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DEL.ICIO.US‘Horns finally expose USC defense
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Mark Bradley
Pasadena, Calif. — For the want of a yard, a third national championship was lost. But Southern Cal’s failure went deeper than that. It went to the very core of football. The Trojans cheated fate all season, relying on their sterling offense to override a bad defense, and with 2:13 to play and a title on the line, Pete Carroll told the world he didn’t believe his defense could stop Vince Young one last time.
So Carroll had his Trojans go for it on fourth-and-2 at their 45. And LenDale White gained only half the required yardage. And Texas got the ball. And Carroll, who made the wrong choice, was proved right in his rationale. His guys couldn’t stop Vince Young.
The Trojans were regarded by many voices in the chattering class — most notably the strident ones on ESPN — as the greatest team of all time. They weren’t. They weren’t nearly as good as they were last season. They masked fundamental flaws with individual brilliance, and within sight of another title they were finally exposed.
“We had to keep scoring,” Carroll said. “We had to outscore them… . If we make a fourth down, we win.”
But they didn’t, and they lost. They lost to a hungrier team, a more balanced team. They lost after holding a 12-point lead with 4:04 remaining in the national championship game. They lost to a quarterback who managed to outdo Matt Leinart and Reggie Bush — both of them Heisman winners — by his magnificent self.
Vince Young rushed for 200 yards and threw for 267 more. He scored three touchdowns. He was the best player on a field overrun with great players. The phrase “refuse to lose” has become a cliché, but how else to describe what Young did in these last seven minutes? He brought Texas close with a breathtaking touchdown scramble, and he won it with another scramble, this on fourth-and-5 at the 8, this one so deft that he scored the climactic touchdown untouched by Trojan hands.
Texas didn’t play a perfect game. It fumbled the first time it touched the ball. It missed an extra point and a 31-yard field goal. It watched Leinart and Bush and White and Dwayne Jarrett author moments of sheer magic, but the Longhorns played through every dark moment. They kept playing even when playing seemed futile — what team chases down Southern Cal at the end? — and at the end they hoisted a championship trophy that was believed to be beyond their grasp.
For a Rose Bowl matching the Nos. 1 and 2 teams, this one had a lopsided buildup. Part of it was the memory of last season’s Orange Bowl, which had been hyped to heavens but wound up a 55-19 Trojan walkover, and part of it was the assumption that Southern Cal was simply impregnable. The Longhorns said nothing to rile the champs, but privately they had to be seething at the lack of a chance they were given.
Instead they made their own chances. They recovered a fumble after Bush’s silly lateral and stole a Leinart pass on the goal line — Michael Griffin made a terrific break on the ball — and scored seven times on their last 10 possessions. They were indomitable in a way that Southern Cal was supposed to be but, on what was to have been the night of its ultimate coronation, never quite was.
In the end it came down to a mismatch, but not the one that was supposed to wind up with Southern Cal two or three touchdowns ahead.
This mismatch was Vince Young against a defense so shabby that even Carroll, its architect, had no faith in it. Carroll let everything ride with his star-spangled offense, and on this night the stars fell 1 yard short. And a football truism was upheld yet again: You might win a lot of games with a bad defense, but you can’t win a championship.
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By ConyersDawg
January 5, 2006 01:24 AM | Link to this
Vince Young looked like a “MAN” among kids. That was one of the best NC’s I have seen and the best individual performance I have seen.
The best part was ESPN ran all that stuff (history in the making) about USC being the best team ever and that team doesn’t even have the NC. I’m happy for Texas and I know that my Dawgs are building to that.
By Matthew
January 5, 2006 01:24 AM | Link to this
Mark,
I said back in December that Vince Young was robbed.
Reggie Bush is the most overrated, overhyped player in the history of college football. He is no Gale Sayers. He is no Walter Payton.
At most, he is Billy White Shoes Johnson.
Bush got lucky playing against the crap in the Pac 1 plus 9 (see Oregon going 10-1). He shouldn’t be the No. 1 draft pick, but will be. He is going to be a big time bust, mark my words.
Vince Young should have won the Heisman, and he proved it tonight. And Young will do something that the overrated and overhyped Bush won’t do: he’s going to stick around and finish his college career.
Vince Young is a classy guy, and a great talent. Whomever is terrible next year (Detroit, Arizona, or Cleveland?) would be crazy not to draft him No. 1. Heck, some team like Miami, NY Jets, or Baltimore would be crazy not to trade up and draft Young.
Vince Young is Michael Vick. But 5 inches taller and 25 pounds heavier. And by staying that extra year, he is going to be a better player than Vick was coming out of college.
By Hairy Dawg
January 5, 2006 02:23 AM | Link to this
Vince Young is a classy guy who kept posing and saying “Who’s the Heisman?”, Matthew. Reggie Bush is a classy guy who won the Heisman. Ultimately, none of that matters, but Vince Young made a lot of money for himself tonight if he goes pro. And if you think he’s staying in school, Matthew, you’re nuts. He dodged that question on the stage. You must not be able to read between the lines, son. Besides, the money for top picks will most likely be cut next year in the new CBA between the NFL and NFLPA. He could lose millions of dollars by staying and he won’t do that. And hey, maybe the Texans will draft him and he can play in his hometown? Sounds good to me.
By Alex
January 5, 2006 02:29 AM | Link to this
Vince Young will be a better pro QB than Michael Vick. Vince can run, run with power, * unlike Vick, Vince can put DB on their backs with a use of a stiff arm and he can’t be tackled by on one guy, Young can also throw *accurately, something Vick will never do. What did Mack Brown say for one of the TV interviews, people question Vince’s ability to throw the football, but he lead the NCAA in QB accuracy percentage. You saw it tonight, he knows how much touch to put on the ball, hits his WR in stride, to where they can make a play after the catch Vick is lucky if his throws are in the AREA of the WR’s and think about this…Vince can stay in college another year, and get ever better! He’ll be ready to step up as a pro and I predict he’ll have a better career than Michael “the great marketing hype” Vick.
Congrats to Texas for winning the National championship.
I’m glad I won’t have to hear about “how great” USC is now, enough already. They weren’t going for a “three-peat” anyways, LSU was the 2002 National Champs, not USC. I’m sorry, but that is a fact. The Media Hype surrounding this USC team was not justified, as Mark wrote, Defense wins championships. USC had an OK defense, and it was exposed tonight by Texas.
By M. Brown
January 5, 2006 05:57 AM | Link to this
STOP THE MADNESS. VY should be offended at the comparisons to MV. VY clearly understands the roles of a QB: Leadership, passing, play calling, and rushing. He is not a one trick pony.
By sloan
January 5, 2006 06:33 AM | Link to this
How many of the Heisman hypers, er, I mean voters, would like to change their vote this morning? Perhaps someone should have used a little bit of judgement when so much was made of a 500 yards peformance against that mighty defensive powerhouse, Fresno State. Heck, Leinart was infinitely better than Bush tonight as well.
By Todd
January 5, 2006 07:58 AM | Link to this
OH GOD, THE SECOND COMING OF MICHAEL VICK HYPE had begun.
We all saw the game. USC has a horrid defense and Caroll was out of his mind last night.
Bush will live that lateral for the rest of his life. That has to be the stupidest play in a NC game ever.
Like Fulmer, Carr, Brown will never see the NC again.
WHAT A JOKE OF A GAME!!!
By GW
January 5, 2006 08:08 AM | Link to this
I didn’t have a favorite but 1.) if I need 2 yards I get it to Bush outside or on a swing pass and 2.) ABC appearred to favor USC even though I’m not sure Keith Jackson knew who was playing.
By Todd
January 5, 2006 08:10 AM | Link to this
Mark,
By the way, great article. You dis the USC defense rather than congratulate Texas.
USC did not deserve to be in this game.
Vince you ran rough shod over a p** poor defense. And by the way, Bush is such a class act compared to you. Your Heisman pose reminded me of Auburn last year. Just as Auburn did not win the NC, you did not win the Heisman and how many Heisman winners have a bust the next game.
By godawg
January 5, 2006 08:13 AM | Link to this
Congrats to Texas. Maybe now we can stop hearing about how USC is the best football team to ever play the game. Still gotta wonder when we are going to hear the scream when they watch the replay of the blown touchdown call in the first half. How do the officials review every play and not catch something as obvious as that? Good coaching by Mack to rush the PAT attempt out there before they could get their act together.
By gdawginkalamazoo
January 5, 2006 08:18 AM | Link to this
Hey, Where is Trojan Ted from the ATL this morning! On here running smack about UGA’s loss. Looks like the Trojans had problems of their own stopping a #10 last night. Young played an excellent game and he will make a great pro QB. No comparison between him and Vick. Young can throw and think.
I wonder where Pete Carroll will be coaching next year. Let’s see Houston Texans, Oakland Raiders, Detroit, Green Bay???? So good bye to Petey you Trojans. Too bad you lost your bid for your SECOND NC.
By GW
January 5, 2006 08:19 AM | Link to this
Keith Jackson eventually said there was a technical error and replay official didn’t get to see the replay of the knee down/TD pitch. I guess the cable went out. Oh well.
By Jon
January 5, 2006 08:24 AM | Link to this
Congrats to USC for being the best high school team in the nation. I told everyone all year that USC was a joke. If USC had to play in the SEC with 12 other teams that play defense instead of the PAC-10, USC would be lucky to be bowl eligilbe. ESPN hyped USC all year and biased the voting in the polls and the BCS.
Oh, and by the way, in order to three-peat, you have to have three crystal footballs…USC only has one and I don’t think LSU is going to let USC borrow theirs.
By James
January 5, 2006 08:25 AM | Link to this
Mark you were the only columnist to call this one right. I agreed with you on yesterday and I hope you got my analysis of this game. This was one for the ages what a game.
By Todd
January 5, 2006 08:30 AM | Link to this
NO WONDER THE BIG TEN WAS THE FIRST TO GO TO INSTANT REPLAY. The Big 11 officials are simply horrible.
By the way,
TX bowl record now 22-21.
USC 28-16.
Live the moment TX. Shoulda, woulda, coulda is right around the corner when the Big 12 comes back to life. Think about it.
OU down year, NE down year, KSU down year, CO down year, A&M down year but almost beat TX.
Who did Texas play this year? USC demononstrated why they did not belong to be there. Yes TX won, but don’t make the game nor Vince out more than it/he was.
By northwestDAWG
January 5, 2006 08:51 AM | Link to this
Mark, a very good column, but I take issue with your point about defense wins championships.Look around and you’ll see that coaches are begining to use their offense to win games. Last night the Texas “D” gave up 38 pts. Look at what Ohio St. did. I’ll always wonder,this thought crossed my mind before the play, what if USC pulls a W.VA. I am so glad Texas won not only for their sake, but for the rest of the nation that got so tired of ESPN hyping USC. Also thought Mack Brown showed courage when was asked earlier about his rep. of not wining the “BIG ONE”. His answer was ,Yes he deserve it because he hadn’t won the “BIG ONE”. Now he has! Lets face it, times have changed. Every big time college football program worth it’s salt is aiming for the NC. and wining a conference title is fast becoming only a steping stone to the goal
By gdawginkalamazoo
January 5, 2006 08:54 AM | Link to this
Jon Oh, and by the way, in order to three-peat, you have to have three crystal footballs…USC only has one and I don’t think LSU is going to let USC borrow theirs THANK YOU, MY POINT EXACTLY. ONE NC BY THE TROJANS DOES NOT MAKE A DYNASTY. If college football is going to have a grand scheme of the BCS they should live by it and recognize it. So should the press if they are going to cover the games. I tired of hearing “USC 3 peat” when they only have one. Hey I can’t be an fish wrap journalist too watch this. Just across the wires, Pete Carroll to leave USC for the NFL
By Todd
January 5, 2006 09:14 AM | Link to this
Hey WAAAAAH,
What part of “USC did not belong there” did you not understand?
By the way, I am a SEC grad. I like USC but can admit that the 50-42 win over FSU was a real tale tale sign of where the USC was/is.
We all saw the game. USC did not deserve to be there becuase their defense is soooo bad.
By KneeJerk
January 5, 2006 09:25 AM | Link to this
Matthew, this may be the first time I agree with you. I posted much of the same on the Falcons beat blog this morning. Reggie is a great open field runner. He should have a billion all-purpose yards (overrated stat). He plays offense, returns kicks, and returns punts. He will have to have a GREAT O-Line to succeed on Sundays. 4th and 1 late in the game and where is the “greatest college RB of our generation”? On the sidelines. Leinart and L. White will be better pros. Houston needs to trade that pick yesterday. They will rob someone. I can honestly say that I never drank the Eric Metcalf, I mean Reggie Bush KoolAid. Can’t wait to see if Bill Plaschke from the L.A Times is on Around the Horn today. He said “We do have a pro team in L.A. They will be playing against Texas Wednesday night”.
By WAAAAHHH
January 5, 2006 09:30 AM | Link to this
Sorry Todd, I didn’t realize you were saying that USC AND Texas both sucked and didn’t deserve to be there. Who then in your opinion was worthy if not for USC and Texas?
By KneeJerk
January 5, 2006 09:31 AM | Link to this
Oh, and I know that Keith Jackson is getting up there in age, but calling Pete Carroll “one of the best defensive head coaches in the history of college football” is a stretch. They won 1 BCS National title in a row. Bowl games are a good measuring stick, because you get a long time to prepare for quality opponents outside of your conference. As most of you can tell: I’M SICK OF THE HYPE!
By gdawginkalamazoo
January 5, 2006 09:37 AM | Link to this
I don’t want to forget. Congratulations Longhorns well deserved victory! Mack Brown looked a little stressed last night I hope he can now get some rest and enjoy the moment. Vince Young and Reggie Bush are the real deal. Both will be successful at the next level. Leinart did get knocked loopy you could tell in the post game interview “I think we are still the better team…..”
By Gatornation
January 5, 2006 09:37 AM | Link to this
All I can say is WOW…..that is the best individual performance I have seen in a National Championship game…..V. Young is a class act and really showed how he has become to known as In-Vince-able Young…..You talk about performing under pressure? Don’t think I’ve seen anyone yet to do it the way he did….Does that guy ever lose his cool? This game is an instant ESPN classic……
By Barkin'Dog
January 5, 2006 09:38 AM | Link to this
Where’s Tom? Oh, Tom…(first to blog in Bradley’s column yesterday)… “Texas has NO chance at winning this game. I give USC the win, and 21 points. USC has already played this game several times. They’ll be ready.” Where’s Tom… and some of the others who crowned USC the champion before the BCS NC kickoff! Congratulations to Texas, Vince Young and especially Coach Brown — you deserve the highest ranking in college football (regardless of schedule) because, when it came time to play the best team of the decade thus far, you played YOUR game and won. No team in the past five years could have beaten you this night. What a year for college football - it was FANtastic!
By Rickey
January 5, 2006 09:42 AM | Link to this
The Texas defense was lousy also, Mark. It made the one big play that the Trojans didn’t.
By sidney
January 5, 2006 09:45 AM | Link to this
Congrats to Texas and Vince Young, but college footballs national champs are fabricated! Ohio State, West Virginia, Georgia, ND could have beat either USC or Texas!!Please lets see a playoff system!!!
By Gatornation
January 5, 2006 09:45 AM | Link to this
Todd, u sound like an idiot….u say Vince ran wild b/c the defense sux, and they didn’t deserve to be there…regardless, u don’t accomplish what USC has done being a fraud….they are a legit Championship caliber team and Vince just had a stellar performance against a good TEAM!! Key word is TEAM, not defense….Give props where props where props are due….Mr. Young just performed above and beyond the call of duty!!!
By brewerfaninATL
January 5, 2006 10:09 AM | Link to this
Wow what a game! IMO the perfect capper on a great season! I still believe the two best teams faced each other and the game itself proved that. Nobody, I repeat NOBODY else deserved to be playing in that game. Not Penn State, not Ohio State, certainly no one from the SEC, no one else should have been playing except Texas and USC!
By the way, USC earned a share of the title in 2003. Yes, LSU walked away with the crystal, but USC won the other poll. Same thing between Michigan/Nebraska in 1997 and GA Tech/Colorado in 1990 to name a few. Don’t blame 2003 on USC, they did what they had to do, blame the BCS nitwits who still have no desire to format a playoff system.
By brian
January 5, 2006 10:17 AM | Link to this
I believe Texas did beat Ohio State…and just think what Texas would have done to Georgia’s defense. Greg Blue’s eyes probably wouldn’t have lit up.
By brewerfaninATL
January 5, 2006 10:20 AM | Link to this
Gatornation: I agree with you. This game just proved that the two best teams really deserved to be in this game…no one else deserved to be there. Those of you who still thinks Texas is overrated because of their “soft” schedule I have news for you: you would have been blown out of the water! I’m not just talking about the SEC, I mean Penn State, Ohio State, WVU, anyone would have been crushed. Vince Young just refused to let his team lose and he/they were just not going to be denied. Nice job Longhorns!
By the way, USC shared the title with LSU in 2003. Yes, LSU walked away with the crystal but USC won the other poll. Same thing happened in 1997 with Nebraska/Michigan and in 1990 with GA Tech/Colorado, to name a few. Don’t blame that on USC or Pete Carroll, blame the BCS nitwits who still don’t feel like they need to incorporate a playoff system.
By Barkin'Dog
January 5, 2006 10:20 AM | Link to this
Why is it that everywhere I looked… on TV, in newspapers, the radio… most every media person spoke or wrote of USC going for an unprecedented 3rd national title? Does that mean that the majority of these people, and their media, recognize the AP Title more than the BCS? Sure, the AP award has been around since 1936, but the BCS is the new accepted benchmark for National Champions, isn’t it? I guess not. In other words, why are media commentators still touting the AP titleholders as champions - that’s the only way they could talk in terms of USC changing history (with 3 straight titles - never done before - if they had won the game). That tells me that the BCS is a farce as we know it. That tells me that we need a playoff system now… and that’s what the media is lobbying for as well. And, until we have it, the media will be recognizing the AP title winner as their champion. Otherwise, if I’m wrong, and they really do support the BCS, then USC got only one NC in the past few years - meaning they were only going for their 2nd title in a row (which they didn’t get, making them a one-trick-pony). I guess USC wasn’t so hot after all.
Now Texas is the hot commodity - and only they can try for a 2nd NC in a row next year (BCS & AP style)!
GO S-E-C! GO U-G-A! GO B-C-S (as we know it) to Hell! College Football purists want and demand a playoff system… N-O-W!
By brewerfaninATL
January 5, 2006 10:21 AM | Link to this
Sorry about the double-post guys!!!
By SEC Smacker
January 5, 2006 10:26 AM | Link to this
Jon,
Give me a break. 12 teams in the SEC that play DEFENSE??? I guess that was a typo when USC “allegedly” put up 70 points on Arkansas this season, right? Kentucky, Vanderbilt, Mississippi State…all of these teams’ defenses just put fear in minds of the offensive coordinators of their opponents, right? The majority of the posters on this blog seem to agree with your opinion about USC being overrated, but making ridiculous statements about the “12 great defenses” in the SEC sends your credibility right down the toilet.
By Barkin'Dog
January 5, 2006 10:26 AM | Link to this
Oops! I meant to say 3rd title in a row (then USC got only one NC in the past few years - meaning they were only going for their 2nd title in a row) That still makes them a one-trick-BCS-pony!
By Todd
January 5, 2006 10:27 AM | Link to this
Waaaah,
Texas deserved to be there but USC’s defense was so bad that all the accolades going toward Vince and Texas need toning way down.
Gatornation,
Come on Vince ran the same plays over and over again and on the 2nd to the last touchdown he walked right in when 3 guys could have layed out, but didn’t. The USC defense was exposed and that is a shame for the offense.
By Dennis
January 5, 2006 10:34 AM | Link to this
I’m just glad we won’t have to listen to the national press anymore saying how USC ought to just be given the trophy at the start of the season. And all that best team in the history of the game crap!
WTG Texas!
By brewerfaninATL
January 5, 2006 10:38 AM | Link to this
Jon: HAHAHA!! I never laughed so hard in my life! 12 SEC teams that play defense? Like SEC Smacker said, didn’t USC put 70 up on Arkansas’ great defense? Please, all I ever heard this year was how awesome the SECs’ defense was this year. And most were good until Bama hung 31 on Fla., UGA gave up 31 to Auburn and 38 to WVU, Bama gave up 28 to Auburn, Auburn got punked by Wisconsin (the score says 24, but UW knelt at the 1 yard line at the end), and LSU got 34 upside their heads by UGA. The SEC is a great conference, but this was not a banner year for them…that is a FACT and you know it! Don’t be mad because the two BEST teams played for the title and the SEC didn’t belong!
By Easy
January 5, 2006 10:42 AM | Link to this
It’s time for a playoff! USC and Texas played arguably soft schedules. I would love to see how either one held up with an SEC schedule. Maybe they would only loose a game but that would put them right beside LSU. USC or Texas playing a schedule that included Georgia, Auburn, LSU, Florida and South Carolina would not be undefeated. No team in the country would be undefeated against those teams. Their is no equity between confrences thus no way to determine the best football team in the country.
By Iron feet
January 5, 2006 10:43 AM | Link to this
First of all, please stop with the Vince Young and Mike Vick comparisons. I’m really sick of hearing them. These are 2 different QB’s in two different situations. Vince has a coaching staff that wants to utilize ALL his talents to win, Mike does not. Also, Vince has a some STUDS on his OL, Vick has a bunch of ham and eggers. But I digress. The real fact of the matter is that games of this magnitude are often decided in the 4th quarter. This was the case last night. Both Carroll and Brown coached their asses off, both Texas and USC played their hearts out. The mistakes that both teams made in first half the were not a factor in how the game turned out. That 4th quarter decided the outcome of great game. USC’s defense was not as good as it was during last years championship run, and it showed last night. Remember, they lost a lot of talent on that side of the ball in last years draft. That magnificent offense got them to this point. Also, Texas was the more complete team. That factored into the outcome as well. I disagree with some previous posts that say that Reggie Bush will be a bust. He still may be the #1 pick and he still will be a great player at the pro level. Leinart will be as well. LenDale White may be better than them both. I won’t be as critical of great players as some people are because they tried to make plays. It just didn’t work out for them. That happens against great teams. In a nutshell, Texas was just a little better last night and that was proven on the field.
By SEC fan
January 5, 2006 10:47 AM | Link to this
I hate to tell you other SEC fans, but there wasn’t an SEC team this year that belonged on the field with either Texas or USC. Defense or no defense. Either would have dominated the SEC or ACC. As has been said many times, if UGA or Auburn want to contend for a NC, they better start scheduling national powers on a regular basis, AND BEATING THEM.
Let’s consider the following schools as being the top national programs that aren’t in the SEC: USC, Oklahoma, Texas, Notre Dame, Michigan, Ohio State, Penn State, Miami, VA Tech and FL St.
How many of these teams has GA played (excluding bowl games) in the last 30 years ? The answer is “NOT MANY, IF ANY”. Auburn has played Texas, Nebraska and USC over the last 30 years or so, but lost each time, if I remember correctly.
By brewerfaninATL
January 5, 2006 10:57 AM | Link to this
Easy: OK, fine how about USC or Texas having to face Michigan, Ohio State, Penn State, Wisconsin, and Iowa every week? Believe me, the Big 10 is on par with the SEC. How do you know Texas wouldn’t go undefeated? Yes, this was a horrible year for the Big 12, but it is traditionally a very good conference with highly competetive teams…just not this year, except Texas.
By Todd
January 5, 2006 10:58 AM | Link to this
More evidence NCAA is corrupt.
Think about this. These teams have all won the NC in the last 10 years.
Texas - 1st NC in 35 years.
USC - 1st NC in 25 years.
OSU - 1st NC in 40 years.
MI - 1st NC in 50 years.
TN - 1st NC in 50 years.
LSU - 1st NC in 45 years.
NU - 1st NC in 24 years.
What are the odds that all these teams that have not seen the NC in decades are not getting one. Parity! Bah Hum Bug! NCAA wants to spread the wealth around to fill up stadiums. Now, how they do it. I ain’t figured that out yet but what are the odds that all these DIFFERENT teams suddenly are winning NCs.
By Paul
January 5, 2006 11:06 AM | Link to this
Hey I’m just glad the media darling USC got dethroned. Now everyone at ESPN who thought USC was good enough to beat half the NFL has egg on their face. Thank you Texas for bringing ESPN back to reality.
By Karma
January 5, 2006 11:14 AM | Link to this
Vince Young IZZZZZ the REAL THING! He is better than Vick or McNabb were at this point in their careers — Without Dispute!
His poise is rooted and grounded in his commitment to family and God (by his own admission). Mike Vick could certainly do himself a favor by watching Vince Young interact with his team. He never berates them needlessly. He never mopes around, hangs his head in disgust when someone drops a ball, and NEVER shows dejection. But then, with Mike its about ME. With Vince, its about the TEAM.
Vince took an extended amount of time last night, praising his team mates, coaching staff, and even their families, for supporting the championship run.
Vince is a Special Athlete who will re-define the QB position at the next level. Vince was like Julius Caesar last night — He Came, He Saw, and He Conquered. But he did it as part of a Team concept, and with a smile on his face even when the chips were down. However, his character is what sets him apart.
God Bless Him
By Easy
January 5, 2006 11:15 AM | Link to this
Brewer: I agree that either of these teams wouldn’t have gone undefeated through the Big 10. It’s just not fair to have the weak confrences send teams to the NC because they are undefeated. The SEC, Big 10 and the ACC eat on each other for a season. All play 5 or 6 good teams that can have a great day. Texas played one very good team in Ohio State and USC played one good team that could have a great day in Notre Dame. Win-Loss records don’t tell the whole story. That is why we need to settle it on the field.
By gdawginkalamazoo
January 5, 2006 11:26 AM | Link to this
No if’s and’s or but’s or could’ve, would’ve, should’ve, the two best teams this year were playing last night regardless of conference affiliations.
By brewerfaninATL
January 5, 2006 11:26 AM | Link to this
Easy: I agree that there needs to be a playoff system, but I’ve been saying that for the past 15 years or so! I know what you are saying and I understand, but it really isn’t Texas’ fault that the Big 12 really struggled this year…remember the schedule is put out 3-5 years beforehand. Traditionally, it is a very competitive conference with some
By brewerfaninATL
January 5, 2006 11:29 AM | Link to this
Sorry about the pause, but anyway, the Big 12 is a good conference…just wasn’t this year. Maybe next year!
By Gatornation
January 5, 2006 11:33 AM | Link to this
Todd,
If USC’s D was so poor, why is it it has taken almost 3 yrs b 4 it was exposed? It’s not that they were just all out terrible…..It’s just Vince & the Longhorns would not be denied and wanted to show the media that hey, u just can’t continue to overlook us guys….
By karma
January 5, 2006 11:37 AM | Link to this
Let’s cut the excuses! The two best teams in college football played each other last night for the National Championship! No one wanted to see anyone else play. It was THE Matchup we all wanted and it lived up to… No… It exceeded our wildest expectations! THE TOP THREE COLLEGE FOOTBALL PLAYERS in America were on the field last night. What more could one ask!
Certainly, it would be great for the College Football Presidents to get off their hypocritical soap boxes about “scheduling” and “Athlete Study Time” as excuses for the Plus One, Plus Two playoff scenarios. We all know how much time College Basketball players spend away from campus and classrooms during March Madness — and during the season.
But, until that magical, mystical day when every team has a chance to make Football’s Elite Eight, the BCS is what we are stuck with. Last Night and This Season, IT WORKED!
“SHOW THEM MY MOTTO”
By Miles
January 5, 2006 11:44 AM | Link to this
by reading all these vents, you’d think the Longhorns had tore up the Trojans by at least 3 TDs. they barely won! and that was with SC missing on at least 24 points in the first half! I admit, the prior two year’s SC teams were better defensively, but for you dolts who don’t think they deserved to be in the NC because of their poor defense, tell me one college team who would have stopped them? Don’t say Texas..USC had almost 600 yards offense against the #5 defense in the nation and should have scored at least 45 points! Alabama? for a quarter. Oklahoma? 2005 NC..UGA? LOL..I was hoping all year they’d win out and go to the NC, just so the world would see what happens if the Dawgs were to play against a real offense. Go back and have another beer and keep dreaming that your team will EVER be there.
By karma
January 5, 2006 11:52 AM | Link to this
Fortunately, close only counts in Horseshoes…Close doesn’t show up twenty years later on web sites and blogs. The only thing that counts is the “W” baybeee, as Dick Vitale would say.
When you are coronated “Team Of The Century”, no one should score 41 points on you in a Championship game. Texas did… BTW, Texas left points on the field last night too. Remember, a Texas Fumble led to the first SC score. It was three-and-out before that.
By Other Mark
January 5, 2006 12:00 PM | Link to this
Miles, you make some great points, but you lose credibility when you say “with SC missing on at least 24 points in the first half.” We all saw the game and except for Reggie’s stupid lateral, you guys didn’t miss on much. And if you are going to count that way, the Longhorns gave SC the first TD by fumbling at midfield after stuffing them on the first series. Give Texas credit, they came out ready and SC made the adjustments at halftime to overcome the defense.
I think those two teams were obviously the best in the country and they played even all night. I would love to see an SEC team this year, particularly Richt’s, try to stay with either one of those teams. Too many horses, too much speed, and too much coaching! Great game.
By Harold
January 5, 2006 12:15 PM | Link to this
I haven’t seen anyone mention what a great job Texas’s Offensive line did in protecting Vince Young. Georgia and Tech fans should be eager to congradulate Mac Mc Worter the Texas line coach and Assistant Head coach for winning the NC. I understand he graduated From UGA and coached at Tech.
By Other Mark
January 5, 2006 12:29 PM | Link to this
You’re right Harold, Mac did caoch at Tech and was our interim Head Coach in the Seattle Bowl win over STanford when O’Leary left. Most of us Tech fans wish he was STILL our Head Coach, instead of the disaster we have now.
I had lost track of him. He is every bit as good a man as Mack Brown - they deserve each other!
By Big Dawg
January 5, 2006 12:45 PM | Link to this
Todd, who did TX play this year? Well, they played the deffending National Champs last night and made em look like a pop warner team (on deffense anyway). Oh yeah, they also won the Big 12 championship game by like 60 points. How can you hate on VY after a game like that? that was one of the best college performances EVER. Give credit where credit is due man.
By KneeJerk
January 5, 2006 01:15 PM | Link to this
I think if those 2 teams play in ANY conference in America, they still go undefeated. Stop boosting up your team’s losses by saying you play in a tough conference. I wish the college football season started with each team playing an equal team from another conference. (Ohio St./Texas, UGA/FSU, etc. They could do this by drawing PingPong balls, like the lottery. I’d bet alot of fans around the country would be watching. The best 2 teams in the country played last night. PERIOD
By Kam
January 5, 2006 01:18 PM | Link to this
This national championship game was the best college football game that I have ever seen. It involved the two best teams in college football with arguably the best three players in the country. The better team did win on contrary to popular belief. I hate to hear the excuses about Reggie Bush’s turnover, maybe Leinert’s interception at the goal-line, or the knee that wasn’t called down by Vince Young on the touchdown pitch.
How could a couple of turnovers by the Trojans be an excuse as to why they didn’t win, when you could argue that they may not have scored early and got that momentum on Texas’ initial fumble. The “non-called” downed knee by Vince Young is a non-issue because it wasn’t like it was fourth down or they were nowhere near the goal-line, the way they played all night it isn’t like they couldn’t have scored from there on another play. If you want excuses, what about the couple of missed field goals by Texas? Or, what about that interception by Texas that wasn’t called when the guy possessed the ball and the ground caused it to come out (The Trojans scored on that drive, you know)? Anyway, Texas won and should have, Vince Young is the best player in college and proved it, and no, neither Reggie Bush nor Matt Leinart is overrated, but that Lindell White might be slightly underrated!
By t-towndawg
January 5, 2006 02:05 PM | Link to this
Congrats to Texas. Best NC game that I have ever seen. I said last week that neither team played much D, so I expected a shootout. I still think these were the two best teams in the country. Someone said stop the VY/MV comparisons; there is no comparison. Vince Young is twice as good as Vick. He can actually throw the ball to a receiver, not just close to one. Plus, he is a man amongst boys when he takes off with the ball. He deserved the Heisman, but I don’t like the fact that he was so vocal about not winning it. Wonder if ESPN jumps on the Texas wagon now?
By OldDawg55
January 5, 2006 02:09 PM | Link to this
It’s over folks! Texas is the national champion…all of us in all of the other conferences can “woulda, coulda, shoulda” all we want but it remains: Texas is the national champion! Now if you want a good subject try: Georgia is ranked #10 in the final analysis..BUT, LSwho is ranked #6 and Bama is #8…now there’s food for discussion!
By Smyrna dawg fan
January 5, 2006 02:18 PM | Link to this
Wow, looks like everyone on this blog jumped off the USC bandwagon last night just so they could get on the Texas wagon this morning. HAHA, both teams are disgraces to NCAA football. SEC is the best conference, period. Get over it. Its fact. Texas would have went 4-7 in the SEC, and USC would have went 6-5. South Forsyth could have hung 70 on either of those two joke teams.
By terp2002
January 5, 2006 02:20 PM | Link to this
interesting commentary but i think vince young is more like randall cunningham than vick he also has a similiar throwing motiom
By SEC fan
January 5, 2006 02:23 PM | Link to this
Smyrna, it’s a little early in the day to be off in la-la land, isn’t it ?
By mlr710
January 5, 2006 02:29 PM | Link to this
Congrats Texas, especially Vince Young on a spectacular performance…..but comparing a college QB…ANY college QB to a 3-time Pro Bowler that makes defensive coordinators specifically game plan for him, shows the ignorance of some of these posts. If you don’t recognize the difference, stop putting yourself out there to look so darn stupid!
By Greg
January 5, 2006 02:51 PM | Link to this
Hey, Jon…would two of the top three SEC powerhouses (Auburn and Georgia) be part of those “twelve teams that play defense”? Your conference went 3-3 in bowl games, were a phantom “off sides on an onside kick” call in the Florida/Iowa game away from possibly being 2-4, were the LAST RANKED conference during the regular season when playing games against other BCS conferences (2-6), and Auburn and Georgia couldn’t stop a gentle breeze in their games. You had ONE team that looked very good…LSU. So now, tell us again how all the teams from across the USA would suck if they played in your mighty conference???
By Other Mark
January 5, 2006 03:35 PM | Link to this
Smyrna DawgFan - you really do need to cut back on that stuff. You’re delusional. You needn’t go any further than to see the SEC was 3-3 in bowls to know that they are not dominant - good, but not dominant.
Kam — great points. The only issue I have is that Fouts was not familiar with the college rules on the Texas interception - the fact is, the ground CAN cause a fumble on a pass reception. The receiver/defender must come down with complete control and maintain control after hitting the ground. But all the other points were perfect, particularly Young’s knee on the lateral. It wouldn’t have taken another couple of plays to score from the 10. Big deal!
By greg
January 5, 2006 03:51 PM | Link to this
Other Mark; I would agree that I think USC had VERY little chance of stopping TX on the drive with the lateral play that should have been down. I’m certain they would have scored anyway. However, one thing it MAY have done was to leave a little less time for TX on their last drive. It would have created a little more of a challenge with even less time (since USC’s defense certainly didn’t challenge them).
By BoomerSooner
January 5, 2006 03:58 PM | Link to this
Oh my GOD. If I hear anymore about how the sec is SOOOO great I think I might go hang myself. The sec is full of mediocre teams, making the games close and everyone think that it’s a tough conference. I’ll admit you do have some fine teams but none deserved to be in the national championship. I predicted a WV win over UGA. Hell half the fans had no clue who they were playing until a few days before the game. When you think a game is going to be a walk in the park that’s when you get beat. Now on to the subject at hand. USC has always been overrated. True they beat my Sooners last year quite handidly but they aren’t as great as the media says. Hell they don’t even have a conference championship. I remember back in 2002/2003 when OU lost their conference championship how usc was all over whining. I seem to recall usc also had a loss that season. Wasn’t there a contract signed or some such that whomever the BCS chose as the champions the other polls would copy? Hence why LSU (a damn fine SEC team that year) has that season’s national championship. NOT usc. So three-peat my foot. They more or less just claimed it whining. Even though they play what number 4? I think Auburn and Utah should have done the same thing last year. But you know cocky usc wouldn’t have stood for that. On to this year. Being an OU fan, it was quite hard to root for Texas. Felt downright sacreligious. I predicted a Texas win. Wasn’t going to be a stunner. I’d seen usc play and I wasn’t impressed. As for VY being down during that touchdown toss, what about that “accidental” facemask penalty (looked like he was holding on for dear life). Or that blown interception call. And what about that push on the goal line during the Notre Dame game? Isn’t there a rule against that? Yeah I thought so. But the announcers were so for USC they were even joking about needing Bush in there to push Leinart for the first down. The game where Pete Carroll didn’t want replay used. Sounds like he knew it might be a close one. All in all I’d say that botched call more or less made up for all the stuff usc has gotten away with this year. As for the schedule difficulty? I think they should bring it back but would UGA be able to handle it? I still blame them for it not being used in the BCS rankings anymore.
Most overrated teams: Miami (who didn’t see them getting smacked?), Michigan, Florida State (I sure did enjoy the Geriatric Bowl though), USC and pretty much the entire Pac 10.
Thank God I don’t have to hear Lee Corso for a while. Good luck next year to all the teams (yes even the SEC).
By Other Mark
January 5, 2006 04:05 PM | Link to this
Greg - the only problem with that is that the TD was the first one and that was in the first half - so it wouldn’t have affected the time left in the second half. Neither defense was able to completely stop anyone until that last 4th down play and if White had not fumbled the ball on 3rd down for a yard loss, they probably would have made the 4th down play.
Great game and lived up to all the hype. We should just hope that the Super Bowl will be half as good.
By greg
January 5, 2006 05:17 PM | Link to this
BoomerSooner:
Are you for real? The “blown interception call” was overturned, remember? They got it right. Also, learn the rules. It is NOT against the rules to push a player with the ball forward (or push the entire pile)…that happens all the time. It is against the rules to grab around a player with the ball and carry them or advance them in that way. Other Mark…thanks for the first half correction.
By Joe Petitjean
January 5, 2006 05:49 PM | Link to this
The 2003-04 NC were LSU that lived of it’s defense in 2003 season and Matt Muck there QB WR Josh Reed and ruuing back JV If you would have put LSU vs. USC that for the NC USC would have lost the NC LSU had a balanced team in 2003…And you put that same 2003 LSU team vs Texas you would have seen a great game with LSU winning! To the 3 peat that ESPN said day in day out that USC would have done that…They better cout that 2003-04 LSU team who won the BCS NC… ESPN,SI and The Sporting News all do not like LSU so that why the 2003-04 LSU team still got the snub…From all of them.
By Boomer Sooner
January 5, 2006 06:36 PM | Link to this
The call where he intercepted landed then the ground caused the ball to come loose? No I believe they blew that one.