Tag Archives: Trojans

Well, perhaps it's more a "Wear for the Weis," as in actor, producer, and former rapper, Mark Wahlberg showing his support for the coach and Notre Dame by wearing  this Fighting Irish Original Retro Brand shirt.   With the USC Trojans on the slate next weekend, Charlie can use all the support he can get!!

Wahlberg, who is definitely a very good all around athlete (see flicks The Basketball Diaries, and Invincible), took some heat this past summer when he threw out the first pitch at Fenway Park for the Red Sox .   The southpaw threw the ball high and away, and the pitch ended up hitting an unsuspecting fan who was not paying attention in the buttocks.

Perhaps Wahlberg would fare better with a hockey stick.   He certainly looks comfortable in this Chicago Blakchawks shirt (below, right).   Growing up in Boston, you'd think he might be a Bruins fan.  I'll give him a pass, as I have always thought the Blackhawk's logo was one of the coolest ever (see this post "best Original Retro Brand logo's ever Part 2,"  from June 2009), and would definitely wear the shirt even if I could care less about the team!

The multi-talented Wahlberg has a major hit on his hands as executive producer of the HBO series, Entourage, and it seems as if  his love for the Original Retro Brand has filtered up onto the show.   Quite often, you can find "Turtle" and "E", wearing Original Retro Brand on any given episode.

Comfort, style, durability, and  retro cool,  make the Original Retro Brand the "multi-talented" choice for Hollywood, and you can make it yours too!

For Pac 10 fans, this game was circled as THE GAME.   It was business as usual for USC starting the season ranked as high as # 3.  Cal had high expectations coming in ranked # 12. They had a belief that behind running back Jahvid Best , outstanding special teams, and perhaps the best defense in the divison, that the Pac 10 championship run of 7 for USC would finally end, and the empire would begin to crumble with a CAL victory on October 3rd.  It was supposed to be a meeting of undefeated teams, but something happened along the way...

Tommy Trojan lost his sword to the Huskies,  and OSKI lost his WOW-WOW to the Ducks.  All of a sudden,  the loser of this game will have 2 conference losses, and a near impossible shot at a National Championship.  Yes, the loser will sit idle for the BCS National title (had to get that rhyme in there!).

While USC is the perennial PAC 10 champ, they are also getting in a perennial habit of let down losses after big time wins (Washington this year, Oregon State last year, Stanford in 2007).   CAL rolled over hapless Maryland, Eastern Washington, and a ho-hum Minnesota Gopher squad before their wake-up call whompin' at the hands of Oregon.

So who is the favorite here?   Will the  Bear fans screaming the BIG C*, and home field advantage, take out the 4 points Vegas is giving the Trojans?   Or will a more healthy and confident true freshman quarterback keep USC back on track after thumping Washington State?

As usual, I am going with my gut, and picking CAL in the upset.  Why?  a)  I LOVE UPSETS.  b) I think CAL has a cooler logo (Logo, not uniform - big difference, and yes the USC logo is cool too), and the Oski-Wow-Wow yell** is very funny, and those are very good reasons. c) I think Jahvid Best bounces back and gets his fourth 100+ yd rushing game.  BUT ON THE USC side......Matt Barkley has shown he can win the big game on the road (Buckeyes),  and the Trojans will be riding in with extra emotional purpose. Running back Stafon Johnson suffered a life threatening weight lifting neck injury yesterday.  The good news is that he has had emergency surgery, and thankfully he is expected to make a full recovery.     Final score:  CAL - 27, USC - 23.

* Big C
California!
On our rugged Eastern foothills, stands our symbol clear and bold.
Big C means to fight and strive and win for Blue and Gold.
Golden Bear is ever watching. Day by day he prowls.
And when he hears the tread of lowly Stanford Red, from his lair he fiercely growls! (Yell: Gr-rr-rah, Gr-rr-rah, Gr-r, r-r-r, r-r-rah!)

** Oski Yell

Oski Wow-Wow!

Whiskey Wee-Wee!

Olee! Muckie-eye!

Olee! Berkeley-eye!

California! Wow!

In our 6th installment of College football's greatest players ever by position, we feature the tight end.   Growing up on Long Island, I wasn't far removed from the Orangemen of Syracuse.  While they had a few running backs I had heard of (Floyd Little & Larry Csonka in the 60's), it was the tight end of my beloved Baltimore Colts that caught my attention.  I was too young to see him in college, but in the NFL, John Mackey was tight end God for my favorite team.    For that reason alone (and I did hear he was pretty good in college) , you will find him on my list.    Please check the link to the extremely awesome Original Retro Brand shirt of the school that these legends played for while reminiscing...... Here are the best ten College Tight Ends of ALL TIME!!!

10.  Dave Casper, Notre Dame: The "Ghost" led the golden domer's to the 1973 National Championship.  Before he became a standout receiver, he was awarded honorable mention honors as an offensive lineman.

9. Tony Gonzales, CAL Bears: Gonzalez hauled in 92 catches in his junior year;  unheard of numbers for a tight end.  He also made it to the  Sweet Sixteen as a basketball player

8. John Mackey, Syracuse: (see opening paragraph).

7. Mark  Bavaro, Notre Dame:  The All-American was well respected for playing through injuries, and he would go on to win two Super Bowl rings in the NFL with the New York Giants.

6. Kellen Winslow I & II, Missouri & Miami:  Two-time consensus All American, and College Football Hall of Famer Kellen I, was the better of the two. Kellen II almost didn't make the list because of his arrogant attitude with the Canes, but his talent just cannot be overlooked

5. Ted Kwalick, Penn State:  Kwalick was the first 2-time All-American football player at Penn State.  Totaled over 1,000 receiving yards for the Lions, and is a member of the College Football Hall of Fame.

4. Jim Mandich, Michigan: Mandich is a member of the  Michigan Ring of Honor (next to former President Gerald Ford),  a member of the College Football Hall of Fame, and a member of the 1972 undefeated Miami Dolphins Super Bowl Championship team.

3. Charlie Young, USC: Led the Trojans to the 1972 National championship behind a USC record breaking 62 receptions for a tight end.   He finished with just over 1,000 yards receiving for his career, and is a member of the College Football Hall of Fame.  He would go on to win Rookie of the year in the NFL with the Eagles, and a Super Bowl ring with the 49er's.

2. Mike Ditka, Pitt: Before becoming an NFL hall of Famer with the Chicago Bears, and leading the Bears to a Super Bowl victory as a coach,  Ditka led the Pitt Panthers  in receiving for all 3 seasons he played - very unusual for a tight end.  He also handled the teams punting duties, and many consider Ditka the best college tight end ever.  But that distinction goes to......

1. Keith Jackson, Oklahoma:  The original "Boomer Sooner" led Oklahoma to their 1986 National Championship over Penn State.  He averaged over 23 yards per catch.  In addition to being a member of the College Football Hall of Fame, Jackson was voted Offensive Player of the 20th Century at OU.

MADE IT TO THE SHOW!

HONORABLE MENTION:  Has to go to my friend Chris Renaldo of Maryland.  He was a linebacker/Defensive end who always lined up against the tight end.  Yes, this is just an excuse to show a goofy picture of him.   Heck, he went to the Hula Bowl with Boomer Esiason and had a cup of coffee with the Detroit Lions.
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