1. Pizza, washed down with generous amounts of beer.

2. 12:14am ET. I'm in the Mountain TZ so I'll have a chance at seeing the end.

My Dad's famous macaroni salad. Last time I'll be watching the game with him as he is moving up to Ferndale in about one month. Life will be strange going forward.

Hook em horns. Please let this be as great a game as the Orange bowl was a crappy game. Later

1. Pizza. Must go buy the ingredients.

2. 9:32 pm PST.

3 - You have to go buy a phone?

Game?

I was going to make the pizza on a Boboli crust.

1. Ribs
2. 9:04 p.m. PST

What about predictions?
USC 34, UT 23 and covers the spread. SC has been there before and Carroll comes up with the scheme to stop Young.

And I am a ND fan.

By the way, love the Seo trade

7 - It's funny how asking for final score predictions didn't occur to me. But hey, I'm up for adding such a novel concept.

Food? Probably a run over to taco bell at half-time.

What time the game will end? 2AM

Predictions: USC wins 95-92 in the 29th OT. NCAA rules state that in the 29th overtime teams must draw a card out of a deck of 52 playing cards, team with the highest card wins. Lienart pulls a 7 of Clubs and Young pulls a 4 of Hearts, sending throngs of USC fans onto the field in celebration of their record 3rd straight Natl Title.

Serious prediction??: USC 35 - Texas 28

vr, Xei

My prediction: USC 35, Texas 28

I think it will end around 9:15 p.m. with post-game going until 10:00 p.m. PST.

I will be enjoying the game over a juicy steak my wife and I bought just for the game.

1) Just ordered 100 wings from hoagies and wings, and JOhnnies pizza

2) 9:14 pst

3) USC 45 - Texas 24

9 - LOL

1) Hopefully not too much

2) 9:58 although if you are driving home from the Rose Bowl you won't be home before 12:00 am no matter where you live.

3) USC 48-31

1. All of a sudden, Pizza sounds great. Pizza and Sierra Nevada, Celebration Ale.

2. 8:42 Pacific time

3. 42-17 SC (28-14 at halftime)

9 - Xei, is your serious prediction based on any college football simulations? :)

8 - Jon, what say you?

3 - Is Bob rooting for UT as an anti-SC fan, or SC as a Pac10 fan?

Personally, I don't care one way or the other who wins.

My girlfriend sitting over at the Rose Bowl in her USC gear may have a different opinion.

I just would like to see a Rose Bowl as exciting as the 2005 version.

I'm heading home soon for the game soon. I live close to the Rose Bowl, so I need to take a weird route to avoid traffic. Oddly enough, I probably won't make anything to eat other then a chicken sandwich tonight.

My prediction: USC 42 Texas 20. Texas turns the ball over at least 3 times.

Marty, just a chicken sandwich? We have come to expect more. I believe asparagus are in season:-) (Let's not start that again! I haven't gotten my Best of. . . yet, but I doubt the asparagus thread made the final cut. Although it was one of my favorites)

I'm just hoping for it to be competitive. 34-31 USC. My daughter just made an Oreo pie, so it looks like pie and coffee for the game. Am I allowed to bring up Coletti's latest move? Say it ain't Seo.

Fried rice bowl with scampi and shrimp from Pei Wei (also washed down with Sierra Nevada - thanks 14 for reminding me to pick some up on the way home)

10:06 PST

Texas 21 USC 17

As a PAC10, ASU not USC fan, I'd rather see USC win, but it just doesn't look that way to me. UT just looks too physical.

15 - Ah, heck, I don't know. I'll say USC 29, Texas 28 just so my hat's in the ring, 9:21 p.m., and my wife is currently deciding for us between spaghetti and meatballs or fast food.

Until about an hour ago, I thought I was going to be working late through the game.

I'd be happy if one of the teams ends up with 5 or 11.

I would also state that right now the weather in the Pasadena area is PERFECT. It's in the low 70s and I think there will be enough cloud cover tonight to keep it from getting too cold once the sun goes down.

It's not as good as starting the game around 2 and finishing just after sunset, which is the most dramatic view in sports. Especially if you are sitting in the south end zone and have a good view of the San Gabriels.

I guess it's on topic to say that Lynn Swann declared his candidacy for governor of Pennsylvania today. He plans to run the state from along the north sideline, wearing a yellow blazer.

I picked SC by a touchdown over at my place:
http://www.linkmeister.com/blog/archives/001702.html

But I'll add that it's gonna be hot dogs and chips.

What's the PST game time? 5:00pm or 6:00pm?

"Brad, I can tell you this that the Pennsylvania economy may miss the second quarter with leg cramps and a sluggish manufacturing sector. But Pennsylvania team economists say that they are working to get the team ready for the second half."

The LA Times lists the kickoff as being 5:20 PST.

Figure that it will start around 5:30.

Sandra Day O'Connor will be the replay official tonight. Before she gives any ruling she will require Mack Brown or Pete Carroll to give her a writ of certiorari first.

From the official Rose Bowl guide:

"Please do not underestimate the time it takes to drive in and around the Los Angeles area."

If Penn State had only known that in 1923.

27 Ha! Better her than Alito!

Thanks. That means my guess for the ending time of the game will be 9:27PST.

2 - Um....what? Last night was an incredible game once both teams remembered how to score points.

1. Already ate dinner, burger + hot dog

2. 12:44 ET, sounds like 2 OTs to me...

3. USC 38 Texas 35

Did anybody else see ESPN Classic replaying the 2003 Fiesta Bowl this afternoon? Ohio State d. Miami in 2 OTs, what a great game that was! Let's hope we see another one!!

The air force jets just flew over my house...pretty cool

I can't imagine anyone doing play-by-play for this game other than Keith Jackson. He's almost the Vin Scully of college football.

I think this may be Keith's real last hurrah.

Popcorn and coke

12:30 am EST

I don't know, but I'm hunching that one of the teams catches fire and has 35 points by the half. How it ends I have no idea or thoughts.

USC hadn't had a 3 and out since the fourth quarter of the Fresno State game.

Not that it made much difference.

So far, so good. Let's see how they do on defense

Texas is definitely writing up a recipe for disaster in this game.

Well Bush just proved he's not perfect. What a stupid idea

How does Young do that? He looks too tall and slow to run as well as he does.

SC has made a couple of stupid plays. It should be 13 or 17-3. Hope it doesn't come back to haunt them.

7-3 when it could have been 14-0. Hopefully Bush will come back big from that mistake

Somebody let me know when the game starts. Though this warmup with Baylor and Stanford, complete with Mountain West officials, is pretty exciting too.

This must be the worst bowl season in history for PAT and FG kickers

The Yahoo box score doesn't know how to write up Texas' TD.

It should be "S. Young 11 lateral from V. Young (kick failed)"

Hmmm...my prediction is looking pretty silly. As are the Trojans

I think that TD is legitimate.

You mean the second one? 'Cause the first one certainly wasn't.

Only thing worse than the kickers is the officals

47
Yes, I was referring to the second one.

I think this game would have been more fun with Pac-10 refs. Because in addition to missing calls, they would have called 10 penalties on each side.

What the h** happened to running Lendale between the tackles as in the first quarter. All he was making was 8 yards a carry and a touchdown. Texas' speed appears to trump Bush'es as well as the passing game. I thought Carroll was famous for being able to make adjustments.

It's more fun to give up points, throw the ball around the field wantonly, hand the ball to the other team, and generally act like you're still playing the University of Arizona every week.

As a UCLA fan, I don't like playing Arizona every week.

I was going to say UCLA, but decided not to. I'm getting soft in my old age.

When USC played Arizona they just churned out yardage because they were always in bad field position. They had around 700 yards in that game.

As opposed to playing mighty Baylor, or Iowa State, or Kansas, every week.

Ahh, but Texas didn't face Iowa State this year! Texas beat Baylor and Kansas by a combined score of 138-14.

Well, it's a game again. As 50 said, just ram it up the middle until Texas proves they can stop it. Then you can air it out.

THAT'S WHAT I'M TALKIN' ABOUT!!!

That's not the issue. The issue is can USC get their massively ego-fueled noggins to fit into their helmets for one more half. That last drive was extraordinarily boring and effective. Pete Carroll, Reggie Bush and Matt Leinart might as well not even have been involved, which appears to be a good thing at this point.

Honorary Steve factoid:

USC (right now) is 4-0 alltime against Texas. The only other school to beat Texas more than once and have a perfect record against them is BYU, who is 2-0, with wins over Texas in 1987 and 1988.

Syracuse is 2-0-1 against Texas.

The only schools with more than one win against USC and a perfect record are Florida State, Kansas State and North Carolina, who are all 2-0.

Uh-oh. Sounds like somebody's mounting a psychological explanation of football results. Good thing there are extra cops in Pasadena tonight. Somebody put out an APB on a muscley, green librarian in ripped pants.

Ah...those heady days of the late '80s. When BYU could pass and when your knee was down, the referees actually stopped the play.

Apropos of nothing, Jon Stewart will be hosting the Oscars this year.

1987 - Texas 7-5, BYU 9-4
1988 - Texas 4-7, BYU 9-4

That reminds me. Moose Stubing was a WAC basketball official for a hundred years. Man, he was unpopular in Provo. Almost as unpopular as Jim Tracy.

SC needs to pull that time-honored M*A*S*H trick and inject the Texas QB with a drug.

wow! This is a great game. Vince Young is incredible. He looks like the best pro prospect at the moment, but I'm not sure how he'd do with that sidearm release in the NFL. L.White is saving USC's bacon. Texas is cutting through the USC defense like a knife thru butter. USC has to work on their drives quite a bit harder, but still scores. Reggie Bush's dumb lateral fumble was oh so costly. Great game, see ya later.
vr, Xei

Sitcom premises I hate:

1) "According to Jim" - Homely guy has hot-looking wife
2) "Emily's Reasons Why Not" - Hot-looking woman has trouble finding men

But I had the TV reference for Xeifrank!

You mean there is something on TV besides sports and sesame street? Like a knife thru butter! vr, Xei

By the way, if you haven't already noticed, Keith Jackson is doing a terrible job with the play by play. He called a bad extra point good and missed a bunch of other stuff. He then commented he is watching the game through binoculars. I have a better look, watching on TV than him. I think they need some younger eyes. vr, Xei

Xei is right, that ridiculous Bush lateral try is probably going to be the difference.

68- Sitcom premise I hate:

Unfunny show featuring characters that people like. Despite their not being funny. So they watch. Even though it isn't funny.

The exceptions to this format are outnumbered (fifty fold) by the adherents.

I would give Keith a break on the PAT. He is at a very poor vantage point to see if any kick is good. He just forgot to look at the refs. Dan Fouts didn't catch it either.

It was easy to see on TV because they were shooting from the end zone.

73 -- So, you hate Will and Grace too?

Did the Texas kicker transfer from Florida State or Penn State??? :) vr, Xei

See Keith got that call right. He looked at the refs.

The refs don't make the typical no good sign. They wave their arms chest high. Usually they do it around the waist. They look like they are making an illegal shift signal instead of a "no good" signal.

74. Keith also said Texas fumbled the ball on the lateral TD. vr, Xei

78

It was a fumble. And Bush's lateral was away from the press box. Jackson and Fouts caught it on the reverse angle.

There's a lot of stuff going on during a football play. I think Keith is doing fine.

75- Homophobe.

I really don't understand the SC play calling. They get a great momentum boost with the missed FG. They have a proven winner in Lendale up the middle and they try a trick reverse for a loss.

79. It was a fumble??? It was a lateral by Vince Young, the ball never hit the ground on the play. They did catch the instant replay of Vince's knee hitting the ground though.
vr, Xei

Pete Carroll needs a rest. Let's help him. Student Body Right on two. Hup!

75- It's actually much quicker to just list the sit-coms I don't hate. Curb Your Enthusiasm, The Simpsons (prior to last year; it's depressing to have out-lived the Simpsons' good years), and The Office (based on watching the Christmas episode, only). All the rest I either hate, or haven't watched.

USC is moving the ball 10 yards at a time, using all three downs to do so, unlike Texas who just moves the ball 20 yards at a time (it seems like). USC got a huge break from the missed Texas FG, they need to put some distance between them and Texas with another touchdown, as I don't have any confidence in the USC defense stopping Texas. vr, Xei

82
Oh that lateral play. Both Fouts and Jackson saw it on the replay and both suspected that something was wrong. Again, that play was on the far end from them.

They aren't misidentifying players. They haven't said anything incredibly dumb or obvious.

Add Scrubs, Earl, and AD. Meanwhile, America's "#1 Comedy" is Two and a Half Men. I thought it was Jeromy Burnitz playing in Pittsburgh, but no, it's Two and a Half Men.

86. I agree they've (Keith and Dan) have stepped it up in the 2nd half. They went in at half-time and studied the game film, and made the proper announcing adjustments. :)
Great game!!!! vr, Xei

Predictions:

MVP if USC wins: LenDale White
MVP if Texas wins: Hmm..... let me think ... David Pino!

I think Jackson is doing a fine job. Moreover, certian people get extra latitude. e.g. Vin, Chick, Jackson, Harry Carey, Enberg.

wow! vr, Xei

When Janet Jackson had her Super Bowl mishap, I was hoping the FCC would pull every CBS station license. Not because I cared, particularly, about the infraction, but just to get the CBS prime-time lineup off the air.

wow - now that's turning the corner...

Keith got that TD right before the replay

90. And Dick Clark. vr, Xei

They didn't review the lateral. They didn't review the interception that wasn't. They didn't even review the one where the USC guy went down then got four more yards and a first down. But they're reviewing this?

Number of times Dan Fouts has used the quiddich (or whatever) analogy this year: 2
Number of times I understood what he meant: 1

Texas is gonna have to start thinking about a 2 point conversion pretty soon. Not that a one point conversion is a sure thing for them.
vr, Xei

Not sure which of my two predictions will be more accurate. My 35-28 USC win in regulation. Or my 95-92 USC win in 29 overtimes. :) vr, Xei

Texas obviously would go for 2 on any TD now. Brown didn't do it in the third quarter because he feels that his team can score enough that he's not going to go for 2 unless he has to.

All SC needs is one stop, since it seems they can score on every possesion now.

Why would you do that kickoff when you've kicked the ball out of the end zone at will? Is the wind blowing that hard? vr, Xei

jasonungar05 said the game would end at 8:42. I think we can eliminate him.

Uh, that was a fumble. They are finally going to review it. vr, Xei

Referee: Why are you looking at us? It's not like we're paying attention.

Dodgerjoe had a final score of USC 34, Texas 23 and an ending time of 9:04.

He could be a prophet.

That kick-off was another fine example of NCAA kicking. Actually that is what I love about college football. Nothing is a given.

My non-baseball daughter is bugging me nonstop to say "hi" to all of you peeps (her words)

Wouldn't the NFL say the whistle (dropped ball) made the play dead? Terrible reviewing job (bias showing) vr, Xei

It takes real skill to not only be completely clueless and guess about the original play, then to look at it again and still get it wrong.

I knew having Sandra Day O'Connor as the replay official would cause problems.

109. After not reviewing Vince Youngs knee hitting the ground on the first Texas touchdown, I am not surprised by these bad instant replay officials. Instant replay officiating just ain't what it use to be.
vr, Xei

Does Texas kick a FG on 4th down? Better yet, can USC make it to a 4th down play?
vr, Xei

That was a good fake. I had no idea who had the ball. Hey, I could be a referee in this game.

I would go for it, if I were Texas.
vr, Xei

3 safeties and my prediction is right on. :)
I'm going to go out on a limb and say the next team that scores wins. vr, Xei

Dear Mr. Carroll,

Run. The. Ball.

116. Yeah, same thing he said. vr, Xei

I'll take a field goal. Come on SC, get another touchdown. March down the field.

I would say Reggie and Matt have pretty much been contained. Lendale on the otherhand.
vr, Xei

There's been only one punt in the second half.

imho, USC must score one more time to win this game. wow, nice run #37.
vr, Xei

isn't that the 2nd late hit by #40 on Texas?
vr, Xei

Leinart has been "contained" to just 305 passing yards.

Sweeeet!

123. I would say he has been contained, most of those yards passing were yards after the catch... until that one!!!!!!!!!! Containment has ended. G(USC)AME OVER!!!
vr, Xei

I wouldn't say game over so fast. If anyone can bust off a quick score its Vince Young

Leinart is 27 for 36 and 14 of 15 in the second half.

I'm very happy. But there is still plenty of time for me to work on my ulcer.

Where is the victory parade going to be?
vr, Xei

A victory parade? Maybe Disneyland, but maybe USC can close off Exposition or Figueroa for an hour or two. They can go from Staples Center to USC. They just need to drive really fast for a few blocks.

Sort of like the parade on "The Simpsons" that went through Bumtown.

I won't worry, unless Texas scores a touchdown on this drive and leaves more than 2:30 left on the clock, but two TDs is going to be a hual, even for Texas, especially the way USC is running the ball. Texas does have all it's timeouts left though. vr, Xei

Would be a nice time for an actual sack!
vr, Xei

Man, does Vince ever throw an incompletion?
vr, Xei

What! Me worry? vr, Xei

It's the nature of the Texas offense for Young to be accurate. He's not throwing too many high percentage passes and the spread offense does just that. It spreads out the defense and leaves lots of guys open underneath.

Texas used a timeout at the end of the third quarter to ice their own kicker.

Ok, no turnovers (yes you Reggie!), and give the ball to Lendale. If USC gets the ball past midfield they should win this game. Cancel that parade for now through Bumtown.
vr, Xei

Alright! Now it's a game again.

Kinda hoping my 38-35 is wrong though...and if Young had anywhere near the weapons that Leinart does, this would be a complete blowout.

We have two 9:14 guesses and a 9:15.

Tick-Tock-Tick-Tock.
vr, Xei

Stupid.

Huge 3rd down here. Game could hinge on this play. vr, Xei

Biggest play of the game right here

GO FOR IT PETE!

NOw you go for it Pete. Not in the 1st Q

White or Bush? I say Bush

Go for it??? The way they played at Notre Dame, I think they'd go for it. When it with your offense, instead of lose it with your defense. ??? tough call either way.
vr, Xei

Fake Punt!

But that second call down was ignorant. This game would be over if Carroll would get out of his own way.

!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

wow! didn't make it. This is gonna be a fun finish. I actually give the edge to Texas now. When is Texas' parade going to be? :)
vr, Xei

Why would you not have Bush on the field, at least as a decoy. Best player in the country and he is on the bench. That was Tracy-ish

I would say overtime is unlikely now.

Ok, time for the USC defense to step it up and play like men... or something like that.
vr, Xei

So what does Texas do on first down? Have Vince Young run twenty yards backwards!

Finally, some pressure on Young.
vr, Xei

Stupid penalty!!! The type of penalty that can cost you the game. vr, Xei

Stupid Stupid Stupid

Duh! Why even review this one?? vr, Xei

It's timeouts! Not times out!

Not sure USC deserves to win even if they do.

Another inoppertune replay.

Now they're reviewing this? Even when they are competent, they are incompetent. But Texas gets to set their offense.

So the refs just cost Texas about...10, 12 seconds there?

Just let Vince run the ball.
vr, Xei

Could use a sack or better yet a fumble.

How is Young so slippery? Hedoesn't look fast or powerful

Yuck! USC needs a turnover, or it's over.
vr, Xei

How in the world can a team have such a long winning streak with such an awful D?!?

In the CFL that is a TD

159
It's timeouts! Not times out!

Is it RBIs or RsBI?

We'll call this the "Pete Carroll Memorial Timeout"

With a timeout and a chance at stopping the clock with a first down. I'd keep letting Vince Young run the ball. He can make 8 yards with no problem given 2 or 3 attempts.
vr, Xei

Holy cow! 4th down. This is insane. Can't stand it. Can't take it. But i love it
vr, Xei

Oh well, one play. This is sort of like USC-Cal last year.

Can't let Young loose on this play

Like USC-Cal last year with a different ending that is.

GVYOUNG OVER! :(
vr, Xei

Say goodnight Gracie

Jon had 9:21 as the ending time.

sweetness!

That one play that the refs didn't review when Young was down and lateralled the ball really comes into play now. vr, Xei

USC needs to intercept the 2-point try and run it back.

180 - although USC has shown no ability to stop Texas. gotta believe they would have scored anyways. and probably made the extra point on top of it...

Oh my. It was a great run. You have to eat a bitter defeat every once in awhile. Congratulations to Vince Young and Texas.

I knew it. The last, fatal mistake that Carroll made, IMO, well, was two. Passing on second down, going for it on 4th. Sure do agree with 167.

You can add a few million to Young's NFL contract after this game.

So what kind of kickoff do you attempt if you are Texas? Squib?? Kick it to Bush deep?
vr, Xei

557 yards for Texas.

A paltry 533 for USC.

Was that last timeout burning a hole in Pete Carroll's pocket or what?

One pass to get in FG range, perhaps two?
vr, Xei

Soooo when do we get to analyze just how far down in the draft Bush and Leinart drop after this game?

Pretty sure we all know who the #1 will be now...is the David Carr Era in Houston over?

188
That was a call-out to his main man, Mike Martz.

187. A real defensive showdown

Interesting if they get another 15 yards here.
vr, Xei

All good things must come to and end. Atleast LA has the Lakers, Clippers and Dodgers to look forward to. Do all bad things also come to and end? vr, Xei

With the last completion, USC ended up with 560 yards.

That was completely, totally, and unceasingly deserved. The hubris that USC came out with was possibly matched only by Napoleon at Waterloo.

too bad they didn't have that last timeout. made no sense whatsoever to call it on the 2 pt play there at the end.

Jon wins the time of game contest with his 9:21 missing by just 3 minutes.

Vince Young seems like a class act, from what little I've seen of himi (i.e. part of the 2nd half of tonight's game). No showboating or celebrating his big plays. I appreciate that.

Kinda hard to coach those close games against actually talented teams.

do we still get to have a parade? Does Young decide to go pro now? or defer and take ballroom dancing and go for back to backs?
vr, Xei

Matt, still glad you stayed for this year? Cause now you're the third choice. . . if your lucky.

79 points in the Rose Bowl. Misses by one point the highest total in Rose Bowl history (Washington 46, Iowa 34 in 1991)

199. Yeah, good point. Actually all the top billed stars seemed like class acts, along with the two coaches. Nice to see such good sportsmanship from such great competitors. I think I'm going to cry now... either that or go to bed.
vr, Xei

204
Or kill two birds with one stone by crying yourself to sleep.

Texas is the second school not in the Big 10 or Pac-10 to win two straight Rose Bowls. Alabama won in 1926 and 1927 against Washington and Stanford.

There's an actual defensive player of the game? I think that award should go to the clock operator. vr, Xei

Why does everyone keep talking about going for it on fourth with 2:00 to go? That was at least defensible. Had they not given up three points in the first quarter going for it for...for...for...whatever reason you can come up with to justify complete stupidity, they would still be playing.

Yes but they would be playing that goofy college tiebreaker that makes Frank crazy:-)

Going for it in the fourth quarter was entirely the right call. USC gained 6.7 yards on each play of the game. If they make their average, the game is over.

The first quarter fourth down call was a communications mixup I think.

USC - 560 yards, 30 first downs, 206 rushing, 354 passing, 84 plays
Texas - 557 yards, 30 first downs, 290 rushing, 267 passing, 75 plays

208 To be fair, Texas balanced that one out with their own stupidity.

Can someone with more knowledge about football tell me who had the authority to call that last timeout?

USC had not lost a game in regulation since 9/21/2002 against Kansas State. They lost OT games to Washington State and Cal after that.

In college football, anyone on the field or a coach on the sidelines can call a timeout if they get the attention of an official.

211
After however many years of following a Martz-led Rams' team, that last timeout didn't phase me one bit. In fact, I was shocked to see a team that still had timeouts remaining that late in the game.

Timeouts are for closers.

To be precise, only the head coach can call a timeout from the sidelines.

I didn't see who called the timeout on the 2-point conversion. I imagine that Carroll told someone on the field to do it. Carroll probably didn't have the right personnel on the field. He would have had a hard time getting an official's attention down at the end of the field.

Thanks.

I have only one thing to say:

The eyes of Texas are upon you,
All the live long day.
The eyes of Texas are upon you,
You cannot get away.
Do not think you can escape them,
At night, or early in the morn'.
The eyes of Texas are upon you,
'Til Gabriel blows his horn!

It's big times for Eric. "Glory Road" comes out on January 13 too.

Ahh the NCAA Hoops tourney and then it baseball season. The only two remaining sporting events I care about.

221
Only 3 months until the Masters.

I think there were plenty of dumb plays to go around (especiall for USC).
1) Reggie Bush's lateral fumble.
2) Calling timeout on the 2 pt conversion.
3) The face mask on the 2nd to last Texas drive.
4) The screen pass call on the 2nd to last USC drive.
5) Going for it on 4th down in the 1st quarter.
6) USC not making any adjustments on defense in the 2nd half. No pressure on VY until the last drive when they were in the red zone, it seemed to be effective.
... and I'm sure there are many more I can't recall. The replay officials get a slap in the face from me for not reviewing the Vince Young knee down touchdown, but then reviewing the Texas fumble when the ball came out after the Texas player's knee hit the ground then his whole body was laying on the ground for about a second then the ball was stripped. I actually think the last 4th down call by Carroll (going for it) was the correct call. Not because they averaged 6.7 yards per play, as short yardage situations are a different beast altogether as Bob probably knows. But because the USC defense was unlikely to stop Texas no matter if USC punted or not and if USC did make the first down the game is most likely all over. I think you have to go for the win with your strength, rather than let the other team go for the win with their strength. Great game nonetheless.
ps - how was your homemade pizza Bob?
vr, Xei

Just got back from dropping off a buddy. We're still in shock, to be frank.

1) First quarter going for it on fourth down was communications mix-up. Carrol was on the sidelines screaming for a timeout; he wanted Leinart to try to draw the Longhorns offside, not go for it.

2) The lateral from one knee will not be as hotly debated as the fumble that wasn't.

3) I'm 42, FWIW, and that was the best individual performance I've ever seen. Vince Young can play some football.

4) The Trojans didn't act like Trojans. They acted like Greeks. See 196

5. What will the Times scribes be writing about tomorrow?

Hmm, diced tomatoes, capers, and smoked salmon.

Tasty ....

I'm hoping my alma mater will soon own the national championship in all three major sports. We've got baseball and football out of the way, and the Memphis game this past weekend gives me renewed hope for basketball.

I wonder if that's ever been done before?

Pretty easy to just communicate with the kicker standing next to you.

WOW!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
My wannabe Longhorn wife is giddy with delight and I'm just happy I saw one of the greatest big games in my life.

So, what kind of NFL QB will Vince Young be? He's definitely going to be one of the most atheletic QBs in the NFL when he does go Pro. The only question I have, is that he isn't going to be able to lineup in the shotgun all the time in the NFL. I didn't see him take any snaps from under the center the entire game, so the jury is still out on what kind of drop back passer he is. He seemed to be very accurate to within 20 yards down field, nothing spectacular beyond that. His running ability is amazing, but how would that translate in the NFL? Those linemen and linebackers in the NFL are big and fast, not like the college boys he faced, and he would open himself up to injury like Vick (I know he is stronger than MV) if he was a run first QB. But that kind of athelete doesn't come along too often, and any team in the top 2 or 3 would be crazy not to draft him.
vr, Xei

Deadspin has latched on to the Reggie Bush on the sidelines on 4th and 2 meme. There are plenty to choose from.

if matt leinart and reggie bush had a love child, it would be vince young.

seriously... he has the poise, moxie, leadership and accurracy of leinart combined with the game breaking ability, cutting on a dime action and game changing speed of bush.

amazing.

231. But can he do it without the shotgun?
vr, Xei

well right now, VY isnt the perfect nfl prospect. his downfield arm strength is questionable due to his throwing mechanics, and he is sort of running a gimmicky college offense.

but, you draft him, sit him for a yr behind a solid vet (TITANS, IM LOOKING AT YOU!), and he will be good to go.

Reggie Bush was not used in short yardage situations much by USC. That was White's resonsibility. And with the exception of one play, White got the job done.

Any cost/benefit analysis of going for it on fourth down in the fourth quarter in that situation and field position would dictate that Carroll made the right call. It just didn't work. This was not like having JD Drew bunt. This was like having the bases loaded with one out and Barry Bonds up and having Bonds ground into a DP.

231
he has the poise, moxie, leadership and accurracy of leinart

How "intangibles" of you, Purcey.

What Young did tonight is unbelievable but I am still unconvinved he can do it in the NFL. Watching him I still can't figure out how he does it. Not fast. Not Powerful. Yes, agile but that alone is not enough in the NFL. I stood next to him at the bowling alley this week and he is tall but not big. He is going to have to bulk up in the NFL which may slow him down.

In baseball terms he reminds me of a pitcher who lacks power but still sets them down.

re 235

im actually pretty big on the "intangibles" when it comes to football and basketball.

In baseball terms he reminds me of a pitcher who lacks power but still sets them down.

is VY the tom candiotti of football?

vince is 6'5 230+. i think hes plenty big.

Actual Leinart postgame quotes:

"This was a great win for us."
"I still think we're the better team."

The first quote was a flub on his part; the latter was presumably intentional.

leinarts being a sore loser.

although considering the losing aspect of competition is pretty new for him, he doesnt know how to react.

Schools with NCAA championships in football, basketball, and baseball:

Cal, Stanford, Michigan, Ohio State

Cal and Stanford have had long dry spells in football. Cal last won a national championship in football in 1922 and Stanford won one in 1926.

I actually meant owning all three championships at the same time. Which, from the brevity of the list in 240, I assume has not been done.

Nate, I am 6'5' and until recently was 235 lbs. I'm guessing VY is more like 6'4" 215-220. Plus it looks like most of that size is upper body strength. I just think some NFL linebacker is going to snap one of those skinny legs. I've been wrong so far about him, I'm sure he will continue to prove me wrong.

He's more than a junk ball pitcher.

I'm so proud to have won the gametime prediction. However, I got my food prediction wrong. I had McDonalds.

As far as I can tell, Pete Carroll has always had an aggressive 4th down strategy at USC. I was saying punt at the 2:00 mark, but liked that he went for it. Something tells me Vince would have gone 80 as easily as he went 60. I definitely had thoughts in my head comparing punting to bunting. USC gains two yards on either of the fourth down plays, it wins the game going away.

I'm not sure I understand the comments about people dropping down in the draft. Do you have to gain 400 yards in a national championship game to maintain your position? It wasn't Leinart and Bush's best game at all, but I don't see too many people doing better. And White, despite the fourth and short, looked great. Of course, USC's line looked great except for the fourth and shorts. Or fourths and short.

Both teams made mistakes, but both teams compensated with great plays. It was a great game, thanks to an exceptional second half.

USC outscored Texas 31-10 in the middle of the game but still lost.

I doubt many schools have won two of the three in the same year. USC looks to have pulled off the football-baseball double just once in the same year. They won the 1963 Rose Bowl over Wisconsin to go undefeated and then won the College World Series later in the year.

Miami has always been off by a year.

But I'm calculating the championships as starting in one school year and going to the end.

i am going watch some seo games from last year on mlbtv. he better impress.

Okay, I am embarrased to admit this but I am watching Celeb Fit Club on E and Kelly LeBrock is on. She is still pretty but my gosh she has gained alot of weight. She weighed in at 175 with a huge behind. Was this the thread where someone was asking how people can watch such insipid TV? I am guilty as charged.

240 - Ernie Nevers, Howie Dallmar and Paul Carey live!

Howie Dallmar was a starter on the 1942 basketball squad that won the NCAA title, then later coached. He was Director of Intramurals before, during and after my time at Stanford in the 1980s

Actually Ernie Nevers was gone by 1926. He was off in the NFL. The big star for the Indians then was an end named George Shipkey. In 2 Rose Bowls, he caught TWELVE passes.

Dwayne Jarrett caught TEN tonight.

Gone, but not forgotten.

If you look at the list of Stanford coaches, there are some big names on it:

Walter Camp
Hurry Up Yost
Pop Warner
Clark Shaughnessy (inventor of the T formation)
John Ralston
Bill Walsh

Actually it was TED Shipkey. For those members of the Ted Shipkey Marching and Chowder Society.

Maybe I'm not as high on Matt Leinart as everyone else. He's a good qb, who has some incredible teammates. Prediction: Leinart won't make the pro bowl more than once in the NFL. Carson Palmer is a much better qb.

USC has held the football and baseball titles simultaneously many times.

As Bob pointed out, USC won the football title in 1962 and the baseball title the following spring in 1963.

The Trojans won the national championship in football in 1967 and then won the baseball title in 1968.

SC then won the national championship in football in 1972 and 1974 and baseball for an unprecedented five straight years (1970-74).

They also pulled the double in 1978.

For a baseball site, this crew sure knows their football. The screen pass on 2nd and 7 with the clock moving at 2:27ish was by far the biggest play of the game. Keith and Dan didn't point it out, but I was shaking my head at the time. I logged onto this site after the game, and several people pointed it out as it was happening.

I have yet to hear a single "analyst" acknowledge that play. The two stooges on Cold Pizza this am, Skip and Woody, said the biggest play of the game was Vince Young's TD scramble on 4th and 5. And these people get paid an obscene amount of money for such insight. Sigh.

Put me in the "Vince Young won't be good in the NFL" camp. His arm is not NFL quality, at least he wasn't showing it last night. Of course, he could redefine the position in the NFL, (a Mike Vick 2.0). His completions were all underneath coverage, and went to wide open wide receivers. Put him in the NFL where LB's with his speed won't be missing those tackles, and his arm will be exposed, IMO.

That being said, that was the single greatest individual performance I've ever seen in a football game.

Vince Young will be Randall Cunningham mk 2, not Michael Vick mk 2.

255 - Maybe physically, but I think Vick and Young are both running backs that play QB. Cunnigham was a more accomplished passer.

Vick has not been a very good QB to this point, however his teams win so there is certainly something to be said for that. I'd take Vick and his marginal quarterbacking ability but stellar winning percentage, over Jeff George gunning the ball all over the place but winning 4 games a year. Just win baby.

240-244-253--

In 1944-45 Army (West Point) was the undefeated National Champion in Football

AND

Beat Japan and Germany in a World War.

Vince Young and Texas are great, but let's see them try to do that.

257- Can you imagine what a dynasty Texas (or SC, or anybody else) could found if they had the authority to draft any male U.S. citizen, 18-25? Maybe McCourt should cozy up to whoever runs the Selective Service. "Oh, I understand our offer wasn't to your liking, Mr. Hochevar? Well, you're really going to love this one. . ."

Football: Vince actually reminds me a lot more of Daunte Culpepper than anybody else, the size that makes him look like he isn't moving at all, and the power that prevents anybody from taking him down.

Baseball: The way he looks like he's just walking downfield, and all of a sudden he has picked up 20 yards; the way everybody knew that he'd be running on the last play and he went ahead and took it in anyways; sounds a lot like Pedro to me...