By Michael Elliott
Es sí, SC — If I was paying attention to my high school Spanish teacher Mrs. Whitecloud, then I’m correct in stating “It is yes, Southern California” (as per the bold-typed intro) in case there are those out there who still can’t quite believe the dramatic conclusion to perhaps the most exciting college football bowl game ever played. And if I wasn’t paying attention, then “lo siento” to all.
Red-shirt freshman quarterback Sam Darnold ripped the hearts out of the Penn State faithful as he spearheaded a dramatic 17-point, fourth quarter for USC and the Trojans nipped the Nittany Lions, 52-49 on Matt Boermeester’s 46-yard field goal just as the game clock showed zeros.
USC had forged a 13-point lead early on but the Lions roared back to take two, 14-point leads in the game and had mucho momentum on their side.
But Darnold showed poise beyond his years. The unflappable one engineered comeback drive after comeback drive and ended up throwing five touchdown passes, as the highest-scoring Rose Bowl ever was contested in front of a crowd that seemed almost evenly split between USC and PSU supporters.
This “Granddaddy Of Them All” was the grandest of all time, to date. Hey neighbor Walt, “Fight On” my brother!
Left Lane- Lane left. Or was he fired? Who knows? Who cares? Guess I do because I’m writing about it. Alabama Crimson Tide offensive coordinator, Lane Kiffen, will not be coaching the Tide’s offense during the National Championship game, which will have been played prior to the printing of this column.
Several weeks back, Kiffen accepted a job as head honcho at Florida Atlantic University, his first foray back into the head coaching cauldron since he was embarrassingly given the pink slip as USC’s head coach a few years ago — literally on the airport tarmac — after the Trojans were defeated by Arizona State.
Kiffen has always been a polarizing sort; a young and cocky Oakland Raiders head coach who held the same position at the University of Tennessee, but bolted Tennessee seemingly overnight for the USC job.
That really irritated the Volunteer State’s fandom, and rightfully so. After the Southern Cal firing, Alabama’s Nick Saban hired Kiffen to run his offense a ‘Bama. Results were terrific, as they won last year’s National Championship.
But the mixture of water with oil was always present, as Saban scolded Kiffen numerous times on the sidelines during games, and it was apparent that Kiffen didn’t care for the stepchild treatment Saban was doling out.
‘Bama’s offense sputtered during its semi-final match-up against Washington. Saban probably believed that Kiffen’s mind was already at FAU and didn’t want to chance that perceived lack of concentration in the championship game versus Clemson, with so much at stake. So Lane left. Or was he fired?
You know, the left lane is the passing lane in the United States. Perhaps Lane decided to pass on the upcoming game and left. Or maybe Saban just pulled him over to the side and yanked his offensive coordinator’s license. Not knowing the real reason that Lane Kiffen will no longer coach at Alabama leaves us all in the middle of the road. But, then again, who cares? I don’t anymore.
Diggin’ In — NFL fans best start getting entrenched in your respective fox holes, as the push towards Super Bowl LI (51) is now beginning. Results of the first round will be in as you read this, but the excitement will remain.
Sorry Raiders’ fan about all of the injuries. The Falcons are highest-flying offense but never count out the Giants. The injury bug may stifle the Seahawks as well. Chiefs’ first-round bye is huge and the Lions will rue blowing their chance at the divisional title.
The Cowboys are ponied up for a big ride and the Steelers’ offense is the most diverse of the bunch.
The Texans’ defense may be the stoutest but the Patriots are loaded on both sides of the ball. The Packers’ Aaron Rodgers is the hottest player going into the playoffs but the Dolphins are the surprise team with a rookie head coach. Good luck…and good night now!
Michael Elliott feels that picking sports winners is akin to picking one’s nose, as you never know what you will get going in. Send him your NFL picks at: [email protected].
