Sport Report

When the University of Southern California has three rushers in one game average over 7.3 yards a carry I would think the opposition would feel depressed and extremely worn out.

Nebraska is not Utah, er....I mean not UCLA, and they were ranked 14th going into yesterday's home game in Lincoln, Nebraska.

Everything was very red in the stadium before the game and even redder for the players after the game.

USC's offensive line opened up wide lanes for each of the running backs...but a few of the runners showed cutting and juking abilities that resulted in large gains.

Stafon Johnson averaged 13.0 yards a carry and while he gained the most yards he didn't lead in the carries per average onslaught.

Stanley Havili, the fullback, averaged 26.0 yards a carry

C.J. Gable averaged 17.2 yards a carry

The Cornhuskers Coach made a few strange decisions...one of which was changing the game plan after an effective first quarter. They were throwing the ball extremely well and drove for a touchdown to tie up the game. It looked like USC's pass defense was vulnerable and it made for a very interesting beginning....even a touch of nervousness snuck in as I watched them drive down the field but I kept remembering how Lou Holtz, the day before on ESPN, had explained how and why Nebraska would beat the Trojans....and I relaxed.

Lou Holtz must be wrong 90% of the time when he makes a prediction.

Anyway the Nebraska QB stopped throwing in the second quarter and basically that was the game. When he did try to throw later it was on third down and long plays...and the quick Trojan defense....AND THEY ARE REALLY QUICK....just stepped in and finished the Corn....all the way down to the cob.

USC has amazing speed at the defensive ends and linebackers position. Rumors have multiple first round NFL picks emerging from those two areas. I'm not even talking about an offensive line that seems to be one of their best...but it's early and offensive lines in USC history have been highly regarded for the last 40 years.

It takes a full season to evaluate an offensive line....but since they have a true freshman starting at center.....which I've never heard of....I'm thinking this MIGHT be their best ever.

Whether or not the team ranks up there is another question. People are asking John David Booty to win a Heisman trophy with no proven receivers. If he can pull off that feat it will have meant that he made three new players...instant stars.

Personally, with this running attack, I don't think John David Booty will be able to put up the numbers necessary to win the Heisman.

But an injury here and an injury there and maybe Patrick Turner turns into T.O and it all works out for Mr. Booty.

I'm fairly certain that John David would trade a Heisman for 13-0 and a National Championship.

Pete Carroll seems to have a certain ability to transfer the pleasure of winning onto the entire team....even a walk-on back-up kicker named.....Brad Smith.

Brad Smith did not make the traveling squad and was let home to straighten up the locker room. But I've heard rumor$ that some people attending USC have other resources beyond scholarship funding....so perhaps young Brad is one of those people. It would be a really cool story if he used money he made while working at the campus bookstore.

What he did with his money was......get on red-eye and fly to Lincoln and join his teammates for the game. He wasn't able to dress in a uniform but he stood on the sidelines during the game and I would imagine when all is said and done....that $1000.00 will be one of his best investments. It turns out he's a graduate student. I didn't know graduate students were eligible....maybe he's writing his thesis on being a USC football player.

I'm pretty sure there are quite a few of us....who would enjoy reading that thesis....but remember that's just a guess. He's probably a business major working on his Master's Degree in Finance and that $1000.00 was just chump change.

After all, this is USC and $ucce$$ is the name of the game.

Now let's talk about UCLA.

NOT

I can't rub it in during a period of time when the last USC/UCLA game resulted in a UCLA victory....and that period of time won't end until December 1st.

I wished UCLA and USC could go into that game...both undefeated.....it really makes for a premiere week of getting ready for the big one. Lots of trash talk from both sides of town...but alas that will not come to pass....which Ben I'm not on a mission Olson, fully understands after that experience yesterday in Utah...

But maybe they will both be 11-1 on that day......and playing for second place in the PAC-10 behind CAL.

Stranger things have happened in the world of Saturday football.

I don't want to even mention the Dodgers because they are on a four game winning streak...and I don't want to jinx them....

opps.

The picture under the USC runner is MATT MURPHY and how happy he looked after catching #756 by Barry Bonds......

How happy does he look today after learning that HIS ball sold for

$752,000.00? .....it was an auction and I can't believe that the guys bidding for it couldn't take the number to

$756,000.00..

What were they thinking?

Michael Timothy McAlevey