Mike Williams and USC helped put the Sugar Bowl participants into an uncomfortable position. Stephen Dunn/Getty Images

It's a reliable sign that something is amiss when football coaches and bowl executives begin issuing simultaneous "statements." This is what took place in New Orleans after (and in one case, before... keep reading) the conclusion of USC's win over Michigan on Thursday in the Rose Bowl.

To review: In Pasadena, USC took apart Michigan offensively and defensively and beat the Wolverines 28-14 -- a final score that didn't begin to measure the lopsidedness of the game. It was an impressive performance that almost guarantees USC will keep the No. 1 position in The Associated Press media poll and win half the national championship.

(I am an AP voter, and while I will not cast my final vote until after the outcome of the Sugar Bowl between Oklahoma and LSU, frankly, I cannot envision a scenario in which I would not keep USC at No. 1, where I had put the Trojans in the final regular season poll).

Moving on: USC's performance also impacts the Sugar Bowl BCS title game. If the Trojans had lost, Oklahoma and LSU would have been playing for the entire title, not just half of it. Hence, the media were curious to hear the head coaches' reaction to USC's victory. Here is what the media got: Statements.

First, from Oklahoma coach Bob Stoops: "USC and Michigan are great teams and we respect both of them. The winner of that game will have certainly earned an impressive victory. From our perspective, we are completely focused on the Sugar Bowl. We made no special arrangements to have our team watch the [Rose Bowl]. We are concentrating on doing everything in our power to defeat another great team, LSU, in the Sugar Bowl. Regardless of what happens in the Rose Bowl, we are playing for the BCS championship and the crystal ball in the Sugar Bowl."

As you can see, Stoops got together with Oklahoma sports information director Kenny Mossman before the Rose Bowl was played and drafted his statement.

Later came one from LSU coach Nick Saban: "To be honest, I didn't even get a chance to watch the game. We came back from practice and watched film on our practice, so I didn't get to see any of the game. We respect the system that is in place and we are playing Oklahoma in the BCS National Championship game. It's a tremendous opportunity for our program and right now all we are focused on is getting our players ready to play Oklahoma."

Sugar Bowl SI.com's Stewart Mandel If the Trojans represented L.A. glitz, then the Tigers were Bayou blue collar in beating the Sooners in the Sugar Bowl. Closer Look Nick Saban showed why he deserves the huge raise that is coming his way after winning the national title. Spotlight HERO: LSU defense The Tigers held the top-ranked Sooners offense to 154 total yards, only 52 on the ground. LSU had five sacks and forced two interceptions that led to touchdowns. GOAT: Jason White The Heisman winner flopped in the big game, completing only 13-of-37 passes and tossing two picks, one of which was returned for the game-deciding touchdown. Rose Bowl SI.com's Stewart Mandel It may not have been USC's typical blowout, but after watching the Trojans manhandle Michigan, AP voters will have no trouble justifying their opinion. Spotlight HERO: Keary Colbert Overshadowed by All-American Mike Williams the entire season, the senior WR caught six passes for 149 yards and two touchdowns in his final collegiate game. GOAT: Michigan's O-Line The same bunch who plowed over Ohio State couldn't get the job done against USC, as John Navarre was sacked nine times and Chris Perry ran for just 85 yards. BCS Recap Sugar: LSU 21, Oklahoma 14 Rose: USC 28, Michigan 14 Orange: Miami 16, Florida St. 14 Fiesta: Ohio State 35, Kansas State 28 2003-04 bowls schedule and results

OK. Fair enough. Stoops and Saban are pretty serious football coaches. I have no doubt that they are expending a lot of energy on preparing for the BCS title game. I think it's marginally disingenuous for both to say that they paid no attention whatsoever to the Rose Bowl, but fair enough. They're getting ready for a very big game, and coaches say crazy things in the heat of preparation.

But then came this from Sugar Bowl executive director Paul Hoolahan: "The magnitude and importance of the Nokia Sugar Bowl's BCS national championship game remain unchanged."

Whoa. Point No. 1: This is categorically untrue. USC's victory made the Sugar Bowl a lesser game. Period. It's still a championship game, but a smaller one and only because the American Football Coaches' Association reached an agreement to award the BCS title to winner of the BCS title game... despite the ridiculous situation in which the No. 1 team in both polls -- USC -- didn't play in the game.

Point No. 2: Why in the name of Fielding Yost would Hoolahan issue a statement highlighting what people were already whispering? Talk about calling attention to a negative.

Here is the reality: Stoops, Saban and Hoolahan are all uncomfortable with the position in which they've been placed. Stoops is coaching a team that was ranked a consensus No. 1 all season, laid an egg in the Big 12 championship game and now can only get tainted retribution. LSU is chasing its first national title in 45 years. And Hoolahan is running a massive civic event that only comes around every four years, and he drew the short straw: the title game in the year when the system broke down.

Of the three, Saban is in the best position. Stoops can't fool his team or his fans. They know what they lost in Kansas City and they can only regain a piece of it in New Orleans. The Rose Bowl was a motivational hit against the Sooners. Hoolahan can't do anything to remove the specter of USC's Rose Bowl. When he signed on to be part of the BCS he knew this could happen, and it has.

LSU, however, has the wild card. The Tigers and their fans are hungry for a national title of any kind. New Orleans is bathed in purple and gold. They sat in bars around the city on Thursday night and rooted for Michigan to knock off USC. When it didn't happen, they moved on it. They'll take a half a title.

And make no mistake. That's all anybody's getting out of the New Orleans.

Sports Illustrated senior writer Tim Layden weighs in with a Viewpoint every Friday on SI.com.