BIGREDFAN_in_OMAHA
All-American
This article contains the opinion of a talking POS:
link
USC center: NU won't be surprise
BY LEE BARFKNECHT
WORLD-HERALD STAFF WRITER
FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. - The next opponent on USC's football schedule is Nebraska.
To Trojan center Ryan Kalil, it could just as well be "Anybody State."
That's not a knock on the Huskers, the All-America candidate said. But after winning 46 of the past 48 games, that's how USC operates.
"We've become accustomed to not really caring who we play," Kalil said. "We worry about ourselves and what we do."
Why? Experience, he said.
"We've seen so many defensive fronts and blitzes - hey, there's only so much anybody can do," Kalil said. "We have a lot of experienced guys to read whatever comes up.
"It's not something we're too worried about. It's not about Nebraska. It's about us."
USC showed critics on Saturday night that it plans to be in the national championship hunt again by pounding Arkansas 50-14 in its opener. After an open date this week, USC takes on Nebraska in Los Angeles in a 7 p.m. CDT game on Sept. 16.
The Trojans returned only 11 starters from last year's team that lost to Texas in the national title game. Doubters wondered if the dynasty was crumbling.
But against Arkansas, the Trojans' defense dominated from the start, the offense came to life in the second half and the kicking game sparkled. They also finished plus five in turnovers.
"I feel good. I feel good about it. I feel pretty good," USC coach Pete Carroll said in a sing-song voice that drew a laugh. "We did a lot of stuff.
"This is really a satisfying victory for us. For the coaches who have been around awhile, this is a big deal to us because we know there was so much question in the air about where we would be and what we would be all about."
Much of the question was at quarterback, where fourth-year junior John David Booty made his first start.
After some spotty play in the first half, Booty bounced back to finish 24 of 36 for 261 yards and three touchdowns with no interceptions.
"It took me the first quarter to get some type of rhythm," he said. "I felt like I was playing really fast. The second half, things slowed down."
USC lost 11 players in the NFL draft last spring. But by game's end, Kalil said, things started to feel like last year.
"It's a definite advantage to have guys who have been in so many situations - being down, being up, on the road, in loud stadiums," he said. "Our younger guys can feed off the older guys who have seen all these situations.
"The biggest thing for us is to never let our guard down."
link
USC center: NU won't be surprise
BY LEE BARFKNECHT
WORLD-HERALD STAFF WRITER
FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. - The next opponent on USC's football schedule is Nebraska.
To Trojan center Ryan Kalil, it could just as well be "Anybody State."
That's not a knock on the Huskers, the All-America candidate said. But after winning 46 of the past 48 games, that's how USC operates.
"We've become accustomed to not really caring who we play," Kalil said. "We worry about ourselves and what we do."
Why? Experience, he said.
"We've seen so many defensive fronts and blitzes - hey, there's only so much anybody can do," Kalil said. "We have a lot of experienced guys to read whatever comes up.
"It's not something we're too worried about. It's not about Nebraska. It's about us."
USC showed critics on Saturday night that it plans to be in the national championship hunt again by pounding Arkansas 50-14 in its opener. After an open date this week, USC takes on Nebraska in Los Angeles in a 7 p.m. CDT game on Sept. 16.
The Trojans returned only 11 starters from last year's team that lost to Texas in the national title game. Doubters wondered if the dynasty was crumbling.
But against Arkansas, the Trojans' defense dominated from the start, the offense came to life in the second half and the kicking game sparkled. They also finished plus five in turnovers.
"I feel good. I feel good about it. I feel pretty good," USC coach Pete Carroll said in a sing-song voice that drew a laugh. "We did a lot of stuff.
"This is really a satisfying victory for us. For the coaches who have been around awhile, this is a big deal to us because we know there was so much question in the air about where we would be and what we would be all about."
Much of the question was at quarterback, where fourth-year junior John David Booty made his first start.
After some spotty play in the first half, Booty bounced back to finish 24 of 36 for 261 yards and three touchdowns with no interceptions.
"It took me the first quarter to get some type of rhythm," he said. "I felt like I was playing really fast. The second half, things slowed down."
USC lost 11 players in the NFL draft last spring. But by game's end, Kalil said, things started to feel like last year.
"It's a definite advantage to have guys who have been in so many situations - being down, being up, on the road, in loud stadiums," he said. "Our younger guys can feed off the older guys who have seen all these situations.
"The biggest thing for us is to never let our guard down."
