Many of you may know from some of my past threads starting in the winter of 2003, that often times I would refer to USC as a professional team playing in college uniforms. This past Orange Bowl did nothing to change that statement. That being said, the reason I have felt that way was not only the defensive schemes crafted by Pete Carroll, but in my opinion, equally important, the offensive play calling of Norm Chow. In watching his plays dissect other college teams, there were times that this team reminded me of the San Francisco Forty Niners when Bill Walsh was calling the plays and Joe Montana was executing in rhythm. No doubt, most of the talent is returning for the Trojans, but will the loss of Norm Chow cost them the National Championship this year?
Good question Ted - IMO talent will show in the end and USC has a ton of it. Losing Chow will hurt of course, but the playbook and the players themselves are not going anywhere. I expect Pete Carroll to appoint someone who will do the job and keep USC on top for another season. If you ask me the other teams chasing them are not showing any signifcant improvememt from last year to next. We pretty much know Oklahoma (or any of the big 12) can't play with USC, Auburn will be hard pressed to go undefeated again and the other usual suspects without going into team by team detail don't seem to impress at this early date.
wil.
wil.
Ted, my kindred soul, I was reading an article in the Nashville Tennessean that Norm Chow was in effect forced out. Carroll supposedly wanted the younger Kiffin boy to become OC. Any truth to the story? USC has lost Chow, Orgeron, and Smith that I know of. What is your take on the situation? LT
THE STORY IS THAT MONTY KIFFIN IS TIGHT WITH CARROLL AND HE HIRED LANE KIFFIN AND PROMISED MONTY HE WOULD WATCH OUT FOR THE KID AND ADVANCE HIS CAREER AS BEST HE COULD. near the end of the season carroll approached chow and told him he wanted to give lane kiffin more responsibilitys in the playcalling. this obviously rubbed chow the wrong way and he was already really bent that stanford snubbed him for the head coaching job.chow believed he didnt get the stanford gig because he felt there was some racial bias in thier desicion. yesterday lane kiffin was given the offensive coordinators job and steve sarkisian was promoted to QBs coach with a dual role as assistant OC with kiffin. leinhart has already said that had he known this could all happen he likely would have entered the draft. incredible isnt it?~RG
