A Trojan's Christmas List

With seven weeks in the books and eight to go, the USC football team is currently ranked 6 by the Associated Press and 4 by USA Today. And with a cream puff schedule left to be played, the Trojans will unfortunately have to rely on the missteps of other teams to have any hope at the title game. I know it's only October, but here are a few things I wouldn't mind Santa delivering a little earlier this year:

1) Texas loses to Missouri on Oct. 18.

After upsetting the top-ranked Sooners last week, Texas continues its minefield march this Saturday against the explosive Missouri Tigers. If Colt McCoy is able to lead his Longhorns passed the Tigers, the hard part of their journey will be over, as they will only have to contend with Oklahoma State, unproven Texas Tech, and middle-of-the-road Kansas (though we'll know what the Jayhawks are made of this weekend when they play Oklahoma, won't we?).

As it looks now, Missouri looks like our best hope to trip up the undefeated Longhorns, moving us one spot closer to the title game. And with the great Chase Daniel having been embarrassed last weekend by being picked off three times, he and his Tigers will be seeking redemption.

2) Alabama loses to LSU on Nov. 8.

Before Week 7, people were labeling LSU as the most overrated team in the top 5. I, however, will have to go with Alabama as the most overrated team in the top 5. Sure they toppled former #3 Georgia 41-30 in their matchup two weeks ago. But anyone who watched that game could easily question the legitimacy of that win.

Close to one of the worst halves of football Georgia could have played, they committed five penalities for 56 yards that resulted in Alabama scoring on all five drives (four touchdowns and a field goal) of the half. After starting their opening drive on their own 20 yard line, Alabama would never again start inside their own 35. In fact, two drives would open on Georgia's 48 and 33, as a result of a terrible punt and a Georgia fumble, respectively. Finally, Alabama quarterback John Parker Wilson was a startling deviation from his normal self, playing an almost perfect half. Wilson was 10-11 for 139 yards and a touchdown in the first half. All of these factors would contribute to Alabama building what proved to be an insurmountable 31-0 lead.

Without this win, Alabama would be just another team peering into the top 10. And if these two teams were to meet again, I highly doubt that fortune would hand the game to Bama on a silver platter the way she did three weeks ago. So fine, after getting shredded by Florida 21-51, LSU didn't deserve the hype they were getting either, but this is my Christmas list, and LSU is my best shot at beating Bama.

3) Penn State loses to Ohio State on Oct. 25.

No team in the top 5 scares me quite like Penn State. I don't understand how Joe Paterno is still able to walk, but he walks, and coaches his team to dominant victory after dominant victory. With its current ranking of 3 by both the Associated Press and USA Today, and with Ohio State (laughing out loud as I am typing) as its biggest test remaining on the schedule, Penn State is easily the team with the best chance at the title game.

I know, it's sad.

Ohio State, the #3 team to open the season, for a while couldn't even decide who to play as their quarterback. But with Pryor having started the last two games, I think it's safe to say that they have opted to go with their freshman. The replacement of Boeckman with Pryor means the added threat of a quick, mobile quarterback. Unfortunately, this also means the Ohio State passing game will take a hit. In his two starts against Wisconsin and Purdue, Pryor has averaged just 120.5 yards of passing offense, with no touchdowns.

And while Penn State has been dominating, Ohio State has been doing the exact opposite, barely squeeking by opponents. I know it's outlandish to even suggest Ohio State has a chance against Penn State, but again, this is my Christmas list, and Ohio State is my only hope...

4) Oklahoma loses to Oklahoma State on Nov. 29.

A loss last week to a strong Texas squad was not quite enough for the AP voters to rank Oklahoma beneath USC. Therefore, I will be wishing for one more loss on OU's part. With remaining games against Kansas, Texas Tech, and Oklahoma State, Oklahoma has most reason to worry about Oklahoma State. And with its impressive victory over Missouri last week, it looks like Oklahoma State will be my darkhorse to beat the Sooners in the final game of the season.

Of course, if I am granted my first three wishes, this wish won't be necessary, as a USC Oklahoma championship game will likely be the result. That and the fact that I honestly cannot see Oklahoma State being nearly as successful against Oklahoma as they were against Missouri. Oklahoma actually has a defense.

5) To get buff like Jae Pee.

Read/Discuss >>

Why, Reggie, Why?

Reggie Bush, arguably one of the best players to ever wear a Trojan uniform, was a god at USC. As an incoming freshman in 2005, I had inherited one of the strongest football teams that college football had ever seen. Among the laundry list of offensive weapons that that particular team had, Bush was easily the most dangerous. Each time Bush touched the ball, you were forced to hold your breath from fear of having it taken away. Unfortunately, even gods make mistakes.

Back in 2006, rumors surfaced about the possibility that Bush and his family had broken NCAA rules by accepting improper benefits from prospective sports agents. A lawsuit was filed against Bush by sports agent Lloyd Lake, who claimed that Bush and his family had accepted almost $300,000 in financial benefits during his career at USC. According to NCAA legislation, an athlete must retain his amateur status in order to compete for his respective school. An athlete loses his amateur status if he uses his athletic skill for financial compensation in any form, or if he accepts any promise of pay, even if it comes after his collegiate career is over. According to the allegations of the suit, Bush and his family had started asking for money in late 2004, claiming that they had fallen on financial troubles and were no longer able to support the particular lifestyle they wished to have...

Supreme Court Judge Joan Lewis recently denied a motion brought by Bush’s attorneys to settle the lawsuit through confidential arbitration as opposed to a public trial. This spells good news for the NCAA, which will have greater access to evidence from a public trial.
However, even if Bush is found guilty of accepting improper benefits while competing as an amateur collegiate athlete, it remains to be determined whether the University of Southern California will be punished as well.

Back in 2001, the NCAA amended its policies that relieved some of the responsibility that schools bore for their amateur athletes who are constantly approached by agents and organizations. The deciding factor on whether or not the University of Southern California will be punished will be how much the university knew of Bush’s actions, and when they knew it by.

If Lake’s allegations are found to be correct, Bush will almost undoubtedly be found guilty of breaking NCAA regulations. What IS debatable, however, is how exactly Bush and USC should be punished for their wrongdoings. According to experts, if Bush and USC are both found guilty of breaking NCAA regulations, Bush may have to give up the Heisman Trophy he won in 2005, and USC may have to retrospectively forfeit games won in 2004 and 2005. Most importantly, USC may have to cough up the national championship they won in 2004 by defeating Oklahoma.

In my opinion, the punishment should always fit the crime. NCAA rules are very specific about an athlete’s amateur status. If Bush and family are found to have accepted improper financial assistance while Bush was supposedly an amateur athlete at USC, he will be found to have forfeited his amateur status at USC, meaning he was never eligible to play football for USC. It would thus make sense for Bush to relinquish his Heisman Trophy from 2005, likely handing it over to Vince Young. And since it is alleged that Bush’s family began accepting improper finances in 2004, it would also make sense for USC to forfeit their national championship in 2004 for suiting up a non-amateur running back.

As a Trojan myself, I will be the first to express my disappointment at the emergence of these allegations against Reggie Bush. But I will also give my fellow Trojan the benefit of the doubt, and will choose to believe nothing until all the evidence is revealed at the trial.

Read/Discuss >>