8) Friday night is always interesting in LaVerne, California during football season. That’s when my alma mater, the Damien Spartans take the field. Its high school football and it’s a lot of fun. Damien is a small Catholic school that plays some big-time football, in three-striped helmets that stand for “faith, family and football.” The eclectic mix of college fans who support it have a range of opinions that make for some exciting exchanges. Last Friday, before I watched Damien mop up the local public school kids in the playoffs 26-14, I had a running exchange of views with a USC fan who sat behind me. Keep in mind that we were all rooting for the same high school team… Troglodyte: “That’s a nice jacket you’re wearing. Are you really Irish?” JO’Co: “That’s a nice shirt you’re wearing. I had one just like it in the 60’s. Can you really spell U-S-C?” Troglodyte: You’re a funny guy.” JO’Co: (silence) (Jack Benny stare…) Troglodyte: “That’s a pathetic schedule you guys play.” JO’Co: “We play you.” Troglodyte: “If UCLA had gotten one more first down, they would have beaten you.” JO’Co: “If frogs had wings, they wouldn’t bump their arse so much.” Troglodyte: “You know that I’m a USC graduate?” JO’Co: “I guess you didn’t play football then? Troglodyte: “I have friends that know some of the players; you have a message for them?” JO’Co: “Sure, tell them the Irish are comin’…” Another popular topic was the impending start of former Damien QB Nick Davila for the University of Cincinnati against undefeated Rutgers the following day. All of us agreed that the Bearcats had a better chance with him in there, because the kid just never makes mistakes. Davila actually played for two of my alma maters, because he was a JC All-American for two years at Chaffey College, which was the other place where I played. It had been a mystery to us why he didn’t start until the final game of his senior year at Cincinnati, but at least he got one game. I think the Bearcats now realize their mistake based on his performance against the Scarlet Knights… ……………...Friday Night Lights…JO’Co
JO'Co, I like your sense of humor! Good Luck Saturday. Afraid I will be rooting for USC. We do not need a rematch with Michigan. Don
So the wife and I are at an outlet mall on Veteran's Day and I see this older guy, probably about 75-80 years old, shopping with a woman I guess was his daughter. He had a USC hat on. I approached him and asked him if he was a USC fan and he answers in the affirmative. I stick my hand out, introduce myself, and tell him that I'm an Irish fan and I hope that our game this year is as exciting as last. He replies, "I hope it's the same outcome." I laugh and we part ways. Minutes later the wife and I are sitting outside when the old guy walks past us. Just as he gets in front of me I start singing very softly, "Cheer cheer for Old Notre Dame, wake up the echos cheering her name...." He turns and shoots me a look that could kill. The wife and I crack up laughing as he keeps walking. After several steps he grabs his daughter's hand, slowly turns around, and starts walking back towards me. I say to the wife, "Oh great, I'm about to get my arse kicked by an old man." As he approaches me he pulls out a cell phone, opens it up (it was a flip phone), presses a button, and holds it up to my ear. What's playing? The USC fight song, of course. I start to laugh and he points at me and says, "Don't you mess with me you Irishman!" All of us laughed even harder and we parted ways. Damn, I hope the team fares better than I did.
While this is really a big game for both teams, it's bigger for the Irish. USC already is guaranteed the Rose Bowl no matter what it does vs ND or UCLA. If the Irish win we are guaranteed a BCS berth, if we lose well we might get a BCS berth but it's not a sure thing. Plus USC because of their incredible record under Pete Carroll has national respect, the Irish are still suffering from the Davie and Willingham years, we don't have big signature wins under Charlie, most people think about the Ohio State game and the Michigan game this year. We need a big end of the season win to establish credibilty. It will also mean a lot in recruiting.
Great stories, Jim and Bob. Here's mine: A number of years ago, following the ND-USC game (can't even remember the score or who won), I am standing outside the north end of the stadium as the ND band is stationary and serenading the ND locker room. Keep in mind that I'm no younger than late 40s or early 50s. The band plays the ND alma mater. A young - probably mid to late 20s - USC fan in front of me makes a disparaging remark about the song. I wait until the song is over and ask in a voice he and others around me can hear.....Are you naturally an a-hole or do you work at it? He turns around and I stare him square in the eye, ready for whatever may follow. Apparently he didn't want to take it any farther, because he turned away and didn't say a word. All I could think to myself was, Whew! I dodged a bullet. He might have kicked my arse, but there was no way I was going to let him get away with his blatant show of disrespect. Fortunately, as I have gotten older, I've learned to keep my mouth shut......most of the time.
Jimmy, They still have one game left on the road vs UCONN. Dantonio has been saying that it's Grutza's team so if Grutza is ready to go that will be Davila's last game. What a shame if that's the case. That kid played his heart out and without him Rutgers wins and in all likelihood Cincy would not go bowling. Like many JUCO QB's I think Davila got caught up in a numbers game. He was a jr last year and Grutza a freshman. For a JUCO to win the position, he's got to blow away the freshman. It was a tough decision because it forced the coaches to vote on it and Grutza won, but I don't think in this case, the best man won. At least this kid can walk away knowing that in his only opportunity to start, he led the Bearcats to their greatest victory in 119 years. The scene after the game was like Rutgers the week before. The only difference, there were only 27K fans in the stands. Dantonio is an excellent coach and Cincy will get better. They played 5 top 10 teams this year and were in every game except WVU, so they had plenty of confidence and we knew this one was going to be tough.
Hey Rick ! Zona's on a tear lately. Are they turning the corner and will they be a player next year.?
I can't tell you <t>how much I hate these mother*******.<br/> <br/> This madness has to end. <br/> <br/> Go IRISH.<br/> <br/> Beat Trojans.</t>
JO'Co I know SCs FBs have been decimated by injury (although ND lost it's only real one too) Some of their receivers were down for a while. What's their injury situation like?
Thanks for the mention, AJ! I don't want to get off topic on this thread, but the Cats have been playing very well lately. Offensive execution still needs work, but the biggest reason for the success has been improved play by the offensive line. By far. I know it's elementary, but the line is opening holes to make the running game more effective. Now defenses have to respect the run, so the passing game is opening up. Plus the line is pass blocking better. And they've really cut down the motion penalties.
:roll: The Southern Cal prime-time receivers are back and looking good. The only one who's out is local kid Chris McFoy from Chino. Dwayne Jarrett and Steve Smith are back at full speed, along with burner Patrick Turner and Smith has become the #1 target for Booty... The Oline is maybe the best in the country with 2 1/2 legit All-Americans. LT Sam Baker and C Ryan Kalil were AAs last season and G Jeff Byers, who was injured last season, was an AA the year before and all three are starting up front this year. They can block... Booty is for real. He's an experienced semi-pro with a gun and he makes few mistakes. His backup Mark Sanchez is almost as good... On defense, SoCal has the best set of linebackers in the nation. In fact, its the deepest set of LBs I've ever seen. They have SIX legit stud ponies who have all started in the past because of injuries and four of them rotate in and out all the time to try to keep them all happy: Maualuga, Rivers, Sartz and Lua. Maualuga is an animal who must attend anger management classes, Rivers is a great athlete, Lua is the smart one and Sartz is 6'6", which makes passing over him a big problem. Their backups are Cushing and Tommy Williams, who both started most of last year when the rest of them were injured. Like the O-line, the LBs are the other great power force on this team. They create a lot of turnovers... The D-backs have been hit hard by injuries too, but SoCal is so loaded it simply forced the youngsters in early and now they're looking pretty good. True frosh Taylor Mays is a 6'4" safety who's one of the best I've seen and the Trogs have had some great ones. They look good, but Quinn could take advantage of their inexperience if he has time to throw. If I were PC, my plan would be to blitz on every down with those fast LBs so that the kids in the back don't get tested by ND's senior WRs Samardzija and McKnight... The FBs are all gone to injury...every one of them, but SoCal's incredible depth chart has solved that too. They now start former HSAA Allen Bradford from Colton, who began the year as a starting safety as a true frosh. He also has carries at TB and he's a gamer wherever he plays. The backup is Tommy Williams who moved over from LB and the both of them have saved this situation... USC special teams are good, but not great and the kicking is solid. Depth is no problem there either... Running backs are superior with frosh CJ Gable and senior Chauncey Washington who was the original starter who beat out both Reggie Bush and LenDale White before becoming academically ineligible for three years. What a coincidence that his grades came up just as the other two went to the NFL... .............................JO'Co :roll:
Great review, Jim, but I wish you did not know so much. I'm more concerned than I was before I read it.
Thanks JOCO <t>I hate these guys even more now than I did before I read the article. It had nothing to do with your fine reporting, I just hate them and it grows by the day.<br/> <br/> By the way, when Grandpa Ed gets healthy again. Tell him that I miss him, I love him, and USC sucks.</t>
8) re: Yer Trojan grandfather I'm sure Ed can feel all the bad vibes coming from the Irish end of his family. He played football too and he knows how we are... re: Injury report Chino's Chris McFoy has had a miracle cure and has been cleared to play on Saturday. This will be the first time since week #1 that the Trojan's have had all three WRs, Jarrett, Smith and McFoy at the same time... The locals are feeling mighty frisky... .............JO'Co