Did USC Run up the Score?

Ok, I’m one of the first people in line to criticize USC in most cases…this past weekend, though, I’m not sure they did anything wrong, despite the bloggin’ outcry against them.

The players reportedly rocked the buses while waiting to pile off and play Washington State on the road. Their day was nothing short of record-breaking. USC’s Mark Sanchez was the first quarterback in the history of USC to throw five touchdown passes in a half. This was also the biggest shut-out win since 1931 that the school has seen. Everyone, including Sanchez, Broderick Green (see right), Rey Maualuga, and C.J. Gabel (see below) had a great day, and they were basically just running drills. It wasn’t pretty for Washington State, but then, that team isn’t exactly what I’d call “good” this year. In fact, they very well might be the worst Div-I football team. Harsh, but true.

And that’s why I won’t get on USC’s case and say that they ran up the score. On paper, a 69-point victory seems mean-spirited, but what do you want the kids to do? Not play? They’re a cocky team, but I don’t think they were being cocky about things on Saturday. Says Maualuga:

“Our intention wasn’t to come out and beat these guys by 80 points. Our intention was to come out and play a great football game.”

Sanchez didn’t even play for a full three quarters, let alone four quarters. Coach Pete Carroll actually started pulling out the first string at the end of the first quarter, when the score was 21-0. During the second half, the team ran basic plays…more like drills. Nothing too fancy to show off. Still the Cougars only had ONE first down the entire second half – and their fans gave them a standing ovation.

My point is this – USC, they’re assholes, but even they aren’t complete dicks. In fact, at the end of the first half, they let time run out on the ten-yard line. They could have scored. So everyone who’s saying they ran up the score or were bad sports about it? Shut the hell up.

Pictures via Newscom.