They came not as Achilles, Agamemnon, Ajax, and Odysseus but as Masoli, James, Luck, and Gerhart. Their arrival signaled the end of the Trojan Empire.

I am completely at a loss of words to describe the efforts and outcomes of the last two USC losses.

The offense has been predictable and ineffective. The defense has been shredded like the Swiss cheese it has become.

Even as a Trojan, I have felt the hype machine has been working overtime the last couple years but no more than in 2009. SC went from reloading to rebuilding to restructuring in three weeks. What are we, ranked 22nd now? That's still way to high.

I have spoken to many people close to the program and I think everyone is at a loss. The problems are layers thick. Heart, coaching, game plans, effort -- you name it, it has been mentioned.

My son and I went to the Stanford game and I can assure you it was hideous to sit through. Matt Barkley has gone backwards since the second half of the Ohio State game. Four turnovers against Stanford which led to 28 points? The offense line, heralded as the nation’s best in August, is porous at best. The defensive line is probably the weakest in the past ten years. Linebacking is slow and poor in pass coverage. The secondary is left to do it alone. Injuries can be offered as somewhat of an explanation, but if you believe the hype from the media, a team with the recruiting record of USC should be able to lose a few players and not fall off too much. Simply not true.

That leaves a long way back for SC. I honestly do not know if if can be fixed next season. We shall see.

And Stanford didn’t even have the decency to show up in a wooden horse before they sacked Troy!

Congratulations

Congrats Ohio State. Five Big Ten titles in a row.

Impressive.

I knew you guys would win even after Purdue. Your defense is too strong. I told some of my Buckeyes friend before the Penn State game that you guys were going to Pasadena no doubt. Penn State is a fraud and Iowa has been living on a prayer all year long. Now it's time for the big one... Michigan.

I must say as a neutral observer that I miss the days where the tension and anticipation for the OSU-Michigan game was palatable when you woke up on the Monday morning of Michigan week. Now, Michigan is again in free fall. It is really just a formality game for you guys to go kick the crap out of them. Oh, how the mighty have fallen.

I think they should hire Jim Harbaugh... anything to get him out of the Pac 10.

I miss the way it used to be when the Ohio State-Michigan game was at noon and the USC-UCLA game was at 3:30 and the winner of those games usually went on to play in the Rose Bowl. That’s the way it should be.

Thoughts

It looks like it's Texas vs. the SEC winner in the national championship game.

Does anyone else have a problem with the fact Texas played Louisiana-Monroe, Wyoming, UTEP, and Central Florida? What a joke... strength of schedule is always a concern with some teams but not others.

How come it never affects teams like Texas and SEC teams but always others? Plus the play in the Big 12 which is a lot like the OCC Capital Davison.

The one good thing I can take away from the 2009 season is the continued joke which Notre Dame Football has become. I have conflicting feelings really. On one hand, I love it when the Irish can water down their schedule and still struggle to play .500 ball. On the other I want Charlie to stay for his entire contract so ND and more importantly USC can be assured of the Irish being mediocre for years to come. So I can only hope they continue on the path they are on... losing, but not losing by a lot so Weis’s big con can continue.

Best of Luck in Pasadena on New Year's Day. I think you’ll get the Ducks... .and they are pretty good. Everyone is invited to come to Cincinnati and join me for my big Emerald Almond Bowl party between SC and whoever we get to play.

FIGHT ON!