Carroll manipulates this cross-town rivalry rather than Neuheisel

For two years, expectations have downsized at UCLA. For two years, the Bruins have been an outcast among the Pac-10, routinely USC finishes at the top of the Pac-10, and more importantly they always beat UCLA decisively, except two years ago when the Bruins upset victory sent the Trojans away in dismay and shock.

But since then, the Trojans have continued their strong dominance over their cross-town rivals. It seems more like a cross-town one-sided rivalry, and USC’s mastermind Pete Carroll manipulates the cross-rivalry showdown each time, both the Trojans and Bruins meet, either at the Rose Bowl or the Coliseum, scenery isn’t a factor. Instead, it’s the depth of the Trojans that’s the factor, after Carroll has done a sensational job in recruiting talented stars, and establishing a cogent defense.

This season, for the Trojans, there fiercest defense has met standards, shutting down nearly every opponent they battled against. It would be interesting to see the Trojans play against Oklahoma for the national title, a game which would display the nation’s top defense against the nation’s top offense, but one loss smudged their national title hopes.

After the Trojans loss to Oregon State in the biggest upset of the year, they never reclaimed their top-ranking seed, now having to settle for a Rose Bowl bid, where they will meet Joe Paterno and Penn State on New Year’s Day, assuring another New Year’s Day appearance at the Rose Bowl, this time against Penn State, should be an instant classic.

This season, Penn State had a sensational year finishing the season 11-1, as well as the Trojans after their 28-7 pounding over the Bruins. JoePa’s boys are well-balance on both sides of the field, offensively and defensively. As for the Trojans, they won in 2007 and 2008, routing against Big Ten Conference opponents, a conference they have faired well against, but Penn State won’t be an easy assignment.

We’ll just have to wait and see what happens on New Year’s Day, though the Trojans have a huge advantage to win the game because of their relentless defense.

Aside from that, the Bruins never had monopoly over the Trojans. Instead the Trojans had monopoly, continuing to outsmart and outplay the Bruins. Clearly, the Bruins are outclassed by the Trojans, and overall they are a much better team than their cross-town foes, winning nine of their last 10 games against the Bruins.

For along time now, the Trojans have had control of the driver seat in the Los Angeles area, without a pro football team in sight, the city turned to USC football, and they have convinced mostly everyone year after year, taking a lot of fan base away from UCLA. Also, they have dominated the Pac-10 for seven straight years now, and now are seeking to extend their record against the Big 10 to 5-0 with a victory over Penn State in the Rose Bowl games.

On Saturday, USC opted to wear their cardinal home jerseys in the rivalry game for the first time since 1982, to restore tradition, forcing them to lose a timeout. But Rick Neuheisel took a timeout early in the game to even things up with Carroll.

There were lots of family ties in this game. It was Neuheisel’s first year as head coach of the Bruins, in his first year he brought Norm Chow, an offensive guru who was the former USC’s offensive coordinator where he became an icon and legendary offensive expert, helping the Trojans win two national championships, before leaving for the NFL, to become a Tennessee Titan offensive coordinator.

But, Neuheisel decided to bring in Chow, to install a dynamic offense to compete in the Pac-10 against the Trojans. The Bruins last season was expected to cause problems for the Trojans, but they unraveled, finishing with a 6-7 record that cost coach Karl Dorrell his job.

Suddenly, Dorrell watch his former team miss out on a bowl game. Last year, the Bruins managed to win enough games to bid for a bowl, but under Neuheisel, they couldn’t win enough games to become eligible to play in a bowl game.

Still, the Bruins have a lot to accomplish before they overhaul Carroll’s Trojans, but the Bruins are a work in progress. When tailback C.J. Gable fumbled on USC’s opening drive, the Bruins responded with a trickery against a strong Trojan’s defense.

With Chow calling the offensive schemes from the press box, restored historically memories among most USC fans. Absolutely, Chow’s familiarity was difference maker in the game, after designing a double-pass offensive trickery. Receiver Dominique Johnson wobbled a 21-yard toss to a leaping Kahlil Bell for a touchdown.

It was a brilliant game plan that Chow designed to delude his old-time friend Carroll. It was the Bruins longest touchdown of the year, and the most spectacular offense play of the year. But their 7-0 edge was withdrawn quickly.

Often this season, Joe McKnight has been compared to former star Reggie Bush for his sensational performance, adding another sensational game to his column, with a 12-yard touchdown run to tie the game. He led the ground game, rushing 15 times for 99 yards, and exuberant tailback, Stafon Johnson, scored on a two yard run.

Evidently, the Trojans still is the best team in the Pac-10, and the best team in town. The Trojans outgained UCLA with 478 yards to 157. Each time the Trojans play the Bruins, the games are normally lopsided, which has been the status for the last two years.

Currently, Carroll has the best of this rivalry. And Neuheisel needs time before the Bruins develop into a dominate opponent against the Trojans. Still, they are inexperience, but the Trojans have sense of awareness of what it takes to be a champion, for the Bruins they are still learning the ropes.

Of course, Neuheisel is the right guy to guide the Bruins, with his experience he brings a lot of ambition to UCLA, looking to improve the inexperience Bruins, but Carroll will have the advantage for quite some time.