Trojans tumbled into Eagles? path
Some of it is familiar for Boston College. The late December practices, ending the season with a bowl game - something that every BC football player since 1999 has experienced.
But this time seems different. Not because of the game - the Emerald Bowl at AT&T Park tonight is hardly high profile, mixing also-rans from the Atlantic Coast Conference and the Pac-10 - but because of BC?s opponent: Southern Cal, the once and probably future national champions. This is the same USC that routinely finishes ranked near the top of the final rankings.
Starting in 2002, the Trojans finished fourth, first, first, second, fourth, third, and third in the final AP polls. Aside from the two national championships, Pete Carroll?s teams produced three Heisman Trophy winners and - until Oregon ended the streak this season - at last a share of the last seven Pac-10 titles.
Not this year, though. This season produced an 8-4 record, not even a Top 25 ranking in the latest AP poll, and plenty of controversy, the latest involving allegations against USC tailback Joe McKnight, the Trojans? leading rusher and the latest in a line of superb USC running backs.
The Los Angeles Times reported last week that McKnight was seen driving an SUV owned by a Santa Monica businessman, which could be a major NCAA violation. That could lead to severe consequences for USC, which already is dealing with an NCCA investigation of 2005 Heisman winner Reggie Bush and former basketball player O.J. Mayo. His status has been uncertain throughout the week, although the Trojans are hardly thin at tailback, with talented C.J. Gable most likely to receive the additional playing time.
The Trojans also received another hit Monday when three players - starting tight end Anthony McCoy, starting right tackle Tyron Smith, and backup defensive lineman Averell Spicer - were declared academically ineligible.
Yet, in the eyes of BC, the Trojans still have star quality.
Consider the reaction of Dave Shinskie, the Eagles? 25-year-old freshman quarterback who will match his skills against 18-year-old freshman Matt Barkley.
?It?s still kind of surreal to me,?? said Shinskie, referring to ending his professional baseball career and transitioning into life as a college football QB. ?Now I get to play USC. It?s a dream come true. It?s what I wanted to do coming out of high school.??
It?s just that these Trojans have not been of this caliber since, well, Shinskie was in high school. By their own definition, the Trojans had a bad season, this being USC?s first season since 2001 that it has not been in a BCS bowl game.
Carroll does not expect motivation to be a factor.
?Our players like to work out, they like to play games,?? said Carroll. ?I can guarantee you that they?re going to play this game like it?s the national championship game.??
That might be a stretch, but BC is certainly treating the Trojans like they are BCS caliber.
?I think it?s good for our program,?? said BC coach Frank Spaziani. ?It?s interesting.??
Spaziani is not buying the theory that this is an underachieving Trojan team, which has been vulnerable on defense (391 yards rushing allowed in a 47-20 loss to Oregon; 325 yards rushing allowed in a 55-21 loss to Stanford). ?There is still talent there. It?s still USC.??
BC, which surprised many people in its 8-4 season, can play with the Trojans. But, in order for the Eagles to win, they must play an error-free game. In the Eagles? four losses, they committed 16 turnovers.
Shinskie has been sporadic at best, completing only 52.8 percent of his passes with 14 TDs and 13 interceptions. The key to BC?s offensive success has been the production of running back Montel Harris, who rushed for 1,355 yards and scored 13 TDs.
Count on the Trojans, led by All-America safety Taylor Mays, to work on stopping Harris, which will make Shinskie the key to the Eagles? success. The Eagles? line, in turn, will need to keep away the Trojans? pass rush, which accounted for 33 sacks this season.
Spaziani believes in his team. He also knows its limitations - it must hold on to the ball to have any chance of beating USC. He knows that this is also a game that can elevate the program.
It is prime-time exposure against a prime-time opponent.
All the Eagles need is a prime-time performance.
Some of it is familiar for Boston College. The late December practices, ending the season with a bowl game - something that every BC football player since 1999 has experienced.
But this time seems different. Not because of the game - the Emerald Bowl at AT&T Park tonight is hardly high profile, mixing also-rans from the Atlantic Coast Conference and the Pac-10 - but because of BC?s opponent: Southern Cal, the once and probably future national champions. This is the same USC that routinely finishes ranked near the top of the final rankings.
Starting in 2002, the Trojans finished fourth, first, first, second, fourth, third, and third in the final AP polls. Aside from the two national championships, Pete Carroll?s teams produced three Heisman Trophy winners and - until Oregon ended the streak this season - at last a share of the last seven Pac-10 titles.
Not this year, though. This season produced an 8-4 record, not even a Top 25 ranking in the latest AP poll, and plenty of controversy, the latest involving allegations against USC tailback Joe McKnight, the Trojans? leading rusher and the latest in a line of superb USC running backs.
The Los Angeles Times reported last week that McKnight was seen driving an SUV owned by a Santa Monica businessman, which could be a major NCAA violation. That could lead to severe consequences for USC, which already is dealing with an NCCA investigation of 2005 Heisman winner Reggie Bush and former basketball player O.J. Mayo. His status has been uncertain throughout the week, although the Trojans are hardly thin at tailback, with talented C.J. Gable most likely to receive the additional playing time.
The Trojans also received another hit Monday when three players - starting tight end Anthony McCoy, starting right tackle Tyron Smith, and backup defensive lineman Averell Spicer - were declared academically ineligible.
Yet, in the eyes of BC, the Trojans still have star quality.
Consider the reaction of Dave Shinskie, the Eagles? 25-year-old freshman quarterback who will match his skills against 18-year-old freshman Matt Barkley.
?It?s still kind of surreal to me,?? said Shinskie, referring to ending his professional baseball career and transitioning into life as a college football QB. ?Now I get to play USC. It?s a dream come true. It?s what I wanted to do coming out of high school.??
It?s just that these Trojans have not been of this caliber since, well, Shinskie was in high school. By their own definition, the Trojans had a bad season, this being USC?s first season since 2001 that it has not been in a BCS bowl game.
Carroll does not expect motivation to be a factor.
?Our players like to work out, they like to play games,?? said Carroll. ?I can guarantee you that they?re going to play this game like it?s the national championship game.??
That might be a stretch, but BC is certainly treating the Trojans like they are BCS caliber.
?I think it?s good for our program,?? said BC coach Frank Spaziani. ?It?s interesting.??
Spaziani is not buying the theory that this is an underachieving Trojan team, which has been vulnerable on defense (391 yards rushing allowed in a 47-20 loss to Oregon; 325 yards rushing allowed in a 55-21 loss to Stanford). ?There is still talent there. It?s still USC.??
BC, which surprised many people in its 8-4 season, can play with the Trojans. But, in order for the Eagles to win, they must play an error-free game. In the Eagles? four losses, they committed 16 turnovers.
Shinskie has been sporadic at best, completing only 52.8 percent of his passes with 14 TDs and 13 interceptions. The key to BC?s offensive success has been the production of running back Montel Harris, who rushed for 1,355 yards and scored 13 TDs.
Count on the Trojans, led by All-America safety Taylor Mays, to work on stopping Harris, which will make Shinskie the key to the Eagles? success. The Eagles? line, in turn, will need to keep away the Trojans? pass rush, which accounted for 33 sacks this season.
Spaziani believes in his team. He also knows its limitations - it must hold on to the ball to have any chance of beating USC. He knows that this is also a game that can elevate the program.
It is prime-time exposure against a prime-time opponent.
All the Eagles need is a prime-time performance.
