After watching the highlights it was clear that Rising was NOT losing that game

[chinngiskhaan]

Some of those runs he had man… On his TD runs, and the 2 pt run, he had NO BUSINESS scoring those, and on a regular night I don’t think he does, but the man (yes he is a MAN) would NOT go down. 

From the highlights it seems that the defense was flat coming out of the game (the first two series in particular the defenders were just manhandled by USC’s blockers)… but they woke up in the second quarter, and came out with a real sense of urgency in the 2nd half. Just like I said in the chat, the defense, though outmanned, could still deliver the win if they played balls out for two quarters, and that’s exactly what they did.

This team desperately needs a Cam Rising on defense.

[chinngiskhaan]

So apparently Kincaid was one reception away from the TE receptions record (FBS). Add him to the list of guys who refused to lose last night. What a huge get that guy was!

[krindor]

I recall one play in particular, Rising was running for a first down that Utah HAD to have.  And was met squarely by a linebacker a yard and a half (maybe two) short of the first down marker.

I know Rising is a good runner, but I’ve never thought of him as the imposing physical beast type…but watching him muscle through that linebacker for another two yards and the first down…that may have changed my mind.  He runs hard 

[2008 National Champ]

The key was the offense not the defense. Don’t get me wrong, the D allowed one point less than SC scored which is the only thing that matters. And the D did enough to overcome the missed field goal and red zone fumble.

SC had 6 drives (not counting 24 second debacle at the end) in the 1st half scoring on 4 of them. Utah only gave them 3 drives (plus the last 48, i mean 12 minutes, of the 4th quarter) in the 2nd half by controlling the clock. Limiting Williams’s chances gave the D the help they needed.

[Charlie]

Both offense and defense stepped up in pass protection and pass rush. National sack leaders 0 sacks, Utah 4 sacks.

[chinngiskhaan]

Nobody is arguing that the defense was the reason we won, or that they weren’t bad. They did play harder in the 2nd half. Hard enough to win.

[Author]

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