Bears to claw it out with Trojans on Saturday

The USC-Cal "rivalry" will write another page in history this Saturday, as the Golden Bears travel south to take on the Trojans at the LA Coliseum. Now, the reason this "rivalry" is quoted like that is because Cal has yet to actually defeat USC since their 2003 upset, so it's been quite a lopsided rivalry in favor of the Trojans. Despite beating them at Memorial in 2003, the Bears are 0-4 since. That 2003 Cal team was nothing special, Aaron Rodgers didn't even start the season as the starting QB, but that 2004 team was legit and we very nearly took down the Trojans impending dynasty. My point is we've had talented teams that play the Trojans close, but we've never been able to seal the deal. Will this matchup be any different? Not really sure, but one thing is for certain, the program is in a much better place this time around compared to where they were last year. Coming in at 5-3 last year, the 2007 team had already tanked and all the individual talent they had amounted to nothing. Prima-donna DeSean Jackson poisoned this team and QB Nate Longshore had already become the scapegoat beacause of his bad play and the team's lack of resiliency. This year, we've lost two games we should have won, but we're in a better state of mind. However, with QB Kevin Riley still suffering the lingering effects of a concussion, the Bears might send scapegoat Nate Longshore out under center, and I'm not completely against that. Don't get me wrong, I'd like a mobile Riley under center over a slow-footed Longshore, but if Riley can't even remember the hit he suffered against Oregon last week I'm not sure I want him throwing passes against a very good USC D. Before anybody gets excited, let's not forget the lack of success the Bears have enjoyed on the road, and specifically in LA since Tedford took the reigns. However, this team has been in a bunch of close, hard fought games this season and if it happens again our team won't be caught off guard like I think we may have in years past. I think the biggest thing is that the Bears need to stop worrying about the fact that they're playing USC, they need to just go out there and play the opposing team. Forget about the jersey's, the hype, the stars, because this is one of the more vulnerable USC teams we've faced in past few years. Sanchez is a good QB, but he's no Carson Palmer or Matt Leinart. Joe McKnight is explosive, but he's not LenDale White or Reggie Bush, and their receivers are nowhere close to Mike Williams & Steve Smith. My point is that in years past the Trojans have had bigger stars, not that they don't have them this year, but let's be real, this isn't the USC team of 2004-05. We've got an opportunity to win this game, if we come out and play well from the start. I know Bears fans are going down in force this weekend, I'm actually re-living my glorious fraternity days and taking a winnebago all the way to the lovely SC fraternity row. Although I'll be multiple beer bongs deep, I want to make this a trip to remember and get the W. Let's make sure they hear us among the bandwagon 'SC lovers. GO BEARS!