Pac-10 Up For Grabs in 2009—And For the Record, USC is Not Invincible

Written by HD Handshoe
Founder—College Football Crack House
Featured Columnist for BleacherReport.com



In recent years, USC has stumbled in-conference and squandered away several opportunities to play in the BCS title game.

In 2006, it was a 13-9 "road" loss to 7-6 UCLA.

In 2007, it was the 24-23 home loss to 40-point underdog Stanford.

In 2008, it was the 27-21 road loss to upstart underdog Oregon State.

ESPN for one, has consistently forgiven and dismissed these losses, and has even referred to them as tiny "hiccups".

Are you @#$&%^&* kidding me?

Not to get off on a rant here, but ESPN did the same thing in 2008 when Florida surprisingly lost to Mississippi, 31-30, on their home field no less, calling it a hiccup as well, and everyone went on their merry way like it never happened.

UF won their final eight games, eventually climbed back to the top of the polls, and played for, and won the BCS title, but I digress.

For the first time in several years, the Pac-10 is going to better at the top this year with several good teams other than just USC.

I think this young USC team could lose up to 5 games this year, not that I am saying or convinced that they will—but it is at the very least a possibility.

Games USC could struggle in and possibly lose this year are:

9/12 @ Ohio State

10/3 @ Cal

10/17 @ Notre Dame

10/24 vs. Oregon State

10/31 @ Oregon

That's a pretty tall order, especially the four road games—but even the home game, versus a Beaver squad that blew up USC's top defense last year, is losable.

Remember, Ohio State had 18 very talented starters back last year and were supposed to be BCS title contenders, but went 10-3 instead.

Nothing is guaranteed for any team, no matter what the expectations are.

This 2009 USC team will not be as good as that Buckeyes 2008 team in my opinion either, but we'll see if I'm right or if I'm just a crackhead over the next month or two.

Either way, if the Trojans lose three or more games, I wonder if ESPN will still find a way to forgive them all.

As far as body functions go, if one loss for USC is just a hiccup, would a second, third, and fourth loss be labeled as a belch and two wet farts?

Help, I've sharded and I can't get up.

Fight on?

Georgia Football—Where Misdemeanors and Felonies Happen

Written by HD Handshoe
Founder—College Football Crack House
Featured Columnist for BleacherReport.com



Deja vu anyone?

Deja vu anyone?

Looks like the 2009 offseason might repeat itself all over again for the Thugs. Whoops, I mean Dawgs.

UGASports.com reported three Georgia football players will start the 2009 season on suspension, though the University did not confirm the suspensions Thursday.

Tight end Bruce Figgins, defensive end Justin Houston and wide receiver Tony Wilson would each be suspended for an undetermined period after violating team rules, according to the website.

"Well, here's the deal on that," Georgia head coach Mark Richt said to the Atlanta Journal-Constitution Thursday night. "At the appropriate time, I will make any announcement that needs to be made - if there is any announcement that needs to be made."


You may recall that in the 2008 offseason, UGA challenged the Cincinnati Bengals for arrests and suspensions.

Here's a recap:

In January, cornerback Donovan Baldwin and fullback Fred Munzenmaier were arrested for alcohol-related offenses. Baldwin was arrested on DUI charges, while Munzenmaier was arrested for underage consumption and suspended for one game.

In May, freshman offensive lineman Clint Boling was arrested because he was pulled over for driving recklessly and he refused to take a breathalyzer test. He has been suspended for one game.

In early June, defensive end Jeremy Lomax, was pulled over for speeding and having a concealed firearm under his driver's seat.

On June 27, sophomore offensive linemen Trinton Sturdivant and Justin Anderson were charged with a misdemeanor of simple battery after touching a girl inappropriately. It was reported that they had been drinking. Their punishments were handled "internally."

On June 28, sophomore defensive lineman Michael Lemon punched Demarius Jackson multiple times in the face, fracturing the victim's left eye socket. Lemon was charged with a felony and was kicked off of the team. He was arrested again the next morning for underage consumption.

On Aug. 2, junior long-snapper Jeff Henson, who had previously been charged with a DUI in November, became the eighth Georgia player arrested that offseason. He was arrested for public intoxication and urinating in public. He was suspended from the team.

Also on Aug. 2, defensive back Donovan Baldwin and linebacker Marcus Dotwin were hospitalized after a brawl. Following the incident, Richt dismissed Baldwin from the team because it was his second incident this offseason.

While visiting Baldwin and Dotwin in the hospital, junior linebacker Darius Dewberry decided to vandalize a parking lot control arm and plant container pots causing a whopping $2100 in estimated damages. He became the sixth player that was either suspended or booted off of the team when Richt suspended him for the first two games of the year.

These UGA players sure do like keeping campus area Police from eating their donuts in peace!

On a positive note, Georgia will not be the No. 1 team when the AP Preseason Poll is released so without that spotlight, maybe these player problems will fade from the headlines a little faster, even though they most likely won't stop happening.

It's tempting to overlook certain flaws a kid might have off the field because he's extremely talented on the field and I know a coaching staff can't babysit these guys 24/7, but they have to do a better job of evaluating the character of a potential recruit.

If not, these bad seeds will continue to deliver more "black eyes" to their program.

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