Have a thing for crazy statistics? I have one that will blow your mind. USC is 47-2 at home since 2001. Both losses are now to Stanford, making Jim Harbaugh 2-1 against the Trojans since taking over the Cardinal program. While Stanford was something like a 40-point underdog at the Coliseum in their first upset win over the Trojans, there’s no doubt the effect of each win was equally shocking. USC got smashed 55-21 this time and they were pushed all over the field by the Cardinal, leaving the home crowd stunned. As a UCLA fan there’s no doubt I’m pleased to see USC knocked from its perch as the perennial uncontested champ in the Pac-10, but I would have liked to see more class from Stanford in the process. Up 48-21 after Toby Gerhart’s 3rd touchdown run of the game, Stanford went for a two-point conversion that got stuff by SC. Then, towards the end of the game, the cameras caught Stanford players Richard Sherman and Ekom Udofia mocking USC’s Fight On:

It’s easy to celebrate and dance on your opponent’s grave when your program is at its peak and winning games, but it’s no fun to be on the other end of things. Given its recent history, Stanford should know that. Yes they should be proud of their huge win and big season thus far, but they shouldn’t lose their class during the win. If not for the reason of respecting your opponent, Stanford should realize they’ve set themselves up to take USC’s best shot next year because of the revenge factor. The Trojans won’t forget this loss any time soon, I can promise you that.

Things have been pretty brutal for Bob Toledo ever since he was axed at UCLA. Toledo went to Tulane and his teams have gone 8-22 over three seasons, with the squad getting waxed 42-0 Saturday. Bob had already vented his frustration during the week, complaining about the lack of fan support and enthusiasm surrounding the program. Overall, he doesn’t seem like a very happy man. And getting blitzed by LSU didn’t help matters either. I really haven’t heard such a depressing explanation for a blowout loss as the one I read yesterday:

“It’s a little bit of a mismatch regardless of what people want to say,” Tulane head coach Bob Toledo said. “They’re a great football team. They’re bigger, stronger and faster than we are. Their Xs and Os are bigger than our Xs and Os. OK? Plain and simple.”

Wow, sounds like this guy wants out and is trying to write his ticket home. Another one of my favorites was this positive gem this week, “We haven’t had a punt return in two weeks, so our punt return team is pretty good right now because they haven’t been on the field in two weeks.” Umm, it was nice knowing you, I guess. Damn, that sounds awful. Who would want to continue playing when it sounds like the coach has even packed it in?

UCLA fans have to recognize that it’s a long way back to being a strong program in the Pac-10 and that this season will have its ups and downs. The Bruins started off the year 3-0 with non-conference wins over Tennessee and Kansas State that look more impressive now given what each team has done since. Problem is the Bruins have tanked since then, going 0-3 in tough conference games. UCLA actually had a chance to bring Saturday’s game (for 8th in the Pac-10) against Cal to within one possession late in the 4th quarter. Unfortunately Kevin Prince threw a pick six to make it 45-26. What’s so embarrassing about that you ask? Well, it’s pretty sad to throw an INT returned for a touchdown against a defense that only has 10 men on the field!!!!!

I am not even joking for a second when I say that I could have completed that pass for a touchdown. I really don’t even know what to say. Actually I do, with road games at Arizona and Oregon State coming up, the Bruins are going 3-5.

Thanks to The Wiz of Odds for the story, via Bruins Nation.

If you watched highlight shows or read about the Ole Miss/South Carolina game from Thursday night, you heard many people term the outcome “an upset.” If you go by the poll rankings it was an upset, but if you actually use common sense, you’ll see that this was just a predictable outcome. What we had on Thursday was a couple of average SEC teams squaring off. What’s generally the difference in those games? Home field and usually nothing more than a touchdown or field goal. So when Ole Miss goes to South Carolina and loses by six points, why on Earth would that be considered an upset? It shouldn’t be other than the jacked up poll system.

In reality, the polls shouldn’t be determined until after a month of the season. After about four games people should be able to judge teams much better than they would prior to the season. What really goes into determining preseason polls anyway? How a team finished the previous year and tradition of the program? That doesn’t seem to be a logical way to determine how strong a team is in the current season. Even the Ole Miss players were relieved not to have such a high ranking anymore because they knew it hadn’t been earned.

Answer me this, why aren’t Auburn, Iowa, or UCLA in the so-called Top 25? Because they were not expected to do well prior to the year? It’s total b.s. and it sucks that preseason expectations impact rankings once the year actually begins. And the way Ole Miss’ offense looked last night, it will be surprising if they don’t lose four games this year.

Here I was thinking that the hit Tennessee delivered on UCLA quarterback Kevin Prince last weekend that broke his jaw was a tough hit. I may have to reconsider things. Texas defensive end Sergio Kindle is highly rated and a top pro prospect. After seeing the sack he got on Texas Tech quarterback Taylor Potts, it’s easy to see why. Let’s go to the videotape:

It’s incredible that Potts walked away from that hit like it was nothing. Maybe he was just acting tough for the moment but really felt woozy as soon as he got to the sidelines. His reaction really didn’t matter because the fumble set up a Colt McCoy touchdown pass that put the game out of reach for Texas. Potts was still pretty effective throwing for 417 yards and 3 touchdowns proving once again that it’s more about Mike Leach’s system than the guy throwing the ball.

The game between UCLA and Tennessee this weekend is already being billed as “The Blabber Bowl.” Sounds like a good nickname to me. Even Tennessee coach and former USC d-line coach Ed Orgeron is kicking off the gabbing pretty early:

“You will not find anybody else in the world that wants to beat UCLA more than Ed Orgeron and Lane Kiffin, so these boys better be ready. They’re going to find out what it is to prepare for a big game. And you know what? I think our guys are going to be ready for the outcome of last year. You can hear it in the locker room. I don’t think there needs to be any extra motivation to beat the Bruins.”

Can’t say I blame the guy — UCLA’s colors are light blue and yellow, and the team stunk when Ed was at USC. As for Lane, pretty weird that he opened his yapper all offseason but now he’s staying relatively quiet during the year. I guess he’ll just settle for putting up 28 points in the fourth quarter against Western Kentucky instead. No question Kiffin doesn’t like Norm Chow and that this in some ways resembles a USC/UCLA game because of the staffs. Mix in last year’s win by UCLA and you know the bad blood will be flowing early. Problem is that neither program quite has the horses to embarrass the other. Should be a struggle the entire way.