It was a victory for the roses, and a huge one at that.
Pete Carroll’s Trojans sent Joe Paterno’s Penn State home feeling empty. Happy Valley isn’t feeling too happy at this very moment. It’s the Trojans leaving with a bed full of roses and that heavy trophy. It’s the Trojans, proving that they are the best team in college football.
The Nittany Lions are leaving sore, after USC’s 38-24 victory. The Trojans won their third straight Rose Bowl game, since losing to Texas there before their impressive three game streak in the national title game. The victory made a significant point. The fifth-ranked Trojans are the real national champions.
Their performance at the Rose Bowl against Penn State avowed that they are this year’s champs. The top-ranked defense in the nation isn’t their only trademark. The Trojans is the nation’s top-ranked team.
Period! No ifs, ands, or buts. It’s a fact.
Five months ago, Oregon State upset win over the one-loss Trojans cost them a national title. Surely, if a playoff system was instituted, the Trojans probably would’ve matched against Florida or Oklahoma, two teams that both lost a game this season. But most fans would’ve adored watching USC versus Florida or Oklahoma.
The Trojans would’ve presented their tough physical defense against a high-powered offense. Florida and Oklahoma this year have relayed strongly on the offense. Both of them consist of great quarterbacks. At Florida, the Gators offensively are led by Tim Tebow, who finished third in the Heisman race. And the Sooners are led by Sam Bradford, the Heisman award winner.
But, everyone left USC’s Mark Sanchez stranded. He didn’t get the respect he deserved after losing that one game to the Beavers. Heisman chances declined and attention arise for Texas’ Colt McCoy, Tebow and Bradford.
On Thursday, Sanchez played as if he had just won the Heisman, leading the Trojans to their 5-0 record against Big 10 opponents in bowl games, now improving to 6-1 in big games that has a meaning. Under Carroll, the Trojans have won seven straight Pac-10 conference championships, to earn seven bowl game appearances.
Sanchez was named the offensive player of the game. For weeks, everyone talked about how naturally gifted the Trojans were defensively. Everyone classified them as the greatest defense of all times. Well, the offense looked just as good, playing against Penn State.
Honestly, let’s just say that the Trojans are the best and well-balanced team in college football. Despite Florida and Oklahoma meeting to capture the big one, the Trojans victory was much bigger than the game played on Jan. 8. In fact, the Rose Bowl game is a traditional game, and it’s the granddaddy of them all, so I’m more or less sure that this game gained lots of noteworthiness.
Penn State’s legendary coach JoePa just turned 82 years old, and just had hip replacement surgery. He stared looking down from the press box, where he saw long, deep, spiral passes thrown by Sanchez. It was the best game of his career, throwing for a career-high 413 yards and four touchdowns, setting a Rose Bowl record for the most completed passes.
The Trojans exploited their attack through the air, after running back Joe McKnight sustained an injury. So the strong-armed Sanchez changed the aspect for the Trojans, hurting Penn State defensively. For most of the night, Sanchez fired passes across the field as if it was a contest to see which quarterback can throw the farthest.
Without sighing roses, to think about it, Sanchez was the man, throwing the farthest. He threw a 27-yard scoring pass to wide receiver Damian Williams. Before halftime, he connected with Ronald Johnson, who's Sanchez's favorite target, for a 19-yard scoring pass. Then he found C.J. Cable for a 20-yard touchdown pass, to take a 24-point lead, taking advantage of Penn State’s miscues.
The Nittany Lions committed three turnovers and nine penalties, enabling Sanchez to have the biggest game in his career and the third player in Rose Bowl history to pass for more than 400 yards.
On the other side, the Trojans played as they usually had this entire season defensively. Their fierce and potent defense held Penn State a touchdown through halftime. It was a great way to finish a remarkable career for Rey Maualuga, an important All-American linebacker and defensive leader for the Trojans.
The Trojans aren’t just the greatest defensive team. They have the best team in this era, under Carroll. The Trojans is the greatest team, truthful they would’ve been a great match against Florida, and a match up everyone would’ve adored watching.
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