USC defeats Illinois 49-17 in Rose Bowl

In perhaps the biggest letdown of all the bowl match ups, the Fighting Illini of Illinois were demolished by the USC Trojans in the oldest of all bowl games, the Rose Bowl.

Going into the game, the Trojans were ranked at #7, but many experts and analysts believe that they could have easily been able to compete in the BCS Title Game. With a final score of 49-17, it was clear that Ron Zook’s Fighting Illini were no match for Pete Carroll and the Trojans.

For whatever reason, the Trojans got stuck facing the Illini since the Rose Bowl was shooting for a Pac-Ten vs. Big Ten match up. The victory insured the Trojans’ sixth straight season with at least 11 wins. They also locked up a Rose-Bowl record of 633 total yards, exemplifying their dominance even more.

"Everything that was out there for us, we took," Coach Carroll of USC said. "The rest of it is up for discussion. But would I love to still be playing right now? Sure would. We'd go out there any time, any place, any venue and throw our football out there and see what we could do."

Though USC did make an example out of Illinois, one positive that came out for the Illini was the tremendous performance by junior running back Rashard Mendenhall. Just minutes after the third quarter began, Mendenhall broke for a 79-yard rushing touchdown run to shorten the gap and make the score 21-10. In addition, Illinois received much contribution from their star quarterback Juice Williams, but the four turnovers that the team compiled put too much pressure on the offense.

"You can't turn the ball over," Zook said. "Whether they were forced or we weren't playing with consistency and the intensity you have to have, I'm not sure."

USC running back Joe McKnight also put up a stellar performance, and he even managed to recover a difficult lateral when Trojans quarterback John David Booty tossed him the ball. That play was probably the key to the game for USC, as McKnight ended up running for 65 yards. The Trojans would eventually go on to score and make it 28-10. Booty finished the game throwing for a total of 255 yards.

Given that the Illini were the clear underdogs, the final score did not come as a surprise to many. This was the Illini’s first trip to the Rose Bowl in 24 years, and there is no doubt that this was a period year for Ron Zook’s young club, who went just 2-10 last season.

"Not good. This hurts," said Zook, whose team beat Ohio State 28-21 in November. "I told our guys we were representing the conference and we let the Big Ten down. I think we can compete, but we have to do it."

Under the new draft regulation, players are required to be one year out of high school and at least 19 to enter the NBA draft. While some consider this rule outlandish, others feel that it is absolutely necessary. Aside from any opinion regarding the subject, one thing is for certain: the new rule has had a significant impact on both college and professional basketball.

Let’s first take a look at the college scene. There are schools all over the country that spend significant time, effort, and money in recruiting some of the nation’s top prospects. Analyzing talent is not easy, and the market is extremely competitive. How frustrating must it be to hear that your #1 recruit has decided to serve only one year with your college program? It would almost be more reasonable to allow high school prospects to make a career decision right after they graduate rather than creating turmoil by forcing them to play for one year at the collegiate level.

You also have to consider how it may affect scholarship players. Given that most college athletes are receiving some sort of aid, the purpose of a scholarship is almost defeated if players opt to leave for the pros after just one year. Superstar Greg Oden, along with several other athletes, have had mixed reactions about the new regulation.

“It’s unfair,” stated Oden. “But it’s over with now, so there’s no reason to complain.”

As far as the impact in the NBA is concerned, it becomes more difficult for teams to make draft decisions. Whether college players will opt to go professional after one year is uncertain; therefore, making the appropriate decision come draft time is not always easy. In addition, the players that do make it to the pros may find themselves riding the pine instead of getting significant playing experience. ESPN analyst/commentator Dick Vitale believes that the new regulation doesn’t effectively prepare a college athlete for the pros, even though it does require that a player be one year out of high school.

“Take a look at some of the kids who have made the mistake of coming out early. Do you think by going to age 19 that this trend is going to go away totally? Kids will continue to leave college early, and in many cases will sit on the NBA pine when they could have used another season in school to better themselves,” quoted Vitale on one of his ESPN columns.

Whether it has been for the good or for the bad, NBA Commissioner David Stern has enforced the policy that he felt was necessary. Only time will tell what type of long-term impact this policy will have at both the college and professional levels.

Undisputed Success

Heisman winner Tim Tebow

At the beginning of the season, experts did not predict much from the Florida Gators quarterback Tim Tebow. It is roughly five months later, and the young sophomore has proven them otherwise

Florida head coach Urban Meyer felt that Tebow would be entering a transition year, and that his pass game would slowly begin to develop. Little did he know that his young superstar would go on to become a Heisman Trophy winner in addition to being recently named the AP Player of the Year. The AP voting results clearly demonstrate that Tebow exemplified dominance throughout the season, as he received 31 of the 58 possible votes.

"That's cool," Tebow said Tuesday. "Again, it's a huge honor. It's a cool thing. Any time you're honored for an individual award, it goes back to the team. Without those guys and their support, you can't accomplish something like that on your own."

The other athletes who received votes were Arkansas running back Darren McFadden, who received 19, Hawaii quarterback Colt Brennan, who received 4, Oregon quarterback Dennis Dixon, who received 3, and West Virginia quarterback Pat White, who received just 1.

Tebow’s remarkable season was highlighted by several accomplishments. He became the first quarterback in major college history to run for at least 20 touchdowns and throw at least 20 touchdown passes in the same season. He reached a school milestone by generating a record of 3,970 total offensive yards, a Florida record. Lastly, he was sensational with his passing percentage as he compiled a 68% completion rate.

The numbers also demonstrate the impact that head coach Urban Meyer and offensive coordinator Dan Mullen had on the young, maturing athlete.

"You don't want to just take the credit," Tebow said. "You have to share the credit. I just do the easy part."

Tebow is thankful that he was given the opportunity to perform as a freshman, and he feels that his experience helped him to substantially develop as a sophomore this season. Initially, scouts felt that Tebow would never be able to integrate a strong passing game into his style, but after this season it became apparent that the young quaterback’s mindset had changed. He now states that he has learned to always think “pass first, rush second.” His newly formed mentality has obviously been a recipe for success. Tebow realizes that the guidance of his head coach and offensive coordinator helped in shaping him into the athlete that he has become today.

"We kind of knock each other down a couple of levels fast," Mullen said. "I'll say, 'Boy, did you see Pat White run? Or Dennis Dixon? And they're not as big as you and they run really hard and physical.' Tim's so competitive and he wants to be good. He can kind of laugh at all those things."

With the Florida Gators facing off against the Michigan Wolverines in the Capital One Bowl on January 1, Tebow is looking to cap off his Heisman season with a stunning performance. On the other end of the spectrum, Michigan head coach Lloyd Carr is hoping to secure victory in the last game of his managerial career. The clash between these two teams should provide for a very interesting outcome.

On Thursday, the Texas Longhorns defeated the Arizona State Sun Devils in the Pacific Life Holiday Bowl. This game ended up shocking many, as Texas finished the season ranked at #19 while the Sun Devils were #11. With a final score of 52-34, the blowout came as a surprise to many. It was the first meeting between the two teams, and based on the results it was evident that the Longhorns had the edge throughout.

In one of the most bizarre plays of the season, Arizona State’s star quarterback Rudy Carpenter stepped back to pass, only to have the ball knocked out of his hands. When the ball was fumbled, a member of Texas’ coaching staff, Chris Jessie, stepped onto the field and inadvertently touched the ball. When it appeared that the Longhorns gained possession after the fumble, the officials reversed the play, stating that Jessie illegally interfered. The Sun Devils regained possession with 4th and 3 to go for a first down. On the next play, Rudy Carpenter connected with receiver Chris McGaha for a touchdown.

"It was just natural instinct," Jessie said. "I thought it was a forward pass. I was looking at the ball being thrown and I was waiting for a grounding penalty. When I realized the ball was in play, I jumped back."

Purdue and Central Michigan also provided a very interesting match up in the Motor City Bowl. While the Boilermakers came out victorious by defeating the Chippewas by a score of 51-48, it was a close game all the way through. Both teams scored for a total of 99 points, tying the second-highest in bowl regulation history. Purdue’s star quarterback Curtis Painter had a career day, throwing for 546 yards and 3 touchdowns, setting a school record. In addition, receivers Greg Orton, Jake Standeford, and Dustin Keller all had 100+ yards receiving. Central Michigan also put on a stunning performance, led by quarterback Dan LeFevour, who threw for a total of 292 yards. In front of a crowd of almost 61,000, these two teams made the Motor City Bowl worth watching.

In yet another upset, East Carolina beat Boise State by a score of 41-38 in the Sheraton Hawaii Bowl. ECU recorded its first postseason win since 2000, and going into the game unranked, many were shocked when they came out victorious against the Broncos. In his record-setting night, Pirates running back Chris Johnson compiled a total 408 all-purpose yards. Though he did commit a key error at the end of the game by fumbling with just minutes remaining, his team certainly gave him a reason to keep his head up.

"I let my team down," he said. "But when I got back to the sideline, they told me they had my back and they loved me."

The game ended when kicker Ben Hartman hit a 34-yard field goal with seconds left on the clock. The Pirates then stormed the field, as they denied the Broncos victory in their sixth consecutive bowl appearance.