Top 10 of the Last 10:Cardinal Rule

Recap:
10.Rams/Redskins 2006
9.2005 Fiesta Bowl
8.Rutgers/Louisville 2006
7.2006 Orange Bowl
6.The 2001 Maryland Terrapins

2007 is known for being "The Year of the Upset" in the world of College Football. It all began on New Years Day when the Boise State Broncos defeated the Oklahoma Sooners 43-42 in the Fiesta Bowl. Now I know this can be considered cheating mainly due to the fact these events have occurred since I began this list, but I feel that since they're within the 10 year window of my Football fan-ship(January 25, 1998-January 25, 2008) I will include it. This one is actually a tie between 2 upsets this season; Stanford/USC and Appalachian State/Michigan. So I present to you Part 1 with USC/Stanford.

In 2000, after 4 disastrous seasons under Coach Paul Hackett, the USC Trojans hired Pete Carroll, the former Head Coach of the New York Jets and New England Patriots. It was the start of something big in L.A. In his first year, Carroll went 6-6(an improvement over previous year's 5-7)but lost to Utah in the Las Vegas Bowl. However, 2002 would be known as the Comeback year for the Trojans. Behind Senior Quarterback Carson Palmer, the Trojans started 3-2(losing to Kansas State and Washington State)but finished 8-0 the rest of the way to go 11-2 concluding with a 38-17 Orange Bowl win versus Iowa and a Heisman for Palmer.

In 2003, the Trojans began the year at Number 4. However, things looked shaky for the Trojans mainly due to the inexperience of Sophomore Quarterback Matt Leinart. The Trojans came out firing and kicked off 2003 with a 23-0 win over Auburn on the road. However, perfect the season was not as the Trojans lost to California in Berkeley, 34-31 in 3 Overtimes. The lost hurt the Trojans, but they bounced back and reached Number 1 in the AP Poll. However, in one of the most controversial moments in College Football history, USC was passed over in the National Title game for Oklahoma.

It didn't effect the Trojans, however, as they beat 4 Michigan 28-14 to win a share of the National Championship. In 2004, USC went wire to wire, going unbeaten en route to a 55-19 rout of Oklahoma in the Orange Bowl. In 2005, the Trojans had hopes to do it again. They came in close contact with a loss on two occasions(at Notre Dame and against Fresno State)but ran the table to earn a spot in the Rose Bowl for the National Championship. In the Rose Bowl, USC struggled against Texas and blew a 38-26 lead with 6 minutes remaining as Vince Young and Texas rallied to beat SC 41-38.

The next year looked to be a rebuilding year as the Trojans but the word "rebuild" was not in the Trojans vocabulary as they started 6-0 but stumbled against Oregon State(a 33-31 loss). However, the Trojans dominantly struck back beating Stanford, Oregon, Cal, and Notre Dame and it looked as if USC was going to contend for a National Championship for a 4th year in a row. However, a 13-9 upset loss to UCLA ended the Trojans hopes. USC, though wasn't done and showcased what it could do in the Rose Bowl blowing out Michigan, 32-18.

Going into the 2007 season with Senior leadership in John David Booty, the Trojans looked poised to make a National Championship run featuring a team loaded with talent on both sides of the ball. It seemed like it would be that way too when the Trojans came out on September 1st and blew out Idaho 38-10 at home. The next game, the Trojans stormed into Lincoln and destroyed the Nebraska Cornhuskers, 49-31. They did it again the next Saturday beating Washington State 47-14 at home. However, the Trojans struggled against Jake Locker and the Washington Huskies but pulled it out 27-24.

Now we stop there and go to Palo Alto in 2001. At the end of the 2001 season, Stanford was without a coach as Tyrone Willingham headed to Notre Dame. The Cardinal decided to hire Buddy Teevens as Coach. However, Teevens struggled and went 10-23 in his tenure before getting fired in 2005. His replacement, Walt Harris, did not fair any better going 5-6 in 2005 and 1-11 in 2006, which led to his dismissal. So Stanford rolled the dice and hired local hero, Jim Harbaugh.

Usually when you want to make a good impression on someone you act professionally and kind. However, Jim Harbaugh made many enemies on his way to the 2007 season. It started in March when Harbaugh claimed that he heard that Pete Carroll would retire after the 2007 season. Then Harbaugh, a Michigan alum, criticized the University of Michigan's academic standards thus making him the most hated man in Ann Arbor. On Pac 10 media day, Harbaugh called USC the best team in college football and the Greatest Team of All-Time.

So Jim Harbaugh manages to become the most hated man in College Football in both Ann Arbor and Los Angeles before he even coaches a game. Harbaugh debuted with Stanford on September 1st...and got crushed 45-17 to UCLA. However, Harbaugh bounced back and the Cardinal beat San Jose State 37-0. Unfortunately for Jim, the Cardinal was crushed 2 weeks in a row by Oregon and Arizona State. So going into the USC/Stanford game in the Coliseum many were predicting USC to kick Stanford's ass and run the score up because Pete Carroll and Crew hate Jim Harbaugh. That and Stanford's QB, T.C. Ostrander suffered a seizure and was out of the game.

So the situation is this:USC and Pete Carroll hate Jim Harbaugh, Harbaugh has *** and ** recruits while SC is stacked with ***** and **** players. So this should be a cake walk, right? The line had USC as a 41 point favorite at home. In the 1st half, Stanford's offense was dead and USC led 9-0 at halftime. In the 3rd Quarter, Booty threw a pick six and it was suddenly 9-7, USC. However, the Trojan offense continued to dominate and at the end of 3 it was 16-7, USC.

After 45 minutes and 6 seconds, Stanford finally scored an offensive touchdown and it was 16-14 with 14:54 remaining. It appeared, however, as though USC would pull away as Booty connected with Ronald Johnson to make it 23-14 with 11:04 left. It would be the last time that USC saw the end zone. A Belch field goal made it 23-17 with 5 minutes left. USC took over at their own 35 but after a first down, the Trojans went backwards and Booty was picked for the THIRD time. With 2:50 remaining, Stanford took over.

Pritchard's 1st pass fell incomplete but a 15 yard penalty placed the ball at the USC 30. 2 running plays by Pritchard and Jeremy Stewart pulled it to the 19 for the Cardinal. However, holding set Stanford back to the 29. Pritchard's passes couldn't connect and suddenly it was 4th and 20. On 4th and 20, Pritchard connected with Richard Sherman and it was 1st and Goal at the 9 with 1:35 left. A Pritchard run brought the ball to the 5, however, they failed to complete passes and a penalty set the ball at the 10 with 53 ticks remaining.

On 4th and Goal, Pritchard dropped back and connected with Receiver Mark Bradford to make it 24-23 with 47 seconds left. The Trojans, however, were not done and they returned the ball to the 40. However, Booty was sacked, incomplete twice, and finally on 4th down, intercepted to seal the upset for the Stanford Cardinal. Jim Harbaugh, 5 games into his career, has pulled off his biggest victory over Number 1, USC. The nation was stunned, 10 minutes away in Pasadena, the score was announced and close to 80,000 Notre Dame and UCLA fans jumped with joy over the SC defeat. The same occurred in Baton Rouge during the LSU/Florida game.

Statistically wise, USC destroyed Stanford. USC had 19 first downs while Stanford only had 16. USC had 459 total yards on offense while Stanford had close to half at 235. Passing wise wasn't much better for Stanford as the back-up Pritchard only threw for 140 yards. However, 5 USC turnovers cost the Trojans the game.

Both teams took a somewhat different direction following the game. USC would beat Arizona the next week and blew out Notre Dame. However, SC was officially knocked out of National Title contention with a 24-17 loss to Oregon. USC stands at 8-2 hoping for a bid to the Rose Bowl while Stanford is 3-7, hoping to finish at a respectable 5-7.