Last Call - Rose Bowl Edition

Welcome to your first full work week of 2008. Looking for a way to avoid all those new projects? Need to procrastinate some more on your unfinished 2007 business? Let's surf through the best Rose Bowl links in our final Last Call of the season ...

Link of the Year?

• It's impossible to set this up, but if you're a diehard fan and only read one link from this post, make it this one. (Warning: If you don't know who Ricky Rosas is or can't appreciate Pete Carroll's excitability, this link may not make a lot of sense.)

Reaction in Southern California

• Jonathan Kay takes a look at Rey Maualuga's MVP performance.
• Steve Sarkisian gets some hard-earned and well deserved praise.
• KLAC has the full post-game press conference audio.
• Conquest Chronicles has the game's animated drive-chart.
• John David Booty - yup, he was often under appreciated.
• Art from Trojan Football Analysis breaks down the Rose Bowl defense.
• Things were a little feisty on the field.

Reaction Elsewhere

• The Illini blogosphere was a little shell shocked.
• Bruce Feldman gets excited about Joe McKnight, and even admits to cheering in the press box. He wasn't the only one jacked-up about the heralded freshman.
• Fox Sports noticed USC has a pretty good defense and had five solid observations.
• A writer at CBS Sports jumped on the who's #1 argument.
• The Tavita Effect is still in discussion (locally, as well)

Photo Finish

• Jame Rodriguez (a/k/a ValleyTrojan) has lots of great USC pics on his website, including the Rose Bowl and an archive dating back several seasons. The most popular picture on his site this year is of Song Girl alums Teni and Anasheh.
• EDSBS makes some lolcats captions, including a couple good ones from USC.

Livin' the Dream

• The Kansas City Star ran an honest-to-goodness article about USC winning a video game simulation. They even have a video recap on their website, complete with cat walking onto the screen.
• Remember that Yahoo! Sports is run by guys originally from the LA Times ... then see their post Rose Bowl headline.
• EDSBS continues their penchant for Pete Carroll hyperbole.

The Future, Conan?

• Thought O.J. Mayo and Joe McKnight got a lot of hype? Prepare for the next big thing. Quarterback Matt Barkley of nearby Mater Dei won the 2007 Gatorade High School Player of the Year award. He was at the US Army All-American Bowl this week to pick up another trophy but couldn't play -- because he's only a junior. USCFootball.com interviewed him at the game, and the Times profiled him earlier this year. USC has already offered him a scholarship.
• Speaking of the Army game, USC's incoming class was well represented.
• It also didn't look too shabby at the Under Armour All-American game.
• WeAreSC.com boasts the youngest college football analyst taking a look back at the Rose Bowl. We were really impressed with his appearance on CSTV (click here to download a file that will open in iTunes).
• Gary Klein looks towards next season.

Comments

[Gerrrg]

For the record:

Most BCS Appearances: 6

USC 5-1
Ohio State 4-2
Oklahoma 2-4
Florida State 1-5

I like USC's chances at the end of every season against anyone, don't you?

Norm, take the job in Hawaii if it's offered. You deserve a head coaching job, and you deserve to get paid $2 million / year. The pros will never be as much fun as college ball, and the peeps in Hawaii already respect you.

[Gerrrg]

The coaches, having come to their senses, pushed USC up to #2 in thefinal Coaches' Poll.

That rocks.

Too bad the PRESS didn't push USC up to #2 as well...dammit those press people, always talking up USC but not voting for USC.

Can't wait for Ohio State in the Fall!