A funny thing occurred to me last night as I posted a take here about the latest in a string of "controversies" to threaten the reputation of USC Football ...

I'm getting tired of this crap.

Certainly, I understand it all comes with the territory. I know that unprecedented success on the field and on the recruiting trail, in a major metropolitan market with no NFL team, has created a "perfect storm" of heightened media attention and acute scrutiny of USC.

No doubt, I understand the fact that high-profile athletes and successful college sports programs are primary targets for muckraking journalists, jealous rivals and other gold-digging elements.

But this supposed residue of USC's college football greatness is starting to wear the Teflon of success a little too thin for my taste.

I know that Hershel Dennis and Mark Sanchez were exonerated of sexual assault. I know Rey Maualuga has taken anger management courses and did community service to pay for his outbursts during a tough time in his life. I know Dwayne Jarrett catching a break on rent from Matt Leinart's father was really a small issue in the overall scheme of things.

But after a while, this crap starts to become a burden.

Really, I understand that the NCAA won't come close to proving that USC knew or should have known anything about Reggie Bush and his idiotic family's dealings with crooked sports agents. I know that phone records will prove that Pete Carroll never set up a conference call between Bush and No. 1 recruit Joe McKnight.

But I have to ask ... when is this crap going to stop? However alleged, non-factual, inaccurate, unwarranted, and flat-out-stupid it might be ... is all of this completely out of our control?

Even if we can explain it all away with common sense scenarios, absence of fact, and third-party validation, we still have to acknowledge this crap and deal with it.

No doubt, I know that USC Football will emerge unscathed from all of this, and our national championship trophies are safe in Heritage Hall. I know there is every reason to believe that we will be adding more hardware to our historic collection.

But how many measured statements out of Tim Tessalone's crisis communications handbook do we have to hear on our way to another BCS bowl game? How much fuel do we have to give the haters across town and the inferiority-complexed southerners, while we defend another No. 1 ranking?

Don't get me wrong. I believe in our man Carroll. I believe in his unique approach and his player's-coach style and the evolved philosophy that has brought unprecedented success to USC Football. I believe in the Magic Tennis Book!

But, I also know that Carroll's stated mission is to "do things better than it's ever been done before." I know it's difficult, maybe even unrealistic. As Caroll has also said, "That stuff, it is kind of nasty. You just don't know where it's coming from and people are out to get you. It can get kind of hard."

But if USC Football is to get there, if we really do believe as true Trojans that we will do this better than it's ever been done before, we should acknowledge that perhaps we are falling short of that mission today.

It's a noble thing for Carroll to aim higher than mere mortals. And we embrace the opportunity and added responsibility to transcend the common pattern of other highly successful programs like Miami ... or Notre Dame ... or U.C.L.A. Really, no disrespect to other college programs -- again, it's tough -- but we think we can do better.

After all ... We Are SC! Now, more than ever, this should mean something to us.

So, rather than explain away these minor issues with our common sense and the reassurances of non-haters, perhaps it's time to ask our man Carroll -- however unfair it may be -- when will we stop having to deal with all this stuff in the first place?

Maybe it's time to tell him we're getting tired of this crap.

Fight On!

Came across a nice column yesterday on the Joe McKnight "situation" written by Mike Farrell of Rivals.com and the Sporting News. Farrell tells us, "Don't believe the rumors: Pete Carroll isn't cheating."

Sure, we know this already ... right? But it's nice to hear it from a supposed third-party recruiting expert. The interesting part is that Farrell calls out Les Miles for a statement the LSU coach made in which he exposes his jealousy and all but accuses his recruiting rivals of cheating.

So, perhaps there is something to Pete Carroll's assertion that those crazy mad LSU fans have it out for McKnight and USC Football. Did they really twist the kid's words, as Carroll has been quoted as saying? To be honest ... not really.

The video evidence is quite clear. McKnight did say what he was quoted as saying at his presser. We'll probably never know why he said what he said. Phone records supposedly show that there was, in fact, no conference call. In the end, it probably doesn't matter. But, I digress ...

What's the point? Farrell gets right to the bottom line ...

Again, we don't need someone like Farrell to tell us Carroll is just that good ... right? Let's just hope he knows what he's talking about.

Fight On!

As DC Trojan mentioned in a previous post, ESPN's "experts" put together the All-Time Greatest College Football Playoff, a chance for us to vote for the "greatest team ever" in a 32-team bracket format. Here's the hype:

This is cool, but the really great news for USC Football fans is that we have four chances to win: USC teams from 1932, '62, '72, and '04 made the "tournament." Oklahoma has the most with five. As for USC's rivals, ND has three, and alas, ugla has none.

Anyway, the first-round winners will be announced tonight, so get over to ESPN.com and vote. But before you do, we've put together a rundown of three of our four teams in the "tournament." We figure there's no need to review 2004, since we all saw it for ourselves, right? It's the three teams ending in "2" that we may have some trouble remembering. DC Trojan profiles 1932, Paragon SC takes on 1962, and I've got 1972. Enjoy ...

1932 USC National Champions

by DC Trojan

USC's 1932 National Championship team, known as the Thundering Herd, built on several years of success with Coach Howard Jones. Jones had come to USC in 1925 after Elmer "Gloomy Gus" Henderson was let go for failing to beat Cal for several years in a row and USC subsequently then failed to lure Knute Rockne west. Within a couple of years Howard Jones had the Trojans playing well enough to win the Pacific Coast Conference in 1928, narrowly missing a chance at the National Championship after going 9-0-1. It's worth noting that the Cal game in 1928 included some field "management" that makes the long grass in South Bend look like nothing at all:

In any case, 1931 was really the watershed year for the Thundering Herd, including the first win over Notre Dame in South Bend, which turned out to be also the first of three in a row, and which prompted 80,000 people to turn out to welcome the team home to Los Angeles. For the 1931 season, the team managed an overall record of 9-1-0, a Rose Bowl win over Tulane, and a National Championship.

In 1932, however, there were concerns as USC had to replace several standouts from the 1931 team who had graduated. Showing some considerable depth, the Thundering Herd took it up a notch on defense and was even more dominant against opponents, producing an unbeaten 10-0-0 season in which they scored 201 points and allowed only 13. The first five games were shut-outs, and it wasn't until the fourth quarter against Cal that USC gave up a touchdown. The Thundering Herd consoled themselves by pasting Oregon 33 - 0 during the next game, and then in a slight let-down only managed a 9 - 6 win over Washington. That was it for opponents scoring in the 1932 season; Notre Dame was held off to a score of 13 - 0, and a Rose Bowl win of 35 - 0 over Pittsburgh brought USC the National Championship.

Incidentally, the last member of that 1932 Thundering Herd team passed away only last month: Larry Stevens was a guard on the 1931 and 1932 teams, and died on November 29, 2006, in Sacramento.

(Note: This is based on several articles from College Football Historical Society Newsletters at the Amateur Athletic foundation homepage, principally by Ray Schmidt in 1989, and Joe Marvin in 1992, and the USC 2006 Media Guide.)

1962 USC National Champions

by Paragon SC

1962 was Head Coach John McKay's third year at USC as they began the year unranked. Team Captains were Marv Marinovich and Ben Wilson. USC ran the "I" formation, adopted by Coach McKay with tailback Willie Brown, fullback Ben Wilson.

This was the year that was considered the "breakthrough" year for Coach McKay. Recruiting was the key to his success in '62. (Gee, where have we heard that before?) He also "borrowed" the Arkansas defensive scheme from his good friend Frank Broyles. With speed on both sides of the ball and two great QB's in Pete Beathard and Bill Nelsen, as well as wide receiver Hal Bedsole, a big man (6-5, 220), who could fly. SC would become a formidable force that year. McKay revolutionized the game when he adopted the "I" formation; he had the tailback stand up in backfield ~ 7 yards deep, so he could scan the defense. He moved Willie Brown from flanker to the backfield.

The Trojans started out the season by beating 8th ranked Duke 14-7 moving to 9th in the polls. They had shutouts of Iowa, 7-0 on the road, Washington, 14-0 at the Coliseum and ND 25-0 also at the Coliseum. They also beat UCLA 14-3. In 1962 they beat three ranked teams, #8 Duke, #9 Washington and #2 Wisconsin (Rose Bowl). In 10 regular season games USC outscored the opposition 219-55 and held eight opponents to seven points or less.

From the USC Media Guide:

More on the Rose Bowl:
USC beat Wisconsin 42-37 in the Rose Bowl, a classic game as USC was up big, sat on the ball, Wisconsin came back but USC held on. USC had a 42-14 lead in John McKay's Rose Bowl debut, Pete Beathard threw 4 TD's. Wisconsin scored 23 points in the fourth quarter, 11 Rose Bowl records were broken, and comeback led by Ron VanderKelen who hit 33 of 48 passes for 401 yards. Rose Bowl against Wisconsin was one of USC's six all-time "one versus two" appearances. It was USC's first title since the '39 team, and it started a dynasty of sorts. From 1962 to 1981, USC won 5 national titles, played in 11 Rose Bowls, collected four Heisman Trophies.

Miscellaneous Stats:

Team rushing totals:
509 carries, 1997 yards, 3.92 YPC, 19 TD's

Team passing totals:
91/197 (.462) 1644 yards, 18 TD/3 INT.
331 yards of total offense/game, 37 TD's.

One weakness that didn't matter: USC kicked just one field goal that year, only connected on 22 of 28 extra-point tries, and were successful on just 3 of 10 2-extra point tries.

Rush defense: 460 carries/1401 yards, 3.0 average, 8 TD's, 127.4 yards/game

Pass defense: 133/249 (.534), 4 TD/22 INT, 1461 yards, 132.8 yards/game, 90.33 efficiency

rating

Total defense: 260 yards/game, 12 TD's, 8.4 Points/game allowed.

Post-season awards:

Coach McKay was named coach of the year by the American Football Coaches Association and Football Writers Association of America.

All-Americans: End Hal Bedsole, linebacker Damon Bame.

All-Conference: Bedsole, tackle Gary Kirner, Bame, quarterback Pete Beathard, halfback Willie Brown.

Also of note: This was all done BEFORE the debut of Mike Garrett. This title was won without any of the great Heisman winners that were to come and it no question did a lot to convince a number of future greats to come to SC.

(Note: A big Thank You to CFR in tracking down this data for the post.)

1972 USC National Champions

by Displaced Trojan

Four years ago, ESPN's Page 2 ranked the 1972 USC Trojans as the second best college football team of all-time, just behind Nebraska's 1971 Cornhuskers. Said the "world wide leader":

Of course, this was written before USC's "Leave No Doubt Tour" of 2004, but we know Keith Jackson is right! Not only were the '72 Trojans the unanimous No. 1 in both polls, but USC's strength of schedule and the dominance it displayed in plowing through its opponents was astounding, if not unprecedented.

The `72 Trojans beat their 12 opponents by an average of almost 28 points per game. Their schedule included six ranked teams -- No. 4 Nebraska, No. 15 Stanford, No. 18 Washington, No. 14 UCLA, No. 10 Notre Dame, and No. 3 Ohio State -- which USC beat by an average of 20.2 points per game. And, as ESPN pointed out, the '72 Trojans capped the season with a 25-point victory over the Buckeyes in the Rose Bowl.

In terms of pure talent, '72 USC also had five first-team All-Americans: linebacker Richard Wood, fullback Sam "Bam" Cunningham, offensive tackle Pete Adams, defensive tackle John Grant, and consensus pick at tight end Charlie Young. In addition, 10 seniors were taken in the 1973 NFL draft, including three first-round selections: Young, Cunningham, and Adams.

But that's just the seniors. The '72 underclassmen included future All-American (not to mention NFL Hall-of-Famer) Lynn Swann, who was a junior that year, as well two standout sophomores: USC legend and "Irish" killer Anthony Davis and Wood, the Trojans' first three-time, first-team All-American.

No doubt about it. Keith Jackson knows what he's talking about. Then again, there's 2004 ...

It's game day. Time to take the gloves off ...

As a USC Trojan there are many things to hate about the Domers. Each of us has our personal favorites, but virtually all of the specific things we hate about ND point to one thing in particular: the "Irish" holier-than-thou self-righteousness.

It wouldn't be so bad if the origins of this smugness were based only in football. Certainly, there is a lot to make ND feel competent in terms tradition on the gridiron. The football part of it deserves some respect, if for no other reason than our victories over the "Irish" help to propel USC's national status. But it's the other element of ND Nation that fully deserves our hate.

You know what I'm talking about ... the self-absorbed arrogance, the pious ethics by convenience and the blind hypocrisy that make "Irish" fans believe that ND is "God's Team." It's sickening, really.

Having benefited from the freedom of thought that comes from a non-denominational education at USC, Trojan alumni recognize and understand the psychology of ND's self-importance, duplicity and belief system that fuel its holier-than-thou attitude.

We understand how a smug institutional philosophy enables fans to think that God plays favorites on the gridiron. We understand how "Irish" pomposity can beget the pseudo-ethics that result in miraculous "100 percent" graduation rates year after year. We understand how ND's belief system, pervasive in other institutions throughout the U.S., can create a national following of vulgar "Irish" "fans" who don't respect the game of college football and couldn't identify South Bend on a map. (Please heed a language warning on these last two links.)

All this, as we already know, fuels the Domer Hype Machine, the subway alumni and the east coast bias that help to perpetuate the belief that ND is pre-ordained to win football games.

USC Trojans understand all this, and we see it for what it is ...

We see Charlie Weis saying stupid stuff.

We see ND losing to Michigan at home by 26 and to Ohio State by 14 after preparing for more than a month.

We see Tyrone Willingham getting fired three years into a five year contract, while Weis gets a 10-year extension after seven games ... with a 5-2 record, no less.

We see the "Irish" losing their last eight bowl games to produce an all-time losing record in bowl appearances at 13-14.

We see ND pretending that NCAA violations and criminal activity never happen in its glass house.

And the list goes on and on and on ...

It is true that USC is not perfect, but we don't claim to be or act like we are. We aren't pompous, arrogant or sanctimonious enough to be that hypocritical. We aren't stupid enough to insult our own intelligence or fool ourselves into believing half-truths. In other words, USC doesn't have a holier-than-thou attitude.

Notre Dame on the other hand ... well, this is where we profess our respect for the history and tradition of our inter-sectional rivalry and wish the "Irish" a good game.

Then again, ND stands between USC and a berth in the national championship game, which is more than enough reason to call out the "Irish" for all their self-righteous holier-than-thou smugness ... and simply let the hate flow.

Fight On! Beat the "Irish"! .

Rather than go through a clich?d list of things to be thankful for today, we post to you this story, which gives thanks for Notre Dame. That's right, ND, because our hate for the "Irish" strengthens our resolve to win Saturday and brings us all closer together as a Trojan Family ...

The fact is, despite all the fun and games we have here and at The Displaced Trojan, I have much respect for Notre Dame football. One of the best experiences I've ever had as a USC alum and college football fan happened in South Bend. No, it wasn't last year's epic game ... long grass ... fourth and nine ... Bush Push. Sure, that was a classic. And for anyone who was there, it was a special privilege.

But the most fun I've ever had at a USC away game happened not one, but three years ago during my first trip to Notre Dame Stadium. I've been to our Rose Bowls and Orange Bowls. I've been to USC games all over the Pac-10. I've been to the Yale Bowl and other "historic" venues, too. And, of course, the Los Angeles Coliseum is our home and No. 1 in my heart by any criteria. But, something about Notre Dame Stadium is special, and as a Trojan, I have no problem saying so.

A lot has happened since the 2003 season. USC has won two national championships, two Heisman Trophies, and 41 games, to rattle off the obvious. But for USC fans without pre-ordained tickets to away games, perhaps the most important thing that's happened is the increasing rarity of available tickets on site.

My buddy and I found this out three years ago. Like a lot of fans, we'd gone to many games without tickets, walked around the stadium with two fingers up, and found someone willing to unload a pair together. Simple and easy. In South Bend in '03 ... not so much.

With about 30-minutes before kick-off, when most available tickets usually start to emerge from scalpers, we were panicked to find ourselves wandering outside the stadium amongst what seemed like hundreds of other people with fingers in the air.

Luckily, we had a tailgating friend with mixed loyalties who happened to have a block of ND season tickets with him. He suggested that since the design on the tickets for each game looked very similar, maybe we could get in using two of his ND-Florida State tickets by passing them off as a pair for USC. "What?" I thought. But we were desperate, so we gave it a shot.

Sure enough, it worked ... sort of. As we walked up to the gate, clad in our full USC game day gear (that is sweatshirts and hats, no face paint), we were met with a smile by a very nice man who looked like he'd come straight from the set of a Bartles & Jaymes commercial from back in the day.

"Welcome to South Bend!" he said, as he glanced at our Florida State tickets and let us through the turnstile. "You guys are wearing the wrong colors," he added with a grin. "It's gonna be a great game, don't you think?" We nodded and smiled and walked on through.

Maybe it was our stress and panic that was just released as we strolled in, maybe it was guilt for having duped such a nice man, but at that moment, as we made our way in to view the field, a tremendous sense of "right with the world" warmth came over us. There was a sense of history and tradition and a kind of pageantry with purpose that was something to be appreciated. It was indeed the perfect place for a college football game, and my buddy and I understood. The clear sunny skies and temperature in the high 60s didn't hurt either.

Our seats were great, too. On the five-yard line across from the press box about 10 rows up. So, we sat down to enjoy the game ... until the people who were supposed to sit in our seats showed up. "Doh!" (Why didn't our friend who gave us the FSU tickets not have corresponding USC tickets with the same seats? Why the hell didn't we try to sit somewhere else, thinking that somebody, somewhere laid claim to the seats? I don't know.)

We tried to play dumb with the usher, who had to look at our tickets three times for 10 seconds before he read "Florida State" on them. He took us back to the gate and kicked us out, but not before apologizing to us: "I'm really sorry about this, guys. These tickets are kind of confusing, huh? Have a great day!"

At this point, we were sunk and obviously more desperate than before. Still, I felt the glow of South Bend in my heart, and I had a sense that something good could still come out of the day. So, my buddy and I came up with another plan.

Faking as if our "wives" required us to leave the stadium to fetch something very, very important from the car, we scouted out the ticket takers and targeted the oldest, kindest looking man we could find. We went up to him, five minutes before game time, and said something like:

"We're very, very sorry but we already went to our seats but my wife made us go back to the car to get something very, very important for her and we forgot our tickets with our wives at our seats and we know there are rules about re-entry into the stadium and all but we made a mistake. Is there any way you can let us back in? We came all this way and like we said we have tickets ..."

To this, the kind, old ticket taker said: "Oh, you know I'm not supposed to do this, but you look like nice young men. Enjoy the game fellas. Welcome to Notre Dame!"

(Really, this is a true story.) So, my buddy and I went back into the stadium. But this time, having learned our lesson, we headed to the newer, upper part of the stands with less-defined bleacher seating. And, we did indeed enjoy the game ...

It was a 45-14 route that included four TDs and 351 yards passing from Matt Leinart, scoring catches from Mike Williams and Keary Colbert, and one of the first displays of greatness by Reggie Bush, who ran for a scorching, ankle-breaking 58-yard touchown.

It was great fun, meeting my buddy in South Bend to see our Trojans trounce ND in the shadow of Touchdown Jesus. Thanks to some quick thinking, a little bit of chicanery (albeit borne out of desperation), and the warm kind hearts of some nice old ticket takers, we were able to enjoy it all. We remain indebted to the Football Gods and with much respect for South Bend and Notre Dame.

However, let's not get carried away here. The fact remains that Charlie Weis is a fat guy who says lots of stupid stuff. The Domer Hype Machine is a primary element of the Axis of East Coast Bias. And, our "anonymous" friend is, in fact, an idiot.

Happy Thanksgiving!

Fight On! .

Very sad news from Michigan today as the Wolverines prepare for this year's "Game of the Millennium." Bo Schembechler, the iconic Michigan head coach from 1969 to 1989, died last night after taping a television segment about tomorrow's Michigan-Ohio State game.

Wow! Talk about your ultimate motivation tactics.

Seriously, by all accounts Schembechler was not only a legendary coach in the Midwest, but a good man. We'll let the coming deluge of traditional media coverage provide the details. But as a life-long USC fan and alum, there are at least two memories of Schembechler that come to mind whenever I hear his name.

The first is a video of Schembechler celebrating a win with his team in the locker room. He was fired up as he told his team that they fought like men. Then he led them in singing what he proudly called "the greatest fight song ever written!"

What's striking is that he wasn't just saying this stuff to inspire his team, it was in his blood. I wish I could find a clip of that scene online somewhere, because it really captures the passion and love Schembechler had for his players and his school.

The second thing that comes to mind is a memory from the 1990 Rose Bowl, Schembechler's last game as head coach. As we know USC beat the Wolverines 17-10. I was at that game and remember feeling so relieved that USC finally won a Rose Bowl after losing the previous two.

Ricky Ervins' 14-yard run was brilliant, but I think Todd Marinovich's performance - besides a talent-laden defense that included Mark Carrier and Junior Seau - actually won the game for us. That night I could have never guessed that USC Football would suffer through 12 years of mediocrity (save 1995 and Keyshawn Johnson), before our man Carroll resurrected the program. But I digress ...

Immediately after that `90 Rose Bowl, one of Schembechler's players was crying during an interview, not so much because Michigan lost the game, but because he knew he wouldn't be coached by Schembechler again.

Even as I enjoyed our Rose Bowl victory, I felt for the player and appreciated how much love and respect Shembechler's players had for him. That more than anything tells us how much Schembechler meant to this sport we all love and how much Michigan fans will miss him.

Fight On!

As we've established previously, I don't know squat about basketball. Frankly, I'm proud to admit it, even if some people give me a hard time. USC has no significant history or heritage of success in basketball, so why as a true and honest Trojan would I, or any other USC fan, give one hoot about hoops?

When it comes to intercollegiate athletics, USC is a football school. Sure we have great history in baseball, track, volleyball ... but football is king.

Admittedly, I am a bandwagoneer when it comes to Trojan round ball or anything non-football. But when the Galen Center opened last month, I was at least somewhat excited because the new offices and locker rooms there mean that there is now more room for the football team in Heritage Hall.

Then, I hear that fat guy we hired to coach our basketball team (who by the way, seems to have lost a lot of weight and picked up a slight southern accent) says that the Galen Center will bring us a national championship. Even I know we're a long way from that ... right?

Apparently, not so much. This because some kid named O.J. Mayo, who wears No. 32, wants to come play in the Galen Center and take USC to the promised land. He thinks he can do for USC basketball what Patrick Ewing did for Georgetown back in the day.

This sounds well and good, but I can't help but remain skeptical. Does this Mayo kid realize that Patrick Ewing built the Georgetown program over the entire four years of his eligibility, including an Olympic gold medal in between? Apparently not, since Mayo is supposedly "one and done."

I have to ask: Is this how we're supposed to build a basketball program? It feels kind of cheap to me.

Again, I don't know jack about hoops, but I'll believe the hype about this young man when I see it. (I use the term "young man" loosely because I have seen video of him, and he looks like a 30-year-old.)

In the meantime, we've got USC Football and all the history and heritage that goes with it ... especially on Thursdays.

Fight On! Beat the Bears! .

I don't mean to pick on just one kid, let alone one subject matter here, but DeSean Jackson is like a blogger's gift that keeps on giving, and it's a lot of fun reading the stupid stuff he says.

Besides, two of Jackson's former high school teammates and current Trojans, Vincent Joseph and Travon Patterson, say that Jackson is prone to psych games. "If you get in his head you can get him," said Patterson. Of course, we know Jackson doesn't read this blog (probably), but it's fun nonetheless.

Anyway, just so it doesn't look like we're DeSean Jackson obsessed here, I posted more comments on his latest spew over at The Displaced Trojan.

Now, on to other stuff ...

Out here on the east coast, all the hype is becoming unbearable if you're not a Jersey State Rutgers fan. Actually, it's getting downright insulting if you're a Cal fan.

Apparently, a writer named Tom Luicci of the New Jersey Star-Ledger has it in for Lee Corso, and in letting us know this, he inadvertently insults the Bears.

Cal is "the Rutgers of the West"? LOL. We've taken our shots at the Bears, but we could never go that far! As for the Domer comparison, we'll let that go for now.

A more measured take on Jersey State Rutgers comes from "Hawaii" on what appears to be some sort of Keith Olbermann fan blog. (Huh? That's right, a blog for Olbermann fans.) Anyway, according this "Hawaii," Olberman thinks that "New Yorkers are willing to take any winner in the `neighborhood.'"

Of course, we know what Olbermann is talking about, since there hasn't been a college football game of any significance in New York for 60 years. The result being idiots throughout the Tri-State region taking a ride on the proverbial "subway" to South Bend.

Normally, this would be a perfect segue to engage in some good-natured "Irish" bashing. But we can wait a week for that. First things first ...

Beat the Bears! .

First things first.  Thanks to Paragon SC for inviting me to fill in as a "guest blogger" here this week, along with DC Trojan.  It feels like a step up in class, as if this Displaced Trojan isn't so displaced anymore.  Of course, Paragon SC also lives on the east coast ... and come to think of it, so does DC Trojan.  Go figure.  But, I digress ...

Like most fans, I love it when a kid on the opposing team can't keep his mouth shut.  As luck would have it, there is a Cal Bear coming to the Coliseum this Saturday who is willing to play along.

His name is DeSean Jackson, a one-time USC recruit who is the second coming of Ted Ginn, Jr. or a second-rate Reggie Bush, however you want to look at it.  Either way, he's fast and quick and dangerous on a college football field.  He's also cocky and perhaps not too bright, which makes him a perfect target for a USC blog.

No sooner do we call him out for hot-dogging during Cal's loss to Arizona last Saturday than Jackson lets his mouth run about his self-proclaimed "homecoming" to play USC.

Sure, Jackson performed well against Zona, but my biased point of view says he was looking ahead to USC like the rest of the Cal football program and their local media.  On the other hand, it's possible that Cal lost because of its uniforms, according to Jackson:

Again, Jackson is fast and quick, but apparently he is faster and quicker in blue pants.  Or is he more "weird" in white pants?  Like we said, perhaps Jackson isn't too bright.  

Of course, it won't matter to USC's defensive secondary and special teams.  Jackson will be marked regardless of what color pants he's wearing.  And, with his advanced warning, we'll see what kind of "show" he puts on for his "hometown."

Beat the Bears!