WARM UP THE TRUCK.
EDSBS: Coach Carroll, you’re known for your innovative practice techniques. Explain a few of them to us.
Pete Carroll: Lemme just say that I’m jacked to talk with you, Orson. Just psyched and jacked and excited to do it.
EDSBS: Of course you are.
PC: Of course I am. We use a variety of techniques. I like to keep things hopping, so we move POP POP POP from drill to drill, emphasizing competition at every position. The best players play at USC, regardless of age. We compete. We drive. We win. That’s what we do.
EDSBS: And by drive you mean…
PC: We get the running backs to drive trucks during practice. Full-size Toyota Tundras, actually, the official truck of USC athletics. We’re jacked to have them on board with us.
EDSBS: You’re fucking with me, right? You’re totally fucking with me, Pete.
PC: Nope, no fucking with going on here. We line them up in the backfield, hand off through the window, and then have the running back place the ball in one of the Tundra’s ample cup holders. Seriously, those things will hold a pony keg of beer. Not that we endorse drinking pony kegs of beer while driving here at USC.
EDSBS: Of course not.
PC: But it keeps some of the wear and tear off our backs while encouraging our lineman to move quickly and make big holes for our backs at the same time.
EDSBS: And that means you have men going up against trucks. On the football field.
PC: Yeah, it’s awesome. Just awesome. Rey’s only totalled two this season, though. He’s hoping to get to four or five before the UCLA game.
EDSBS: And you haven’t lost a lineman to…um…being hit by a truck yet?
PC: Well, I’m not saying that! (Laughs.) But, you know: omelets, eggs. Only the fittest survive here at USC. We compete. And sometimes run over our lineman with the full force of a beautiful yet rugged 2008 Toyota Tundra full-size pickup.
EDSBS: And this…works?
PC: Oh, hell yes. Did you see what happened to Nebraska Saturday night?
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1
Hossnfeffer says:
Tundra is a good truck.
September 18th, 2007 at 10:47 am
2
Seven Years in Gainesville says:
Bartender!
COCKTAILS!
ONE HUNDRED of them!
September 18th, 2007 at 10:55 am
3
oc phil says:
As a USC fan my favorite part of that game was hearing that Pete told the OL that they were going to run the ball every play until they scored a TD and it workied. Then on the last TD drive they decided to let Booty throw the ball and that worked well too. It is sweet when an offense can just say “we are going to do what we want and you can’t stop us”
September 18th, 2007 at 10:55 am
4
Howie says:
Jesus.
September 18th, 2007 at 10:56 am
5
Brian says:
I’m gonna go to Athens in 2 weeks, and during the $1 drinks time, order 100 cocktails. I think. Maybe. If I’m already drunk.
September 18th, 2007 at 10:58 am
6
Laugh says:
Any of you angels could run through those holes.
September 18th, 2007 at 11:04 am
7
Janus09 says:
You could almost drive a Canyonero through those holes. I can see why RB at USC could be an appealing place to be. Imagine the recruiting possibilities with pictures like those.
September 18th, 2007 at 11:10 am
8
Signal to Noise says:
Well done.
Rey’s only totalled two this season, though. He’s hoping to get to four or five before the UCLA game.
+ a bunch of cocktails to you for this line alone, sir.
This whole truck thing gives more credence to my idea of the USC Tailback Voltron, since now I have proof that there is some mechanical trickery going on.
September 18th, 2007 at 11:13 am
9
Boy Howdy says:
That was with a true freshman center, too.
Also, Rey owns the insurance companies.
September 18th, 2007 at 11:14 am
10
Stacy Keibler Luvs Me says:
Brittney & Paris Hilton Dept:
RE: Cornholio holes….Have not seen such wide holes made by an offensive line since Brittney Spears and Paris Hilton went comando recently…
September 18th, 2007 at 11:19 am
11
alanon says:
that blocking is a thing of beauty…even as an ND fan i have to bow to their OL dominance. goddamnit this year sucks
September 18th, 2007 at 11:19 am
12
Dave K. says:
How about thier offensive line as a unit being given Heisman consideration? Thier skill players accomplishments have to be devalued slightly by how ridiculously good that blocking is…
September 18th, 2007 at 11:20 am
13
gerry dorsey says:
i really thought this was going to be another “key jingling” post.
September 18th, 2007 at 11:21 am
14
jon johnston says:
I was informed last evening by Mrs Corn Nation that she stopped watching the game because I was a complete prick and ruined it for everyone. In retrospect, I couldn’t disagree with her.
I couldn’t get those damned holes out of my mind. #)($*#)*#@(*@&#($&@(#*&@(#^$%#&*#^$&*#Y$#
#$$#(*%&($*&%(@_@!()#)$&#R
September 18th, 2007 at 11:27 am
15
Land of Os(borne) says:
Screw you, Swindle.
62-24! 62-24! 62-24!
September 18th, 2007 at 11:30 am
16
Novus says:
15, that’s just cold.
September 18th, 2007 at 11:32 am
17
Unhappy Monkey says:
I don’t think hole even begins to describe the running area, but you might want to consider that Wake Forest ran for 236 yds on 53 carries on Nebraska the week before. The same Wake team that ran for 2 yds on 24 carries against BC and 164 yds on 45 carries on Army. So, the holes MAY say more about NU than USC.
Just a thought.
September 18th, 2007 at 11:33 am
18
Othniel says:
Which bar, #5? This won’t be limited to one per, will it?
September 18th, 2007 at 11:43 am
19
Rival says:
#7
+1 for the Canyonero reference. For your enjoyment, read in a sing-songy western way:
Can you name the truck with four wheel drive,
smells like a steak and seats thirty-five..
Canyonero! Canyonero!
Well, it goes real slow with the hammer down,
It’s the country-fried truck endorsed by a clown!
Canyonero! (Yah!) Canyonero!
[Krusty:] Hey Hey!
The Federal Highway comission has ruled the
Canyonero unsafe for highway or city driving.
Canyonero!
12 yards long, 2 lanes wide,
65 tons of American Pride!
Canyonero! Canyonero!
Top of the line in utility sports,
Unexplained fires are a matter for the courts!
Canyonero! Canyonero! (Yah!)
She blinds everybody with her super high beams,
She’s a squirrel crushing, deer smacking, driving machine!
Canyonero!-oh woah, Canyonero! (Yah!)
Drive Canyonero!
Woah Canyonero!
Woah!
September 18th, 2007 at 11:44 am
20
Paco says:
Do you know what WVU could do with an O-Line like that?
September 18th, 2007 at 11:46 am
21
Rival says:
Yah!
September 18th, 2007 at 11:55 am
22
oc phil says:
#12 That is true. Stafon Johnson averaged over 13 yards per carry during the game, but that was the third best average for a USC running back that night.
When the first carry of the night is the fullback taking the ball 50 yards and the second carry is the tailback going for another 40, you know the OL is doing something great.
September 18th, 2007 at 11:57 am
23
Rob says:
Those holes were big enough to drive a white Ford Bronco through…
And Nebraska gave up 236 rushing yards to Wake Forest a week earlier. As much as I’d like to believe it, what happened to them on Saturday wasn’t just a function of USC simply being the best team in the nation. The blackshirts are becoming the blackskirts right before our very eyes.
September 18th, 2007 at 12:19 pm
24
Jeff from LA says:
Usually when announcers say that the holes created by the O-line are big enough to drive a truck through, it irritates me, because it is almost always nothing but hyperbole. However, against Nebraska, those were LITERALLY holes big enough to drive a truck through. Forget one truck, I think you could fit in a train, 3 Corollas side by side, or Phil Fulmer through those holes.
To be honest, these last few years, USC’s O-Line has made its offensive skill position players look even better than they are. Booty, Bush, etc. have all benefited from the monsters USC has on the O-Line. At the NFL Combine next year, Sam Baker should just hand NFL teams a copy of photos from this game instead of working out.
September 18th, 2007 at 12:22 pm
25
Jeff from LA says:
I was going to put in Charlie Weis in there instead of Fulmer, but I feel there’s no point in picking on ND fans at this point.
September 18th, 2007 at 12:23 pm
26
shovel pass says:
Can the Heisman be splitt 5 ways??
It should be!
September 18th, 2007 at 12:33 pm
27
Palouse says:
Cue Denny Green…They are what we thought they were! If you want to crown ‘em, then crown their ass, but they are what we thought they were! One of the greatest rants ever.
How long til the WWL starts crowning USC? I’ll never forget the endless adoration just a couple of years ago, comparing them to all time college football teams, before they had even won the MNC. Oops.
September 18th, 2007 at 12:34 pm
28
Andy says:
I love how the USC detractors are going to use how Nebraska gave up 236 yards rushing to wake forest so 313 yards isn’t a big deal. 236 is bad, but did you actually see the way USC was rushing against nebraska? They could have rushed for over 500 if they had wanted to. I am not exaggerating either. PC called off the dogs, and to say he didn’t is just ignorance.
September 18th, 2007 at 1:07 pm
29
macker says:
Miami used to do this, but they used vintage Cadillacs and got tired of players landing ON THE TRUNK…
….ON THE TRUNK????
September 18th, 2007 at 1:18 pm
30
oc phil says:
#24 Very true but it is not a new phenomenon. The success of guys like Marcus Allen, Charles White, Ricky Bell and the rest was very much helped by running behind some great offensive linemen like Anthony Munoz. You don’t get to be known as “Tailback U” if you are not really “Offensive Line U”.
September 18th, 2007 at 1:31 pm
31
Albino Tornado says:
OC Phil:
1. Nebraska’s front seven got brickfaced by USC’s OL all night. No question.
2. Nebraska missed two tackles at the point of attack on those first two runs. One by the SS, one by an all-american candidate corner where he flat put his head down and whiffed.
3. USC did not run the ball until they scored — their first TD (of their 7) was on a 6 yard or so in route. After 3 runs. Two of which were for 40+. After pinning them on their own 4. Dammit.
Kevin Cosgrove (Nebraska’s DC, late of Wisconsin) is every bit as popular here now as Craig Bohl in 2001/2002.
Orson, you know that line you have about never forgetting your first prison rape? Thanks for the reminder. I’ll have to go get some more liquor now.
September 18th, 2007 at 1:45 pm
32
James says:
As an owner of a 2007 Toyota Tundra, it will certainly truck somebody*
*-except of course, Tray Blackmon
September 18th, 2007 at 2:30 pm
33
Slacker says:
First it’s houses for their families…now it’s new full-size trucks.
I’m tellin ya, life must be good for SoCal tailbacks…
September 18th, 2007 at 2:53 pm
34
AustinHusker says:
Props to Phil on originality. Blackskirts…zzz.
Sadly, USC did make the Husker D look like a bunch of dress-wearing bitches.
September 18th, 2007 at 3:40 pm
35
AustinHusker says:
Sorry Phil, Rob is the unoriginal bastage.
September 18th, 2007 at 3:41 pm
36
Hokie Andrew says:
#20 – The answer is, “Ignite the atmosphere, as well as any upholstered goods in a five mile radius of the stadium.”
September 18th, 2007 at 4:08 pm
37
oc phil says:
#31 Pete’s “We are going to run every down” command didn’t come at the start of the game, it was during the long timeout when the player was hurt on the kickoff. That was the drive that was 100% run.
USC was behind at the time, thanks partly to the fact that both Nebraska scoring drives were kept alive by USC penalties on 3rd or 4th down.
I understand how the Nebraska fans are upset the the program is not back to where it has been. But I still see Nebraska as a quality team. At this point I’d rank them #2 in the Big 12 and by the end of the year they could have a legitimate shot at Oklahoma should the two teams meet in the Big 12 championship game.
September 18th, 2007 at 4:55 pm
38
SeaTrojan says:
‘Hey Stafon, just run towards the S, stay between the U & the K and you should be fine.’
Have the sons of Bruce Matthews, Brad Budde, Anthony Munoz and Don Mosebar matriculated to ‘SC recently? It feels like 1979 again.
September 18th, 2007 at 5:26 pm
39
Defender90 says:
Ay caramba! I saw the game but those holes captured in still photos are just unbelievable. In some of the shots on Corn Nation, it’s hard not to think the ball was snapped as the Nebraska players were still running out to get lined up. Actually, that might have helped them, since they would have at least been in motion.
September 18th, 2007 at 11:00 pm
40
matt says:
if pete saw this he’d be all like HOLY FREE DARKO then he’d laugh.
September 18th, 2007 at 11:41 pm
41
Albino Tornado says:
OC Phil:
We may be better than we’ve been; however, we’ve set the bar pretty high for ourselves, and the national media’s been going along for the ride. Further, we’ve had at least one game where we’ve had our doors blown clean off every year since Kevin Cosgrove came aboard with Callahan:
04: 70-10 @ Texas Tech
05: 41-15 @ Kansas (!)
06: 41-29 @ Ok. State (trust me, we got our doors blown off)
07: 49-31 at home to USC. The worst beating we got at home since KSU stomped us 38-9; after all, it was 42-10 and 49-17 late in the game.
Another part of the semi-unrealistic expectations we have are thanks to Bob Stoops, Jim Tressel, and Urban Meyer, all of which manage to win NC’s in their second years. The fact that those teams were completely stacked with talent (thanks, John Blake, John Cooper, and [Name Redacted]!) whereas Nebraska had glorified walk-ons and zero QB’s is ignored. Willingham made a similar transition in offensive scheme at Notre Dame, and got fired for it because his first season was magical, with every conceivable bounce going his way. Greg Robinson at Suckracuse… well, I hope he knows a good realtor.
If it weren’t for Cheeseburger Charlie absolutely stinking up the join in South Bend, Callahan would be getting even more heat than he likely deserves.
September 19th, 2007 at 8:36 am
42
oc phil says:
Albino: As a long time USC fan I know your pain. I remember a loss to Memphis and escaping with a tie against San Diego State. I also remember thinking during the days when Miami and Nebraska were dominating, that USC might be a good again, but we would never rise up to past levels of greatness. But things do cycle around for most programs.
Nebraska will win more MNC’s down the road. And I see this last game as a situation where USC was on and everything came together rather than Nebraska being a weak opponent. And while the pictures above do look bad, there were some plays where the Nebraska DL got some good penetration
Greg Robinson? Isn’t he a GENIUS? After all, he has two SUPER BOWL RINGS!
September 19th, 2007 at 11:09 am