[socalstanfan1]

I haven't heard anything on the injury front, so that has me worried about this game.  But otherwise, I think this was a great victory for the program.  I think we underestimated a young USC team (particularly on defense) that is very athletic and improving each game.  Monte Kiffin's defense clearly had a bad year last season, but the guy is an NFL legend and his players this year are improving quickly.  To go into SoCal, in a game that was clearly like a bowl game for USC (I listened to a lot of their pre-game chatter here in LA, and as big as this game was for us, it was brobdingnagian for them, with everyone saying how it would announce that they were back to being nationally significant, even if they can't play in a bowl), and pull out a victory, was outstanding.  Their skill position players were a lot more athletic than our defenders, and that doesn't bode well for stopping Oregon, but I don't think we will see any defense anywhere near USC's level, unless we meet ASU in the Pac-12 championship game, or an SEC team in a bowl.  We may just have to outscore Oregon, but at least we get them in Palo Alto.

On the other hand, I was very happy to see Montgomery getting significant time on the field.  The guy should be a big part of our future at WR, so I'm ready for the future to arrive NOW.  And I think whenever you are tested, you learn more about yourself, find weaknesses, get to address them.  Injuries aside, I think the team will emerge much stronger than it was when the game started.

[socalstanfan1]

I haven't heard anything on the injury front, so that has me worried about this game.  But otherwise, I think this was a great victory for the program.  I think we underestimated a young USC team (particularly on defense) that is very athletic and improving each game.  Monte Kiffin's defense clearly had a bad year last season, but the guy is an NFL legend and his players this year are improving quickly.  To go into SoCal, in a game that was clearly like a bowl game for USC (I listened to a lot of their pre-game chatter here in LA, and as big as this game was for us, it was brobdingnagian for them, with everyone saying how it would announce that they were back to being nationally significant, even if they can't play in a bowl), and pull out a victory, was outstanding.  Their skill position players were a lot more athletic than our defenders, and that doesn't bode well for stopping Oregon, but I don't think we will see any defense anywhere near USC's level, unless we meet ASU in the Pac-12 championship game, or an SEC team in a bowl.  We may just have to outscore Oregon, but at least we get them in Palo Alto.

On the other hand, I was very happy to see Montgomery getting significant time on the field.  The guy should be a big part of our future at WR, so I'm ready for the future to arrive NOW.  And I think whenever you are tested, you learn more about yourself, find weaknesses, get to address them.  Injuries aside, I think the team will emerge much stronger than it was when the game started.