Okay USC fans. There seems to be a lot of love for USC as the #1 team in the nation going into the season. So the question is this: Will USC be the pre-season #1? If so it does not bode well as only one team has ever gone wire to wire to win it all ('99 FSU).

All I know is that it is my absolute dream to have a #1 USC visit SL,UT on the first week of October. Don't let us down Trojans. We've never had such a team in our own stadium and it would be the stamp on that sealed envelope that Utah has joined the big boys if they were to win. Can't wait.

Eirespal,

You're in for quite a treat in your home stadium with your newfound competition. 

USC coming to town is the College version of the Dallas Cowboys......Doesn't matter how they are playing, they are always a big ticket.

And, it won't be long until the Ducks go to SL and rub your face in the carpet...........

Eirespal, like Rocky against Apollo Creed, "I just want to go the distance"....A moral victory is don't get blown out.


In your shoes, I'd also be going for the win, yet be satified/proud if the game is close.... 

So the question is this: Will USC be the pre-season #1? If so it does not bode well as only one team has ever gone wire to wire to win it all ('99 FSU).

I think that to start the season, USC will be ranked #2 in most polls. Where we will be ranked by the time we play Utah is anybodies guess. We should be unbeaten as Stanford will be the only true threat before Utah. I expect Stanford will take a step back this year without Luck (especially that early in the season), but the game is in Palo Alto and won't be a gimme.

I expect that we will go into the Utah game unbeaten and ranked no lower than #2. Is it September yet?

Florida and Stony Brook are gone and 2 of the 6 left are PAC 12. FSU and UCLA both lost to the U of A and one will send the other home today. South Carolina or Kent Stae will eliminate the other tomorrow.
I'm liking the Pac 12's chances of garnering another title if Arizona and Arkansas end up meeting down the road.



It ain't college football but for a baseball junkies it's just as good!  LOL 

Eirespal,
I just wanted to let you know that I traveled to SL last year for ASU's game there. It was a great experience and your fans were the best. Everyone I came in contact with couldn't have been nicer. Your stadium, while a bit on the smaller side, was a very nice venue and a great place to watch a CFB game. Your fans are very passionate as well. We took a road trip through a great portion of Utah and it was beautiful. Went through Park City and the back roads most of the way to Zion. What a fantastic state.

Now, stop being thankful for being in the PAC. You will not have arrived until you wipe that feeling of "gee, we're so happy to have you" look off your face. You fans need to have a bit more of a killer instinct when the rest of the conference comes calling. Don't lose the hospitality, it's great. Just take more of an attitude that "ya'll are welcome and we'll also provide the bandages for your trip home".

All above was in good fun my friend. I have had and still do have a lot of repsect for your Utes. I also look forward to beating them everytime we play them. I will of course be rooting for your win against the trogs this year.

In your shoes, I'd also be going for the win, yet be satified/proud if the game is close.... 

Moral victories? Satisfied/proud? Like old Herm Edwards said, "We play to win the game". They will too. There were no Utah fans cheering that Utah was lining up to tie the game in the closing seconds last year. It was a heartbreaking loss.

Same with Oregon. When we finally play it will not be good enough to keep it close. The 7 point loss in the rain in Autzen a few years ago still gripes me. The Utes were driving, down by 4 with just minutes left to complete a great comeback, but intead a turnover and field goal ended a 16 game winning streak. Oregon went on to play in the Rose Bowl and Utah goes on to play Cal in the Poinsettia Bowl.

I was at that beatdown we put on Utah a few years back.  You were coming off your amazing victory over Bama only to have to line up against a real football team..........Well, truth be told, you guys were competitive that day and snapping your 16 game winning streak was not an easy task.

Devil....how is that "dream job" working out for the new coach?  Can you guys beat USC again this year?  Did the loss to Oregon last year sink you guys or what?

I doubt seriously we beat SC this year. For one it's at their house and for 2, well we have a lot of questions to answer before I know what we really have in 2012.

Losing to Oregon did not derail ASU last year. Our coach losing his team did. There were apparently many things going on internally that we didn't know about. Basically though, DE lost control and the Devils lost games.

As far as the new coach goes, he is doing everything right so far. He is connecting with his team, with the fans, with local HS coaches, etc. For the first time in a decade, we actually have a football coach who is coaching. It is incredibly refreshing. I do not know how it will work out in the W/L dept but I truly believe we currently have the hardest working coach in CFB.

Our run game is going to surprise this year. I predict that if he stays healty, Cam Marshall will be the #1 or #2 RB in the PAC this year. If several ifs fall into place, we might actually make some noise. My head says though to expect a mediocre 6-6.

Devil....how is that "dream job" working out for the new coach?  Can you guys beat USC again this year?  Did the loss to Oregon last year sink you guys or what?

Duck,
Erickson sunk ASU for the past few years. The pundits have the top two teams in the division as USC and Utah and ASU beat them both handily. This is a new year so the slates are blank.
The new coach is winning players, fans and alum over in droves but again...he's winlessod so far. A change was needed big time, we'll see what happens.

Spot on YamD.

Eirespal, Just a dose of reality here , brother, the USC of last September wasn't anywhere near the same USC by the end of the season. It's almost the tale of two teams. Especially on defense, young kids who hadn't grasped the Tampa two, all freshman LBs, thin in the secondary.


By the end of last season, the defense had arrived.


This season, again due to the new kids on the offensive side last season, Barkley will be audibling at the line, when necessary. A more mature O-line, even without Kalil. I guess the point I'm making is What you saw ealy last season was way below the Trojan norm. You will NOT see that kind of team this season, or in the near future, for that matter. I'd feel bad if you get too high and suffered too large a letdown after October 4......          



  

Now, stop being thankful for being in the PAC. You will not have arrived until you wipe that feeling of "gee, we're so happy to have you" look off your face. You fans need to have a bit more of a killer instinct when the rest of the conference comes calling. Don't lose the hospitality, it's great. Just take more of an attitude that "ya'll are welcome and we'll also provide the bandages for your trip home".

Devil Mike,

I'm surprised that you found SL hospitible. Most don't. If we have the attitude that you've described above then it won't last long and other Pac 12 schools should enjoy it while it lasts. I've been around the world many times and have been in venues for many sports at many levels and I am usually embarrased by the a) lack of knowledge b) beligerence and c)fair weatheredness that most Utah fans are.

It actually give Utah teams (and I mean any Utah team regardless of sport or level of competition) a strong home field advantage because refs, coaches, and even fans can be quite intimidated. Then again, if a team is losing nobody will attend, and those that do will not stand, and at no time can I turn to a fellow fan and have an intelligent conversation about the visiting team and their history or their players.

I'm sure you can relate a little. I lived in Phoenix for almost two years and had a very difficult time at the games (although found a sports bar/wings joint called the Native New Yorker that had intelligent fans). Phoenix seems to be a melting pot of people and the fans were a bit different for me. I had people asking me to sit at a Suns playoff game and the most excited the fans got at the BOB was when the mustard and ketchup raced during the 7I stretch.

Anyway, I digress. For the time being I'm going to continue to be thrilled to be in the conferece. Why not? Having #1 USC come to RES rather than #119 New Mexico is a very cool thing. Having a rivalry with ASU and AZ is so much better than Wyoming and UNLV. 

Glad you enjoyed your trip.

Trucker,

I agree, USC got better by the end of last season. But so did Utah. Players develop. Once Utah figured out how to play around a JC quarterback they turned their season around. I'm not saying Utah was anywhere as good by the end of the year as USC, but don't be too overconfident my friend. Football is not math. A+B does not =C. Great USC versus a good Utah in Utah on a cold autumn day can = just about anything.

And the fact Utah lacerated our QB's liver on a cheap shot helped them get that victory too.

I agree, USC got better by the end of last season. But so did Utah. Players develop. Once Utah figured out how to play around a JC quarterback they turned their season around. I'm not saying Utah was anywhere as good by the end of the year as USC, but don't be too overconfident my friend. Football is not math. A+B does not =C. Great USC versus a good Utah in Utah on a cold autumn day can = just about anything.


Eirespal,
Thoughts that are generated by your post.
USC should win that game on any field and under any weather conditions based on the differecne in talent.

These are college kids and many at Utah have grown up watching what USC has done historically. Many of the same kids couldn't care less who "'should" win the game and some of those actually think they should.
Utah has become a much better place for college foootball in recent years  and based on that they would love to shine, at home, under a big spotlight.
Bare in mine that to beat USC they only have to be better than them next year on a single day.


Anybody know how many teams in the past, even recently, that should have won....didn't.

USC is the best team in the conference and based on that they get to wear the biggest bullseye. 

 only one team has ever gone wire to wire to win it all ('99 FSU).

USC will be the second.  The improvement in the team from the beginning to the end of the season was amazing.  It will continue into this season and be one of the best USC teams ever.  I hate USC.  

Notneutral,
That's a tall order. A number of PAC 12 teams have improved over last year and it's a long season. There's no doubt that they'll be an excellent squad but a lot can happen and more than likely it will. 

UCLA is gone. Time to increase the number of fans following the remaining PAC 12 team!!!!

GO CATS!!! 

Still looking for the first UCLA Bruin post!! Not a one.  That's....welll....GAY.