If you are a fanatic of a particular team, like I am with USC, you will need to adjust your frustration meter this year. Twelve teams will make the playoffs this year, so one loss is not the end of the world.

USC lost a heartbreaker in Ann Arbor to the run only Wolverines. At approximately 7:15 PM Saturday evening it felt like the end of the world for me and my fellow Trojans fanatics. The sun did indeed rise on Sunday along with the realization that USC could very well be favored in all of their remaining games, with Penn State and Notre Dame being the toughest games left on paper. Of course, as we found out Saturday, games aren’t played on paper.

USC is one of the new kids on the block in the Big Ten. They were treated that way by the officials, ironically an imported Pac-12 crew. I don’t want to come across as a crybaby, so I will save the officiating for later.

USC certainly did plenty on their own volition to lose this game.

When the West Coast teams entered the Big Ten the number one question was could they match the physicality at the line of scrimmage. I would argue Michigan was the worst team to test your mettle against in that regard. Michigan is not nearly as good this year. The Wolverines quarterback situation is a disaster. The back end of the defense is susceptible. But at the line of scrimmage, Michigan is still stout. It showed on Saturday.

USC does not have a championship offensive line, and it isn’t close. Lincoln Riley has done a poor job of recruiting that position. The fact quarterback Miller Moss was able to walk off the field at the end of the game was a minor miracle. USC did make some personnel adjustments at halftime that helped them take control for most of the second half.

Lincoln Riley is supposed to be an offensive guru. He certainly has the resume to back up that title. However, Saturday he was far too conservative, maybe in part due to the woes of the offensive line. His time management, as is the case with many coaches, is questionable.

Saturday, Riley called screen after screen after screen. None of them worked. In fact, one of the many tight end screens got Lake McCree, the starting tight end, injured. The injury could keep McCree out for several weeks. It is almost as if Riley wants to prove his plays will work despite the evidence to the contrary.

Riley’s insistence for the short passing game —and, again, part of that was because the offensive line couldn’t protect Moss— also led to a very costly pick six as USC had all the momentum. Still, USC was able to come back and get the lead in the fourth quarter.

Riley’s most egregious mistake came after USC took the lead and control of the game. With 5:01 remaining USC could have nearly iced the game with a first down. At the very least, Michigan would have been forced to use up their timeouts. Running the ball was difficult for most of the day, but it would take the clock down to nearly 3:00. Instead, Riley ran once, then threw an incomplete shovel pass and an incomplete scree pass. Riley acknowledged after the game his conservative pass plays were poor calls. Michigan literally couldn’t pass the ball, so less time would make things very difficult for the Wolverines. Instead, they were given plenty of time to continue running the ball.

The Trojan defense was a laughingstock a year ago, but a coaching change has given the defense a rise. The defense has looked really good in the first two games, but how would they stack up against a Big Ten team? Especially a Michigan team who was not going to throw much, opting to jam it down the Trojans throat.

USC held Michigan to 3.0 yards per carry for 43 of the 46 carries. Unfortunately the other three carries went for 53, 41, and 63 yards. The first two went for touchdowns. The third came with two minutes left and set up Michigan deep in USC territory, where they would punch in the game winner on a fourth and one.

A year ago, USC couldn’t tackle themselves, let alone opponents. This year has been a 180 degree turnaround. Unfortunately, the first noticeable missed tackle of the season came on the late 63 yard run by Michigan back Kalel Mullings. Technically it was two missed tackles, as John Humphrey couldn’t bring him down and Kalen Ramsey whiffed trying to help out.

Clearly, USC did plenty on their own to lose this game.

The Trojans also did enough to win the game.

The gentlemen in the striped shirts did not have a good day, and their errors sure seemed to be one sided. There was a missed offsides call on USC, but the other calls that were missed all went Michigan’s way.

Check out all of the following plays, and throw in two missed delay of game penalties. Inexcusable.

On the play before the first big run for a Michigan touchdown, USC appeared to stop Michigan on fourth and 1. A bad spot gave Michigan a first down. No replay was called for, as one would expect on a big call like that.

 

 

With the ball in his left arm, the Michigan ball carrier never got to the yard to gain. Not close, yet no replay on the questionable spot.

There were two face mask penalties not called on sacks of Miller Moss. The second would have given USC a medium range field goal attempt at the end of the first half.

 

 

Makai Lemon ended up in the hospital after this blindside block where the Michigan player also launched himself into Lemon.

 

 

No call. No review for targeting.

Even Gene Steratore weighed in on this fairly obvious horse collar tackle on USC receiver Ja’Kobi Lane.

 


No call again. When Steratore criticizes a call, you know it is bad.

Holding can be called on every play, and thankfully most officiating crews don’t go that far. In this case, Michigan ran the ball 46 times without a holding call. Not one. There is evidence in the one photo above showing at least two obvious holding calls not made against Michigan. USC was, however, called for holding twice on wide receiver screens. One of the calls had CBS analyst Gary Danielson searching high and low for the hold with no luck.

All that happened would have become a moot point had the officials called this obvious hold on the winning touchdown run.

 

 

Number 83, wearing a club on his left hand, wraps that arm around the defensive end in a combination bear hug/headlock. The runner went right in the hole created by this obvious penalty for the score.

If USC plays better on the offensive line, the Trojans would have scored in the 30’s and won the football game. If USC doesn’t miss the two tackles on the late run they win the football game. If Miller Moss doesn’t throw a pick six, the Trojans win the football game. If Lincoln Riley makes better play calls, the Trojans win the football game.

USC has nobody to blame but themselves for this loss. But let’s be honest, the officiating was suspiciously one sided and costly to the Trojans. I think it is fair to say if these calls would have been made correctly, the Trojans would have won the football game.

The pollsters just may agree with me, as they only dropped USC two spots.

USC is an offensive line away from being an elite team. That is a rather significant missing piece. It is a large stretch of my imagination to think they could stand up to the Alabamas, Georgias, Ohio States of the college football world. With that said, none of those teams are on the Trojans schedule. USC should match up, at the very least, evenly with their remaining opponents.

That means USC joins teams like Michigan, Clemson, and Notre Dame in trying to overcome an early loss to stay in the playoff conversation. Alabama or Georgia will join that list this weekend.

So fanatics, don’t jump off a bridge when your team loses this year. Twelve teams make the playoffs which means one loss —or maybe two— won’t knock you out of the playoffs.

Relax USC fanatics. Last year’s team would have lost the Michigan game by three touchdowns and given up 600 yards rushing. Things are heading in the right direction. They certainly proved they can play with the big, tough Big Ten teams. If and when they get an offensive line and look out.

USC, like Clemson and Michigan, still have their fate in their own hands.

Lord knows, USC is due to get some calls.

Two Cent Takes

College Football

~It may be time to start paying attention to BYU. Kansas State only had a 6-3 lead, but the Cats were in control right before halftime. Then a fumble that led to a scoop and score followed by an interception that led to a touchdown put BYU in the driver’s seat. Then this happened in the second half.

 

 

~Pat Narduzzi had Pitt run the score up on Youngstown State because his father got fired at Youngstown 40 years ago.

 

 

This may be the most Narduzzi thing Narduzzi has ever done. I guess he out-Narduzzi’d himself.

~The honeymoon is over for quarterback Riley Leonard in South Bend, as many Notre Dame fans are calling for him to be benched. I questioned how Leonard would handle the South Bend spotlight.

NFL

~I said the Steelers had to be 6-2 at minimum going into their bye week. So far, so good. The Steelers moved to 3-0 with a mediocre Colts, an overrated Cowboys, a miserable Raiders, Jets, and an awful Giants left before the break. 6-2 is certainly possible.

~The Steelers offense took baby steps this week. I may have been wrong. I don’t think there is any way you can start Russell Wilson when he is healthy. Justin Fields is improving each week and making the required throws to be successful. I would be dangling Wilson to see if I could get a wide receiver in return. Of course, there are worse things than having a veteran backup.

~Sam Darnold is proving he is a competent NFL quarterback. Actually he has been better than competent, proving that finding the correct fit is the most important thing for a quarterback. The Vikings are for real.

~The Eagles may have saved Nick Sirianni’s job with a late touchdown Sunday. Sirianni’s refusal to kick field goals and the play calls made on those fourth downs almost cost the Eagles another game. I just don’t see him surviving in Philly.

~As soon as I gave Baker Mayfield props, he goes out and gets outplayed by Bo Nix.

~Cleveland lost to the Giants and #CrazyAB may have the solution to the Browns problems.

 

 

~Speaking of the right fit, how about Malik Willis in Green Bay. He is 2-0 starting for the injured Jordan Love including dominating his former team in Tennessee.

~Dallas proved to be a day late and a dollar short again Sunday. The Ravens avoided starting 0-3, while the cowboys fall to 1-2 and looked extremely soft in doing so.

~Speaking of 1-2, welcome to the club San Francisco. The Niners went to great lengths to lose Sunday in a de facto home game at SoFi Stadium in LA. The Rams probably saved their season for now. One team in LA isn’t working, and two is just a joke.

~If officials don’t want people like me to be conspiracy theorists, then they have to quit giving the Chiefs every call late in games. This no call may have cost the Falcons a game winning touchdown. The Chiefs already own Taylor Swift, they shouldn’t own the refs.

 

~Doug Pederson on the unemployment line in 3…2…1…

Golf

~Freddy Couples has always been my favorite golfer. In case you need a reason, here you go. The “too’s”.

 

 

~The President’s Cup is being played this weekend in case anyone cares. Yea, I know. I will probably still watch some of it. The Americans should put this thing away early. Not close.

MLB

~I have railed on the Pittsburgh Pirates for most of the season. I even started a hashtag #FireEveryone. Even though they don’t deserve it, the Pirates do have a couple nice things. O’Neil Cruz became only the third 20/20 player, joining Andrew McCutchen and Barry Bonds.

 

 

~Can we stop acting like the NL Rookie of the Year is up for grabs? Jackson Merrill is fantastic, but he isn’t Paul Skenes.

 

 

~Say it with me: The Tigers are making the playoffs.

 


The Tigers play the White Sox to end the season. That gives them a huge advantage. The Twins are on the outside looking in as of now although the Royals have lost 7 in a row. The Twins are home for their last six, while the Royals are on the road. Let’s hope the Royals hold on so we can see Bobby Witt in the playoffs. The Mariners still have life as well.

~The Braves need to sweep the Mets at home early in the week or they are doomed. Unless the Diamondbacks collapse at home this week. One good team is going to be left out.

~The Reds fired manager David Bell, despite giving him an extension last year. Apparently results matter. Could someone wake up Mr. Nutting in Pittsburgh? He will be the one counting his change.

The Weekly Shiny Penny

I have a simple message that goes with this video. If you don’t like Lane Kiffin, we can’t be friends.

 

 

A Penny For My Final Thought…

You are watching greatness.

Well, that is if you watch baseball.

Shohei Ohtani is an absolute phenomenon. And he didn’t even pitch this year.

Last week Ohtani had, arguably, the greatest game in the history of baseball.

We go crazy when a player hits three home runs in a game. We go crazy when a player hits for the cycle. We go crazy when a player gets six hits in a game. We go crazy when a player drives in ten runs.

Shohei Ohtani did all of those things. In the same game. 6-6, 3 HR, 10 RBI, and hit for the cycle.

 

 

By the way, Joe Davis is a great replacement for the legendary Vin Scully.

Ohtani is going to win the MVP award for the third time in four years. In 2022 he finished second to Aaron Judge, who played the role of Superman that season. Somehow, Ohtani only finished fourth in the Cy Young voting in 2022. This despite recording 15 wins with a lousy team, a 2.33 ERA, and 219 strikeouts in 166 innings.

Ohtani is a freak of nature. A guy who can pitch with the best arms in baseball and hit with biggest boppers in the sport. You could argue he sits at the head of each table.

Oh, and did I forget to mention he became the first player to hit 50 home runs and steal 50 bases. A modern day Jose Canseco minus the steroids and stupidity.

Some are unwilling to acknowledge Ohtani’s greatness.

There was a debate on social media that Ronald Acuna’s season last year was just as good or better than Ohtani’s season this year.

Sure was. So what.

Oh, well Acuna played the field and played fantastic defense. Sure did.

Ohtani is playing despite an injury to his pitching arm. Of course the Dodgers are not going to have him play the field and risk an injury. He will be the team’s number one pitcher next year and the team’s best hitter.

Then there are the oldsters my age and above who poke holes because Babe Ruth is their guy. Unless you are 90 years old you never saw Ruth play. And, yes, Ruth is one of the greatest players in the history of baseball. He is the name most people associate the game of baseball with.

Ohtani is from Japan, so he won’t resonate quite as much with marginal baseball fans. Not to mention, why must we try to compare players 100 years apart? Ohtani will have to kick it in overdrive to even get close to Ruth’s home run totals. He may have to make a decision to give up pitching at some point to limit the stress on both his mind and body.

Ohtani will finally get a shot at the big stage that is the MLB playoffs. That is a very good thing for baseball.

Keep shouting at the clouds if you must.

via GIPHY

In my lifetime I have never seen a player pitch and be an every day hitter. To do it at the level Ohtani is doing it is simply amazing. A supreme pitcher, speed on the bases, stunning power in that bat. It is pure craziness. Ohtani is great at everything this side of picking interpreters. Sit back and enjoy the magic.

The fact is Shohei Ohtani is ONE OF the greatest players in baseball history. 

Just my two cents…