SB Nation User Blog: Zoulou

T.J. Simers Nails It: Play Tressel Ball

Zoulou — Wed, 23 Sep 2009 03:25:34 -0000

In an article that is typically Simers, he begins with his trademark schtick -- pestering people, this time picking on Tesselone and Carroll regarding Mitch Mustain's disappearance at the bottom of the depth chart -- but he ends with a very astute analysis of USC's fortunes this year:

A year ago he had Mark Sanchez at quarterback, thereby allowing the Trojans a chance to rebound. This time around he's going to have to develop Barkley, a project he relishes, but one fraught with up-and-down results.

Carroll is going to have to coach these games like an NFL head coach, and that's scary given his record up there.

He's going to have to run the ball, hold on to it, play field position, rely on defense, keep it close and win in the fourth quarter against the likes of Cal, Oregon State, Notre Dame, Arizona State and Oregon. It comes down to the quarterback, always does.

And maybe the kid wins three or four out of five, good enough for any team, but USC.

Sorry, it's "Tell the Truth Monday," as you know.

Yep, USC is going to have to play Tressel Ball, minus competent punting.

T.J. Simers: The Truth is Out There for USC Fans, If They Can Handle It.

SHOCKING: Corp Enjoys the Company of Sorority Girls

Zoulou — Wed, 23 Sep 2009 00:44:36 -0000

The Bleacher Report is shocked (Shocked I tell you!) that Aaron Corp not only performed dismally at Husky Stadium, but that he also failed to perform afterward the requisite penance.

Seems that after the game, back in Los Angeles, and according to a few sorority girls, Corp was allegedly having a good ole time and boozin' it up with a few pretty young things.

Meh.

First, like a commenter on the Bleacher Report noted, never believe a Sorority Girl. Good rule of thumb to follow. And trust me kids, this applies through menopause.

But most importantly, who cares.

Listen, if I crapped in my pants on national TV, and if I were Aaron Corp and I had access to some fine USC Sorority Girl talent, I'd booze and fornicate myself into a coma. The last thing I'd want to have is any recollection whatsoever of that game.

This also reminds my of an apocryphal story told about Miles Davis. Apparently, as the actress Cicely Tyson was helping Miles emerge from his decade long heroin addiction, she came across a closet jam-packed with awards. Miles chuckled and said "See all these awards? They're from having a bad memory."

I'm a big believer in that philosophy. Don't rest on your laurels, and don't obsess on your failures. Move on. Move forward. If keg stands with the girls from Delta Gamma assists in that process, go for it.

But crap in the bed against Wazzou? I'll expect a little more serious self-reflection.

If You Still Thought Corp Had a Chance

Zoulou — Tue, 22 Sep 2009 18:32:57 -0000

Bumped...I don't think there is any doubt now...P

This quote, from the OC Register blog, throws cold water on that idea:

He struggled with anything down field,” Carroll said of Corp, who completed 13 of 22 passes for 110 yards with one interception. “We were very fortunate that we didn’t throw three or four more picks. There were three or four more (interceptions) there for (Washington to take).

I can't remember PC ever throwing a QB under the bus so quickly and aggressively. Ever. He backed Carson Palmer in 2001 when fans were booing him, and he vehemently defended JDB through broken fingers and game-killing interceptions. I can't remember PC ever being so critical of a single performance from a QB.

While Carroll's just saying what a lot of people have been writing (that Corp's lucky to have thrown just one pick), I'm not sure what, if anything, Pete is trying to accomplish. Pete is usually Mr. Positive Spin. Is he sending message that if Corp wants to see meaningful playing time, he should transfer. Is he trying to light a fire under Corp? Since Corp is allegedly so sensitive that the failure to name him the starter earlier in the week is considered a factor in his dismal performance, I'm not sure what's going on. He sure ain't confidence building.

Which also begs the question: If the coaches have little confidence in Corp, then why not give Mustain a shot?