THE PAC12 THREAD v.4

[socaljim242]

It's called being the right guy in the right situation at the right time. Price wasn't able to duplicate that after his days at WSU and the school obviously hasn't been able to duplicate that level of success after he left.

He did get some 4* guys toward the end of his run and had at least one top 25 classes. Much of his success came with 3* kids much the way Petersen did at Boise State.

Everyone around here is still asking the question of whether or not Petersen can do even more at a bigger school with those built in recruiting edges that can bring him higher caliber athletes. Look at the guys that came before him that had success with Boise State talent and entirely bombed going to bigger schools in bigger markets. Petersen likes his 'OKGs' and his firm level of discipline and that's one thing in a remote area with few distractions with a ton of kids that were mostly overlooked that have no real alternative to a shot at the big time except to fall in line and work their asses off. It's a whole different thing to do the same with kids that have big city distractions and talent that can allow them to excel at any school of their choosing. Hard to find enough of the talented ones willing to put their ego aside and fall in line.

Leach is one of those guys that probably couldn't ever find success in a big market school. Plenty of them around, but being able to find stable success at the small school level is still a heck of an achievement. Just hard to directly compare doing it at that level to doing it in the big markets.

Remember the TMZ video of the RB at USC Tyler. He got himself and USC in hot water by saying some stupid stuff coming out drunk out of a restaurant. How many colleges have to worry about TMZ? lol. Kiffin and Sark and the parade of coaches in between and since may have been duds on the field ( still hoping Clay is the right choice) but for the most part USC hasn't had the trouble that many schools have had even being under a bigger microscope. So yes it's a whole different thing when the school is near a big city and the school thats in the middle of nowhere.

 

[wazzu31]

Late 90's I believe. Want to say '99 for sure, but I know it was around there. I remember a class where they either were ahead of UW or close to it and being concerned with that trend.

Not completely disagreeing with since I really don't know but highly any of his team's were remotely top 25, since his philosophy was Juco's then in 98 switched but still didn't get huge names. The two highest recruits he ever got I though was Chris Hurd and Josh Swogger and both turned out scrubs as opposed to two star running back Marcus Trufant who he and his staff turned into an all American

 

[WizardHawk]

Remember the TMZ video of the RB at USC Tyler. He got himself and USC in hot water by saying some stupid stuff coming out drunk out of a restaurant. How many colleges have to worry about TMZ? lol. Kiffin and Sark and the parade of coaches in between and since may have been duds on the field ( still hoping Clay is the right choice) but for the most part USC hasn't had the trouble that many schools have had even being under a bigger microscope.

USC is the opposite end of the spectrum.

While schools like WSU can shield their kids away from the spotlight and find some level of control over them for the reasons mentioned, USC is one of the fully elite schools that can still get most of their kids to fall in line just because they are at USC. Higher pressure and higher expectation for those coaches, but I don't think it's as hard as the ones in between the podunk small schools and the elite of the elite have it.

 

[socaljim242]

USC is the opposite end of the spectrum.

While schools like WSU can shield their kids away from the spotlight and find some level of control over them for the reasons mentioned, USC is one of the fully elite schools that can still get most of their kids to fall in line just because they are at USC. Higher pressure and higher expectation for those coaches, but I don't think it's as hard as the ones in between the podunk small schools and the elite of the elite have it.

I think you're underestimating the job the coaches have done here at USC when it comes to players getting into serious trouble. The distractions and the availability of temptations here is on another level. Look how much trouble the Miami program has faced since 2000 because of the money and fast lifestyle of that city. I don't think being at USC is what has kept players in line.

 

[WizardHawk]

Miami isn't the elite of the elite either despite their short periods of high level play. And Miami is a MAJOR drug capital.

USC attracts the highest talent available simply because they are USC. It's the ultimate recruiting advantage. Even when they are down a little they still don't have any issues getting talent.

Of course kids give in to temptation. And it happens everywhere. Just USC has more leverage than schools a tier or two down do because of the status of the institution. That doesn't mean that kids won't still be kids. Reggie Bush showed that.

 

[trojanfan12]

I think you're underestimating the job the coaches have done here at USC when it comes to players getting into serious trouble. The distractions and the availability of temptations here is on another level. Look how much trouble the Miami program has faced since 2000 because of the money and fast lifestyle of that city. I don't think being at USC is what has kept players in line.

Miami isn't the elite of the elite either despite their short periods of high level play. And Miami is a MAJOR drug capital.

USC attracts the highest talent available simply because they are USC. It's the ultimate recruiting advantage. Even when they are down a little they still don't have any issues getting talent.

Of course kids give in to temptation. And it happens everywhere. Just USC has more leverage than schools a tier or two down do because of the status of the institution. That doesn't mean that kids won't still be kids. Reggie Bush showed that.

I think you both make good points and are both correct. There is no question that there are a lot more temptations available to USC players than maybe at any other school in the country. The fact that USC has had so few players getting into any kind of serious trouble, does speak to the coaches doing a great job of keeping kids out of trouble.

At the same time, players at USC have more to lose than players at many other programs. Because of the level of talent on the team, they know that they can be easily replaced if they fuck up. So, they are more likely to make the right choices rather than risk losing what they have.

 

[socaljim242]

I think you both make good points and are both correct. There is no question that there are a lot more temptations available to USC players than maybe at any other school in the country. The fact that USC has had so few players getting into any kind of serious trouble, does speak to the coaches doing a great job of keeping kids out of trouble.

At the same time, players at USC have more to lose than players at many other programs. Because of the level of talent on the team, they know that they can be easily replaced if they fuck up. So, they are more likely to make the right choices rather than risk losing what they have.

Kids who get into the kinda trouble like the gun and drugs found on the Alabama players aren't worried about getting replaced. They don't think they will get caught. You get players to not show up late for meetings or not go easy at practice. Those kids are worried about being replaced.

 

[RegentDenali]

Some big news recruiting news today. 4-star Tate Martell, one of the top dual threat QB recruits, who had recently decommitted from Tex A&M, and had reopened things with Cal and USC both potential landing spots,....well he committed to Ohio State today.

The Ducks have officially hiked up the skirt hardcore for Tua Tagovailoa, the QB out of Hawaii, who committed to Bama recently. They're in pursuit mode, even though USC was his other top choice before the Bama call.

Some were already mentioned, but some nice recruiting gets for PAC 12, especially USC with some beef for the Oline with Brett Neilon and Andrew Vorhees.


3-star WR Brian Casteel (Covina, CA) committed to Arizona. It was his only offer, but he didn't waste any time and committed.

3-star OT Alex Forsyth (West Linn, OR) committed to Oregon. A bit of an under the radar player, but quitely, he had a boat load of offers from schools like Zona, ASU, Cal, Oregon St., USC, WSU, Washington, Vandy and Mich. Important get for the Ducks to keep a local so far in recruiting for 2017.

3-star WR Tyquez Hampton (El Paso, TX) committed to WSU. Offers included Utah, West Virginia, Miss St., and Navy. Leach still has juice with the Texas pipeline.

3-star OT Andrew Vorhees (Kingsburg, CA) committed to USC. Offers inluded Zona, ASU, Colorado, Oregon, Ore St, UCLA, and Vandy.

 

[socaljim242]

Some big news recruiting news today. 4-star Tate Martell, one of the top dual threat QB recruits, who had recently decommitted from Tex A&M, and had reopened things with Cal and USC both potential landing spots,....well he committed to Ohio State today.

The Ducks have officially hiked up the skirt hardcore for Tua Tagovailoa, the QB out of Hawaii, who committed to Bama recently. They're in pursuit mode, even though USC was his other top choice before the Bama call.

Some were already mentioned, but some nice recruiting gets for PAC 12, especially USC with some beef for the Oline with Brett Neilon and Andrew Vorhees.


3-star WR Brian Casteel (Covina, CA) committed to Arizona. It was his only offer, but he didn't waste any time and committed.

3-star OT Alex Forsyth (West Linn, OR) committed to Oregon. A bit of an under the radar player, but quitely, he had a boat load of offers from schools like Zona, ASU, Cal, Oregon St., USC, WSU, Washington, Vandy and Mich. Important get for the Ducks to keep a local so far in recruiting for 2017.

3-star WR Tyquez Hampton (El Paso, TX) committed to WSU. Offers included Utah, West Virginia, Miss St., and Navy. Leach still has juice with the Texas pipeline.

3-star OT Andrew Vorhees (Kingsburg, CA) committed to USC. Offers inluded Zona, ASU, Colorado, Oregon, Ore St, UCLA, and Vandy.

Still not a Tate Martel fan. He's talented for his size but too much Johnny football on the field and off for me.

 

[RegentDenali]

Still not a Tate Martel fan. He's talented for his size but too much Johnny football on the field and off for me.

Agreed. He's got those narcissistic qualities about him, just like Johnny Football. It's great if your willing to roll the dice with him being a one man show, but he's got pain in the ass written all over him. Not the type of player I'd want leading the Dawgs.

 

[nddulac]

I think you both make good points and are both correct. There is no question that there are a lot more temptations available to USC players than maybe at any other school in the country. The fact that USC has had so few players getting into any kind of serious trouble, does speak to the coaches doing a great job of keeping kids out of trouble.

Tulane and UNLV would beg to differ.

 

[socaljim242]

Tulane and UNLV would beg to differ.

He did say maybe. lol

 

[BoiseMike19]

Alright guys, we got WSU and Oregon State on the slate this year. How tough are these two gonna be? WSU really seemed to be showing some growth last season.

 

[WizardHawk]

Alright guys, we got WSU and Oregon State on the slate this year. How tough are these two gonna be? WSU really seemed to be showing some growth last season.

On paper I'd pencil in 1-1 in those two games, but who knows.

WSU is a real threat to contend for the Pac12 North given the powers in that division are breaking in new QB's and WSU has one of the most potent offenses in the conference. Remains to be seen if they can find some consistency on defense, but that's what it will really take for them to make a serious push in the conference.

Beavs are going into year 2 with their coaching staff and had a really rough ride last season. It's the 3rd game for both teams as you both have early bye weeks, however BSU will have their bye right before that game. They have theirs after the first game (ouch lol).

Now under Leach WSU has appeared to struggle early in seasons and has lost several games they probably shouldn't have so there's that, but I would still favor them in that match up. Their tune up game is against EWU while yours is against a fluffier opponent. Since it's a home game for your team I wouldn't make WSU a 14 point favorite, but I'd still have them by at least 3-7 at this point. Still have to see how they both come out of fall camp health wise though.

 

[WizardHawk]

Man, the more I look at the cougs schedule the more it just looks like it could be their year. If they can't break into a race for the North this year, I'm not sure when they could.

They avoid both USC and Utah in the south. That's kind of big.
Road games? Boise State, Stanford, ASU, Oregon State, and Colorado. Couple of tough ones, but not exactly murderers row.
They get Oregon and Stanford both early while they are still building their momentum behind their young QB's.

Hard not to like them for at least 9 wins.

Again, they do need to find something that resembles consistent defense and that's not a given.

 

[CCF151]

Man, the more I look at the cougs schedule the more it just looks like it could be their year. If they can't break into a race for the North this year, I'm not sure when they could.

They avoid both USC and Utah in the south. That's kind of big.
Road games? Boise State, Stanford, ASU, Oregon State, and Colorado. Couple of tough ones, but not exactly murderers row.
They get Oregon and Stanford both early while they are still building their momentum behind their young QB's.

Hard not to like them for at least 9 wins.

Again, they do need to find something that resembles consistent defense and that's not a given.

The Pirate will find some way to fuck it up if anyone can.

 

[Destroydacre]

Man, the more I look at the cougs schedule the more it just looks like it could be their year. If they can't break into a race for the North this year, I'm not sure when they could.

They avoid both USC and Utah in the south. That's kind of big.
Road games? Boise State, Stanford, ASU, Oregon State, and Colorado. Couple of tough ones, but not exactly murderers row.
They get Oregon and Stanford both early while they are still building their momentum behind their young QB's.

Hard not to like them for at least 9 wins.

Again, they do need to find something that resembles consistent defense and that's not a given.

I'm hoping that the apple cup this year is for more than just state bragging rights.

 

[CCF151]

I'm hoping that the apple cup this year is for more than just state bragging rights.

Bowl eligibility?

 

[DHoey]

Bowl eligibility?

Nah, we are talking 2016 Dawgs and Cats, not 2016 ducks

 

[CCF151]

Nah, we are talking 2016 Dawgs and Cats, not 2016 ducks

Since when has 'Zona been a part of the Apple cup?