Its that time of year again! Time to start stumping for your favorite team to make it into the BCS Championship.
This year it seems the decision has already been made. The reservations booked. The BCS will select Oklahoma (provided they take care of the Tigers this weekend in cold KC) to play the winner of the SEC Championship Game to play in their title game.
Is this the correct decision?
Last we checked there are three other one loss BCS programs that have been left out of the equation here.
Texas and coach Mack Brown have used every media outlet they could find to plead their case to the nation and the voters. Big Mack has been on every sports show on the "World Wide Leader." A banner, provided by Texas boosters, was flown around the campus of Oklahoma State on Saturday. Texas has done everything short of interviewing with "60 Minutes" and making a guest appearance on "The View." (It is rumored that Elizabeth Hasselbeck has a HUGE crush on Colt McCoy.)
While we recognize that we do not possibly carry the same influence, it is time that someone attempts to make a case for USC.
Today we will look at why the
University of Southern California (every time I read that I break into a Keith Jackson voice) deserves a shot at the BCS Championship Game.
The Trojans are a team built to make any SEC fan proud. Their defense first mentality this season has made them THE defense in college football. The Trojans defense has first round NFL talent in nearly every position and might just shut out Daunte Culpepper and the mighty Detroit Lions.
The Trojans rank number one in every major statistical defensive category. They have allowed only 10 touchdowns all season! Seven of which were scored in 2 games. USC has held nine opponents to 10 points or less including three shut outs. They are giving up a mere 3.4 yards a play.
The Men of Troy traveled over 2200 miles to hand Virginia a 52-7 home opening whoopin'. The Trojan's turned around and dominated, now 10-2 Ohio State, 35-3. A Buckeye program that returned 19 starters from a team that played in the 2008 BCS Championship Game. USC's annual rivalry game against Notre Dame resulted in a complete embarrassment for a once proud Irish program. USC held ND without a first down until the final play of the third quarter.
USC's collection of non conference victories is more impressive than Alabama's Clemson, Tulane, Arkansas State, and Western Kentucky. SEC fans will scream, "The Tide defeated Arkansas, Georgia, Tennessee, and LSU all on the road!" How great was that home advantage this year? Lets not forget that Wyoming and Georgia Tech took care of business in Knoxville and Athens and it took LSU the largest comeback in school history to overcome Troy in Baton Rouge. Remember, the mighty SEC is only 6-10 against BCS programs this year.
Finally lets look at everyone's favorite barometer when judging the beauty pageant that is college football, "Who did you lose to?"
Everyone knows this answer. We even
warned of it! USC lost at Oregon State 27-21. A game where the Trojans were listless and outplayed in the first half, taking a 21-0 deficit to the locker room. They outscored the Beavers 21-6 in the second half but it wasn't enough. Oregon State used this victory as a spring board to their season as they came one game shy of reaching the Rose Bowl and a Pac Ten Championship. Are college football teams allowed to have bad days?
Absolutely!
Ask Florida if they played their best, at home, against Ol' Miss this year. Their complete third quarter meltdown led to a Rebel victory, yet the Gators still play on.
USC did what it could to make it to the BCS Championship Game. If not for a first half meltdown in Corvalis, USC would be smelling more than roses this year.
It is that time of year again!
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