The long-awaited start to the college football season is underway. Roger and I traveled south to the Los Angeles Coliseum to watch the USC Trojans open against Idaho. Not too surprisingly, the Trojans won 38-10, but the score was a lot closer than the game. USC went up 21-0 in the first quarter, and then Coach Carroll appeared to use the opportunity to try out some different schemes and personnel.
One of the things I like most about the USC coaching staff is that they don’t run up the score against an outmatched opponent the way some other programs do. Classy. And kudos to Idaho, too. They weren’t that bad, and they played lots of freshmen. They had some very nice running plays against a very skilled defense, and I’m sure Carroll et al. will be reviewing those films very carefully.
Overall, the Freberg family teams had a so-so weekend. Kristin’s Army Black Knights lost another valiant battle (they always seem to lose by so little, but they lose). Karen’s Florida Gators won (mixed feelings–good alma mater, annoying Urban Meyer), but her Tennessee Vols lost to Cal. The Vol fans had more to look at than the football game–they were treated to a real Berkeley style protest, as people sat in the trees that were scheduled to be removed for the planned expansion of the stadium.
Mom’s Cal Poly SLO lost, too. Next week, Cal Poly is playing Idaho, and unless Idaho is still crippled by the Trojans’ hard hitting, that should be a very long game indeed for the Mustangs.
The Trojans are off next week, then travel to meet the Huskers of Nebraska. That should be an interesting game, but we’ll have to make do with the plasma TV.
By the way, what is up with the new names for the different levels of play? Division I Bowl (used to be IA) and Division I Championship (used to be IAA)? Who thought that was a good idea?
