Debating the Road Trip

I am trying to decide whether to make the road trip to Stanford this week. I've been invited to join a group of rabid Trojan fans, and Stanford is just a five hour drive or a one hour flight, but I'm so tired I might just watch it at home.

I'm getting a real kick out of Matt Leinart's blog. Where else can you read inside scoops like this:

I was surprised I was able to out-throw [Reggie Bush] on a pass in the end zone last Saturday. I think he should have had it, actually. I gave him some crap for it later, telling him he could have laid out for it.

I can't compete with that. Why would anyone ever read my page when they can go to First & 11 and read stuff like that. You're awesome, Matt, even if you are a Mater Dei guy.

Mike Williams was at practice yesterday. That guy should be in uniform right now. But not in the NFL. The NFL already has its quota filled with Williamses. Would you believe that the average NFL team has 1.1 guys on the roster named Williams?

With Williams getting roundfiled by the NCAA, so far, the Trojans haven't been very lucky this season. That doesn't bode well for them. Most championship teams pull in a little good fortune along the way. In 1997, Nebraska won a national title when a receiver caught a game-saving touchdown pass that bounced off a teammate's foot. In 1998, Tennessee won the title because the Arkansas quarterback, who needed only to take a knee to run out the clock and win, stumbled, without being touched, and fumbled the ball to the Volunteers, who then scored the game-winning touchdown. In 2002, Ohio State won almost half of its games in the final possession, then beat Miami in the Fiesta Bowl, in double overtime, after benefitting from one of the latest thrown flags in the history of the bowls.

The last time Stanford faced a top-ranked team was in 1990, when they upset Notre Dame. However, in the three games they've played against a top-ranked USC, the Cardinal are 0-2-1. Stanford's win over BYU looks less impressive four weeks into the season, now that we know, among other things, that Michigan is not very good and Notre Dame is not much better.

Last year, USC lost its Pac-10 opener and went on to win the AP championship. They aren't counting on winning it all this year unless they can sweep the Pac-10. I hope they blow Stanford out, if for no other reason than because Stanford's band is an ass and its mascot -- the stupid flaccid tree -- is lame.

Fight on!