I decided to root for USC last night (on the theory that we want their inevitable defeat at Notre Dame's hands next year to be even more glorious), and I kept screaming at Pete Carroll "Run the ball and keep this guy off the field." Carroll seemed determined to throw at every opportunity, despite the fact that they were picking up 6 yards a carry, on average. If I were Pete Carroll, I would have just tried to build a time of possession advantage, because it was obvious, early on, that they weren't going to stop Young. Memo for Pete: Just because you turn the game into a track meet doesn't mean you're automatically going to win.

I think he really didn't show Texas any respect. He deserved to lose.

I lost track of all the little screwups made by USC that all contributed to their loss. I so wanted them to win, since this was their first bowl game after the death of my Grandfather, a lifelong USC fan, but let's face it -- they got outplayed.

"That's why I like high school girls... I keep gettin' older, they stay the same age."

I rooted for Texas because, first, they're a Big 12 team, and the more Big 12 teams that win their bowls, the better Nebraska looks, and two, it now sets USC up for its inevitable humiliation on Sept. 16, 2006.

Sort of like how Nebraska humiliated Notre Dame twice this decade.

To paraphrase Bill Simmons:

Any league where Pete Carrol can be considered a genius, isn't worth watching. USC played like the Pats during the Carrol era, lots of stupid mistakes that cost them a game they should have won.

Ooooh love that New Wonkette quote...I put it in my rotating disinformation queue. Thank you!