Contrary to what coach Dick Tomey said, one development would have turned San Jose State's encounter with fourth-ranked USC into a negative experience. It had nothing to do with the final score but everything to do with future scores.
If the Spartans had suffered a spate of injuries to key players, resulting in a series of defeats over the next month, then Saturday's 56-3 shellacking would have been an indisputably negative experience.
And it sure seemed headed in that direction when linebacker Justin Cole, one of SJSU's top players, was carted off the L.A. Coliseum field.
But it turns out that Cole was simply cramping up ? it was 89 degrees at kickoff ? and that the Spartans' injury list consisted of only one name.
Defensive end Mohamed Marah aggravated a shoulder injury and will have tests this week. He has not been ruled out for Saturday's showdown with No. 19 Utah, nor is he certain to play.
But that's it: More than 150 plays against one of the biggest, fastest teams in the country, and only one potentially serious injury.
That's a testament to SJSU's improved depth. (The starters were not on the field beyond the point of exhaustion, when injuries are most likely to occur.) It also gives the Spartans a much better chance to compete with Utah and Stanford and, beyond that, to beat Cal Poly-San Luis Obispo and Idaho.
# Cal tailback Jahvid Best posted impressive numbers against Maryland: 137
yards rushing and two touchdowns. But his timing was even better. Best scored twice and produced a highlight-reel play ? his 73-yard touchdown run ? early in the game.
In other words: Before Heisman Trophy voters on the East Coast went to bed.
# LeGarrette Blount's actions following the loss to Boise State were a disgrace to himself, his school, his conference "...
But the Oregon tailback should not have been suspended for the rest of the season. Three games? Sure. Six games? Perhaps. But the Ducks, who have a new coach, a new athletic director, a new president and a new conference commissioner, overreacted.
# While the suspension undermines Oregon's chances, it could help the muddled mass of Pac-10 teams hoping for a bowl bid.
Maybe what would have been a loss to Oregon with Blount in the lineup becomes a victory over Oregon without Blount. And maybe that extra win propels Stanford or UCLA or one of the Arizona schools into the postseason.
If the Spartans had suffered a spate of injuries to key players, resulting in a series of defeats over the next month, then Saturday's 56-3 shellacking would have been an indisputably negative experience.
And it sure seemed headed in that direction when linebacker Justin Cole, one of SJSU's top players, was carted off the L.A. Coliseum field.
But it turns out that Cole was simply cramping up ? it was 89 degrees at kickoff ? and that the Spartans' injury list consisted of only one name.
Defensive end Mohamed Marah aggravated a shoulder injury and will have tests this week. He has not been ruled out for Saturday's showdown with No. 19 Utah, nor is he certain to play.
But that's it: More than 150 plays against one of the biggest, fastest teams in the country, and only one potentially serious injury.
That's a testament to SJSU's improved depth. (The starters were not on the field beyond the point of exhaustion, when injuries are most likely to occur.) It also gives the Spartans a much better chance to compete with Utah and Stanford and, beyond that, to beat Cal Poly-San Luis Obispo and Idaho.
# Cal tailback Jahvid Best posted impressive numbers against Maryland: 137
yards rushing and two touchdowns. But his timing was even better. Best scored twice and produced a highlight-reel play ? his 73-yard touchdown run ? early in the game.
In other words: Before Heisman Trophy voters on the East Coast went to bed.
# LeGarrette Blount's actions following the loss to Boise State were a disgrace to himself, his school, his conference "...
But the Oregon tailback should not have been suspended for the rest of the season. Three games? Sure. Six games? Perhaps. But the Ducks, who have a new coach, a new athletic director, a new president and a new conference commissioner, overreacted.
# While the suspension undermines Oregon's chances, it could help the muddled mass of Pac-10 teams hoping for a bowl bid.
Maybe what would have been a loss to Oregon with Blount in the lineup becomes a victory over Oregon without Blount. And maybe that extra win propels Stanford or UCLA or one of the Arizona schools into the postseason.
