A Rose Bowl review
By: Tony Bleill
Wednesday, January 02, 2008
Tony Bleill's quarter-by-quarter review of the Rose Bowl:
FIRST QUARTER
Score: USC 14, Illinois 0
Star: Trojans fourth-string quarterback Garrett Green, who took a lateral from John David Booty and then passed to a wide-open Desmond Reed for a 34-yard touchdown pass and a 14-0 USC lead. Said ABC announcer Brent Musburger, "Folks, it is early, but it's crisis time for Illinois."
Key play: While driving in UI territory, Booty passed to fullback Stanley Havili, who lost the ball when tackled. Illinois' Justin Harrison recovered, but officials ruled they had called the play dead before Havili fumbled. Musburger suggested that the officials might have blown the call.
Commercial break: Southwest Airlines had a series of neat commercials during the game, most of them with the same theme: An office executive is moving up the ranks of his company, it is suggested, because he's using "productivity enhancers." Funny takeoff on the steroids issue in sports.
TV review: You might recall a few years ago, Musburger got into some hot water with USC when, during a broadcast, he revealed the meaning of the hand signals that the Trojans' quarterback was using to communicate with his teammates. Angry USC officials said that information was given to Musburger only for background purposes. It was funny, then, when Musburger mentioned after USC scored on the double-pass play to Reed, "(It's) a play we saw in practice — an open practice, I might add. If there were scouts around, they would have saw it." By the way, USC had a nonsensical media policy for its bowl workouts. USC media and national media were allowed to watch, but Illinois media were only permitted to view a few minutes.
Zook watch: Amazingly, ABC cameras actually caught Zook on the sideline standing still. Not so amazingly, Musburger wasted no time giving Zook credit for his renowned recruiting skills. "I'm going to tell you about Ron Zook," Musburger said. "Last year, 19 of the 22 starters for Urban Meyer in the championship game were recruited by that man right there. He started the recruiting of Tim Tebow in Jacksonville."
What UI fans must be thinking: Well, we're guessing it must have been something along the lines of what ABC's Kirk Herbstreit said after USC went up 7-0. "If you're a USC fan, this is exactly how you wanted this game to start. And if you're an Illinois fan, this is exactly how you did not want this game to start."
SECOND QUARTER
Score: USC 21, Illinois 3
Star: USC linebacker Rey Maualuga. He was everywhere on defense, recording back-to-back sacks of UI quarterback Juice Williams. Later in the quarter, he added his third, blowing through running back Rashard Mendenhall to get to Williams.
Key play: USC punter Greg Woidneck let a high snap go through his hands. It rolled on the ground before Woidneck picked it up and hastily got away a 20-yard punt, averting what could have been a Trojan disaster. Instead, the Illini were forced to start from their own 42.
Commercial break: It wasn't a commercial, but rather a promo for IBM's season-long campaign of revealing the 25 greatest players in college football history. No. 1 was disclosed during the break: former Illini Red Grange. "Right now, Illinois could use the Galloping Ghost," Musburger said.
TV review: Shortly after he mistakenly credited USC for taking a 5-yard penalty to gain more room to punt (Illinois had declined the penalty), Musburger gave an interesting insight, referring to the play in which Maualuga blew past a Mendenhall block for a sack. "The coaching staff at Illinois tells me that's why (Mendenhall) should go back to Champaign next year and not the NFL," Musburger said. If what Musburger said is accurate, then it's like suggesting Kevin Durant should have stayed in school because he needed to improve his free throw shooting. Absurd.
Zook watch: Herbstreit rightfully questioned ý before it happened ý the idea of the UI kicking a field goal when trailing 21-0 in the final minute. When you're down three touchdowns against a heavy favorite 38 seconds before halftime, you need touchdowns, not field goals.
What UI fans must be thinking: Can we attempt to throw the ball down the field? Just once?
THIRD QUARTER
Score: USC 35, Illinois 10
Star: USC cornerback Cary Harris intercepted a Juice Williams pass and later recovered a Jeff Cumberland fumble inside his own 20.
Key play: After Illinois cut its deficit to 21-10, the Illini drove deep into USC territory. But Jacob Willis fumbled after hauling in a Williams pass and the Trojans recovered for a touchback. The momentum was gone.
Commercial break: Beleaguered Citigroup is the game's title sponsor, so it had its fair share of commercial spots. Unfortunately, the company lacked variety, showing one ad in particular over and over and over. Note to Citi: If you want me to watch, make it interesting, not monotonous.
TV review: After USC tight end Fred Davis caught a touchdown pass to make it 28-10, he received a taunting penalty for pointing at a UI defender. It was USC's second taunting penalty of the game, yet Musburger and Herbstreit hardly said a word. Only studio analyst Doug Flutie bothered to criticize the Trojans for their unsportsmanlike showing.
Zook watch: Not much of a mention of the Illinois coach.
What UI fans must be thinking: Sure am glad I didn't shell out a few thousand bucks to send my entire family to Pasadena to watch this.
FOURTH QUARTER
Score: USC 49, Illinois 17
Star: Booty threw his seventh touchdown pass of his Rose Bowl career, this one to David Ausberry. He finished 25 of 37.
Key play: USC coach Pete Carroll showed a lack of class when trying to score in the game's final minute. With fewer than 30 seconds left, the Trojans handed the ball to running back Hershel Dennis. Can you imagine, say, Joe Paterno, trying to score in the final minute with his team leading 49-17? Take a knee, Pete.
Commercial break: Apparently, ABC would be in bad shape if it didn't have ad revenue from car companies. By one count, Nissan, Ford, Chevy, Saturn, Cadillac and Dodge all had advertisements during the game.
TV review: Musburger and Herbstreit spent the entire quarter filling time during the blowout, and they got a bit loopy late. When USC ballcarriers continually ran out of bounds, making a long game even longer, Herbstreit joked, "Somehow, he found that boundary. Worked hard to get to that." The fourth quarter was hard to watch; imagine being the person who had to think of things to say.
Zook watch: When UI defensive back Marcus Thomas was flagged for a personal foul, cameras showed Zook giving his young player some instruction. Said Herbstreit: "He's trying to build this program. He's trying to use all 60 minutes (for) what it takes to build this team to the top."
What UI fans must be thinking: When does spring practice start?