Grand Opportunity for SU Football

[Shenexon]

SU Football has a superb opportunity in playing USC on center stage on Saturday. Win or lose, a good showing will help remove the stigma of failure from the program. Much has been said of the risk of playing USC but inherent in the risk is also great opportunity. Last week's offensive showing against NW should provide some hope. I offer a few pieces of trivia that might help provide further reasons for optimism:

• USC has lost to an unranked team every year for the last six years
• USC's defense is thin and has had numerous injuries to defensive starters
  • All three starting linebackers have missed time in pre-season due to injury
  • USC's starting defensive ends missed time in pre-season due to injury
  • Kiffin has refused to announce or discuss injuries
  • Defensive end Wes Horton, middle linebacker Lamar Dawson and cornerback Torin Harris did not play in the opener because of injuries
  • Linebacker Dion Bailey was reportedly on crutches after the Hawaii game though he's expected to play Saturday
  • USC had 5 defensive starters playing their first game against Hawaii
• Hawaii's QB had never thrown a ball in college until the USC game

While beating USC is extremely unlikely, a good showing on national TV against #1 would help the program immeasurably. USC is still going to score a lot of points but we have the kind of opportunity that only playing a highly rated team provides. USC is great, especially offensively, but they have weaknesses that may match up with our strengths. Their concern over potential re-injuries have to be on their minds even if they're close to 100%. Oh...one other piece of trivia - Saturday is Barkley's birthday...maybe we can spoil it for him.

 

[OrangeFreek]

To bad USC is now the #2 team in the country... Alabama is now #1

 

[Moontan]

To bad USC is now the #2 team in the country... Alabama is now #1

The coaches may still keep them atop their poll.