[AncientCityIndian]

The name of the game in college football is how good are you in the trenches.  Given that USC`s skill players were the equal of Bama`s and possibly better, there was absolutely no contest at the point of attack.  If there is a better strength coach and training program in the NCAA than ours, it is Alabama`s.  Saban is meticulous.  He does not win football games on game day but well before. 

USC was outplayed, out toughed, outcoached and totally embarrassed.  If we truly are national championship material, we should dominate them.  If we do not, we should not be in the NC conversation.  USC dominated for decades with better coaching and better personnel than anyone else in the PAC.  They have mediocre O and D lines and no where near the strength and toughness to compete against the best anymore.  It is no secret why we have owned them the past few years. 

The obvious question after the 52-6 debacle is whether USC is that bad or Alabama that good.  The answer is BOTH but I`m leaning to USC`s deficiencies as the more obvious of the answers.

[AncientCityIndian]

The name of the game in college football is how good are you in the trenches.  Given that USC`s skill players were the equal of Bama`s and possibly better, there was absolutely no contest at the point of attack.  If there is a better strength coach and training program in the NCAA than ours, it is Alabama`s.  Saban is meticulous.  He does not win football games on game day but well before. 

USC was outplayed, out toughed, outcoached and totally embarrassed.  If we truly are national championship material, we should dominate them.  If we do not, we should not be in the NC conversation.  USC dominated for decades with better coaching and better personnel than anyone else in the PAC.  They have mediocre O and D lines and no where near the strength and toughness to compete against the best anymore.  It is no secret why we have owned them the past few years. 

The obvious question after the 52-6 debacle is whether USC is that bad or Alabama that good.  The answer is BOTH but I`m leaning to USC`s deficiencies as the more obvious of the answers.

[81alum]

I wonder what to make of the first quarter.  Anyone who watched the first quarter and then tuned out would have been shocked at the outcome of the game.  For a quarter it looked like both offenses were rusty and both defenses were dominant, and that the game was going to be one of those defensive slugfests that ended 6-3.  Alabama could not move the ball at all.  The Alabama O-line looked very bad at run blocking. 

U.SC was not a lot better in that quarter, but the announcers and Saban himself before the game harped on how Alabama had less depth than previous years and how U.SC had better depth than it has had.  But it did not look that way.  Was the U.SC meltdown after the 1st quarter the result of better Alabama conditioning?  Or did  U.SC just get lucky for a quarter?  Or is U.SC the kind of team that falls apart when it hits a little adversity--i.e., it had a psychological meltdown?

It could be all of the above.  But it looks like we could do ourselves a lot of good by getting out to an early lead against them and contributing to the demoralization of their team, which hopefully will feel its dream season further slipping away at Stanford Stadium.

[81alum]

I wonder what to make of the first quarter.  Anyone who watched the first quarter and then tuned out would have been shocked at the outcome of the game.  For a quarter it looked like both offenses were rusty and both defenses were dominant, and that the game was going to be one of those defensive slugfests that ended 6-3.  Alabama could not move the ball at all.  The Alabama O-line looked very bad at run blocking. 

U.SC was not a lot better in that quarter, but the announcers and Saban himself before the game harped on how Alabama had less depth than previous years and how U.SC had better depth than it has had.  But it did not look that way.  Was the U.SC meltdown after the 1st quarter the result of better Alabama conditioning?  Or did  U.SC just get lucky for a quarter?  Or is U.SC the kind of team that falls apart when it hits a little adversity--i.e., it had a psychological meltdown?

It could be all of the above.  But it looks like we could do ourselves a lot of good by getting out to an early lead against them and contributing to the demoralization of their team, which hopefully will feel its dream season further slipping away at Stanford Stadium.

[AncientCityIndian]

Alabama had new starters on the O Line feeling their way around and a new QB playing his first game as a starter.  They replaced the QB who appeared nervous with a true frosh with more athletic ability and a great mental maturity (Hurts) who played a pretty good game that belied his lack of experience after an opening snap fumble. 

USC is mediocre at the point of attack and has no depth and after the 2nd quarter began, were physically unable to compete.  They could play 100 times and USC would never prevail.

[AncientCityIndian]

Alabama had new starters on the O Line feeling their way around and a new QB playing his first game as a starter.  They replaced the QB who appeared nervous with a true frosh with more athletic ability and a great mental maturity (Hurts) who played a pretty good game that belied his lack of experience after an opening snap fumble. 

USC is mediocre at the point of attack and has no depth and after the 2nd quarter began, were physically unable to compete.  They could play 100 times and USC would never prevail.

[slide]

18 for 37, 130 yards, 1 INT.  I hope southern cal's skill players are indeed that good.

[slide]

18 for 37, 130 yards, 1 INT.  I hope southern cal's skill players are indeed that good.

[stupac2]

Ever since I started looking into it I have been convinced that Helton is a bad coach. USC also has a reputation (deserved or not) for being soft and losing focus when things don't go their way. I can see those things combining into a big snowball effect with the end result being what you saw.

Also, didn't SC lose one of their best DL and their 2nd-string LT in the game right when things started to turn? I could see that causing some issues.

[stupac2]

Ever since I started looking into it I have been convinced that Helton is a bad coach. USC also has a reputation (deserved or not) for being soft and losing focus when things don't go their way. I can see those things combining into a big snowball effect with the end result being what you saw.

Also, didn't SC lose one of their best DL and their 2nd-string LT in the game right when things started to turn? I could see that causing some issues.

[CompSci87]

Anyone who watched the first quarter and then tuned out would have been shocked at the outcome of the game. 

I'm in that category. I watched the first quarter and then had something else I needed to do. Turned it back on in the 4th or so and was surprised it had turned into a blowout.

[CompSci87]

Anyone who watched the first quarter and then tuned out would have been shocked at the outcome of the game. 

I'm in that category. I watched the first quarter and then had something else I needed to do. Turned it back on in the 4th or so and was surprised it had turned into a blowout.

[fullmetal]

Well $C had a player sent home before the game (will he play vs. Stanford in 2 wks?) as well as another key player ejected for stomping on a downed player's groin (iirc).  The mental meltdown was pretty epic--$C changed QBs to no avail and probably to even greater discombobulation.  I don't think Stanford will get the benefit of all three.

[fullmetal]

Well $C had a player sent home before the game (will he play vs. Stanford in 2 wks?) as well as another key player ejected for stomping on a downed player's groin (iirc).  The mental meltdown was pretty epic--$C changed QBs to no avail and probably to even greater discombobulation.  I don't think Stanford will get the benefit of all three.

[Mick]

Well $C had a player sent home before the game (will he play vs. Stanford in 2 wks?) as well as another key player ejected for stomping on a downed player's groin (iirc).  The mental meltdown was pretty epic--$C changed QBs to no avail and probably to even greater discombobulation.  I don't think Stanford will get the benefit of all three.

University of Everything-They-Touch-Turns-To-ShhhoCal

[Mick]

Well $C had a player sent home before the game (will he play vs. Stanford in 2 wks?) as well as another key player ejected for stomping on a downed player's groin (iirc).  The mental meltdown was pretty epic--$C changed QBs to no avail and probably to even greater discombobulation.  I don't think Stanford will get the benefit of all three.

University of Everything-They-Touch-Turns-To-ShhhoCal