid track record, Carroll isn’t supposed to survive in a game that recruiting isn’t a factor for overhauling and assembling resurgence.

During all head coaching stints in the NFL, Carroll was fired by New England and the New York Jets and failed in producing enough victories to procure recognition. The Trojans' reign has suddenly come to an end, in which the genius who assembled almighty classes during a nine-year stay understands triumphant ages eventually vanishes.

While the fans are hurt wondering whether Carroll is worth describing as a traitor or quitter, he considers finishing out a phenomenal career in the NFL. Three weeks away from national signing day, and Pete is gone. More than millions paid out now is the least worry at USC. Two national titles, seven Pac-10 titles, seven BCS bowl games and 97 wins in 116 games will always exist as Carroll’s legacy lingers.

Whenever a coach groom student-athletes and produce victories at an ideal program, many become attach to an incredible play-caller, recruiter and mentor. And, indeed, he had the personality to nurture sports figures. Not many players were unknown under Carroll. In fact, many were identified as legends and were All-Americans. What we are seeing now is a man leaving school for a bigger challenge, an exciting journey in the pros.

If the average fan is disappointed and feels betrayed, having a critical attitude or lambasting him comes as no surprise. Carroll knows he’s departing the prestige lifestyle for a hapless town.

That pretty much describes where it stands as far as sports. Though the Trojans have won 11 national championships and seven Heisman Trophies, he views a surreal transition as an effulgent juncture. Thanks to Carroll -- USC was obsessed with well-balanced quarterbacks.

Of course, each had the complete package and displayed unmatchable precision and mobility. The big men stood on campus in prior years and were gunslingers and runners, such as Matt Leinart, John David Booty, Mark Sanchez and Matt Barkley, who Carroll molded and taught the fundamentals of the game.

So, maybe leaving for the NFL isn’t bad after all. Now he’ll be able to make personnel decisions, something he has had very little of while in his seasons as head coach. As the Seahawks are expected to hire a general manager, the announcement could come as early as Tuesday or later in the week.

But, either way, Carroll is the next head coach and filled the coaching vacancy in a matter of days following Mora’s dismissal.

With several recruits stressing uncertainty, the tougher hassle is filling the coaching vacancy. The next head coach may not be USC alumni Jeff Fisher or frontrunner Mike Riley, who singed a three-year contract extension late Sunday to remain Oregon State’s head coach.

It’s clear the Trojans may be expressing interest in Jacksonville Jaguars coach Jack Del Rio and former USC offensive coordinator Steve Sarkisian could be in the mix as well.

Even though he admitted his “dream job” is Washington, Sarkisian may be interested and a perfect blend for the program. His familiarity is considerable, adapting to Carroll’s tactics and understanding the formulas in the offensive playbook. That name makes the most sense out of all candidates, but which ever way you visualize it, USC hurts without an attractive guru like Carroll.

Even if agreeing in principle mocked the Rooney Rule, Carroll has been welcomed aboard to coach an NFL franchise.

Yes, the Seahawks ignored the Rooney Rule, but stealing a genius hurts the Trojans. Somehow the program must Fight On.

Barkley's Breathtaking Finish is Flourishing as USC Thrives

On a night in a hostile atmosphere, where tailgate parties lasted outside the intense Horseshoe, a seas of fans gathered inside, filling in seats and wearing Buckeyes red.

The band marched in, firing up the crowd’s intensity level as the feverish population in Columbus, OH desired revenge, knowing that the night's opponent, USC, had pummeled the Buckeyes a year ago.

On a nerve-racking night, the Trojans were faced with unfamiliar surroundings as Ohio State fans waited and roared, sensing redemption for humiliating losses in big games. It's now a different Trojan Man as quarterback, making it more difficult for the visitors to embarrass and demoralize the Buckeyes in an encore.

Coach Pete Carroll bestowed starting obligations upon the inexperienced and teenage quarterback Matt Barkley, asking him to thrive on the grandest stage in a national title atmosphere.

The youngster excelled on a memorable night, perhaps even emerging into Heisman spotlight and stardom instantly, considering Barkley's poise and compose mindset to propel the Trojans to an epic finish.

I'm sure none of us believed a 19-year old freshman could orchestrate an instant classic 86-yard drive, for the greatest comeback in ages in the final minutes of Saturday night's 18-15 victory.

Barkley survived a challenging test in a much-maligned territory, including a matchup against a speedy quarterback, Terrelle Pryor, a who could arguably be compared to Michael Vick.

When Carroll named Barkley as the starting quarterback, the large population and local media were hesitant and reluctant to hear a true freshman named as the Trojans starter when an experience Aaron Corp had studied the offense and prepared himself, mentally and physically, for ushering a high-powered offense.

Our instincts should tell us a mastermind recruiter knows when a quarterback is ready to flourish and rise on a national stage. Carroll knows a star quarterback when he studies or mentors one. And obviously, he's confident the true freshman is poised and unflappable enough for handling big games.

Barkley survived a rigid test with a sore throwing shoulder and a pounding tackle by Ohio State's pestering defensive tackle Nathan Williams. The Buckeyes harassing defensive unit seemingly rushed and pressured the kid on each play, yet Barkley remained calm and continued to defy intangibly.

Barkley proved to a doubtful world that he's worthy of guiding the Trojans to a glorious national title. In the biggest game of his life, he prevailed and defined a true identity.

At the right time, he increased intensity by converting on crucial third-down plays. At crunch time, he was savvy enough, giving full control for the speedy tailback, Joe McKnight, who gained huge yardage and made much-needed catches, setting up Barkley's memorable night.

In fact, McKnight eased pressure as Barkley was poised and played as if he was a fifth-year senior, smearing Pryor and highly respected coach Jim Tressel's vital contest on their home soil.

Barkley, indeed, might have ruined Ohio State's preseason goal of reaching a BCS title game, Pryor's promising year and Tressel's reputation for winning huge games, all at the same time.

After a week of criticism for wearing a Vick tribute eye-black, Pryor came close, and earned redemption of sorts after an emotional week. Early on, he was dangerous and explosive in open field, and was unstoppable as USC's defense was inadequate.

But he wasn't perfect on a few plays, committing mental lapses as he threw an early interception, which led to USC's first touchdown. He made errors with the ball, and benefited by rushing rather than passing.

A game of momentum suddenly turned into USC's favor in the closing minutes. With the tides shifting, the game suddenly became agonizing for Pryor and the Buckeyes. And more importantly, the contest identified Barkley's poise and gifted abilities as a youngster emerging into a primary star in USC's future of winning national titles.

The breathtaking finish gave the Trojans continued the distinction of pummeling Big 10 opponents for the 10th consecutive time. But most of all, Barkley lasted and cleared doubt.

He's the man, a Trojan Man in a promising journey.

Buckeyes Home Crowd Waiting For USC's Barkley

The Buckeyes got a nice wake up call last week with a scare against Navy. The Columbus faithful have had this game circled since getting buried 35-3 in Los Angeles last year. The Buckeye faithful feel that since USC lost most of it’s defense from last year as well as their starting QB to the NFL, that they’ll be just fine at home with their own seasoned QB running a swanky new offense.

Apparently, Las Vegas doesn’t agree with Columbus. The game originally opened up as USC a -3 point favorite on an early line two months ago raising a few eye-brows that such a young team would be favored in Columbus. The combination of the occurrences from last week in each of their games made the opening line on Monday -7 where it has stayed all week.

USC reloads every year and they showed it last week with Freshman QB Matt Barkley leading the charge with 56 points against San Jose State. The greatest stat of the week involves USC and Pete Carroll in their last nine games against the Big 10 that has seen the Trojans win and cover all nine. In all nine instances, USC won by double digits.

On a positive note for Ohio State, their 12th man, the Fans - all 106,000 of them get to rattle a freshman QB. No matter what Barkley says to shrug off the daunting task of calling plays in front of what is arguably the most hostile crowd in College Football, he’ll still be affected. He may have all the tools and make up to make him great down the road, but not in his first road game as a collegian, and not there.

This is only the third time the Buckeyes have been a home dog under Jim Tressel’s watch and overall, Tressel is 55-8 at home. With the spread being relevant this week getting +7, only two times has a Tressel team been beaten by double-digits (11 and 12) at home.

There lots of reasons why USC should be favored, but I’ll base my choice of Ohio State winning the game on my faith in the crowd to do their job and create easy opportunities for Buckeye scores by letting the Freshman have it. He's bound to have a few mistakes and in agame like this, sometimes taht's all it takes is a few turnovers on your side of the field.

This game is under the lights which means most of the older alumni and supporters stay home because night games bring out the freakiest of freaks in Columbus. They‘d rather not get caught up I the drunken craze that goes on before and after a big night game in Columbus, so they give them away to younger friends of the family .

Another positive is that the Columbus Fire Department is already on alert with extra staffing for the anticipated Columbus ritual of burning couches in the streets. Yes, that’s couches, as in what most of us sit in to watch TV.

After big wins in games of this magnitude, the entire city goes nuts and they pull couches off their porches, and sometimes bring out from inside their homes, and set them on fire in the streets.

Needless to say, there haven’t been many big wins the last few years for the Buckeyes that have excited Buckeye Nation to get the ritual started again, but if Firemen are standing by for a burn-fest, that’s a good enough sign for me.

Ohio State 24, USC 16

Carroll Trust In The Kid, So Trust In Barkley, USC

For years, USC has been obsessed with potent quarterbacks. They were obsessed with Carlson Palmer’s powerful arm, Matt Leinart’s accuracy, John David Booty’s decision-making, and Mark Sanchez’s mobility.

I’m sure you were shocked when true freshman Matt Barkley was named the starting quarterback. It was a bold move for Pete Carroll, one of college football’s successful coaches, trusting an inexperienced quarterback to engineer a potent program that’s expecting to capture a national championship.

After faltering in previous seasons, the Trojans are anxious, starving, and determined to repossess the exhilaration of winning all their PAC-10 games after collapsing in the prior two seasons to Stanford and Oregon State.

Each were heart-rending losses that hindered USC's chances of capturing a national title. And Carroll, the mastermind who rejuvenated the Trojans with brilliant recruiting and coaching methods, puts his trust in and gives the ball to the No. 1 recruit in the nation.

Barkley was confident, raw and eager to lead the Trojans out of the Coliseum in the season opener.

Before he would let Carroll speculate if Aaron Corp or Mitch Mustain was next in line to gain the spotlight and hurl passes to a core of quality receivers, Barkley played so well that he proved his wishes weren’t surreal, but reality.

Imprinting a page in the history books, Barkley will become the first true freshman to start a season opener for the Trojans.

It is risky, and was a tough decision to pick a self-assured 18-year old with raw talent. At a young age, he will be faced with the pressures and huge burdens in a prestigious program that expects to collect hardware and celebrate victories each year.

Other than roses, the Trojans are expected to win the big one, the National Championship. And if this is to occur, much will be demanded of Barkley. His leadership, athleticism and maturity will be an essential part in how well the Trojans perform this season and beyond.

Known for their fabulous rush attack, a speedy Joe McKnight, who has been compared to former Trojan running back Reggie Bush, and an electric Stafon Johnson anchor a high-powered offense that has excited USC fans over the years.

However, Barkley is trying to be the difference in what the Trojans presume is a moment to shine and jettison all the nightmarish times of heartbreaking losses in recent seasons.

Is it just me, or can we trust in Barkley?

I’ll say if we trust in Carroll’s pickings and coaching approach, we should trust in Barkley. Assuming he knows the type of quarterback he has given full pledge in running this offense, Berkley is the right player beckoned by the intelligence of Carroll.

He understands Barkley’s strengths and weaknesses, and understands the latter can end a season of perfection. A few errant throws to surrender a game against an inferior team would cause the Trojans to drop drastically in the AP poll.

Falling out of the top five will have them fighting against the BCS, rather than fighting against the conference. It's a disadvantage they refuse to withstand this season, and Barkley is counted on to reproduce a familiar scenario.

To compete with teams such as Florida, Oklahoma and Texas, Barkley has a chance to dictate the entire season if he manages to play efficiently.

Getting the nod over Corp is an indication that Barkley is capable and ready to elevate into spotlight, along with living the college life with multiple textbooks, classes and a sense of knowledge by coming to USC a year early to prepare.

But he’s getting more of a nod, surprisingly after Corp was more accustomed to the offensive system and was impressive at the mock game. By weighing starting honors against health status, Barkley is better off starting against San Jose State on Sept. 5.

In early August, Corp suffered a cracked fibula and hasn't fully recovered, but will still play if Barkley falters in the game to avoid an upsetting loss.

So despite wondering what kind of talent he’ll bring to the game and wondering how he can espouse winning among the nation's ultra-elite, it's clear that Barkley has potential and will be exciting to watch.

At high school, under the Friday Night Lights, the Mater Dei product was enthralling to watch.

And even he has facts to affirm his ability in a full season, if he’s able to endure the role as a starter. He was named 2007 Gatorade’s Male Athlete of the Year and throw 54.5 percent for 2,877 yards, 23 touchdowns, and 18 interceptions before enrolling into USC. He impressed Carroll enough to empower the coach to make a faster choice, but doomed Corp’s chances, forcing him to wait.

The way the Trojans dominate is by composure and confidence. If Barkley plays with excellent poise and stays unflappable, he’s then trusted to engineer the Trojans to multiple titles during a decisive stint with sturdy mechanics, ingenious footwork and firmness as a pocket passer.

After winning two national titles and compiling a record of 88-15 in eight seasons at USC to overwhelm us, there’s no questioning any decisions Carroll makes. His decision-making doesn't usually produce bad results, and they often turn into gratifying victories.

So, trusting the legendary coach who was obsessed with every quarterback he has ever coached, including his obsession with Barkley, means you have to trust in the talented freshman.

Trust Barkley, as some say he understands the offensive schemes better than Sanchez, Palmer, Booty, and Leinart.