I am especially excited for this game as I actually attended Southern Cal for my (first) freshman year in 1987-8. I have been a “mild” SC fan since, up until last June anyway. Their team, cheers and band are a great spectacle to behold. I still remember the UCLA game at the Coliseum that year which had two particularly memorable plays: The first was Rodney Peete answering the classic cliché: "Who is the fastest football player?" After he drove SC (including then true freshman Scott Lockwood from Fairview) deep into Bruin territory, Peete threw an interception in the end zone. The DB took it straight down the sideline looking to score, but Rodney sprinted as fast as he ever had in his life and caught the poor guy down inside the other 10, saving a TD right before halftime of a very close game. Then, late in the 2nd half, Paul Affholter caught the winning TD (20-17 I think) from Peete in the back of the end zone. The refs took forever before finally signaling TD (no replay back then) because it was unclear if he had held on and gotten a foot down. UCLA fans will clamor "No way!" more ardently than the blind Notre Dame fans who still insist there was no clip on Ismail's ill-fated punt return in CU's championship Orange Bowl. Of course, just as the clip was obvious, Affholter was definitely in!
Here’s what we can expect against a team that doesn’t really have a ton to play for at this point, except spoiling anyone else’s hopes and dreams, or taking out their frustrations on a lesser opponent.
§ Southern Cal is coming off a heart-breaking, emotionally draining triple overtime loss in what was basically their “bowl game”. They have an extra short week of prep having played very late on Saturday and needing to travel on Thursday. The weather (~30 degrees at kickoff and colder as they go) will be colder than anything they have played in recently. Their coach has once again created some distractions off the field. After this game they will finish with Washington, Oregon and rival UCLA so they could be tempted to overlook lowly Colorado.
§ On top of all this program has always been good for one big upset, especially on the national stage, and as Stuart from CUattheGame.com pointed out, there have been numerous Friday night upsets including a few from this year (and one we didn’t want to be reminded of: Toledo).
§ If the Buffs somehow keep it close, spurred on by a rowdy blackout crowd, maybe catch a couple of breaks, someone unexpected makes a big play for the Buffs, the Trojans could be very tired in the fourth quarter at altitude…
§ A surprising number of analysts, both locally and nationally, are thinking that the mighty Trojans will indeed have a letdown this week and CU will be able to pull off the upset of the week (year?). I was a little stunned by all the love but am glad to see others with faith in Jon Embree and his staff.
§ CU could really use some bodies back this week, starting with Paul Richardson and Rodney Stewart, both of whom plan to be in the lineup Friday night for a blackout under the lights! The offense needs a boost of something and I can’t think of a better cure than getting both these playmakers back. Even with missed time, they still lead the team in rushing and receiving and Speedy is still the second leading receiver.
§ I have not heard anything specific about Anthony Perkins and it’s doubtful he will return against SC. [The “probable” I read last week somewhere was either a total error or maybe they confused him with Polk?] DBs Lockridge and Espinoza are still both day-to-day, OG Paulay Asiata is questionable with a shoulder, WR Kyle Cefalo is still out 1-2 weeks.
§ There are eight total players done for the season (including Jack Harris, a possible but unlikely return) now that it has become official that Blake Behrens’ senior year has also ended due to chronic shoulder and bicep problems. After playing a lot during his freshman and sophomore seasons, Behrens was never able to get healthy and back into the lineup.
§ They will probably not get Parker Orms or Paul Vigo back for this game, but both suspended DBs have been reinstated to the team and are practicing this week. Both said all the right things after practice Monday: that they deserved it, learned from it, let their team down, happy for a second chance…etc. They could play against Arizona though if they practice well and show some conditioning.
§ USC is another team with a ton of speed that showed against Stanford, who they almost beat. Even their backups are fast, and that is with less scholarship players and many freshmen playing for them as well.
§ The Buffs will be facing yet another pro-caliber QB leading a high octane offense in Matt Barkley. He has a slew of speedy wideouts to throw to, many of whom played with but ahead of P-Rich in the lineup in high school, starting with super stud Robert Woods. Woods was the #1 receiver in 2010 class while P-Rich was #38. Their running backs are great as usual, led the last few weeks by Jr. Curtis McNeal. Greg Brown will need to use whichever bodies he has available to create some pressure for Barkley and somehow limit the gains that Woods and company make when they do catch the ball, because they will catch a lot.
§ USC’s defense is no slouch either as they put a lot of pressure on Andrew Luck, sacked him a few times and even got a pick-six off of him! Tony Jones or Josh Ford or anyone else will not be able to get around the edge on this speedy group.
§ However, their secondary is thin as one starter is injured and the other is suspended for the first half. Both will be replaced by relatively inexperienced players. Tyler, P-Rich and everyone else might be able to find some holes in this pass defense and keep it interesting.
§ CU actually holds the edge in punting again! Darragh O’Neil, despite some anxious moments early in the year is still one of the leading punters in the conference and nation. He is also becoming quite apt at leaving the ball inside the 20 or deeper. This is also an area that he will only continue to improve upon and become a weapon. USC on the other hand has one of the lower net punting averages. Of course, we don’t really have anyone to field a punt so I am not sure how much we can really take advantage of the field position.
§ Kickoff return is still a sore subject with the team as they are last in the conference, near the bottom nationally and have tried 13 different returners this year. Brian Lockridge, with the most experience there, is still rehabbing a nasty ankle, which he needs for this job especially. Looks like DD Goodson and Josh Ford to start it out this week?
§ Unfortunately for us, USC All-American OT Matt Kalil has also blocked four kicks so far this year. You can be sure he and his ST coach are watching film on the Buffs’ place kicks.
§ Its official: Jr. Nick Kasa has moved from defense to TE to provide “depth”. I am not sure I understand, as they have a lot of bodies there and are recruiting the position pretty hard.
§ Starting CB Josh Moten said his failure to complete community service for an incident last fall is what drew the wrath of Embree and his suspension. That’s nice for him but I still maintain it was drugs for the other four, two of which have now been reinstated. As for the other two suspendees, LB Liloa Lobriga and CB Deji Olatoye, Embree said there is "nothing on the horizon for those guys."
If you are killing time at work Friday, waiting to head up to Folsom…
§ USC perspective breaking down the buffaloes: http://insider.espn.go.com/colleges/usc/football/story/_/id/7180330/inside-friday-game-usc-trojans-colorado-buffaloes
§ Note: Since it’s a Friday game there will be no Game Day Grazing. Bundle up and head on up to Folsom for a blackout!
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