Booty, No. 11 USC Keep Rose Bid Alive

By ANDREW BAGNATO
AP College Football Writer

TEMPE, Ariz. (AP) - Pete Carroll is an optimist. So even after his Southern California team lost twice, including an unimaginable upset by Stanford, the coach kept insisting the Trojans had a shot at the Rose Bowl. The 11th-ranked Trojans made that clear in a 44-24 rout of No. 7 Arizona State on Thursday night, reviving their bid for an unprecedented sixth straight Pac-10 title and a Rose Bowl berth.

John David Booty threw for 375 yards and matched a career high with four touchdown passes, and the Trojans defense dominated.

``I've been ringing the bell for that in our locker room and our meeting rooms for a while,'' Carroll said. ``It ain't over yet.''

Southern California (9-2, 6-2 Pac-10) will win the Pac-10 if it beats UCLA on Dec. 1 and Oregon loses to UCLA or Oregon State.

The Trojans need help to earn a trip to Pasadena. They needed no help in dismantling the Sun Devils (9-2, 6-2).

``This was a really, really sweet win,'' Carroll said. ``I think it's a great statement for our guys. They know now what we're capable of doing.''

The Rose Bowl seemed an unlikely destination after then-No. 2 USC, a 41-point favorite, lost 24-23 to Stanford on Oct. 6 in one of college football's biggest stunners. But now, the talented Trojans are rolling again.

``People kind of counted us out, especially with the early loss to Stanford,'' said Booty, who also ran for a 1-yard score. ``We know what we're all about.''

USC's defense overwhelmed Arizona State, sacking Rudy Carpenter six times and briefly knocking him out of the game with a cut lip. Defensive end Lawrence Jackson had four sacks, most in a game by a Trojans player since 1989.

``They came to hit tonight,'' Carpenter said. ``I think tonight, we were overmatched.''

Southern California broke open a 17-all game with 10 points in the final 5 minutes of the first half, then pulled away from the Sun Devils with 17 more points in the third quarter.

Booty hit Joe McKnight for a 7-yard touchdown midway through the quarter, then connected with Fred Davis for a 34-yard score on fourth-and-2 to give USC a 44-17 lead entering the fourth.

Booty had missed three games with a broken finger and played inconsistently at times. But he was sharp and confident from the start on Thursday night, completing his first seven passes.

``The individual showing from John David was just perfectly timed,'' Carroll said. ``He's back now. He's ready to go. He comes up with a huge night.''

ASU has staged some stirring rallies this season but the Sun Devils had no chance against USC's defense, which allows 16 points per game - sixth in the nation. The Trojans limited ASU to 16 yards on 35 rushes.

It was USC's eighth straight win over Arizona State.

``We didn't play good,'' ASU coach Dennis Erickson said. ``It's sad.

``We just did not play like I thought we would in a game like this,'' Erickson said. ``No excuses. We just didn't do what we needed to do.''

Arizona State trailed 17-7 midway through the first quarter. It was the sixth time the Sun Devils have faced a double-digit deficit in the opening quarter, and they rallied to win four times.

The Trojans opened the game with a seven-play, 51-yard touchdown drive, scoring on a 4-yard pass from Booty to Vidal Hazelton. Booty was 6-for-6 for 45 yards on the opening drive.

ASU answered with a 98-yard kickoff return by Rudy Burgess to tie it 7-all. It was only the second kickoff return for a touchdown by a Sun Devils player at home in the past 21 years.

The Trojans scored the next 10 points, but then the Sun Devils woke up.

ASU cut it to 17-14 on a 4-yard pass from Carpenter to Michael Jones, and Thomas Weber's 25-yard field goal tied it at 17 early in the second quarter.

But USC reeled off the next 27 points, and the Sun Devils didn't score again until they blocked a punt at USC's 20-yard line midway through the fourth quarter.

``We just happened to catch them when they played like one of the best teams in the country,'' Erickson said.

Source: ncaafootball.com; Photo Credit: Collegiate Images

Trojans back in the hunt for Rose Bowl berth

By JOHN NADEL
AP Sports Writer

LOS ANGELES (AP) - Southern California's dominance of the Pac-10 has to end at some point.

Or does it?

Coach Pete Carroll's 11th-ranked Trojans have won or shared a record five straight conference championships, and were overwhelming picks to make it six this season.

But a shocking 24-23 loss to 41-point underdog Stanford on Oct. 6 knocked the Trojans out of first place, and a 24-17 setback at Oregon three weeks later appeared to eliminate them from title contention.

Now, in keeping with this unpredictable season, USC is back in the mix entering Thursday night's game at No. 7 Arizona State - the Trojans' first Thanksgiving Day game since 1938.

``That's how football works. Anything can happen,'' Trojans tight end Fred Davis said Tuesday. ``If we finish like we're supposed to, we have a chance to play in the big game.''

Davis wasn't referring to the BCS championship game, as USC had hoped for and many had predicted before the season. He spoke of the Rose Bowl, which Carroll has emphasized is the team's goal every year.

Since the loss at Oregon, just about everything has gone the Trojans' way to vault them back into contention.

Should the Trojans (8-2, 5-2 Pac-10) beat the Sun Devils (9-1, 6-1), they'd move into a tie atop the conference standings. Arizona State and No. 9 Oregon (8-2, 5-2) would also have two losses, but the Ducks would win the tiebreaker by virtue of their victories over USC and ASU.

In that case, Oregon would have to beat UCLA on Saturday and rival Oregon State a week later to clinch the Rose Bowl berth.

Should USC beat ASU and the Dennis Dixon-less Ducks lose to UCLA, the Trojans would clinch the bid by beating the Bruins on Dec. 1.

A knee injury knocked Dixon out for the season, leaving Brady Leaf at quarterback for the Ducks. Carroll believes that'll make it much more difficult for Oregon this weekend.

``I think UCLA has a great chance against these guys because that's such a different change for them to go to,'' Carroll said. ``He's a totally different quarterback. He's a traditional pocket-style big guy. He's got a lot of great assets, it's just way different than what they've played.''

USC would also earn the Rose Bowl berth by winning its final two games if the Ducks lose to rival Oregon State in their finale.

``We're pumped to have an opportunity to win a conference championship,'' Carroll said. ``This is really an exciting time for us here to get ready for such a good matchup. We feel strong and are going to try to make the most of this.''

The Trojans have established a reputation as finishers under Carroll, going 22-0 in November games since he became their coach in 2001.

The Sun Devils are doing quite a job of finishing in their own right. After being outscored 83-36 in first quarters this year, they're outscoring the opposition 306-97 in the final three periods including 68-12 in fourth quarters.

``They started out slow at times and had games where they were trailing and considerably at times, and then came roaring back,'' Carroll said. ``They hang tough. They know they're going to play well at the end. They've played great second-half football and have not been wavered by their starts.

``This is a really good football team. It's a cool demonstration of what Dennis Erickson was able to do.''

Erickson, in his first year at ASU, previously coached at Washington State and Oregon State in the Pac-10.

``He's had a coach-of-the-year type of year, and you can just see the experience and the comfort that his team has and plays with,'' Carroll said. ``I think it's remarkable and really, really a job well done. It's hard to do that. I like what he's done.''

Should the Trojans win Thursday night, they'd be in a rare position - pulling for crosstown rival UCLA to beat Oregon.

Or would they?

``I'm not that far ahead yet, but I'll tell you, I might find it hard to do that, I'll tell you that,'' Carroll said with a smile.

Davis also avoided answering whether he'd be rooting for the Bruins.

``I'd be going against Oregon,'' he said. ``I don't think I'm supposed to cheer (for UCLA). I can only hope we can do what we're supposed to do. I can sit there and watch the game. It's a chance to get in.''

Defensive lineman Kyle Moore was more direct.

``I'd never cheer for UCLA,'' he said before pausing and adding: ``Then again. ... We're not even looking at it. We hold our own destiny. If we win our next two games, we put ourselves in a good position.''

Source: ncaafootball.com; Photo Credit: COLLEGIATE IMAGES

USC's defense looks to stop Oregon's prolific running game

By ANNE M. PETERSON
AP Sports Writer

EUGENE, Ore. (AP) - Southern California understands that slowing down Oregon's offense is best accomplished by keeping it off the field.

That means stopping the Ducks' rushing game.

Fifth-ranked Oregon features the country's third-best rushing offense, and second-best overall offense. No. 9 USC has the nation's third-ranked defense. The two sides will collide Saturday at Autzen Stadium.

``They run the ball. That's the main thing we're going to focus on. ... Stop the run and make them pass,'' USC cornerback Terrell Thomas said. ``It's going to come down to everyone doing their job. We're going to have to execute, no matter what they call.

``That's our No. 1 goal, that's our main job, to shut the run down.''

The Trojans (6-1, 3-1 Pac-10) are allowing only 252 yards a game, but they will be tested in a key conference game that ultimately could have national championship implications. The Ducks (6-1, 3-1) average 551 yards a game, but haven't seen a defense the caliber of Southern Cal.

``They're unbelievable. They're a real active D-line up front, and they got the best defense we'll face in a long time,'' Oregon center Max Unger said. ``We've got our work cut out for us. We'll pretty much have to play a perfect game. It's going to be a barn-burner. It's going to be cool.''

The Ducks, with a speedy spread-option offense, average 46.6 points a game.

Quarterback Dennis Dixon has completed 138 of 199 passes for 1,728 yards and 16 touchdowns with just three interceptions, and he has 416 yards rushing and seven touchdowns this season. As a result, Dixon is averaging 308.2 yards in total offense, 11th-best nationally.

Tailback Jonathan Stewart, who is averaging 134 yards a game, rushed for a career-best 251 yards and two touchdowns in Oregon's 55-34 victory over Washington last weekend.

``They're extraordinary,'' USC coach Pete Carroll said. ``They're the best offense we've seen probably since we've been here. Nobody's even gotten close to slowing them down.''

The Trojans announced Thursday evening after practice that Mark Sanchez would make his third start. John David Booty had thrown in practice but continued to nurse a broken middle finger on this throwing hand.

``Mark's going to start. John had a great week. We decided this afternoon to go in that direction,'' Carroll said. ``He (Booty) will be able to go if we need him, it's just the uncertainty that John feels. Hopefully Mark can make it through the game, we can get a win.''

Sanchez passed for 130 yards and a touchdown but was intercepted twice in a 20-13 victory over Arizona. He improved in last weekend's 38-0 victory over Notre Dame, throwing for 235 yards and four TDs with no interceptions.

The quarterbacks were not available for comment after Thursday's practice.

USC has won the last three games against the Ducks, including last year's 35-10 victory in Los Angeles. The Trojans have won their last two in Eugene.

It is the first time in Autzen Stadium's 41-year history that two top 10 teams will meet.

``We need this ball game,'' Carroll said. ``We need to get back into Pac-10 play and do something about our situation that we face with a front-running team and a team that's really out there.''

SOURCE: NCAAFOOTBALL.COM; PHOTO CREDIT: COLLEGIATE IMAGES

CFI: THE GOLDEN DOME: HERE COME THE TROJANS

BY SHANNON O'KEEFE
NOTRE DAME INSIDER

USC, the most successful college football team in the country since 2002, is struggling this season following a wave of injuries among its roster. Add to that a tumultuous plane ride to South Bend this week, after which Dennis Slutak, USC’s director of football operations told The Los Angeles Times, "There was a moment there when I was thinking, 'This is it.'" -- you have a team ripe for being upset. Unfortunately for the Irish, Stanford got to them first.

It’s true that the Trojans look somewhat vulnerable going into Saturday’s game against the Irish, but let’s not forget that the Irish aren’t exactly invincible themselves this season. If “invincible” is even to be used in the same sentence as the present Notre Dame team, it might only be to invite comparisons with that Mark Wahlberg movie, in which football didn’t look sexy and the hometown team didn’t win games.

Favored by 17 points, a win at South Bend would give the Trojans their sixth straight win against the Irish. Heisman hopeful John David Booty will likely miss another start with a broken finger on his throwing hand, leaving third-year sophomore Mark Sanchez to make his second start. This injury, not to mention the many others that will leave starters on the bench, will certainly be a boon to the Irish defense, which has provided the highlight reel to date this season, and continues to be the difference maker in each game.

Still, the Trojans are down but not out. Coach Pete Carroll thinks many of his injured players will see action against the Irish, including leading rusher Stafon Johnson, linebackers Brian Cushing and Rey Maualuga, cornerbacks Terrell Thomas and Shareece Wright and offensive lineman Chilo Rachal.

For the Irish, junior Evan Sharpley will replace Jimmy Clausen at quarterback, marking Sharpley’s first official start for the Irish. He will be the third quarterback to start this year, as the Irish continue to struggle mightily on offense. The Irish are only averaging 32.1 yards rushing per game, the worst in the nation, and leading rusher James Aldridge will likely be out of Saturday’s game with an injury. Look for freshman Armando Allen to get more carries, but he still doesn’t have the heft to get very far. Sophomore Robby Parris should connect with Sharpley on a few long balls, with John Carlson carrying some offensive weight and showing his young teammates how to play up for the big game.

The Irish have been making strides as of late, and are fashioning themselves into a team that won’t lose forever. Once they can start making steady gains on offense, capitalizing on penalty freebies, and giving the defense a little more time to rest between downs, they may actually win another game. Or at least come very close. Go Irish!

PHOTO CREDIT: COLLEGIATE IMAGES

Trojans left to ponder stunning loss to Cardinal

By JOHN NADEL
AP Sports Writer

LOS ANGELES (AP) - Perhaps Southern California just isn't that good.

What other explanation can there be?

The Trojans entered Saturday's game as 41-point favorites over a Stanford team coming off three one-sided losses and playing its first road game of the season.

The site was the Los Angeles Coliseum, where USC had won 35 straight since losing to the Cardinal six years ago in the fourth game of the Pete Carroll era.

Oh, one more thing - quarterback T.C. Ostrander couldn't play, meaning Tavita Pritchard would make his first career start against one of the nation's toughest defenses.

Final score: Stanford 24, USC 23. The Cardinal scored the winning points with 49 seconds remaining on Pritchard's 10-yard touchdown pass to Mark Bradford on fourth-and-goal and Derek Belch's conversion.

Four plays earlier, Stanford converted on fourth-and-20 when Pritchard hit Richard Sherman for a first down at the USC 9, just past the first-down marker.

There was fair warning things weren't quite right a week earlier, when then-No. 1 USC was holding on at the end of a 27-24 victory at Washington over a team coming off two straight losses.

After that, the Trojans fell to No. 2 in the AP Top 25, just two points behind LSU. Now, after being victimized by one of the most startling upsets in college football history, USC (4-1, 2-1 Pac-10) is ranked 10th.

``We lost. We've got to face that fact and move on,'' said Trojans quarterback John Booty, who passed for 364 yards but threw four interceptions including one that set up the go-ahead touchdown. ``Now, we have to put it behind us.''

The same might be said for USC's national championship hopes, although with all the upsets happening, it's possible there won't be one unbeaten team standing when the regular season ends, much less two.

``Our season's not over,'' defensive end Lawrence Jackson said. ``This loss is not devastating. We still have seven games left. We are still a good team with great coaches, even though we walked out of here with a loss. We need to find character and bounce back.''

That shouldn't be too difficult the next couple of weeks, with Arizona (2-4) paying a visit next Saturday and the Trojans traveling to Notre Dame (1-5) on Oct. 20. Though, after what happened Saturday night, no game is a walkover right now for USC.

After that, USC hits the road of the nastiest part of the schedule with games at No. 2 California, No. 9 Oregon and No. 14 Arizona State.

USC had to face Stanford (2-4, 1-3) without several topflight players sidelined by injuries including tailbacks Stafon Johnson and C.J. Gable, offensive linemen Kristofer O'Dowd and Chilo Rachel, linebacker Brian Cushing and defensive back Josh Pinkard.

Still, the Trojans pride themselves on their talent and depth, understandable considering they've been at or near the top of the recruiting wars under Carroll, who has coached USC to a 69-13 record since taking over.

USC dominated Stanford statistically, rolling up 459 yards of total offense to 235, but committed five turnovers while forcing only one.

The game turned late in the third quarter, after USC had taken a 16-7 lead. Not counting their final possession, when they took a knee with the game in hand, the Cardinal gained 186 yards and scored 17 points the last three times they had the ball.

``Stanford deserves all the credit,'' Carroll said. ``They did a heck of a job and we just had a ton of mistakes. We made enough mistakes and they capitalized. This just goes to show, the guys who play better win.''

Booty cracked a bone on the tip of his middle finger on his throwing hand when he hit it on a helmet in the second quarter, but played on.

``He fought through it and was doing all right,'' Carroll said. ``We could have made a change but we went with our guy. I don't know about next week.''

USC dropped several passes, committed eight penalties for 80 yards, and made several other mistakes as well.

The young wide receivers continue to struggle, perhaps making Booty appear to be playing worse than he really is, and the offensive line didn't protect well.

Pritchard, a 6-foot-4, 200-pound sophomore from Tacoma, Wash., entered having thrown three passes for the Cardinal. He completed 11 of 30 for 149 yards and the winning touchdown with one interception.

Not great numbers, but good enough.

``He went into this thing with no fear, and played a great game,'' first-year Stanford coach Jim Harbaugh said. ``Our guys just played like their lives depended on it. They played calm, too. They kept believing in it. They got it done with technique and heart tonight.''

Source: ncaafootball.com; Photo Credit: Collegiate Images

RATING THE QBs

By John Murphy, Yahoo! Sports

A conference-by-conference look at the top senior NFL quarterback prospects.

ACC

Matt Ryan, Boston College – A classic, drop-back passer who has very good physical tools and the necessary toughness/intangibles to become a starter at the next level. He's a better athlete than he is given credit for and can move around the pocket with enough presence to avoid pass rushers, while putting good zip on most of his throws. He does not receive the level of hype of others in this category, but could become a solid second-round choice.

Kyle Wright, Miami, FL – Wright is currently backing up Kirby Freeman. But USA Today's top-rated quarterback coming out of high school is 6-foot-4, 220 pounds and runs 4.6 in the 40. That will surely get him a free agent shot, even if he remains on the bench all season.

Big East

Brian Brohm, Louisville – Brohm is the top-rated senior quarterback and has a chance to be the No. 1 overall choice in next year's NFL Draft. He will post great numbers in the team's wide-open offensive scheme, but will spend the postseason proving he can do the same if stationed under center (not out of the shotgun). Some teams aren't sold on him because he has not always been durable and other QBs who played in the same offensive scheme have struggled in the pros. Brohm has shown the necessary smarts, work ethic and physical tools to make believers out of all critics.

Big Ten

Chad Henne, Michigan – Henne was hoping for a possible Heisman campaign and national championship run. Instead he enters Week 2 with an 0-1 record. He has struggled in some big games. That creates doubt in the minds of NFL evaluators. Henne has good, but not great tools and really needs to step up his game or risk falling to the back end of the draft pool.

Anthony Morelli, Penn State – Morelli could make the biggest jump. He has all the qualities of a top-rated quarterback and is now surrounded by solid upperclassmen. He is a tough, smart kid with a nice arm and can rise up the charts by cutting down turnovers and proving he knows what it takes to carry a team.

Big 12

Sam Keller, Nebraska – Arizona State transfer who made his way to the Midwest for the chance to start. Keller sat out last year, but learned the offense and has looked very sharp throughout spring and fall drills. He has good size and a strong arm. He could be a surprise third- to fourth-round choice by year's end.

Bret Meyer, Iowa State – An athletic, dual threat who has fallen off in scouts' eyes because he forces too many balls and has committed too many turnovers. He needs to prove he is more of a passer than thrower in his final season.

Pac-10

John David Booty, USC – Booty has one of the most high-pressure positions in college football. He has proven to be a solid replacement to Matt Leinart. He throws a very accurate, catchable ball, but does not wow you with any one portion of his game. A good, but not great athlete, surrounded by USC's unreal talent level. Booty is still not the most vocal of leaders and might not crave the spotlight. He started the season with the Heisman Trophy and a national title within his reach. He needs to achieve those goals in order to prove himself as more than just a caretaker.

SEC

Andre' Woodson, Kentucky – Hot commodity entering his final season. Woodson has cut down on turnovers and shows rare athleticism for a 6-4, 225 pounder. He can make all the necessary throws and shows impressive zip on his deep throws. Has led the Wildcats to a bowl game two consecutive years. Has learned how to settle his feet, step up and work from the pocket, but can still make plays on the move. A big year could catapult him into the Top 20 of next year's draft.

Erik Ainge, Tennessee – Looks to be the top guy in the SEC and a first-round pick. But he is inconsistent and has failed to deliver in several big situations. He is still only 21, so there is time for him to mature and develop. His raw athleticism might be too much to pass over if he improves in other areas. He has battled injuries (MCL, pinky) over the past few months.

Matt Flynn, LSU – A first-year starter who has shown the athleticism and arm strength to ascend into the upper echelon by year's end. Smart, hard worker who waited his time behind JaMarcus Russell. He could be a solid mid-round choice with upside, similar to how the New England Patriots were able to grab former USC backup Matt Cassel.

WAC

Colt Brennan, Hawaii – Brennan has a great release, is highly accurate and shows more than enough zip on his short-to-intermediate passes. He has learned and grown from his early mistakes and become a true team leader. Has a chance to win the Heisman. Lacks the big-time frame of other passers in this year's group, but has the size to fill out to around 210 pounds. The drawbacks are his lack of experience under center and in a true pro-scheme. Is not called upon to throw a lot of deep or vertical routes.

SMALL-SCHOOL PROSPECTS

Josh Johnson, San Diego – A superb athlete who grew as a QB the past few years under the guidance of new Stanford coach Jim Harbaugh. He heads into his senior campaign with many evaluators eyeing him as a possible surprise first-day draft choice. Johnson was suspended for one game after violating team rules in the offseason. He combines 4.5 speed with a strong arm and has become more accurate.

Joseph Flacco, Delaware – University of Pittsburgh transfer who brings excellent size (6--6, 230) and above-average arm strength to the field. He moves well in the pocket and completed 63 percent of his passes as a first-year starter last season. Has a chance to move up into the middle rounds of the draft with a big senior season.

Ricky Santos, New Hampshire – Has just average size (6-1, 215) and does not jump off the page when you see his workout numbers. But he is a highly accurate passer with great intangibles. He plays in a bit of a wide-open offensive system, but is able to find the open man and throws a very catchable ball.

Luke Drone, Illinois State – A two-sport star who has developed into a high-caliber performer. Lacks ideal size, but is very athletic, throws a good ball and has produced consistent results over the past two years.

Kyle Spotts, Kutztown – Came to the Division II program as a transfer from Colgate, and has made his mark as both a passer and runner. Has decent size, a good enough arm to be evaluated by NFL scouts and can make plays on the move as both a runner and passer. Does not have a great upper body build and has taken a few shots by holding onto the ball too long. But you like his toughness and ability to make plays.

Casey Hansen, Norfolk State – A big, strong-armed QB who could create some waves in the MEAC. He's 6-5, 220 pounds and a classic, drop-back pocket passer.

Brad Roach, Catawba – Possesses NFL size (6-6, 245), but will need to cut down on his turnovers, make better reads and increase his completion percentage in order to catch the eye of scouts this season. He is also not the swiftest player on the field, so making the right reads from the pocket and improving his footwork will be the keys for him to get next-level consideration.

Buddy Rivera, Northern Michigan – Has led the team in passing while also finishing as one of the top three rushers the past two years. He passed for over 300 yards in the opener and has proven to be a very good leader.

Known as the “Secret Weapon of the NFL Draft”, NFL Draft Bible head scout John Murphy is also Yahoo! Sports' NFL personnel and college prospect evaluator. Read more from Murphy at http://sports.yahoo.com/ncaaf/expertsarchive;_ylt=AkkzD1soYcLK7hf0JkhVA6EuatAF?author=John+Murphy.

DAVEY O'BRIEN: Week 2 Brings Exciting O'Brien Match-ups

FORT WORTH, Texas (September 3, 2007) – The 2007 Davey O’Brien National Quarterback Award® (The O’Brien) candidates are through the first weekend and looking forward to this week's exciting match ups in hopes of gaining more votes from the fans. Fan voting will be a new exciting component to The O’Brien in 2007.

Watch List candidates are considered for The O’Brien based on quarterback skills, athletic ability, academics, reputation as a team player, character, leadership and sportsmanship.

O'BRIEN CANDIDATE MATCH-UPS FOR WEEK 2

Harrell, Graham, Texas Tech Vs. Willis, Justin, SMU. Sept. 3, 3:00 p.m. (CT) on ESPN

Brohm, Brian, Louisville Vs. Craddock, Joe, Middle Tennesse, Sept. 6, 6:00 p.m. (CT) on ESPN2

Ainge, Erik, Tennessee Vs. Young, Jeremy, Southern Miss. Sept. 8, 6:00 p.m. (CT)

Brennan, Colt, Hawaii Vs. Champion, Zac, Louisiana Tech. Sep. 8, 6:05 p.m. (CT)

Carney, Shaun, Air Force Vs. Johnson, Brian, Utah. Sept. 8, 5:00 p.m. (CT)

Carpenter, Rudy, Arizona State Vs. Hawkins, Cody, Colorado. Sept. 8, 9:15 p.m. (CT) on FSN

Clement, Chase, Rice Vs. Szymanski, Blake, Baylor. Sept. 8, 6:00 p.m. (CT)

Daniel, Chase, Missouri Vs. Adams, Seth, Ole Miss. Sept. 8, 5:00 p.m. (CT)

Davis, Nate, Ball State Vs. Schmitt, Andy, Eastern Michigan. Sept. 8, 11:00 a.m. (CT)

Edelman, Julian, Kent State Vs. Woodson, Andre', Kentucky. Sept. 8, 5:00 p.m. (CT)

Hanie, Caleb, Colorado State Vs. Longshore, Nate, California. Sept. 8, 1:00 p.m. (CT) on CSTV

Hankins, Martin, Memphis Vs. Leonard, Corey, Arkansas State. Sept. 8, 6:00 p.m. (CT)

Harrell, Graham, Texas Tech Vs. Vittatoe, Trevor, UTEP. Sept. 8, 6:00 p.m. (CT)

Haugabook, Omar, Troy Vs. Tebow, Tim, Florida. Sept. 8, 5:00 p.m. (CT)

Henne, Chad, Michigan Vs. Dixon, Dennis, Oregon. Sept 8, 3:30 p.m. (CT) on ABC

Holbrook, Chase, NM State Vs. Porterie, Donovan, New Mexico. Sept. 8, 8:30 p.m. (CT)

Lancaster, Kinsmon, UL-Monroe Vs. Harper, Cullen, Clemson. Sept. 8, NOON (CT)

LeFevour, Dan, Central Michigan Vs. TBD, Toledo. Sept. 8, 6:00 p.m. (CT)

McCoy, Colt, Texas Vs. Dalton, Andy, TCU. Sept. 8, 6:00 p.m. (CT)on FSN

Morelli, Anthony, Penn State Vs. TBD, Notre Dame. Sept. 8, 5:00 p.m. (CT) on ESPN

Painter, Curtis, Purdue Vs. Stinson, Cole, Eastern Illinois. Sept. 8, 11:00 a.m. (CT) on Big Ten Network

Ryan, Matt, Boston College Vs. Evans, Daniel, NC State. Sept. 8, 1:30 p.m. (CT) on ESPN2

Sewell, Jameel, Virginia Vs. Lewis, Thaddeus, Duke. Sept. 8, 11:00 a.m. (CT)

Skinner, Riley, Wake Forest Vs. Keller, Sam, Nebraska. Sept. 8, 11:00 a.m. (CT) on ESPN

Stafford, Matthew, Georgia Vs. Mitchell, Blake, South Carolina. Sept. 8, 4:45 p.m. (CT) on ESPN2

Sween, Karsten, Wyoming Vs. Jackson, Leon, Utah State. Sept. 8, 1:00 p.m. (CT)

White, Pat, West Virginia Vs. Morris, Bernard, Marshall. Sept. 8, 10:10 a.m. (CT)

Willis, Justin, SMU Vs. Meager, Daniel, North Texas. Sept. 8, 7:00 p.m. (CT)

The Watch List is based on All-America teams and Honorable Mentions published in at least six different preseason college football magazines. A candidate must be listed as an All-America quarterback or as a 1st or 2nd team All-American within his conference in at least one publication, or as Honorable Mention in at least three publications.

The 2007 season marks the first time in The O’Brien’s history that the fans will have a say in the voting. Fans will be able to vote for the starting quarterback from any of the 119 Division I-A football programs, leaving room for the possibility of a quarterback who is not on the Watch List to win the award. Fans can vote once daily on The O’Brien’s updated Web site, www.DaveyOBrien.com, in hopes of moving their pick to the final round.

The winner will be announced on The Home Depot College Football Awards Show on ESPN Dec. 6, 2007. The recipient will be honored Feb. 18, 2008, at the annual Davey O’Brien Awards Dinner at The Fort Worth Club in Fort Worth, Texas.

Davey O’Brien Candidates Leave Their Mark in Week One

FORT WORTH, Texas (September 2, 2007) – The 2007 Davey O’Brien National Quarterback Award® (The O’Brien) candidates began their bids to take home the hardware this weekend. The O’Brien Watch List features 35 talented quarterbacks and is presented annually to the nation’s best college quarterback, inspiring student-athletes to triumph both on and off the field.

Watch List candidates are considered for The O’Brien based on quarterback skills, athletic ability, academics, reputation as a team player, character, leadership and sportsmanship. This weekend many candidates rose to the occasion to turn in stellar performances.

Week 1 Top Performers


•Erik Ainge, Tennessee, Sr. Threw for 271 yards and 3 touchdowns on 32 for 47 passing.

•John David Booty, USC, Sr. Threw for 206 yards and 3 touchdowns on 21 for 32 passing.

•Colt Brennan, Hawai’i’, Sr. Threw for 416 yards and 6 touchdowns on 34 for 40 passing.

•Brian Brohm, Louisville, Sr. Threw for 375 yards and 4 touchdowns on 21 for 16 passing.

•Shaun Carney, Air Force, Sr. Threw for 176 yards and 1 touchdown on 11 for 18 passing.

•Rudy Carpenter, Arizona State, Jr. Threw for 197 yards and 2 touchdowns on 14 for 20 passing.

•Chase Clement, Rice, Jr. Threw for 101 yards on 11 for 28 passing.

•Chase Daniel, Missouri, Jr. Threw for 358 yards and 3 touchdowns on 37 for 54 passing.

•Nate Davis, Ball State, So. Threw for198 yards and 1 touchdown on 19 for 36 passing.

•Dennis Dixon, Oregon, Sr. Threw for 132 yards and 2 touchdowns on 9 for 15 passing.

•Julian Edelman, Kent State, Jr. Threw for 161 yards an 1 touchdown on 17 for 26 passing.

•Caleb Hannie, Colorado State, Sr. Threw for 229 yards and 3 touchdowns on 20 for 27 passing.

•Martin Hankins, Memphis, Sr. Threw for 349 yards and 1 touchdown on 41 for 60 passing.

•Omar Haugabook, Troy, Sr. Threw for 204 yards and 1 touchdown on 15 for 43 passing.

•Chad Henne, Michigan, Sr. Threw for 233 yards and 1 touchdown on 19 for 37 passing.

•Chase Holbrook, New Mexico State, Jr. Threw for 280 yards and 4 touchdowns on 23 for 33 passing.

•Kinsmon Lancaster, UL – Monroe, Jr. Threw for 66 yards and 1 touchdown on 7 for 21 passing.

•Dan Lefevour, Central Michigan, So. Threw for 165 yards and 1 touchdown on 16 for 34 passing.

•Corey Leonard, Arkansas State, So. Threw for 259 yards on 23 for 36 passing.

•Nate Longshore, California, Jr. Threw for 2 41 yards and 2 touchdowns on 19 for 28 passing.

•Colt McCoy, Texas, So. Threw for 223 yards and 2 touchdowns on 22 for 33 passing.

•Anothony Morelli, Penn State, Sr. Threw for 295 yards and 3 touchdowns on 23 for 38 passing.

•Curtis Painter, Purdue, Jr. Threw for 251 yards and 4 touchdowns on 14 for 30 passing.

•Matt Ryan, Boston College, Sr. Threw for 406 yards and 5 touchdowns on 32 for 53 passing.

•Jameel Sewell, Virginia, So. Threw for 87 yards on 11 for 24 passing.

•Riley Skinner, Wake Forest, So. Threw for 236 yards and 1 touchdown on 28 for 37 passing.

•Matthew Stafford, Georgia, So. Threw for 234 yards and 2 touchdowns on 18 for 24 passing.

•Karsten Sween, Wyoming, So. Threw for 253 yards and 1 touchdown on 25 for 34 passing.

•Pat White, West Virginia, Jr. Threw for 192 yards and 2 touchdowns on 10 for 18 passing along with 2 rushing touchdowns.

•Andre’ Woodson, Kentucky, Sr. Threw for 250 yards and 3 touchdowns on20 for 29 passing.

The Watch List is based on All-America teams and Honorable Mentions published in at least six different preseason college football magazines. A candidate must be listed as an All-America quarterback or as a 1st or 2nd team All-American within his conference in at least one publication, or as Honorable Mention in at least three publications.

The 2007 season marks the first time in The O’Brien’s history that the fans will have a say in the voting. Fans will be able to vote for the starting quarterback from any of the 119 Division I-A football programs, leaving room for the possibility of a quarterback who is not on the Watch List to win the award. Fans can vote once daily on The O’Brien’s updated Web site, www.DaveyOBrien.com, in hopes of moving their pick to the final round.

The winner will be announced on The Home Depot College Football Awards Show on ESPN Dec. 6, 2007. The recipient will be honored Feb. 18, 2008, at the annual Davey O’Brien Awards Dinner at The Fort Worth Club in Fort Worth, Texas.

About The Davey O’Brien National Quarterback Award® The O’Brien honors the nation’s best college quarterback of the year and inspires student-athletes to triumph both on and off the field. By recognizing and honoring athletes who excel in both sports and academics while exhibiting strong character and leadership, The O’Brien helps to instill a lifelong moral fiber in each candidate. The O’Brien is overseen by the Davey O’Brien Foundation, which was founded in 1977 and is headquartered in Fort Worth, Texas. The Foundation provides scholarships and university grants to help high school and college athletes transform leadership on the field into leadership in life. For more information, visit www.DaveyOBrien.com.

THE CFI TOP 25 COUNTDOWN: #1 SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA

BY DANIEL MOGOLLON
CO-FOUNDER
COLLEGE FOOTBALL INSIDERS



2006 RECORD: 11-2; BIG TEN: 7-2
Won Rose Bowl vs. Michigan 32-18
LOCATION: Los Angeles, California
STADIUM: Los Angeles Coliseum (92, 000)
HEAD COACH: Pete Carroll
OVERALL: 65-12 (6 seasons)
AT SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA: 65-12 (6 seasons)

Even though we know it already, one cannot help but be impressed when reading, “5 CONSECUTIVE AP TOP 4 FINISHES, BCS BOWLS, PAC-10 TITLES, 11-WIN SEASONS” at the bottom of the Trojans 2007 media guide. It has gotten so good for the fans at So-Cal that a dismantling of Notre Dame, a Pac-10 championship, and an impressive Rose Bowl victory over Michigan was a so-so season for the Men of Troy. It is a far cry from the days of Paul Hackett, but with success also comes expectations. Fair or not, anything less than a BCS Title will be viewed as an underachieving year – they have become the New York Yankees of college football.

WHEN THE MEN OF TROY HAVE THE BALL

OFFENSIVE COORDINAROR: Steve Sarkisian (1st Season)
OFFENSIVE STARTERS RETURNING: 5
KEY LOSSES: Dwayne Jarrett, Steve Smith, Ryan Kalil, Kyle Williams, Emmanuel Moody (Transfer)

Believe it or not -- there are question marks on this side of the ball. Yes, they still have nine high school All Americans in their stable of running backs, however have they found a go-to feature back? Last season the running back by committee concept did not work out (4.0-yards per carry). Question two: Which John David Booty will we see this season? Everyone remembers his 391 yards and four touchdowns against the Wolverines, but how about his mediocre performances sprinkled in throughout the season? Furthermore, he is expected to fall in line as a Heisman Trophy winner behind predecessors Carson Palmer and Matt Leinart while losing a pair of second round draft picks at receiver to the NFL. Along the offensive line, with right tackle Drew Radovich starting the season injured, they will have only two returning starters up front. Small, nagging injuries have plagued the Men of Troy in the preseason. Having said all that, left tackle Sam Baker is a potential top ten pick, wide receiver Patrick Turner leads a talented group and is more physically gifted than the record-setting Dwayne Jarrett and the plethora of skill players they possess is almost embarrassing.

PRO PROSPECTS: 1) Sam Baker (SR), 2) Patrick Turner (JR), 3) John David Booty (SR), 4) Fred Davis (SR), 5) Joe McKnight (FR), 6) Chauncey Washington (SR), 7) Drew Radovich (SR), 8) CJ Gable (SO), 9) Allen Bradford (SO), 10) David Ausberry (FR), 11) Vidal Hazelton (SO), 12) Hershel Dennis (SR)

WHEN THE OTHER TEAM HAS THE BALL:

DEFENSIVE COORDINAROR: Nick Holt (2nd Season)
DEFENSIVE STARTERS RETURNING: 10
KEY LOSSES: Dallas Sartz, Oscar Lua

On the defensive side of the ball -- there are ZERO questions marks. End Lawrence Jackson is coming off a sub-par junior season, but he is more than capable of emerging as a premiere pass rusher, with fellow senior Sedrick Ellis (DT) a proven commodity. Keep an eye on true freshman Everson Griffen (DE), an absolute beast. At the next level they have the top linebacking corps in America, good enough to challenge some NFL units led by MIKE Rey Maualuga, a sideline-to-sideline tackler whose motor never quits. Keith Rivers is the solid senior who can cover ground and always makes the play. On the other side, SAM Brian Cushing could challenge the ends as the team’s top pass rusher for the Trojans, a phenomenal athlete with a knack for getting behind the line of scrimmage. If linebacker is their best position, safety is not too far behind, with a trio of future pros manning the last line of defense. Returning Pac-10 Freshman of the Year Taylor Mays has unquestioned range and better than ideal size (6’4”/225) at free safety, with strong safety Kevin Ellison a skilled performer in his own right. Pushing them for playing time will be Josh Pinkard who was the fastest of the group, but is coming back from an ACL injury. They can free-lance a bit, inasmuch as their corners can handle their own, with Terrell Thomas their best cover man.

PRO PROSPECTS: 1) Taylor Mays (SO), 2) Brian Cushing (JR), 3) Sedrick Ellis (SR), 4) Lawrence Jackson (SR), 5) Rey Maualuga (JR), 6) Terrell Thomas (SR), 7) Keith Rivers (SR), 8) Everson Griffen (FR), 9) Kevin Ellison (JR), 10) Josh Pinkard (JR), 11) Cary Harris (JR), 12) Chris Barrett (SR)

THE SCHEDULE

No respite for Troy this season – they may not face a top ten team all year, but they must take on many teams that could challenge them on any given Saturday. In September, they make trips to Nebraska, always a tough place to play, as well as Washington, who could be the surprise team in the Pac-10. They close out October with back-to-back road contests, at Oregon and Notre Dame, two more locals known for their home crowds. It gets even tougher in the month of November as they take trips to California, likely their most difficult game of the season, as well as Arizona St. who Dennis Erickson will have believing they can win. At home, they host Oregon St. and UCLA – the two programs that knocked them off last season. Not top heavy, but after the opener against Idaho the cupcake portion of their schedule is complete.

PIVITOL POINT

Consistency: Both of their losses last season, at Oregon St. and at UCLA came against non-ranked opponents. The Bruins limited them to just nine points in the regular season finale, while the Trojans garnered 86 yards on the ground versus OSU, 55 against UCLA and just 48 in the Rose Bowl versus Michigan. As mentioned above, Booty had his share of average game days, which he must cut down on this season. He completed only 12-of-25 passes against ASU and was 12-of-21 at cellar dweller Stanford, a pair of defenses he should have been able to thrash. While none of their opponents can match them mano-a-mano, that edge in talent did them no good in Pasadena or Corvallis last season and everyone will be gunning for USC, no one has a bigger target on their chests.

CFI FINAL ANALYSIS

They are on every cover and atop everyone’s preseason poll and rightfully so, as Pete Carroll may have assembled a group with more raw talent than has ever been collected in the history of college football. Are the freshmen ready to make championship type contributions? Can veterans such as Booty handle the pressure as well as those on the National Championship teams did? No one knows for sure, that is why they play the games, however there is no hype surrounding this squad. They are in a word – legit.

CFI’S CONFERENCE PREVIEW PART V:

THE PAC-10 CONFERENCE
BY DANIEL MOGOLLON
CFI CO-FOUNDER

Conference Champ: Southern Cal vs. UCLA: The Bruins beat the Trojans last season and should be even better this year, as they return ten starters on both sides of the ball. Bruce Davis recorded 12.5 sacks as a junior and returns to lead a stellar defense, putting the ball in the offense’s court. If UCLA is to fulfill their potential, quarterback Ben Olsen will have to reach his. Their biggest problem? The Trojans will be better as well, as USC returns 18 starters from last year’s team. The defense is unquestionably the best in the land. This may sound ridiculous, but the defense could have eight or nine future day one picks, with one of the best linebacker corps I have ever seen. The schedule is tough, so John David Booty will have to be on his game week in and week out.

The Sleeper: Arizona St.: Coach Dennis Erickson is in town and he knows how to win. The Sun Devils underachieved last season and are due to bounce back. With a more consistent Rudy Carpenter and nine starters returning on offense, ASU has the potential to be explosive. The defense is underrated as well and if some of the talented youngsters such as Dexter Davis (6 sacks as a freshman) gel with transfers such as Luis Vasquez (31 sacks in two seasons of JC ball), they could have a Cinderella season in Coach Erickson’s first year back in the Pac-10. They play USC, California, Oregon St. and the rival Wildcats of Arizona all at home.

Offensive Player of the Year: John David Booty (USC) vs. Jonathan Stewart (OU): With predecessors Carson Palmer and Matt Leinart winning the Heisman Trophy before departing Southern California, you would think winning Offensive Player of the Year should be a cinch for Booty. He will need receivers to emerge after losing Dwayne Jarrett and Steve Smith, a duo that played a big role in Booty’s successful season. If any player can step up and put up the type of numbers that could outshine the Hollywood boy, it is the highly touted Stewart. Built like a NFL back (5’11”/230), with the moves and speed to match, he was among the most acclaimed prospects coming out of high school. Stewart is a workout warrior, a combine star in waiting. Now he must translate that talent to the field on a consistent basis.

Defensive Player of the Year: Lawrence Jackson (USC) vs. Ray Maualuga (USC): Jackson was supposed to win this honor last season on his way to the NFL, but things did not quite work out as planned. Due partly to a groin injury, the defensive end went sackless for the first eight games of the season. Now healthy, the expectation is that Jackson will dominate the line of scrimmage, terrorizing opposing quarterbacks. Playing behind him is the very productive MIKE backer Maualuga, who as a sophomore supplanted a senior starter and become the leader of the Trojans defense. He covers sideline-to-sideline and no one makes a more memorable introduction when they arrive. He was a first team All-Pac 10 performer last season, as was OLB Keith Rivers, with Brian Cushing (OLB) joining Jackson on the second team, two more SC candidates.

Breakout Seasons: Patrick Turner (USC), Reggie Carter (UCLA), Willie Tuitama (ASU): Turner only made 29 grabs as a sophomore and somehow he averaged less than ten yards per reception as USC’s number three receiver. At 6’5”/230 with explosive speed, Turner has more physical ability than the record setting Dwayne Jarrett did. With Jarrett and Steve Smith gone, Turner steps up to the number one spot, which will reflect on his numbers. Carter started at the WILL position last season as a freshman for the Bruins. He was solid and showed some flashes, using his speed to chase down ball carriers and he was more physical than his size would indicate (218 pounds). With a full season under his belt, Carter will flourish as a sophomore, joining Bruce Davis to lead the Bruins defense. Tuitama was ticketed to break out last season, but injuries (concussions) that caused him to miss significant playing time, also contributed to his inconsistency. This season, new coordinator Sonny Dykes brings the spread offense to Tucson from Texas Tech. The wide-open quick strike attack should bring out Tuitama’s talent, as well as help keep him upright.

Best Pro Prospect: Taylor Mays (USC): So many choices, just on USC’s defense alone with Lawrence Jackson, Ray Maualuga, Keith Rivers and the overlooked Brian Cushing…so why go with a sophomore safety? Because he is that good. As a freshman last season, Mays stepped into the starting lineup and excelled, making three interceptions and laying the wood on anyone who dared to lurk near his territory. The former track star has speed with the ideal size (6’4”/220) to flourish in the league where they play for pay.

College Football Insiders Picks:

Conference Champion: Southern Cal Trojans: You didn’t think I was going anywhere else with this pick…did you? Hands-down the most talented team in the land, the Trojans look to win their first National Title since 2004.

Offensive Player of the Year: DeSean Jackson (Cal): Going with an upset here. Jackson is so good he may live up to Ted Ginn’s hype. The Cal receiver is a threat to score on every play, maybe the most feared man with ball in hand.

Defensive Player of the Year: Ray Maualuga (USC): The 6’3”/250 MIKE for USC plays with intensity and uses all of his ability. He may not run the fastest 40-time, but don’t tell that to the players he is chasing.

Check back tomorrow for Part VI: The SEC