Cardinal went for two late in rout of Southern California
Stanford’s 2-point conversion has turned into something of a 2-point controversy.
The Cardinal upset Southern California 55-21 Saturday, giving the Trojans three losses this season and dropping them in the polls to No. 22, their lowest ranking since 2002.
Up 48-21 and with 6:47 left in the game, Stanford went for a 2-point conversion. Some considered that overkill.
Stanford coach Jim Harbaugh said he has heard the critics.
“I’ve been reading some people’s opinion that somehow this is something personal with coach (Pete) Carroll,” Harbaugh said. “That couldn’t be further from the truth. There was nothing personal. I’m not trying to make any enemies.”
Harbaugh, however, went on to pull out the battle analogy.
“We kind of yuk it up before the game,” he said. “We kind of always end it with, ‘Time to go to war.’ And then you go out and try to gouge each other’s eyes out. You do the same thing in recruiting. It’s great competition. But these games are decided on the field by the players.”
The Trojans seemed none to happy with the move in the aftermath of the game.
“I don’t feel like commenting,” safety Taylor Mays was quoted as saying.
Pete Carroll said that opposing teams will do what they do. But he more than hinted at being miffed.
“I don’t know what they were thinking with that, but in that situation, they get to do whatever they want,” he said.
The Cardinal (7-3, 6-2 Pacific-10 Conference) surged to No. 14 in the AP poll. Stanford, Arizona and Oregon State each have two conference losses, threatening Oregon’s tenuous top spot in the league standings in the season’s final stretch.
Southern California, which has a bye this weekend, tumbled from No. 11.
The Trojans (7-3, 4-3) have been ranked in 128 consecutive media polls dating to the start of the 2002 season. They have not been ranked lower than No. 13 since October 2002.
Meanwhile, Harbaugh is close to completing a contract extension with Stanford.
Athletic director Bob Bowlsby was expected to announce a new deal shortly. The two sides were close to announcing an extension after last season but talks were put on hold in February because of the poor economy.
Samson steps in
Arizona State sophomore quarterback Samson Szakacsy has made an impression, and not just with his free-spirited personality.
Sun Devils coach Dennis Erickson said Szakacsy is taking snaps with the first team this week. That could lead to a start Saturday against UCLA.
Szakacsy came in off the bench last weekend against Oregon when true freshman starter Brock Osweiler left after being hit hard in the first half. Szakacsy stayed in for the second half because he was able to move the ball.
Arizona State (4-6, 2-5) lost 44-21, but Szakacsy completed 13 of 22 passes for 113 yards and a touchdown.
Szakacsy, who once committed to USC, had elbow surgery two years ago.
“We’ve just never have seen him because he’s been hurt all the time,” Erickson said. “So we’re going to let him take that first group quite a bit in the next few days and see where he’s at.”
Szakacsy, whose hair hangs well past his shoulders, is a global sustainability major who is also a musician in the bands Bent Twig and Walking Charly. His introduction on his MySpace page reads: “My name is Samson and I am from Mars.”
Honors
Stanford running back Toby Gerhart, UCLA linebacker Akeem Ayers and Cal kicker Giorgio Tavecchio have been named the league’s players of the week.
Gerhart, who is getting considerable Heisman Trophy buzz, rushed for 179 yards and three touchdowns in Stanford’s 55-21 victory at USC last weekend.
Ayers intercepted two passes and had two quarterback sacks in UCLA’s 43-7 victory at Washington State. He also had four solo tackles.
Tavecchio made four of five field goal attempts in Cal’s 24-16 victory over Arizona.
