THE BIG GAME

It was big in every aspect. The stage, the stadium, the crowd, the traveling faithful and of course the loss, were big. Now that the dust has settled let’s get right down to what happened in Austin, and where we go from here. No need to drone on about statistics, let’s just talk football.

The Trojans rolled into Darrell K Royal stadium to face the Longhorns in front of a raucous and record crowd of 103,507. Right out of the gates, we were on. JT was connecting with Amon-Ra and his other receivers. We chipped away at the Texas defense on the ground, and in a flash Carr broke loose for a long touchdown run. We then conceded a field goal soon after but came pounding back for another score as the first quarter neared expiration. Momentum was all ours and scores of Trojans echoed “WE ARE – SC” chants down from the skyscraping upper deck of the stadium.

And just like that, in the flash it arrived, our momentum was gone. What followed was one of the most painful quarters of USC football I can recall watching. Drives faltered, penalties amassed, and at its worst we failed to score from two yards out on 4^th down. We got the bad side of a controversial (not really) safety call, and then roughed the kicker in a hero attempt to block the punt.  This allowed Texas to regain possession and march on for a score right before half time. The remainder of the game only got worse as we could not find the end zone or uprights and left us all with that familiar feeling. That feeling of being let down, that we deserve better, that this team deserves better, and the puzzling question of “why is this starting to feel normal?”

So how do we make sense of it all and what needs to be done to right the ship? In my opinion Clay Helton should not be fired, yet. If we fire Clay now, the next 9 games will be just as painful. No miracle change will save this year if he is gone tomorrow. We should allow the team to grow and develop, albeit at the cost of potentially our senior’s final campaigns. We are owed changes though as fans. The changes should become less minor and more decisive and impactful.

• Keep a lead and hold it, great programs know how to extend a lead and put a team away, right now we do not.
• Adjust our play calling and start taking the points. Great teams know when to take risks and when to take the points, right now we do not. To that point, with an 18-year old QB who is yet to show he can be a sure hand to score at will, we must take the points anytime we find the chance.
• Never let the moment be too big, or the momentum be too big against you. Great teams play best under the brightest lights, right now we do not. When all is mounting against you in a hostile environment, score with confidence and silence the crowds, right now we cannot.
• Play disciplined assignment-based football. If you re-watch the Texas tape you can see we are often scrambling into formations low in the play clock, or as the opposing offense is already set. Great teams can match up-tempo or slow tempo opponents, right now we cannot.

After all that, we should remember we are all just arm chair critics but our opinions are fair and deserved. Mine is this: Lynn Swann has 9 games to make a very short list of potential new head coaches, and Clay Helton has 9 games to cross off every name on that list and keep his office. As fans we must trust that there is pain in the process and that at our beloved USC, the process will prevail, and should it not we have the necessary resources to correct the course.

Here is to a rebounding victory over Mike Leach and his WSU Cougars come Friday night. The nation might not be watching as closely, but I sure will and I’m ready as ever to FIGHT ON.