FanNation - The Republic of Sport

I don't know too much about the details of USC's loss to Washington last week as I didn't get to see it, thanks to ABC's annoying regional broadcasting.

Given the outcome, and the clips I've seen since, it's probably better I didn't see it. Unfortunately I don't have to see it to believe it.

To everyone who expressed shock that the mighty, mighty Trojans fell to a formerly winless Washington team: Where y'all been the last few seasons?

All we heard leading up to the game was that this was a dangerous game for the Trojans because of their tendency to lose the week after a big win, to a Pac-10 team that's not considered to be on the same level. No one should've been shocked by this, least of all USC fans like myself who have, in recent years, been conditioned to plan for at least one loss like this.

Did I expect it? Of course not.

Am I surprised? Not in the least bit.

Anyone who watched the Huskies play LSU in the season opener should've known Washington could figure out a way to beat the Trojans. Washington didn't win that game, but they put up a real fight. It was obvious that they were quickly becoming considerably better than last year's squad that didn't win a single game.

Last year's Huskies didn't have coaches like Steve Sarkisian and Nick Holt who worked so closely with Pete Carroll, one of the most successful college football coaches today. Nor did they have Jake Locker for most of last season. When Locker was a freshman, he was referred to as the Huskies' "franchise quarterback," the Northwest version of Tim Tebow, and I'm impressed nearly every time I see him on the field. He's the kind of quarterback who could be a key factor in getting a win over USC.

Of course, the quarterback carousel in L.A., dramatized by the media and the main characters themselves, certainly didn't help the Trojans either.

First, Aaron Corp becomes The Guy by the slimmest of margins. He goes down, with a lineman on top of him. Matt Barkley becomes The Guy. The fans start grumbling. Barkley & Co. beat the Buckeyes. The crowd goes wild. Barkley becomes The Anointed One. But he's already gone down. We're back to Corp. Well, sort of. We think we are, because Barkley's hurt, but Pete Carroll hasn't told anyone, including Corp.

Pete should've made it absolutely clear to everyone that Corp would be the starter as soon as it was absolutely clear that Barkley wouldn't go, which I think was sooner than PC wanted to admit.

But did Aaron Corp really need to bring that up in post-game interviews as he was in the process of deflecting questions about his poor showing? Would a few days of notice really have made as much of a difference as Mr. Corp would like us all to think?

I'm going to guess no.

I'm also going to guess he was forcing throws because he was trying to prove himself on the field and win the starting job back. I'd also venture to say that the widespread reports of him partying like a rock star - which he's anything but in L.A. these days - after the loss probably didn't do him any favors either. But hey, I didn't see the game. If I had, it might've driven me to drink, too.

For USC, the most important thing going forward is to remember last week, not to forget. The Trojans have a history of losing dumb games they should win easily, but they also have a tendency to come back from those losses looking for blood. All-American Taylor Mays will be back on the field, as will Matt Barkley (a questionable decision given reports that he's still injured - a testament to how besotted Carroll is with the freshman phenom or a clear sign that Corp and 3^rd-stringer Mitch Mustain just don't have it going on?)

Washington State only won one game last season (against Washington), they don't have a Jake Locker running the show, and they're playing at the Coliseum. They should be no match for USC - and if they are, then I'll be surprised.