USC Parties Like It's 2005 in Tempe

The USC Trojans used the national stage of Thanksgiving evening to make Arizona State look like turkeys, turning the Sun Devils' world upside down en route to a 44-24 win.

From the opening drive, the Trojans looked like the squads which competed for National Championships, not Sun Bowl berths, driving the length of the field for a quick touchdown.

Trojan quarterback John David Booty's 375-yard performance came from distributing the ball efficiently and finally connecting on long passes to Patrick Turner and Ronald Johnson.

On defense, the Trojans stifled Arizona State, limiting the Sun Devils to zero yards on 27 carries through three quarters.

More game notes...

Little Richard's Kelly Clarkson Moment... Little Richard performed the halftime show in Tempe Thursday, but the speaker system did not work for most of his first set. USC fans were reminded of the 2005 Orange Bowl game, when Kelly Clarkson faced similar technical difficulties.

Home Cookin' Referees... Even though USC won by 20 points, it could have been more than 30 were it not for some very home-friendly calls and non-calls by the officials. We'd go into detail, but can promise that Pete Carroll be sending a love letter to Pac Ten headquarters after some bogus penalties kept ASU drives alive while the Sun Devils were not called for unsportsmanlike conduct--both by Rudy Carpenter--and roughing the passer on two key Trojan plays.

About those fans... Arizona State's fans proved once again to be the White Trash of the Pac Ten. Before the game--even yesterday--Trojan fans in Tempe were met with jeers and boos. Even my parents, who flew from Texas to meet me for the game, were harassed on a few occasions before them game. One Sun Devil supporter who was in the USC section was arrested for throwing items at USC fans late in the third quarter.

Eight More Years! USC has now beaten Arizona State eight times in a row.

Bowl implications... USC clinched at least a Sun Bowl berth with the win, while ASU was eliminated from any National Championship consideration. If USC beats UCLA next week, they can clinch at least a share of the Pac Ten Title but would need Oregon to lose to either UCLA or Oregon State before claiming a Rose Bowl Berth. A win over UCLA will probably mean a BCS at-large bid for the Trojans. Lose to UCLA and USC would need help from Arizona or two Oregon losses to make the Holiday Bowl.

Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)

11-23-2007 @ 1:53AM

SCHater said...

Congrats to the University of Second Choice. How much are you paying your football team this year?

When are they going to take away Reggie Bush's Heisman?

11-23-2007 @ 4:10AM

Mike said...

By Kelly Clarkson, I'm guessing you mean Ashley Simpson.

11-23-2007 @ 7:12AM

Scott Olin Schmidt said...

Actually, Clarkson's mic was out while Simpson forgot the lyrics... it was an all-around disaster at that Orange Bowl--unless you were a Trojan of course.

11-23-2007 @ 7:41AM

dot-head said...

The officials should be embressssed. piss poor calling

11-23-2007 @ 9:58AM

Ryan Ferguson said...

The Trojans looked damn good, like the Trojans of old.

11-23-2007 @ 11:40AM

Bobby Dodd said...

Neither team has a run game. Not big bowl contenders.

11-23-2007 @ 11:35AM

Brien said...

Screw ASU...........Once again, the men of troy show what there all about........DYNASTY.......FIGHT ON............2008 NATIONAL CHAMPIONS.....

11-23-2007 @ 11:39AM

2NDLY, TOO THE PIIS ANTS FROM SUN DEVIL LAND...........YOU AND YOUR TEAM SUCK, LISA LOVE THE AD SHOULD BE ASHAMED, HELL AT ONE TIME SHE WAS A TROJAN.........DENNIS ERICKSON, LISTEN HERE......YOU AND YOUR TEAM NEVER , AND I MEAN NEVER GET THE RESPECT THE PETE CARROLL BUNCH GETS..........FIGHT ON , ONCE AGAIN, 2008 NATIONAL CHAMPIONS..........

11-23-2007 @ 12:45PM

Martin said...

ESPN commentators who were supposed to be calling the game, babbled endlessly about everything but the game. Interesting plays were happening which were not being discussed or replayed because the announcers were busy talking to some "celebrity" (i.e. Charles Barkley, Keyshawn Johnson, etc.)or talking about Thanksgiving recipes. Horrible T.V. coverage. If I wanted inane babble, I'd watch local news shows.

11-23-2007 @ 7:08PM

Jim said...

Martin, I agree about the commentary. Those guys just yuck it up when there's a game going on. It would be better if they just didn't say anything... although Barkley is a pretty smart guy... maybe he should do the commentary.

11-23-2007 @ 9:15PM

Zindude said...

Let it be said that I really don't like USC. They are a close 2nd to Notre Dame for most hated, but I have to admit, when they are firing on all cylinders, no one in the country can touch them. However, like everything else in this crazy year, they had their chance and failed to step up. Sanchez didn't seize the moment and their loss to Stanford was even more monumental than the Appliachian State game, given that Michigan is an 8-4 team this year and got smoked by Oregon. I am a WVU fan and hope they play Kansas in the BCSNC. Chances for these schools come once in a great while. May one of them win one for the ages. GOOOOO Mountaineers!!!!!!!!!!!!!!