Cardinal sin? Harbaugh laughs off 2-point pounce

Stanford's 2-point conversion has turned into something of a 2-point controversy.

The Cardinal upset USC 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 on a conference call. "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 yuck it up before the game. 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," he said.

The Trojans were not happy with the play.

"I don't feel like commenting," safety Taylor Mays said.

Pete Carroll said opposing teams will do what they do. But his ire was evident.

"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 Pac-10) surged to No. 14 in the AP poll.

Stanford, Arizona and Oregon State each have only two conference losses, threatening Oregon's tenuous top spot in the league standings in the season's final stretch. USC, which has a bye this weekend, tumbled from No. 11.

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 Heisman Trophy buzz, rushed for 179 yards and three TDs for Stanford. Ayers intercepted two passes -- which both led to Bruin TDs -- and had two sacks in UCLA's 43-7 win at Washington State. Tavecchio made four of five field goals in Cal's 24-16 win over Arizona.

BEST WANTS TO PLAY -- Tailback Jahvid Best is eager to return after being sidelined by a frightening fall and concussion and has targeted Cal's season finale for his return. Best spoke extensively for the first time Wednesday following the injury that knocked him out. He said symptoms from the concussion have cleared but he still has a sore back. "I'm just trying to take it day by day and hoping for the best," he said. "Every day I'm feeling a little better. I'm hoping it keeps progressing that way and hopefully I'll be out here pretty soon." He has already been ruled against Stanford on Saturday.

BLITZ PACKAGE -- Those guys at ESPN are smart. The network persuaded Oregon and Oregon State to move this year's Civil War game in Eugene to Dec. 3. Well, guess what: If the Ducks defeat Arizona on Saturday and the Beavers win at Washington State, the Oregon-Oregon State game will determine the Pac-10 champ and Rose Bowl representative.

MINORITY REPORT -- The Black Coaches and Administrators group wants to get more minority coaches into college jobs. They'll consider almost anything -- more input from college presidents in coaching searches, NCAA help to measure diversity in hiring, advice from Tony Dungy, maybe even a lawsuit. The BCA released its latest hiring report card, saying some progress has been made. Charlotte Westerhaus, the NCAA's vice president for diversity and inclusion, said 85 percent of the 32 Division I schools looking for coaches last year interviewed coaches of color. Five were hired. The problem: Of the 120 Football Bowl Subdivision coaches, only nine are minorities -- seven blacks, one Latino and one Polynesian.