Rose Bowl/USC update, Dec. 26

Ok, so I changed the name from "USC update" to "Rose Bowl update." I figured, since some of the things I'll put up aren't all about USC, "Rose Bowl" was more appropriate. On with today's dirt.

Just a quick rundown of issues we're looking at right now, regarding the Rose Bowl and USC Trojans:

• So, apparently, the 2008 Penn State Rose Bowl team is no different (or better?) than the 2007 Illinois Rose Bowl team. At least, according to Butkus Award winner Rey Maualuga.

"USC middle linebacker Rey Maualuga said Clark's mobility won't bother the Trojans, who are giving up only 7.8 points and 206 yards a game.

USC played in the Pac 10, away at Virginia and home against Ohio State. None of those teams had a quarterback (or team) like Penn State. Sure, you could compare Terrelle Pryor to Clark... in about two more years. But USC has not faced anything like the kind of complete-team performer that is Penn State this season. I know the article was about containing a running quarterback, but the story made it sound like that is all USC has to worry about. When, actually, Clark's running ability was far from a key component to the Penn State offense, as opposed to Michael Robinson in 2005.

"If we've got everything locked down in practice and everyone does their assignments, we should have no problem with the running quarterback," said Maualuga, who has a team-best 73 tackles. Maualuga said that based on what he had seen of Clark on film, he rated him ahead of Illinois quarterback Juice Williams. In the 2008 Rose Bowl, the Trojans controlled Williams and won, 49-17."

Boy, Rey should have been named Academic All-American for that one. He rates 2008 Clark ahead of 2007 Williams. Never would have figured that one out. It is just ridiculous to compare last season's Illinois team to this year's Penn State team. It's not just the records (Illinois went 9-3), but no one in the world expected the Illini to beat USC in the 2008 Rose Bowl. And as good as Williams might have been during the 2007 regular season, he still had enormous flaws that we all knew about. Clark, meanwhile, has been given a very bad wrap this year for one throw–the interception at Iowa. No, he hasn't led this team to a fourth-quarter comeback, but he only had one chance to do that. That's how good this Penn State team can be. Rey needs to realize that before the game starts.

• You all know my love affair for CFN, and Pete Fiutak isn't helping me get over it. In his "Fiu's DAILY Cavalcade of Whimsy," he touches on the Paterno situation.

"Let's get a couple of things straight. First of all, Penn State is 11-1, won the Big Ten title, and is playing USC in the Rose Bowl. Penn State is 11-1, won the Big Ten title, and is playing USC in the Rose Bowl. Any one of those three things would make for a successful season by anyone's standards, and the Nittany Lions came within a last second Iowa field goal from playing for the national title. This year, Florida, Oklahoma, Texas and Texas Tech would be the only teams that wouldn't trade résumés with Penn State, but Paterno should be gone just because he's old?!"

I know, he's not a Penn State homer by any means. That's why I like CFN. They are fair and balanced, will call out your team when they suck, and praise them when they're good. I'm not sure though, that I've been hearing so much negativity against the Paterno contract extension. I know it's out there, but there's just as much support for the move as there is against it. Fiu said...

"I got into a few arguments last week with people saying it's sort of sad that Paterno is sticking around, especially considering his current health status with a hip replacement. Who cares? If he wants to coach from the press box, or at least lord over his assistants, then let him. If he's in a vegetative state 15 years from no and all he can do is blink in the signals, you let him still coach his program."

...and imagine if Penn State beats USC?

• Quick outs: USC tailback Stafon Johnson did not practice Monday because of a kneecap injury, but the junior said he would play in the Rose Bowl against Penn State on Jan 1... Receiver Damian Williams (shoulder) was held out of practice to prevent him from negating progress made this week, Carroll said... Fullback Stanley Havili (ankle) remained sidelined. His status for the Rose Bowl is uncertain.

More USC/Rose Bowl updates:
Dec. 22