StingArmy
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| #1 Posted on 4.1.06 2331.11 Reposted on: 4.1.13 2332.06 | I'm still trying to decide which game I enjoyed more: this game or the USC-Notre Dame game. Either way, wow. That's how you end a college football season.
You know, I remember thinking back just before they selected the Heisman winner that Vince Young's numbers were pretty damned impressive for a player that wasn't given a snowball's chance in hell of winning the award. But, I hadn't seen Young play as much as I'd seen Bush, plus there was about as much hype for Bush this year as there was for Jason Williams back in 2001, so I didn't question the Bush win all that much.
After watching this game though, I'm wondering if Bush really was the best player in the country this year. What, is it his front-flips into the endzone that put him over Young? And talk about a cool character. He practically walked into the endzone to win the national championship on a 4th down. Amazing player, amazing game.
One gripe, though. Did anybody else feel that Pete Carroll and Matt Leinart, in their post-game interviews, didn't really show the best sportsmanship? Leinart especially. Carroll said that he felt they should have won the game. I can dig that, not really ALL that unsportsmanlike. Leinart, on the other hand, said that he still thinks USC is the better team and that Texas just had a better game. Leinart's a great player and all, but apparently he isn't that great of a loser.
- StingArmy
(edited by StingArmy on 4.1.06 2336) Promote this thread! | | BigSteve
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| #2 Posted on 4.1.06 2349.34 Reposted on: 4.1.13 2350.04 | Holy shit, Vince Young is really, really really good. The guy just dominated the game, and I also have to wonder if maybe he shouldn't have won the Heisman. Bush was/is great, too, but he had Matt Leinart and LenDale White taking some of the pressure. Meanwhile, tonight, Vince Young dominated the game against one of the best teams of all time. I haven't seen enough of either guy to make a call one way or the other. Anyone think Young deserved it.
I'm pretty sure this should go down as one of the classic games of all time. Between the Rose, Orange, and Sugar Bowls, we had a pretty damn good bowl season especially in the BCS games. | Big Bad
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| #3 Posted on 4.1.06 2356.05 Reposted on: 4.1.13 2356.41 | At the start of the game, my pals and I were debating whether an NFL team would take Young (if he came out) ahead of Leinart in the draft. By halftime, we were wondering if Young should be drafted ahead of Bush. By the end of the game, it was a consensus that if the Texans didn't take Young, they were crazy. He's like Mike Vick, except....well, good. | Packman V2
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| #4 Posted on 4.1.06 2358.31 Reposted on: 4.1.13 2358.35 | Living in Big XII country like I do, I thought Vince Young deserved the Heisman over Reggie Bush, who really only secured it when he had to bail SC out of the Fresno State game.
Great game, drama in and out...never a dull moment. LenDale White emerged as the guy you really need to pay attention to for Southern Cal, and I hope that maybe, just maybe, he ends up in Green Bay via our 5th pick.
Now we can all sit back, and watch the analysts who were all on USC's jock shift on a dime to Texas.
And finally, a memo to Matt Leinart, you may think you're the better team, but Scoreboard. 41-38. Nuff said. | ManiacalClown
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| #5 Posted on 5.1.06 0033.59 Reposted on: 5.1.13 0034.31 | I think I'm feeling sick. Now not only do I have to put up with pompous assholes from Austin, I have to put up with pompous assholes from Austin who have a reason to be. | spf
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| #6 Posted on 5.1.06 0038.23 Reposted on: 5.1.13 0039.15 | Well, between this and the PSU-FSU game I am spent from the bowl season. Thank goodness Da Bears have a bye this week, or I'd be toast.
As for Young, I don't want to sound sour on him, because he is an incredible talent, but I wonder how good he'll be when it's folks like Ray Lewis or Brian Urlacher trying to keep him from getting the corner. He's not the first Big 12 QB I've seen running the option and looking unstoppable, though he certainly has better pocket presence than say Tommie Frazier. I think given the right system and coaching, he could be a solid NFL QB. But if he gets thrown in a place where they just say "go do your thing" and he ends up being a run-first, pass-second QB he may end up being a bust.
But that's all the future. For tonight, he played an awesome awesome game, and showed some incredible leadership and skill on that last drive. Congrats to the Horns!
(edited by spf on 5.1.06 0039) | redsoxnation
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| #7 Posted on 5.1.06 0708.36 Reposted on: 5.1.13 0708.48 | I have to give the Longhorns credit coming from 12 down late in the 4th quarter. However, USC did a lot of stupid things in this game:
4th and 1 at the Texas 15 up 7-0, you run a sneak with an empty backfield? I hated when Notre Dame did this early in the Fiesta, and it was stupid here. Make the defense at least have to respect the running game, especially with the 2 running backs USC has. If USC goes in there and takes a 2 touchdown lead, the floodgates would have opened.
Reggie Bush's idiotic lateral.
4th and 2 around midfield late in the 4th quarter, Texas has 2 time outs remaining, 38-33. Personally, I punt and make them go at least 80 yards. However, if you are going to go for it, at least have Bush in the game. Giving White the ball wasn't the worst idea, as he was the best back in the game, however, at least make Texas respect the threat of Bush.
2 point conversion attempt Texas 39-38: Lay down and give up the 2 points rather than wasting the last time-out. Field goal still puts you into overtime at that point, and if it goes to overtime, neither team is stopping the other from the 25. Of course, if you had USC -7.5 you were rooting for the Texas 2 point conversion at this point, to be followed by a USC field goal and the game to go to triple overtime plus, where USC scores as the first team with possession and converts the 2 point conversion, stuffs Texas, and wins by 8. A cover was still possible at this point.
At this point, Keith Jackson almost puts the whammy on Texas.
8 seconds left from the Texas 43: At the very least, you get off 2 plays from that spot. There is no excuse for Leinart to have held the ball to the point where if it was caught at the 30, there still would have been no time left on the clock. Very poor judgement by Leinart.
(edited by redsoxnation on 5.1.06 0811) | Mayhem
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| #8 Posted on 5.1.06 0751.31 Reposted on: 5.1.13 0753.02 | "And with the 3rd pick in the draft, the Tennessee Titans select Vince Young, quarterback, University of Texas."
Man, I want to hear that in April.
| whatever
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| #9 Posted on 5.1.06 0800.46 Reposted on: 5.1.13 0800.51 | Fantastic game, definitely lived up to the hype. Defenses were terrible, though.
StingArmy - I gotta agree with you on the Leinart post-game comments. That really struck me as classless, just like when the Hurricanes (KWII, I'm looking at *you*) said that about their team vs. OSU.
I have to agree with Carroll's call to go for it on 4th down. They'd been running the ball at about 4 yards/carry all night, and if they gave the ball right over to Texas they had been shredding the USC defense. At least this would give the chance to hang on to the ball and run out the clock. Now why Bush wasn't at least out there as a decoy is beyond me.
Next year initial rankings: 1. Texas (only if Young returns) 2. Ohio State 3. ???
That OSU-UT game in Austin next year is going to be HUGE. | dunkndollaz
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| #10 Posted on 5.1.06 0804.12 Reposted on: 5.1.13 0804.32 | Originally posted by Big Bad He's like Mike Vick, except....well, good.
Vince Young is what Michael Vick wants to be when he grows up someday.....
You can't have instant replay if you don't have a coach's challenge - that said, by then end of the game that play didn't really mean a thing
And you just had to feel, had to know on 4th & 5 with the game on the line that Vince Young was getting that ball into the end zone.
Best line by an analyst was heard on ESPN News this morning when Aaron Taylor commented on LenDale White - "He treated the red zone like it was full of cheeseburgers and he need to get him some."
I would love to see White in a Bronco uniform....
So what time are they showing the game on ESPN Classic today ? | Wpob
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| #11 Posted on 5.1.06 0804.30 Reposted on: 5.1.13 0804.37 | I am just wondering why at halftime Carroll did not tell his fastest defensive player that he was to shadow Young on every play and not leave him until he has released the ball. I mean EVERYONE knew Young was going to not let anyone else on his team win or lose this game for Texas. He wanted the ball in his hands at all times. So, why not make the adjustment and have a player shadow him all second half?
Pete Carroll may be a great COLLEGE football coach, but a lot of his decsions, especially taking their LAST TIMEOUT before a two point conversion instead of saving it for their last drive, proves why he will never be a good NFL coach.
Stay at USC for life and reap the benefits of a deep talent pool. The pros will eat him alive if he comes back.
Congrats to Texas. Well played.
| haz
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| #12 Posted on 5.1.06 1041.09 Reposted on: 5.1.13 1042.29 | Call me impressed. I tuned in expecting one team or the other to win a blow-out. That's been the way the BCS Championship has gone in the past...
USC saying they lost the game is totally classless. If Texas had lost, they could have said the same thing. (Pino, I am looking at you!)
Bad plays were made by both teams. Bad calls went against both teams. It was a really great game to watch, that's for sure.
As for Vince Young, one thing about him is that he can throw the ball!! If USC had made sure one guy was shadowing him all game, he would have beat them with his arm. (1 less guy on coverage...) In the last drive, I think USC blew it by *not* blitzing. There were a couple of plays where they blitzed and Young had trouble with it. Then they stopped on the last few plays and he beat them.
I would love to see him wait another year before leaving school. One more year of seasoning will only help...
Lastly, a question... What the hell is with big time college programs not having a decent kicker on the team. After watching these last two games I just can not fathom not having a decent one on your team, especially if you are Bobby Bowden. Hasn't it given you ulcers one too many times??? | The Vile1
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| #13 Posted on 5.1.06 1053.43 Reposted on: 5.1.13 1053.49 | That was a GREAT football game. When was the last time the Super Bowl or a WWE PPV for that matter was THAT good?
I can't wait to go back to school in my burnt orange. | spf
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| #14 Posted on 5.1.06 1116.38 Reposted on: 5.1.13 1119.01 | Originally posted by The Vile1 That was a GREAT football game. When was the last time the Super Bowl or a WWE PPV for that matter was THAT good?
Super Bowl 38, New England vs. Carolina. That was an awesome game. | Nuclear Winter
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| #15 Posted on 5.1.06 1308.44 Reposted on: 5.1.13 1308.57 | The easiest way to get a free college education and get to the NFL has GOT to be being a decent kicker. Practice kicking every spare moment you have. There are a ton of highschool teams that go for two point conversions all the time because they can't kick. There are obviously many college teams with shitty kickers. Decent kickers should have no problem finding a college team to play on.
And, should you make it to the NFL, you could have a nice 15-20 year career ahead of you. | Wpob
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| #16 Posted on 5.1.06 1403.42 Reposted on: 5.1.13 1405.11 | Originally posted by Nuclear Winter The easiest way to get a free college education and get to the NFL has GOT to be being a decent kicker. Practice kicking every spare moment you have. There are a ton of highschool teams that go for two point conversions all the time because they can't kick. There are obviously many college teams with shitty kickers. Decent kickers should have no problem finding a college team to play on.
And, should you make it to the NFL, you could have a nice 15-20 year career ahead of you.
I couldn't have said it better myself. I will be having all three of my sons either learn to: field goal kick, long snap or punt. You have a long career at all three, rarely get hurt and can make a good living. | The Thrill
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| #17 Posted on 5.1.06 1643.49 Reposted on: 5.1.13 1644.23 | In Cali, I've only been to Oakland, San Fran and Berkeley, so I've never seen USC in person...but I've been to Austin. (NCAA 1995 tourney; officials screw UWGB vs. Purdue.)
After seeing that AWESOME town, the SXSW music festival and the UT campus, I was pulling hard for the 'Horns...and what a game. Incredible.
I just hope this year doesn't further delude the idiots in charge of the BCS that their system actually works. | Texas Kelly
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| #18 Posted on 5.1.06 1858.11 Reposted on: 5.1.13 1858.29 | I have to agree with Carroll's call to go for it on 4th down. They'd been running the ball at about 4 yards/carry all night, and if they gave the ball right over to Texas they had been shredding the USC defense. At least this would give the chance to hang on to the ball and run out the clock. Now why Bush wasn't at least out there as a decoy is beyond me.
It was utterly ridiculous listening to the pundits crucify Carroll after the game for that call. It was completely the correct decision. The USC defense got shredded all game; the ball's in a position where if you kick it, you're flipping a coin between downing it inside the 10 or touchbacking it out to the 20, which wasn't much of a difference from where Texas ultimately got the ball; USC sported two of the best running backs in college ball, and thus should have been able to gain two yards at will in any situation. I do agree, however, that Bush should have been out there as a decoy on the play; White would have probably gotten the first down for sure in that situation. That and the timeout on the two-point conversion were two head-scratchers of calls by Carroll following that up (even if the used timeout ultimately wouldn't have meant anything because of how the two plays USC ran unfolded).
Needless to say, I'm mightly pleased since I've been predicting the downfall of USC for months now, and if I were a Longhorn fan, I'd be at the Altar of Vince Young round-the-clock right now praying that he sticks to his word and returns for his senior season. Texas would be the overwhelming favorite to repeat on every count next year if he does. | mountinman44
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| #19 Posted on 5.1.06 1924.30 Reposted on: 5.1.13 1924.55 | Originally posted by redsoxnation 4th and 2 around midfield late in the 4th quarter, Texas has 2 time outs remaining, 38-33. Personally, I punt and make them go at least 80 yards.
I have to agree here. If there was ever a time for Pete Carroll to turn into Marty Schottenheimer, this was the time. Yes, USC's defense was getting killed throughout the second half, but a punt at least makes Texas work for it. Otherwise, this was a great game... should have put it on the DVR. And I hope it isn't Keith Jackson's farewell. Even at 79, Jackson is the best play-by play man in all of football. | BigSteve
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| #20 Posted on 5.1.06 2144.06 Reposted on: 5.1.13 2146.34 | Originally posted by mountinman44
Originally posted by redsoxnation 4th and 2 around midfield late in the 4th quarter, Texas has 2 time outs remaining, 38-33. Personally, I punt and make them go at least 80 yards.
I have to agree here. If there was ever a time for Pete Carroll to turn into Marty Schottenheimer, this was the time. Yes, USC's defense was getting killed throughout the second half, but a punt at least makes Texas work for it.
There's absolutely no way that would have been the right call. Did you see Vince Young play the first fifty eight minutes? As far as I'm concerned, there was no doubt he was going to drive Texas in for the TD no matter where he started. If Carroll chose to give the ball back to Vince Young with two minutes to score, he should have been forced to have his head examined.
Plus, if you're USC and Carroll, you want the chance to let your offense make a play rather than forcing your defense to make one. Carroll was playing to win rather than "not to lose" and unfortunately his team just didn't execute. They probably make that first down 95 times out 100, but this was one of those unlucky five. |
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