In an otherwise unwatchable rivalry game between USC and UCLA, comical drama erupted in the final minute. Leading 21-7 and having gained possession on a turnover on downs, USC lined up in victory formation to end the game. UCLA inexplicably responded with a timeout with 52 seconds left, and then all hell broke loose. Next play out, USC lined up in a legitimate offensive formation and launched a play-action 48 yard touchdown pass to make the score 28-7. It was a move that mocked UCLA's insolence and almost inspired a brawl. Some banter happened thereafter and before you knew it, both sidelines had to be restrained near midfield.The early criticism of USC's touchdown will be that it was classless while drawing comparisons to what Stanford did to USC two weeks prior in going for a two point conversion up 48-21. Whatever Pete Carroll's gripe against Stanford, UCLA's asinine timeout vindicated what followed. A football game is 60 minutes long, if one party wants to invite further play, there really shouldn't be criticism when their counterpart accepts the offer and then some.
What Stanford did to USC was just as legitimate as what USC did in the closing minute to UCLA. UCLA actually made it worse in refusing to let USC extend its mercy in running out the clock.
Said Carroll after the game, "we thought we had a shot at it so we went ahead and took it. That's all. It might have been crazy if we got sacked and fumbled the ball but Matt [Barkley] knew what he was doing so we took a shot because they were jumping on the line of scrimmage and they were calling timeouts so we said we'll see if we can score again."
Many may not like it and wring their hands about class and sportsmanship but so long as games can't be ended prematurely, teams are free to operate within the given parameters. UCLA invited USC to keep playing, and got burned for it. To the extent Carroll took umbrage with Harbaugh's decision, he deserves criticism. But just the same, criticisms of what transpired at the end of the game Saturday are as off base as his own complaints two weeks prior.
Comments (Page 1 of 3)
Putting Pete Carroll's hypocrisy aside for a moment, that "sportsmanship" argument is the biggest crock. You don't like someone running up the score on you? STOP THEM. This isn't some Pop Warner team where some loser coach who is trying to relive past glories has some kids run up the score. These are GROWN MEN, some of whom are going to be well paid in the NFL shortly and they're worried about "sportsmanship"?
It's always the teams that stink up the joint that complain about having the score run up on them. You don't like it? Play some D. End of story.
this is probably good for the pac-10
auhhh... that Rivalry needed a little heat. point - counter point, nuff said!
FUCLA!!!
They are the gutty little bruins again.
I wonder if they are still hanging that 8 in a row banner on their practice field!
only good trojan come in a plastics wrapper, and wraps around my d.... MORON
If Pete Carroll had put in the USC Trojan Marching Band, or the USC Cheerleaders, THEY could have scored that last minute TOUCHDOWN against that pitiful UCLA defense.
You can place all the blame on UCLA for what happened at the end of the game. USC was going to take a knee and run out the clock but UCLA decided to call all the rest of their timeouts and wanted to keep playing. So USC burned them and they got all bent out of shape. Blame Neuhisel, don't blame USC.
Pete Carroll is a coach totally without class. I have always known this. This just proves it and shows the entire country.
come on man the trojans took a knee and the bruins wanted to keep playing so pete told bates if they wanna play lets play !
You're showing your ignorance. When UCLA called that timeout, the parameters changed. USC had every right to keep competing. Learn some football and stop whining.
This is Pete Corroll at his best. If you are winning and want to show the young players out there what sportsmanship is you don't pull a move like that. UCLA was stupid for calling the timeout but the retaliation was 10x's as stupid.
Pete Carroll is known for being a jerk, like how he acted with Sanchez last season. I wish he would grow up and teach and coach the game with some class instead of his Mafia type mentality of you send my guys to the hospital I send your guys to the morgue.
This is a sport and you need to show sportsmanship to play it or it might just come back to bite you in the butt later.
who cares about pac 10 football
There's a reason they call him Rick Neuweasel. That reason was clearly on exhibit in the final minutes of the SC-UCLA game. My best guess is that Neuweasel will do for UCLA that he did for Washington and Colorado!
I really don't see how this ended up exploding into a near-fight at mid-field. It seems childish and a waste of time from both parties. But we all knew USC would win. What's so wrong with scoring another touchdown when the game is still in regulation? I don't see anything wrong with how USC did that.
pete did the right thing in this case.
Dont want USC to run up score , dont call time outs.Idiot little Bruins.
"...if one party wants to invite further play, there really shouldn't be criticism when their counterpart accepts the offer and then some."
Kinda says it all.
The sideline behavior in the last Rose Bowl and now this bush-league play shows what jerks the entire USC family is.
BLAH....BLAH...BLAH....NEXT CASE !
This is simply "CLASSLESS" - On both schools parts. Sportsmanship is part of what sports is about and this shows none from both teams and both coaching staffs. Let's look at the CLASS of other coaches such as Tom Osborne, Joe Paterno, Bobbie Bowden, etc. Would they allow or participate in such actions during a football game? Of course not! Parents take note - if you want your sons to be part of a class organization, do NOT let them attend either one of these universities. This is a total embarrassment to college football and organized sports in general.