Morning Wrap: Worst Fake Punt Ever This Week

((ht: si.com/extramustard))

Yeesh, whoever thought this was a good idea should get throttled and forced to run stadium steps.

Take a look at what arguably could be called the ugliest fake punt attempt ever.

It happened Thursday night during the Cal/USC game...and the Bears dropped back to punt, down already 28-2.

The punter, Cole Leininger catches the ball, appears to be marching or stepping or something, gets off balance and throws the ball at the feet of one of his up-backs.

Yeah..

Thanks Barrett Sallee for the Vine Post:



The Bears did make a run later in the game, but lost 38-30....

ICYMI: The Dirty Dozen Gets Scrambled

((HT: ESPN/SEC on CBS/Fox Sports/Northwestern Football)

Did you ever have one of those days where absolutely everything you thought was an absolute lock came crashing down around your ankles and left you in such a state that your pants wouldn't fit anymore...???

Let's face it... all hell broke loose at the top of the rankings (whether you choose to look at Brother Phil's Dozen or some other source) and sent it all in the blender for the foreseeable future...

Examples...

Starting in Oxford... it was proven once again that Alabama has SERIOUS special teams issues in their loss to Ole Miss where Bo Wallace would keep the football and stash it someplace after the game was over as he tried to escape the throng that stormed the field.
Oklahoma decided that a road game against TCU in their new digs was a great idea... It wasn't...and plays like this one Gary Patterson pulled out of the back of the playbook help. What kind of flaws do USC have...??? There seems to be the one glaring one right now... Late game focus... it came into play as Arizona State came from behind to surprise them Some would think that Miss State's win over Texas A&M was an upset... The HQ doesn't think so as their suspect defense was exposed and Dak Prescott went off in a 48-31 win But here's one last one for you to think about as we head to Sunday... Northwestern hosted Wisconsin and they weren't good hosts- beating the Badgers 20-14 in a bit of a mucker it looks like...

USC AD Pat Haden Fined $25K for Sideline Incident

((ht: cbssports.com))

So maybe someone will act against USC Athletic Director Pat Haden after he inexplicably showed up on the sideline of the USC/Stanford game Saturday and began arguing with the referees.

The incident was apparently prompted by his coach Steve Sarkasian who had Haden "texted" to come down to the field. Which is to say the least a bit odd.

Monday afternoon, Pac-12 Commisioner Larry Scott announced Haden (USC) will be fined $25K for the issue. Haden also "voluntarily" banned himself from the sidelines for at least 2-games.

Huh?

Anyway, all parties say this will have no impact on Haden's standing with the CFB Playoff committee nor should it. We, for now will have to buy the story given that Haden was responding to his coach's request. And the coach says he shouldn't have done it.

But it begs the question: Why would you (Sarkasian) need an AD to fight a fight that you picked and should fight yourself?

Just wondering'...

Cupcake Saturday: CFB World Flips Out Over Pat Haden on USC Sidelines

One of the few alleged controversies in Saturday's slate of crappy college football games came from the USC vs. Stanford game, a game eventually won by the Trojans 13-10.

The debate, and it is a loud one, began when Haden came down from his box at the end of the 3rd quarter.

The reason for the alleged controversy: A segment of the sportswriting public have raised the question of Haden's objectivity as a member of "College Football Playoff Committee".

To which we say: You just noticed this now?

Haden told ESPN he came down to the field after receiving a text from someone on his compliance staff stating the Trojans coach Steve Sarkasian wanted to speak to him.

Why Sarkasian had to talk to Haden late in a close game is a bit of a mystery, but that's the story.

Cameras showed Haden come down and start appear to start questioning the referees about a unsportsmanlike conduct call against the coach.

Which again begs the question, why would Sarkasian need his Athletic Director to defend his honor?

Anyway, the holier than thou voices of concern are now popping up through sportswriters who say Haden can't be neutral when in his committee role. The Playoff Committee is comprised of 13 people who will be the final voice in deciding which 4-teams make this years College Football playoff.



Haden's on-field involvement wasn't illegal. Though technically the text message is. However, per the NCAA, there's no real penalty that can be levied. Haden's appearance was just plain weird.

But the whole implication about objectivity is laughable. Very laughable. Yeah, sure the "Playoff Committee" members who have a vested interested in a potential playoff team have to recuse themselves. But anyone who believes there aren't biases brought into that room is completely ignorant.

While the whole "Committee" system isn't perfect, it's a heck of a lot better than the alleged "Computers" that decided things previously. And it's 1,000 times more effective than the idiotic sportswriters voting ever was.

We offer this final word on Haden's goofiness. Deal with it. Stop whining Sportswriters, this is the system and world we now live in. It's far from perfect, it will NEVER be perfect. But claiming an Athletic Director would be totally biased against everyone but his team because he came down to argue with refs at a game....is just plain idiotic...

Haden explains himself to ESPN:

What Is The Latest With USC's Josh Shaw, Anyway...???

((HT: MyFoxLA))

The University of Southern California is now investigating the story that senior co-captain Josh Shaw stuck by on Sunday and Monday claiming that he got his high ankle sprains from springing out a window to rescue his nephew from a possible drowning.

The school started getting phone calls that conflicted with the story Shaw has been relaying to the media.

Instead of what Shaw initially said being the only version, police are telling an additional story about someone that could be Shaw and a sticky situation with a girlfriend:

From the LA Times article from Gary Klein...

Meantime, the Los Angeles Police Department said Shaw's name came up in a report filed by officers who responded to a call about a woman heard screaming at the Orsini Apartments at 505 N. Figueroa St. on Saturday night.

Lt. Andrew Neiman, a department spokesman, said officers forced entry into one apartment but found no one inside. They then interviewed witnesses at the apartments who reported seeing a man scampering across third-floor balconies and provided a general description of the individual. Later, as officers were talking to a woman, “She responded to a description with words to the effect, 'That sounds like my boyfriend, Josh Shaw,' ” Neiman said.

Another police source said the woman added that Shaw was out to dinner with friends.

Here's Gigi Graciette on campus with sound from head coach Steve Sarkisian
Los Angeles News | FOX 11 LA KTTV

Southern Cal is treating Shaw's story as solid at present, but they are investigating on their own.

Auburn Considers Giving Themselves More National Championships

((ht: auburn.247sports.com))

Hey, National Championships for everybody!

According to a report, Auburn University is the latest in a line of college football schools who are or have decreed themselves national champions…multiple times.

Confused? Yeah, so are we.

The Tigers are trying to decide if on opening day, August 30th, if they should raise national championship banners for 7 different squads. All of whom in school officials eyes, have a claim for the titles.

Most of the titles they want to lay claim to happened in the early 1900's, or for you young ins', before the BCS existed.

However, they also want to claim the 2004 title, even though that years undefeated squad didn't make the BCS title game. The logic, USC is apparently claiming it too.

Still confused. Yeah. This makes little to no sense. For their part, Auburn cites Texas A&M claiming titles in 1919 and 1927 after they moved to the SEC in 2012. USC is claiming 1939 and 2004.

If you are still confused, read this story from Auburn Undercover RIGHT HERE

---Sigh---

We really don't understand the logic here. Sure, we realize the whole "College Football Champion" thing has been hotly debated, misunderstood and argued for generations, but how can you legitimately claim something you aren't recognized by the governing body as winning?

It's kind of like in the TV News world saying "____ network had an exclusive interview with the president". Yeah, you were the only ones who talked to him, at that time.

So to Auburn, and any other school that feels so insecurely about themselves that they feel compelled to bestow an honor they didn't earn to….themselves, we say…

Well okay, actually we just laugh….

Strange Bedfellows: Lane Kiffin is the New O.C at Alabama

Wha...what?

Yes, you read the headline correctly, former USC, Tennessee and Oakland Raiders head coach Lane Kiffin is either a cat with 9 lives or has got some sort of blackmail photos.

Why do we say this?

Because the Mega Powers have now united---Lane Kiffin is joining the staff of Nick Saban...as the offensive coordinator for the Alabama Crimson Tide.



We are pretty sure Clay Travis of Outkick The Coverage and pretty much any hardcore SEC Football fan in existence are still doubled over in laughter on this hire for more reasons than we can count.

Kiffin takes the place of Doug Nussmeier who left to take the same job at Michigan.

The adventures/chronicles of the coach we all call "Kiffykins" has been well documented here and on many other blogs. From his strange departure in Tennessee and string of NCAA questions left in his wake to his non-success at USC where he somehow got fired on the way HOME from a loss, on a bus, on the tarmac at an airport, pretty much all of us and probably all of you can't help but laugh about this.

Apparently Kiffin struck up some sort of friendship with Saban, who had him in to consult during the downtime between the end of the regular season and the Sugar Bowl game. We're assuming that may/or may not have impacted Nussmeier's decision to leave.

According to ESPN.com, Kiffin will sign a 3-year deal.

Our question: When Saban steps down, and he's already started hinting that he's thinking of a time where he isn't coaching, does Kiffykins stand a chance of being the coach-in-training?

So, Sark Goes Back To USC...Perhaps...Now With Updates

And it looks like he did interview after all...

From Joe Schad and his Twitter, looks like he took the job...

But, there are others who are saying that a contract has been delivered, but not signed and sealed... (@InsideUSC gets the tip for that one...)

Sarkisian was the USC QB coach in two stints- 2001-03 and 2005-06- and was Assistant Head Coach and OC from 2007-08.

He does get the culture...

Now, the Silly Season leads itself to U-Dub...and poo-poo's the story earlier this morning on ESPN.com speculating that Vandy's James Franklin and Boise State's Chris Peterson were the USC leaders in the clubhouse.

Anyone calling Chris Petersen...??? Paging Chris Peterson. A call from Seattle on Line 2.

RealDawg247 is reporting that there is a 2PM meeting on the U-Dub campus to tell the team "something..."

Perhaps, that they can get a better head coach than the one that they're letting go...

More when we know more...

Sarkisian's not stopping presses, but USC obviously couldn't do any better. They tried. They got stoned. This is who they are now.
— Jim Rome (@jimrome) December 2, 2013

It's not apples-to-apples, but should USC fans be concerned that Lane Kiffin had a better Pac-12 winning pct than his replacement?
— Stewart Mandel (@slmandel) December 2, 2013

Note--Reports say interim USC coach Ed Orgeron has turned down an offer to become Associate Head Coach and Defensive Coordinator.

Confirmed: Despite being offered more money and an Assistant HC position, Coach Ed Orgeron has sent in his resignation to #USC.
— Heather Brittany (@HeatherBrit) December 2, 2013

here's how the news is being viewed in Seattle...
((HT: KING5))

Reports: Andy Enfield and Tim Floyd Pulled Apart at Hoops Tourney

((ht: si.com))

So, we're guessing that new USC basketball coach Andy Enfield and former USC and current UTEP coach Tim Floyd won't be exchanging Christmas Cards this year.

According to Sports Illustrated basketball expert Seth Davis, the two got into a heated exchange Wednesday night a reception to kick off the Battle 4 Atlantis Basketball tournament.

Several of the assistants had to be pulled apart too.

The heat between the two dates back to last summer when Floyd accused Enfield of tampering with Isaac Hamilton, a recruit from the Southern California area who had signed a letter of intent. He later changed his mind, but Floyd refused to let him out. Hamilton ended up at UCLA.

It got worse when Enfield, in a story in Men's Journal was quoted saying Floyd "Shows up every day at work and realizes he's in El Paso, Texas and he's pissed off he didn't get the USC job 2 months ago"

Ooooh....burn....

Read the entire Seth Davis story with play-by-play as the incident unfolded RIGHT HERE

It's not often you hear publicly about coaches who appear to not like each other. And yes, it happens more than you think. But most all of them are very careful not to let that get out.

Like any other business, it's a very closed fraternity where everyone knows or knows of everyone else. And it's also a business where you may have to work with or work for that person somewhere down the line.

Coach O, Fight On! USC Knocks Off Stanford

((HT: ESPN on ABC/USC Athletics))

The debate may really pick up now...

Has Ed Orgeron earned the removal of the word "interim" off his coaching position at Southern Cal...???

This might be the proof...


FOSG Lindsey Thiry was in the locker room and collected these quotes from the roster via her Twitter:

We want to run through a brick wall for Coach Orgeron. -Hayes Pullard

I speak for the whole team and we absolutely love Coach O. -Cody Kessler

Clay Travis thinks the top two for the job should be Kevin Sumlin and James Franklin...

The HQ isn't all that hot about either and, in talking to those who are buying tickets these days, they like Orgeron...

Should be an interesting tug of war...

Interesting sidebar via Lisa Horne and her Twitter:

Per KABC, two people had cardiac arrests on the USC field and 1 person suffered a broken leg

Coach O is causing hearts to go a-flutter...

Washington St beats USC: Is Coach Kiffykins Toast?

Those of us on the East Coast undoubtedly did not stay awake to watch this game. Why would you?

Washington State pulled off what many feel may have been an upset, but maybe it wasn't. The Cougars took down apparently over-rated USC 10-7, late Saturday night at the Los Angeles Coliseum.

As usual, most of the generic Sportswriting masses picked USC to be a "Top 25" team. Under coach Lane Kiffin, it appears they are not. The USC fans who remained to see their team lose their first home opener since 1997, serenaded their head coach with "Fire Kiffin" chants.

From Instagram:



Ironically, Washington State, a supposed offensive power under the mad genius coach Mike Leach didn't score an offensive touchdown, they got a field goal and a 70-yard TD on an interception return.

Yes, the game was that ugly.

Highlights from Fox Sports:

OSG High: USC Offers Kid From 8th Grade

((HT: WeAreSC.com/Angulo))

When LSU offered Dylan Moses from Baton Rouge-University Lab, everyone was up in arms over offering an 8th grader.

Not that, in the grand scheme of things, that offers mean anything until this moment...


Now, USC has offered Class of 2017 receiver Nathan Tilford from Upland, California who got an offer at a Trojans' skills camp.

Commence over-hype now...

Tilford is projected as one of the top incoming high school freshmen in Southern California... for whatever that's worth...

USC has gotten into the underclassmen business going seven times into the 2015 class and once into the 2016 class...

USC fires head coach Kevin O'Neill

Kevin O'Neill (photo courtesy USC)

LOS ANGELES - Even defeating Utah couldn't save Kevin O'Neill's basketball coaching job.

University of Southern California athletic director Pat Haden apparently had had enough, firing O'Neill after going 1-14 on the road - the one victory came on a 76-59 victory at Utah on Saturday. O'Neill started this season 7-10, and assistant coach Bob Cantu will serve as head coach in the interim.

O'Neill had a 48-65 overall record in four years at USC, and went 6-26 during the 2012 campaign. USC has lost 9 of its last 13 games, including a losing streak of 5 games during that stretch.

Haden said the following in a release posted on USC's website:

"I would like to thank Kevin O'Neill for his four years of service to USC. He took over a program under difficult circumstances because of our NCAA issues and, despite that, he was able to do some good things. It was hard for me to evaluate him as a head coach until this year when he had enough players and veterans to compete.  As the season progressed, it became evident to me that we needed new leadership in our men's basketball program.  Despite a nice road win in our last game, I felt it was best to make a change now, with most of the Pac-12 season still ahead of us, in order to re-energize our team. I feel confident that Bob Cantu will capably guide our team on an interim basis while we search for a new coach."

The university reached out to O'Neill for a statement, and he said the following:

"I enjoyed my four years at USC.  It is a special place.  I enjoyed the people I worked with, the players I coached and our fans.  I thank USC for allowing me to guide their program.  I couldn't be more proud to work anywhere. I would encourage all of our recruits to honor their commitment to USC and help build the Trojan program in the right direction."

USC is coming off of several NCAA sanctions, going back to O.J. Mayo and Mike Garrett, and the Trojans are working hard to improve their image. Haden thinks Cantu will do just that.

We'll see. It's still Pac-12 basketball.

USC Student Manager fired for deflating Oregon's Balls

Well, the headline here is a bit deceiving, but only slightly.

USC's football team had to fire one of its student team managers Wednesday after it was discovered he let the air out of Oregon's game balls during last Saturday's 62-51 Oregon victory over the Trojan's.

The sort-of elaborate scheme had the manager waiting until after the game officials certified the balls as good to go to start the game. It appears, at least according to the USC Football website, the officials figured out something was wrong and took care of the problem at halftime.

The manager appears to have fessed up to the violation, the school has disavowed any and all knowledge of such an act and the PAC-12 has reprimanded and fined the school.

And no, it didn't slow Oregon down...at all.

Highlights--in case you missed them from FOX Sports:

Oregon make USC look pathetic 62-51

Good thing they play exciting offense in the PAC-12, because based on the score of the Oregon/USC game Saturday night, the defense is sure missing.

Kenjon Barner ran for 321yards and 5 TD's, Marcus Mariota threw for 304 yards and 4 TD's as the Ducks racked up 730 yards of total offense on the night.

And they had to because USC had 615 themselves, led my Matt Barkley's 484 and 5 TD's.

But Oregon did what they had to and just exposed USC as a WAY over-rated team. The game got as close as 41-38 late in the 3rd quarter, but the Ducks just sprinted away from the apparently overmatched Trojan D.

Oregon moves to 9-0, 6-0 in the PAC-12, USC, who was picked by the Geniuses at ESPN to win it all, falls to 6-3, 4-3 in the PAC-12.

The Ducks, at least to us, solidified their hold as the 2nd best team in the NCAA and still have 2 hurdles left, Oregon State and the PAC-12 title game which may...or may not be a re-match with USC.

Your highlights (and there were a lot) from ESPN:

Upset Saturday In Pac-12: Arizona Bears Down On USC

((HT: ESPN/Pac-12 Network))

The bottom line was that if you had Southern Cal WR Marquise Lee (like the HQ did) in your fantasy league picks, you had a good day...

16 catches for 345 yards and 2 scores as Matt Barkley went 31-for-49 for 493 yards in the air for three scores, but in a game that featured 1,206 yards of total offense it came down to a Hail Mary attempt to try and get the win in Tucson...

Here's the quick version of what happened...


So, four teams are now in play (if you include Arizona) in the Pac-12 South for the P12CG berth- when someone loses to the winner of Oregon-Oregon State.

The 9th-ranked team in the country is now looking from the outside for their Bee-Cee-Ess bid. But, hey, buck up little Trojan fan... there's always the Holiday Bowl...

Record-setting performances don't get you much if you don't get the duke...

USC's Matt Barkley Bounces Back VS Utah, Throws For 3 TD's And No Interceptions

Southern California quarterback Matt Barkley had a lot to prove Thursday night against Utah.  The stench of a stinker of a performance against Stanford has lingered. 

In Salt Lake City Thursday night the Trojans found themselves down two touchdowns to open to game to the fired up Utes.

Barkley didn’t make the same mistakes he did against the Cardinal nor did he throw an interception.  Barkley was just locked on to his receivers.

In the 2^nd half alone Barkley threw three touchdown passes of  23 yards, 6 yards and the hat trick was an 83 yard bomb to Marqise Lee that doomed Utah. USC heads back home with a 38-28 win and a 4-1 record.

"The quarterback [Barkley] played really well, to go on the road versus a defense that can give you some problems.”  USC head coach Lane Kiffin said. “To complete over 70 percent of his passes, no interceptions, no sacks, three touchdowns and was maybe two catches away from a huge night, it's good to see; because we all know what happened the last time we went on the road with our offensive line. So, back-to-back no sacks, it was good."

Come on Kiffykins, call you quarterback by name not just “the quarterback”.  Barkley did a nice job in a hostile environment and led the Trojans to a well earned win on the road. 

Here’s the highlights from Salt Lake City.  (Thanks KSL-TV)
Southern Cal’s D.J. Morgan rushed for 46 yards against Utah and offered his thoughts after the game. (Thanks USC Athletics)

The Dirty Dozen and Bottom of the Barrel: USC got beat by a Tree

Well, hopefully you are still with us as we enter week number 3. Because this is college football, there are always upsets, and last week proved that when Stanford beat USC.

Now mind you Stanford didn't have Andrew Luck or any of the other graduates who went on to play in the NFL or running corporations, but they still won.

We think it's because ESPN picked USC to win it all. Or maybe it was USC coach Lane Kiffin and his unbelievably tight sphincter.

We have to run his presser from yesterday again...because it was just too friggin funny.



No pressure there Coach Kiffykins, no pressure.



So.

With that being said, we didn't have a perfect week last week, but we didn't do poorly either. Let's go back and take a look:

Last Week's Picks: 11-4. Not bad, but we can do better. Overall: 25-5...now...doesn't that sound better?

In this weeks clip, we go to the execution scene, something we are pretty sure the L.A. Media would like to do to Kiffykins...or Kiffykins would like to do to them:



And now, in the words of the Immortal Casey Kasem it's--"On with the Countdown"

The Dirty Dozen:

1) LSU 3-0. We're sticking with them even though they aren't the popular choice now. And yeah, there are a few roadblocks. But they really haven't been pushed. Of course they haven't played anyone either.
(This Week: at Auburn. Our Pick: LSU 33, Auburn 21)

2) Alabama 3-0. We won't put them at #1 mostly because we like being anti-establishment, and the Fighting Saban's certainly are the popular pick. They too haven't really been pushed and all things considered, killing Arkansas wasn't much of a surprise. (This Week: vs. Florida Atlantic. Our Pick: Alabama 43, FAU 10)

3)Florida State 3-0. So far, so good, they've been about as close to perfect as you can be. They've only given up 3 points...all year. Of course it's all been vs. Cupcakes. We actually think they have a shot, but we also know much like the Big 10, every ACC team chokes at least once per season. (This Week: vs. Clemson. Our Pick: FSU 27, Clemson 23)

4) Oregon 3-0. Yeah, I know, we don't love them because they resemble a track team. And that is why. Most SEC teams can run with them and are WAY more physical. Track meet football is popular out west, and honestly, they are very good at it. (This Week: vs. Arizona. Our Pick: Oregon 37, Arizona 20)

5) West Virginia 2-0. Geno Smith, Geno Smith, Geno Smith. That's all you really need to say here. They are awfully good and don't have a tough schedule. Maybe a longshot, but I'd watch out for these guys. (This Week: vs. Maryland. Our Pick: Geno Smith 43, Maryland 12)

6) Georgia 3-0. This is as good a starting unit as there is. But are they BCS material? Depth is an issue, though most of the suspended defense is returning. Aaron Murray is legit and so are the freshman RB's.  The only worry is they'll blow a game they shouldn't. (This Week: vs. Vanderbilt. Our Pick: UGA 37, Vandy 23)

7) South Carolina 3-0. Well, we were right in week one about Connor Shaw, but that doesn't seem to be an issue, Dylan Thompson has been impressive to say the least. They'll stick around but everything points to Oct. 6th, when Georgia comes to town. (This Week: vs. Missouri. Our Pick: S.Carolina 31, Mizzou 27)

8) Oklahoma 2-0. They get a lot of love, but the question is: Have they earned it? The jury is still out. There's plenty of talent here, but nobody seems real excited about them. Including us. (This Week: vs. Kansas State. Our Pick: Oklahoma 41, K-State 33)

9) Stanford 3-0. Hmmm. Maybe they don't miss Andrew Luck. Or maybe the defense is just that good that it doesn't matter. Either way they are a surprise and get this on the basis of making Coach Kiffykins look really bad. (This Week: BYE)

10) Clemson 3-0. By virtue of not allowing Notre Dame to make this list YET, Clemson gets the nod. And they get Sammy Watkins back. But they have a tough test this week. The advantage is, they've been tested--sort of--vs. Auburn. (This Week: at FSU. Our Pick: See #3)

11) Texas 3-0. Proof that big schools get big rankings because they are big. They are much improved, but they aren't THAT much improved. David Ash has secured the starting QB job and the depth has been solid. (This Week: BYE)

12) USC 2-1. Ha! Even though we didn't pick it last week, we told you they'd lose a game they shouldn't. That's why we NEVER buy the hype on any team outside the SEC and sometimes not them either. Too many pundits who don't know of what they speak. (This Week: vs. California. Our Pick: USC 37, Cal. 21)

The Bottom of the Barrel: 

5) Houston 0-3. There are a few coaches out there saying this is Karma for the Case Keenum years when they ran up scores on people. And maybe they are right. When you can't run, can't score and can't stop anybody, you end up here. (This Week: BYE)

4) Idaho 0-3. So...there's this team in Idaho. And they play in the WAC and they aren't very good. And they avg. 39 yards rushing per game and 10 points. At least they got paid for letting LSU slaughter them. (This Week: vs. Wyoming. Our Pick: UPSET! Idaho 10, Wyoming 9)

3) Memphis 0-3. They move up ONLY by virtue of the two teams behind them being atrocious. We know why they play football here, but that still doesn't make it right. They've been really bad for a really long time and that isn't going to change. (This Week: at Duke. Our Pick: Duke 31, Memphis 17)

2) Colorado 0-3. Wah! Wah! Wah!. Where have you gone Kordell Stewart and Eric Bienemy? Words cannot describe how bad this team is. And they PAC 12 was clamoring for them? Really? Maybe it was to keep the academic and graduation rate up? It certainly couldn't be for football. (This Week: at Washington St. Our Pick: Wash. St. 49, Colorado 17)

1) UMass 0-3. Colorado is pushing them, but we are quite sure it gets no worse than this. They are the worst in D-1 in almost every category. We didn't think that was possible. Yeeeesh. We aren't even sure what to say here, they average 6 points a game. (This Week: Miami (OH) 41, UMass 5)

Lane Kiffin with shortest press conference ever

Well, not really, but it wasn't too far from that.

Coach Kiffykins, a perennial favorite of Sports Bloggers world wide kind of outdid himself Wednesday morning.

Kiffin took questions following practice. Ok..well, actually he only took one of them before looking away and leaving.



Total Presser Time :28 seconds.

He already had endeared himself to the L.A media last week after banning L.A Times reporter Scott Wolf from practices and games for reporting that USC kicker Andre Heidari had knee surgery and was out for at least 3 weeks.

USC was appalled and claimed Wolf had violated their rules of not reporting injuries. Kiffykins eventually relented and Wolf was reinstated, but his team was...a bit choked up.

The Trojans summarily went out and got beat by a Tree. Stanford took down the then #2 Trojans 21-14 Saturday night.

It appears, at least by this clip, Kiffy was peeved at a question about someone's health during this mornings presser. And he REALLY needs to lighten up.

Perhaps his tight sphincter explains his team being so tight, but then again, we got to see this act in the SEC. Kiffy making no friends in Tennessee or the SEC after laying waste to the Volunteers program.

Remember this SEC and Vols fans?



Thought so....

Life Is Good On The Farm As Stanford Defeats #2 Southern California 21-14

The post Andrew Luck era at Stanford appears to be just as good.

Saturday night Stanford head coach David Shaw told his Cardinal team to live in the moment before the game against #2 Southern California.

Stanford quarterback Josh Nunes threw for 215 yards and two touchdowns.  Nunes second was the biggest, a 37 yard scoring strike to Zach Ertz early in the fourth quarter put the Cardinal up for good 21-14.  That will be a moment Nunes and Erst won’t forget.

The Stanford defense harassed Southern California quarterback Matt Barkley all night sacking the Trojan quarterback four times.   A moment they won’t forget.

And when the fans stormed the field after the game was probably the best moment of them all.

Here’s a great video of the game from Stanford Athletics.

Southern California quarterback Matt Barkley threw for 259 yards but no touchdowns and two interceptions. 

Hard to believe but Stanford has dominated this series recently.  The win is Stanford’s fourth in a row over USC and that’s never happened.