If USC wins the Rose Bowl...Can they do the impossible?

[sandgk]

I think if USC runs the table all the way to ND next year, ND might pull it off. They've done it before...


1957
Notre Dame 7
Oklahoma 0

Ending Oklahoma's 47 Game Streak
_______________________________

2006
Notre Dame ?
USC ?

Possibly Ending USC's 45 Game Streak?

Oh god, what a frightful prospect.

I'm going to ask my Catholic wife to pray for an earlier end to the USC streak - preferably in the Rose Bowl versus Texas.

 

[tedginn05]

Here is a bio on the man that built the 47 game streak. Bud Wilkinson...

Bud Wilkinson Bio

 

[tedginn05]

I went WAY BACK on this one. Here is the 1957 New York Times article on the game...

Irish Spoil the Sooners’ Party<!--InstanceEndEditable -->
<!--end title --><!--begin author --> <!--InstanceBeginEditable name="author" --><!--InstanceEndEditable -->
<!--end author --><!--begin date --> <!--InstanceBeginEditable name="date" -->November 16, 1957<!--InstanceEndEditable --><!--begin date --><!--begin content -->

<!--InstanceBeginEditable name="main_content" --> NORMAN, Okla. (AP)-Oklahoma's record streak of forty-seven football victories was ended today by a Notre Dame team that marched 80 yards in the closing minutes for a touchdown and a 7‚0 triumph. Oklahoma, ranked No. 2 in the nation and an 18-point favorite, couldn't move against the rock-wall Notre Dame line and the Sooners saw another of its streaks shattered-scoring in 123 consecutive games.

The defeat was only the ninth for the Oklahoma coach, Bud Wilkinson, since he became head coach at Oklahoma in 1947. It virtually ended any chance for the Sooners of getting a third straight national championship. Although the partisan, sellout crowd of 62,000 came out for a Roman holiday, they were stunned into silence as the Sooners were unable to pull their usual lastquarter winning touchdowns -a Wilkinson team trademark. As the game ended when Oklahoma's desperation passing drive was cut off by an intercepted aerial, the crowd rose as one and suddenly gave the Notre Dame team a rousing cheer.

The smashing, rocking Notre Dame line didn't permit the Sooners to get started either on the ground or in the air. The Sooners were able to make only 98 yards on the ground and in the air just 47. Notre Dame, paced by its brilliant, 210-pound fullback Nick Pietrosante, rolled up 169. In the air, the Irish gained 79 yards by hitting nine of twenty passes. Bob Williams did most of the passing for Notre Dame.

Notre Dame's touchdown drive, biting off short but consistent yardage against the Sooners' alternate team, carried from the 20 after an Oklahoma punt went into the end zone. Time after time, Pietrosante picked up the necessary yard he needed as the Irish smashed through the Oklahoma line. Notre Dame moved to the 8 and the Sooner first team came in to try to make the third Sooner goal-line stand of the day. Pietrosante smashed four yards through center and Dick Lynch was stopped for no gain. On third down, Williams went a yard through center. Then Lynch crossed up the Sooners and rolled around his right end to score standing up. Monty Stickles converted to give Notre Dame the upset and end collegiate football's longest winning streak.

Notre Dame was the last team to beat Oklahoma, at the start of the 1953 season on the same field that it smothered the Sooners today. Then coach Frank Leahy's Irish beat Oklahoma, 28‚21. The next game, Oklahoma and Pittsburgh tied at 7‚7. Then the Sooners set sail through forty-seven games until Terry Brennan's Irish stopped the string today.

LINK

 

[jwinslow]

as soon as I signed off and headed back to MI, I realized my typo about 03... I was sure you were gonna catch that one. Leinart/Bush/White didn't do too much that year.

OK, genius, here are the Scout rankings:

that was exactly what I posted... and you conveniently left out 2002, which was their fourth year of dominance in recruiting listed at #2 overall... and that class would have been seniors in 2005.

Anyone in 2004 who thought OU would lose to TCU in 2005 would also have been called a moron. The coaching is better in LA, but again I will wait to see how a non-bush USC team fares.

I think we were talking past each other. I think USC will be a good team... however in terms of them keeping up their streak and running the table again next year, I do not believe they will merely reload.

However with their conference it is indeed possible

 

[tedginn05]

as soon as I signed off and headed back to MI, I realized my typo about 03... I was sure you were gonna catch that one. Leinart/Bush/White didn't do too much that year.
that was exactly what I posted... and you conveniently left out 2002, which was their fourth year of dominance in recruiting listed at #2 overall... and that class would have been seniors in 2005.

Anyone in 2004 who thought OU would lose to TCU in 2005 would also have been called a moron. The coaching is better in LA, but again I will wait to see how a non-bush USC team fares.

I think we were talking past each other. I think USC will be a good team... however in terms of them keeping up their streak and running the table again next year, I do not believe they will merely reload.

However with their conference it is indeed possible

Yea they also had a QB. I think his name was Jason or something. He was there for a long time. Not many people know that he was in the 1992 OU recruiting class.

 

[SanAntonioBuck]

No, because my Oregon Ducks are going to beat them.

The Quack Attack lost to SC this year! No way they beat them in LA.

 

[NFBuck]

The Quack Attack...

I'm sorry, I just have to laugh everytime I see that!

 

[Pula_86]

No, because my Oregon Ducks are going to beat them.

Nice to see another Duck fan. I grew up on the West Coast so I feel obligated to root for the Ducks. What there program has done is amazing from where it has been 10 years ago. I'd like to see Oregon win next year and I think they have the best shot of anyone.


As far as my previous statement about Pete Carroll I don't think that you can compare the win total and success before the 60's. The scholarship limit along with greater opportunity for other races in college football has changed the game tremendously. I truly believe that todays accomplishment by USC is much more impressive than any team that played pre-60's. We all know that USC would be able to be practically any team from the past based on how athletic, specialized, and inclusive the game is compared to the pre-60s era. I know a lot of people will disagree with what I'm saying, but these two facts I do not think you can deny as changing the game and making it all the more tougher for teams these days to do what USC has done.

 

[NFBuck]

My question for ESPN would be, if Texas beats USC, does that make the Horns the best team ever? I doubt they would say that. This whole "best team ever" shite would simply be dropped and they would move on to their next obsession.
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[Golferdow01]

My question for ESPN would be, if Texas beats USC, does that make the Horns the best team ever? I doubt they would say that. This whole "best team ever" shite would simply be dropped and they would move on to their next obsession.
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You make a good point. I would prefer the "Best Team ever" bull to be saved till after the season is over. I'm sick of speculation.

 

[Holy Buckeye!]

Bush has been a true difference maker these last two/three years, with out his unbelievable play it is very possible SC loses at least 4 games these past two season.

When Bush turns pro it is going to be over for a while. Yes they'll be a very good team with plenty of talent, but Bush has been the most consistently dominant force in college football in many years.