Man, one bird can sure change the football season, can’t it? Just ask the USC Trojans’ fans, coach Pete Carroll and star QB John David Booty. Booty threw four interceptions, while Stanford’s sophomore QB Tavita Prichard converted a fourth and 20 in his final drive, which ultimately resulted in the game-winning 10-yard TD pass with 49 seconds left. It was Prichard’s first college start ever.
Booty, who was sacked four times, managed to throw for 364-yards and 2 touchdowns. For two weeks straight he had an abysmal QB rating. Against Stanford it was 67.1, while the week before versus Washington it was 60.2. The Trojans barely beat the Washington Huskies 27- 24. That marginal victory dropped USC from being number one to number two in the nation. The Huskies, who were 2- 2 overall at that point, gave USC all that they could handle.
This week, against a Cardinal team that was spotted 41-points by the odds makers, Booty looked nothing like a Heisman Trophy candidate. Coach Pete Carroll gave Stanford credit and also noted that his team made a “ton of mistakes.� USC gave up the ball a total of five times, running back Chauncey Washington averaged only 3.3 yards per carry and they were only one for three in fourth down conversions.
On offense and defense, the Cardinal made plays when they needed to, including on “O� going two for two on fourth down attempts and on “D� holding the USC running squad to under 100-yards.
Stanford snapped USC’s 35-game home win streak and today the Trojans find themselves number 10 nationally. The last club to beat USC at home? Stanford in 2001. It was Pete Carroll’s first season at the Trojan helm.
This is coach Jim Harbaugh’s first year as Cardinal head coach. Harbaugh, a former NFL QB for 15 seasons with six different teams, had been considered by many to be a poor choice as the main man at Stanford. Some folks may be whistling a different tune today.
What do you think? And what about USC? What has happened to this “great� team?
Technorati Tags: USC Trojans, Standford Cardinal, John David Booty, Jim Harbaugh, Pete Carroll, Tavita Prichard, NCAA Football
