USC No. 1 from start to finish in AP poll

AP via NJOnline ^ | 01.05.05 | By RALPH D. RUSSO

[Dog Gone]

USC started slow in nearly every game this year before rallying to win. It even happened last night. I don't have the game boxes handy, but I'll bet they trailed early in well more than half of their games.

[capitan_refugio]

"Yes, but that is a somewhat subjective measure."

Treu, but the two major polls are components of the BCS formula. If there had been no BCS, Oklahoma could have played Auburn in the Orange Bowl, and USC would have played Michigan in the Rose Bowl. If both Auburn and USC won their games, USC would have still remained a commanding #1, in the polls.

I don't see any way Auburn could have ended up playing USC in any scenario. And for the Auburn secondary, which was picked apart by Va Tech, it's a good thing for Auburn they did not play USC last night.

[1L]

How does that compare with wins over the likes of Vanderbilt, Ole Miss, Miss. State, Washington, etc.?

This is all circular reasoning. Perhaps the Big 12 North was seen as bad since they lost a lot of games to the south.

If I'm a team that is objectively the 11th best team in the country, but am 0-10 because I lost to 1-10, will I be considered the 11th best? Probably not, and some of the objectively (remember, this is theory) 1-10 won't be considered that high because one of their wins was against an 0-10 team.

Ratings are, at best, an educated guess.

[Michael.SF.]

Has anyone raised the "running up the score" critique of USC

NO. I don't think anyone in Norman would have the balls to bring up that subject:

Box Score (Final)
Texas A&M vs #1 Oklahoma (Nov 08, 2003 at Norman, Okla.)
Score by Quarters 1 2 3 4 Score
----------------- -- -- -- -- -----
Texas A&M........... 0 0 0 0 - 0 Record: (4-6-0,2-4)
Oklahoma............ 14 35 28 0 - 77 Record: (10-0-0,6-0)

[Dead Dog]

Not to mention Tedfords ability to develop QBs. Akili Smith, Harrington, AJ Feely. Three QBs in a row went to the NFL, two are still starters.

Interestingly, Tedford did give props to Bellotti the other day. Something to the effect that Cal was running Bellotti's offense.

[Steve_Seattle]

The two best games (as it turned out) were Texas-Michigan and Iowa-LSU. But I would have loved to see Utah and Boise State play Auburn, Florida State, or Miami.

[1L]

I've always been a USC fan for some reason. I guess I always liked their band uniforms and started watching college football when they were playing every year in the Rose bowl (early '70s).

I wish A&M and USC could hook up for a perpetual home and home, but unfortunately, neither AD nor coach agrees with me. I'm one of those who doesn't think you get better by beating SMU.

[Dog Gone]

I don't remember if Rogers will be back at QB for Cal

He filed his papers with the NCAA to turn pro. I'm not sure who his backup is or whether he's any good, but Cal is losing a great junior QB.

[NorCalRepub]

ok I agree with some of your points but the main one most of you guys don't get is that TTU didn't prove Cal wasn't a number 4 team or whatever the WHOLE year......they proved they were not that good at the end.......like I've asked others....Cal was very dominant during the year and USC lost Williams before the season not three wide outs after the middle of the season....you can say that is an excuse but would usc be as good without Bush, ou without Peterson, UT without Benson.....they wouldn't and I would acknowledge that......Rodgers who is a top ten pick i the NFL draft for a reason didn't nearly have the ability to throw to receivers the last third of the season.....excuse, reason, whatever you call it, it was a fact......

but you are mentioning again So miss but that was without 4 players and you are right about Oregon.....we blew that game and should have lost it....to I'll admit that but the others have some extenuating circumstances....it is just when you throw out one game here or there it doesn't stack up......
I"m not trying to be difficult but by that logic let's see....OU shutout UT....right?????
USC killed OU by 36 points ..right?????
Cal lost barely to USC by 6 points.....right????
then Cal is better than both OU and UT by that logic. but of course that is not true...hey unlike most on here and other blogs, i'm not taking one thing away from the Big 12, not even TTU.........but when they don't give Cal it's due or use the the "I won, I won, neener neener neerner defense it just gets a little old.....most of these guys never ever even see a PAC 10 game
have a great year

[NorCalRepub]

me too but I can't be objective about that as much.. they stunk up the place and that is that......oh well....i just tried to interject to some that they lost 4 starters and some say Cal didn't deserve the rank DURING the year..that is just ludicrous.........

[Michael.SF.]

USC started slow in nearly every game this year ... I'll bet they trailed early in well more than half of their games.

You would win that bet.

From my post #182:

"All season I have said USC was weak in the first half and that because of this, they could get beat,"

[Dog Gone]

I wish A&M and USC could hook up for a perpetual home and home, but unfortunately, neither AD nor coach agrees with me.

It pretty much goes without saying that I'd love that, especially since I live 90 minutes from College Station.

Since the USC/Notre Dame thing has been locked in for eternity, I can't see USC locking in another one. Best I can hope for is an occasional matchup every 30 years or so, and I probably don't have too many 30 years cycles to see.

[Dead Dog]

There wasn't a Big 12 team that would have beat Cal before Nov. Nor was there a Big 12 team that would have beat WSU before Nov. last year.

Just my Opinion. Cal is Legit

[Steve_Seattle]

Losing 4 starters is a big deal if you don't have super-depth like USC. Injuries and othe losses (academic non-qualifiers, transfers, etc.) were a major reason for the UW's flop this season (along with chaos at QB).

[Dog Gone]

Thanks to DirecTV, I saw all but one of the USC games this year. Mostly what I remember is pounding my head on the coffee table during the first quarter and then dancing naked on it with a lampshade on my head in the fourth quarter.

BTW, my wife never was amused.

[Dinsdale]

I'm surprised someone did'nt vote for NoterDame #1.

[MahaMarty]

I think you mean Hundai...perhaps a Datson.

[Steve_Seattle]

One of my gripes is that the conferences are getting too big; I think 8 is enough for a conference. With more than 8, you have inequities with everyone not having to play everyone else. In the Pac-10, that means that every year someone gets to dodge USC - everyone - that is - except UCLA, who as USC's designated "rival" always has to play them. And I also hate the conference playoffs, which are just moneymakers in my opinion.

[capitan_refugio]

3 of the Big-12 North teams got creamed. Texas played a great game, but did not "whup" Michigan. It was a game decided on the last drive.

[capitan_refugio]

Split allegiances!