WEST COAST WATCHER: OCTOBER 11, 2007

Southern California Still Feeling Stanford Aftershocks

By John Scheibe / watcher@collegeblitz.com

The fallout from USC’s loss to 41-point underdog Stanford last weekend is still being absorbed by the Trojans, the pollsters, TV analysts and newspaper columnists, coaches from rival Pacific 10 teams and, of course, fans and detractors.

The loss, described as “disgusting” and “despicable” in Los Angeles, sent USC tumbling, to No. 10 in the Associated Press’ Top 25, and to No. 7 in polls used by the BCS.

It should be noted that the lingering problem for the Trojans is not that they lost (Stanford has a history of pulling off big upsets), but it was how USC blew the game. Clinging to a 23-17 lead late in the fourth quarter, the defense, which is supposed to be USC’s strength, allowed the Cardinal to convert a 4th and 20 play for a first down, which ultimately lead to its game-tying touchdown.

The injuries that have beset Pete Carroll’s team, at running back, the offensive line and defensive backfield, are having an adverse affect. Suddenly, USC is thin at tailback, a position that was stocked nine-deep at the start of the season. Chauncey Washington and sixth-year player Herschel Dennis are now carrying the running-game’s load.. Stafon Johnson and C.J. Cable, who began the season as the No. 1 and No. 2 backs, are out for the season.

Stanford, on the other hand, looks like a completely different team than the one that was routed by UCLA in early September. One press box wag referred to the Cardinal players as “pencil necks” studying for master degrees. But Coach Jim Harbaugh has made remarkable strides in just a month’s time.

Stanford may have the highest of academic standards for its student athletes but it is not inaccurate to call the school a sports factory. In its history, Stanford has 104 national sports titles, second on the all-time list. It has 92 NCAA championships, 57 for men and 35 for women. The football team has played 11 times in the Rose Bowl, the most recent in 2000 against Wisconsin.

John Elway, Jim Plunkett, John Brodie, Frankie Albert, Ernie Nevers, the Vow Boys and the Wow Boys, Pop Warner and John Ralston can hardly be called pencil necks. Privately, school officials should be thrilled with the description.

So, now USC ‘s season really begins, starting with Arizona Saturday at home. The Wildcats have been a disappointment so far with a 2-3 start and Mike Stoops is suddenly under the hot seat in Tucson. Pete Carroll will probably start Mark Sanchez at quarterback, subbing for John David Booty who broke the middle finger on his throwing hand in the second quarter Saturday night.

USC is a heavy favorite again, by 20 points, and the game will be televised on ABC.

The Coast Watcher, John Scheibe, is the author of the new book "On the Road With Jim Murray: Baseball and the Summer of '79," which is available at Barnes and Noble stores and online at amazon.com and bn.com. Visit the book’s official website for more information.