FanHouse

Mishaps Waiting to Strike While Lifting

Lonnie White — 2009-09-29T17:30:00 00:00

Filed under: USC

It doesn't matter if you've played in the NFL or just worked out with free weights at your local health club, the danger of being injured weightlifting exists every time a person does a lifting workout.

And, it can happen at any time and it doesn't matter if you have a spotter in place or not.

That certainly was the case for USC senior running back Stafon Johnson, who had to go through a seven-hour surgical procedure to repair injuries to his windpipe and larynx sustained when he dropped a weight bar on his neck while bench-pressing Monday.

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Inside the Pac-10: Stanford's Gerhart Mows Down UW's Defense

Lonnie White — 2009-09-27T18:30:00 00:00

by Lonnie White

Filed under: Pac 10

One week after gaining national attention with an upset victory over USC, the Washington Huskies crashed back to the Pac-10 middle of the pack with a disappointing 34-14 loss to Stanford at The Farm on Saturday.

The defeat gave Washington a 1-1 record in the competitive, wacky Pac-10 standings, which looks headed for the final weeks of the season before any bowl bids are determined.

That shouldn't be unexpected In a conference that features true round-robin play where every team plays each other during the season. Currently, Stanford sits alone in first place with a 2-0 in-conference record followed by 1-0 Oregon and 1-0 Arizona. UCLA (3-0 overall) and Arizona State (2-1 overall) have yet to play a conference game.

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Battle for Respect Turns Into Cal-amity

Lonnie White — 2009-09-26T23:16:00 00:00

by Lonnie White

Filed under: California, Oregon, Pac 10

Take a big thick red marker and draw a line through California on the list of top Pac-10 football teams looking to gain some national respect this season.

Isn't that what you do to fraudulent programs that fail to show up in statement games?

Well, that's what happened to Cal, who entered the weekend undefeated and ranked sixth in the AP poll but got hammered by unranked Oregon, 42-3, in a game that wasn't even that close at Autzen Stadium in Eugene, Ore.

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In College, Travel Is Bi-Coastal Bias

Lonnie White — 2009-09-25T09:00:00 00:00

by Lonnie WhiteLOS ANGELES -- It's understandable if the Georgia Bulldogs are licking their lips getting ready for Saturday's game against undefeated Arizona State.

And why not? Georgia, which has an all-time record of 363-115-15 in games played in Athens, loves to beat up on nonconference opponents during the regular season, especially under coach Mark Richt, who sports an impressive 23-1 home record against non-SEC teams.

To make Arizona State's challenge even more difficult will be the trip itself, which has always been a problem for Pac-10 teams playing road games on the East Coast.

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Despite Flexing Some Muscle, Pac-10 Still Takes Step Back

Lonnie White — 2009-09-20T10:06:00 00:00

by Lonnie White

Filed under: Pac 10

LOS ANGELES -- Only the Pacific 10 Conference can show some muscle but take a step back on the same day.

Highlighted by Washington's victory over No. 3 USC on Saturday, the Pac-10 proved once again that it's not a conference dominated by one team. It was the fourth consecutive season that the highly-regarded Trojans -- who are 33-1 in their last 34 games against non-conference opponents -- were knocked off by an underdog Pac-10 squad.

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Sarkisian Groomed for Upsets Like This

Lonnie White — 2009-09-20T01:43:00 00:00

by Lonnie White

Filed under: USC, Washington, Pac 10, Coaching

For those who know Washington's Steve Sarkisian and have followed his journey from unknown junior college quarterback to first-year Pac-10 head coach, the Huskies' 16-13 victory over USC on Saturday should not come as a surprise.

That's because Sarkisian is a true idealist and competitor who had prepared himself for this moment for years.

And USC coach Pete Carroll -- the ultimate optimistic who loves every challenge -- knew this as well as anyone.

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Aaron Corp Gets His Chance

Lonnie White — 2009-09-18T12:45:00 00:00

by Lonnie White

Filed under: USC

LOS ANGELES -- When USC's first-string offense takes the field at Washington on Saturday, the Trojans are expected to have third-year sophomore quarterback Aaron Corp leading the way.

Corp will be making his first career start after watching true freshman Matt Barkley lead USC to victories over San Jose State and Ohio State to open the season.

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Despite Successes, Are Trojans Underachievers Under Carroll?

Lonnie White — 2009-09-17T12:00:00 00:00

by Lonnie White

Filed under: USC, Pac 10

LOS ANGELES -- A national columnist created a stir before the start of this year's college football season when he said USC's football program has "underachieved" under coach Pete Carroll.

Underachieved?

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From Bad to Worst at Washington State

Lonnie White — 2009-09-16T16:30:00 00:00

by Lonnie White

Filed under: Washington State, Pac 10

LOS ANGELES -- Do you smell that? The foul odor coming from the northwest corner of the country? It stinks doesn't it?

Well let me introduce you to the likely source: Washington State's struggling football program, which arguably could be the worst in playing in a BCS conference.

Second-year coach Paul Wulff's team has not won a game this season and did not come close in ugly defeats to Stanford and Hawaii.

"Frankly, Central Arkansas is a much better team [than Washington State]," Hawaii center John Estes told the Honolulu Star-Review after the Warriors defeated the Cougars' 38-20 last week.

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Frosh QB Looks Like Fit for UCLA

Lonnie White — 2009-09-15T15:15:00 00:00

by Lonnie White

Filed under: UCLA, Pac 10

LOS ANGELES -- Based on the inconsistent history of UCLA's football program, smart money would go against the undefeated Bruins overcoming the loss of starting quarterback Kevin Prince and winning the Rose Bowl this season.

Why? Well, let's start with the fact that UCLA has only represented the Pac-10 in the Rose Bowl twice since Jan. 1, 1986 and the last time the Bruins played a bowl game in their own home stadium was Jan. 1, 1999, when they lost to Wisconsin, 38-31.

Then there's UCLA's poor track record in bowl games. In 29 postseason appearances, the Bruins are 13-15-1, including defeats in four of their last bowl games.

Want more? Just go back to last season when rookie coach Rick Neuheisel led UCLA to a 4-8 record, the program's worst in 20 years.

More Coverage: UCLA Suspends 4 Players for Kansas St. Game

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McKnight Answers the Call for USC

Lonnie White — 2009-09-13T15:31:00 00:00

by Lonnie White

Filed under: USC

The pressure was on for someone to step up for USC. With Ohio State's defense charged with energy, the Trojans needed to drive the length of the field in order to keep their dream of an undefeated season alive.

USC junior running back Joe McKnight answered the call.

After struggling for three quarters, McKnight gained 54 of his 105 yards from scrimmage to lead the Trojans on a game-winning 16-play, 86-yard, six-minute drive in an 18-15 victory over the Buckeyes in front of a crowd of 106,033 at "The Shoe" on Saturday night.

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UCLA Flashes Some Pac-10 Muscle

Lonnie White — 2009-09-12T22:45:00 00:00

by Lonnie White

Filed under: Tennessee, UCLA, Pac 10, SEC

The UCLA Bruins are not supposed to win football games like this.

No way. Not on the road in front of a hostile Tennessee crowd of 102,239 in a game that featured a fourth-quarter goal-line stand by the Bruins and a couple of key late officiating calls that did not go in their favor.

This just does not happen for a Pac-10 football program in SEC land. But it did.

UCLA 19, Tennessee 15: Box Score | Top 25 Scoreboard

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Trojan Heroes Smell Buckeye Blood

Lonnie White — 2009-09-11T20:00:00 00:00

by Lonnie White

Filed under: Ohio State, USC

LOS ANGELES -- It's the fourth quarter of the 1980 Rose Bowl game and Ohio State has USC on the ropes. Coach Earle Bruce's undefeated Buckeyes lead the Trojans by six points and are one defensive stop from a win that will likely clinch a national championship.

Tailback Charles White and USC's offensive line had a different plan.

Over the final 5½ minutes, White carried the ball six times and gained 70 yards in a deciding 83-yard drive, which concluded with his one-yard touchdown run that gave the Trojans a 17-16 victory.

"It's special. I'm not going to lie to you," the 1979 Heisman Trophy winner, said about his signature game against the Buckeyes that saw him finish with a Rose Bowl-record 247 yards rushing on 39 carries.

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Bruins Play for Pac-10 Pride at Tennessee

Lonnie White — 2009-09-10T12:44:00 00:00

by Lonnie White

Filed under: UCLA, USC, Pac 10

LOS ANGELES -- It's put up or shut up time for the Pac-10 Conference.

With three of the conference's top teams facing difficult games on the road -- highlighted by USC's national showdown at Ohio State - the strength of the Pac-10 will be under the spotlight this weekend.

And arguably, the most important matchup will take place in SEC territory when UCLA second-year coach Rick Neuheisel leads the Bruins into Knoxville to battle Tennessee first-year coach Lane Kiffin and the Volunteers.

Even first-year Pac-10 commissioner Larry Scott, who's new to the game when it comes to improving the perception of West Coast football, said,: "Strong out-of-conference matchups capture the public's imagination."

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New USC Linebackers Face Old Challenge Against Pryor

Lonnie White — 2009-09-09T12:43:00 00:00

by Lonnie White

Filed under: Ohio State, USC

Days before USC's training camp began, All-American senior safety Taylor Mays was asked if he was concerned about the Trojans' linebackers in 2009.

Mays responded with a look that gave an answer before he even said a word.

"No," Mays replied with a smirk to a reporter at the Pac-10 preseason day. "I'm not worried at all."

Not worried? How could that be? Didn't USC just have three linebackers selected within the first 38 players picked overall in the NFL draft in April?

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What About Hout? Broncos Fumble Teachable Moment

Lonnie White — 2009-09-04T21:00:00 00:00

by Lonnie White

Filed under: Boise State, Oregon

It's funny how the level of sportsmanship can be viewed depending on which side of the field you stand.

Oregon running back LeGarrette Blount was completely wrong for his actions following Boise State's 19-8 victory over the Ducks on Thursday.

No one can question that Blount's knockdown punch on the Broncos' Byron Hout and his follow-up act that caused him to be dragged off the field deserved punishment. And, Oregon's season-long suspension of Blount may be stern but not out of line.

But people should also question Boise State's decision to not suspend Hout and to only discipline him internally.

Doesn't sportsmanship go both ways?

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Blount Suspended for Season, Likely Ruining NFL Chances

Lonnie White — 2009-09-04T19:00:00 00:00

by Lonnie White

Filed under: Boise State, Oregon

The University of Oregon has suspended running back LeGarrette Blount for the 2009 season as a result of the post-game punch he delivered to Boise State's Byron Hout following the Broncos' 19-8 victory Thursday night in Idaho.

After reviewing Blount's actions, the Ducks suspended the senior running back for the remainder of the season, including any bowl games. Oregon officials made the decision Friday following talks with Pacific-10 commissioner Larry Scott, who attended the game.

Oregon first-year coach Chip Kelly said Blount will continue to play a role in the school's football program and remain on scholarship throughout the remainder of the year.

White: Boise State Fumbles Teachable Moment

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Pac-10 Blues Grow in Boise

Lonnie White — 2009-09-04T05:18:00 00:00

by Lonnie White

Filed under: Boise State, Oregon, Pac 10

And this is why the Pac-10 doesn't get any national love.

Throughout the summer, Oregon -- regarded as a legitimate contender for the Pac-10 title this season -- talked plenty of trash about getting payback against Boise State after being upset by the WAC champions in 2008.

But when the Ducks, ranked 16th in the preseason AP poll, had a chance to back up their words, they came up empty as 14th-ranked Boise State dominated from start to finish in a sloppy 19-8 victory in the season opener Thursday night in Boise, Idaho.

Just another blow to the Pac-10's shaky image.

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LeGarrette Blount Delivers Blow to Sportsmanship With Sucker Punch

Lonnie White — 2009-09-04T02:57:00 00:00

by Lonnie White

Filed under: Boise State, Oregon

Let's just say that the American Football Coaches Association certainly did not pick the best game to start its sportsmanship initiative.

To help encourage good will on the field, the AFCA was able to get Boise State and Oregon to agree to team handshakes before they faced each other Thursday night in Boise, Idaho.

The gesture worked well, at least before kickoff.

That's because moments after Boise State defeated Oregon, 19-8, the Ducks' LeGarrette Blount delivered a knockdown blow to Boise State defensive end Byron Hout that certainly gave the AFCA's sportsmanship initiative a black eye.

Video after the jump.

More: Boise Coach Says Blame Both | Hout Deserves Criticism Too
LeGarrette Blount Suspended Earlier This Year

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Is Nevada's Colin Kaepernick the Real Leader of the QB Pack?

Lonnie White — 2009-09-03T16:00:00 00:00

by Lonnie WhiteBased on name recognition, it would be easy to think that Notre Dame's Jimmy Clausen would be the quarterback to watch when the Irish host Nevada Saturday in South Bend, Ind.

Don't let the hype fool you.

Clausen may be regarded as Notre Dame's latest Golden Boy quarterback, but when it comes to getting the job done, he has not matched up to Nevada junior Colin Kaepernick, arguably the most overlooked college football player heading into the 2009 season.

"It's a passion of mine to closely follow today's new generation of quarterbacks and I've had the opportunity to watch a ton of [Clausen]'s games," said former NFL quarterback Erik Kramer, who has spent the last decade giving one-on-one coaching high school signal callers nationally.

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