With Jack Yary’s decommitment, USC’s recruiting class is now ranked No. 77 by 247 Sports and No. 71 by Rivals. USC has 10 commitments. 10 commitments! When I say Clay Helton needs to be fired now, this is a pretty big reason. Someone needs to be out there on the recruiting trail telling prospects not to sign early or wait for the new coach to … Continue reading USC Morning Buzz: Here’s A Stat For Mike Bohn

Tight end Jack Yary, the son of USC legendary offensive lineman Ron Yary, decommitted on Sunday night. The irony here is Ron Yary was perfectly happy to see his son go to USC. But Jack Yary also saw the Air Raid offense does not exactly include a tight end. USC’s tight ends have caught 13 passes this season. The rest of the team has caught … Continue reading Jack Yary Decommits From USC

I need to prepare you for this comment by Clay Helton. It was made in reference to dealing with injuries and game adjustments. “This is one of the better coaching jobs I’ve seen by assistant coaches,” Helton said. Simply incredible. With everything going on the past two seasons and shortcomings on display even yesterday, he’s stubbornly defending his assistant coaches. Were they making adjustments by … Continue reading Sunday Night With Tone-Deaf Clay Helton

A former USC All-American called me today and wanted to know who would even be qualified to serve as interim coach if Clay Helton were fired? “Dave Levy and Marv Goux,” I said. It can’t be Clancy (No Personality) Pendergast with his defense that ranks No. 86 nationally. It can’t John (I’m coaching as bad as I can) Baxter. It can’t be Genius Graham Harrell. … Continue reading Slim Pickings On This USC Staff

This post is for everyone who said before the season they were completely confident Graham Harrell would transform USC and succeed. Here is where USC ranks in some offensive categories: No. 84 in passing yards per completion No. 92 in red-zone offense No. 95 in time of possession No. 100 in rushing offense No. 125 in passes had intercepted What bothers me more, of course, … Continue reading Let’s See How The Genius Is Doing

Does it matter that USC athletic director Mike Bohn has not mentioned the victory over Arizona State on twitter but retweeted the women’s volleyball winning last night twice? Maybe Bohn doesn’t want to get killed on twitter for saying something positive about the Arizona State game. Or maybe he is just happy volleyball beat Colorado, where he was fired. UPDATED: Since I wrote this, it … Continue reading USC Morning Buzz: Mike Bohn Didn’t Acknowledge Victory*

Clay Helton knew he was on the hot seat after last season. He needed to make massive changes. For some reason, he kept special teams coach John Baxter and defensive coordinator Clancy Pendergast. For now, let’s focus on Baxter. USC’s special teams have become comically bad. The kickoff team looks like a high school team. USC gave up a 97-yard return and Helton said he … Continue reading How On Earth Did Clay Helton Retain John Baxter?

Was this a typical USC game or what? Up 28-7 in the first quarter and holding on for dear life in the final minute with a 31-26 lead. Against a backup QB making his first career start. What happens if the ASU tight end doesn’t drop that pass in his hands in the final minute? Clay Helton said this after the game: “Some people want … Continue reading Discuss The USC-ASU Game

Christian Rector intercepts his own tipped pass and USC is going to win over Arizona State and its backup QB. USC has 11 penalties, including seven false starts. Four false starts are on special teams. USC downs the punt at the 1-yard line. Arizona State will need to go 99 yards. Kedon Slovis throws a pick six but it’s coming back on defensive holding penalty. … Continue reading USC-ASU Live Blog

It’s another mediocre Pac-12 game and it’s being played at 12:30 p.m., exactly the same time as LSU-Alabama. Maybe that’s a good thing for the conference. Anyways, the big news is Arizona State QB Jayden Daniels is apparently a game-time decision. Video of his injury is below. I’m not sure how Arizona State kept this a secret for two weeks. But it has a huge … Continue reading My USC-Arizona State Pick

With an early kickoff, I’m posting this a little earlier. Can USC rebound from its loss to Oregon? Is Arizona State going to be a different team after being dominated in two road losses (Utah, UCLA)? Clay Helton must run the table to save his job, right? Continue reading Pick The USC-ASU Score

Even when I speak to people within the USC football program, they say, “the season is up in the air.” That means they really are not sure how USC will do the final three games of the regular season. But one player told me, “there won’t be many tears if there’s a change.” That might provide a hint on the final three games. Continue reading Will USC Fold Its Final Three Games?

Former USC QB Jack Sears is visiting Oregon State today. The Beavers play Washington tonight. Beavers QB Jake Luton is a senior. The other quarterbacks are former Nebraska QB Tristan Gebbia and Nick Moore from Hart High School. A lot of Pac-12 schools are believed to be interested in Sears. Wherever Sears goes, the most important thing is that he starts. That’s the main priority … Continue reading Jack Sears Visiting Oregon State

New athletic director Mike Bohn looked a people person at USC on Thursday. That alone seperated him from Lynn Swann and is one reason for optimism at USC. Swann never cared about the fans. Bohn’s first tweet at USC was with an employee who works at one of the entrances to the campus. You think Swann ever talked to someone he didn’t have to? Maybe … Continue reading If It’s Friday, It’s Time For A USC Notes Column

Clay Helton said he had a one-on-one meeting with Mike Bohn today. “To see his energy and his positivity hitting the ground running today was awesome,” Helton said. “To be able to sit down with him one-on-one and for him be so positive, say, ‘Coach we’re cheering for you. Go get ’em, we’re right behind you’ “ Meanwhile, defensive end Hunter Echols will have season … Continue reading Clay Helton Meets Mike Bohn

New USC A.D. Mike Bohn was asked if he would wait until the end of the season to make an assessment of Clay Helton. “I think it’s premature to say at this point,” Bohn said. “We’ll see. I’m going to support coach and support those players unequivocally. They’re out there battling and representing USC and we want them to be successful.” Continue reading Mike Bohn On A Football Timetable

There is definitely a new attitude and new leadership at USC. This was the most important quote from the press conference: “My intent is to listen, to learn and to lead, in that order.” This is directly opposite the attitude of Lynn Swann, who never tried to learn how to be an athletic director. “I am immensely passionate and energetic,” Bohn said.Again, a direct contradiction … Continue reading Mike Bohn-Carol Folt Press Conference Analysis

USC president Carol Folt will introduce its new athletic director — Mike Bohn — Thursday morning at 10 a.m. As I said this morning, USC officials expected Bohn to “come around” after he had second thoughts. Now the question: Is this any way Bohn could convince Folt to hire Urban Meyer? Folt doesn’t want Meyer but Bohn’s stock will never be higher than now so … Continue reading USC To Announce New A.D. Thursday Morning

Defensive end Drake Jackson (sprained ankle) expects to play Saturday against Arizona State. Safety Talanoa Hufanga is also expected to play. Cornerback Max Williams wore a protective boot after being carted off the field yesterday. Michael Pittman did not practice and has a sprained ankle. Continue reading Drake Jackson Expected To Return

I’m hearing some USC assistant coaches are already putting out feelers for potential job opportunities. This is a typical sign of a sideways program. All these big promises were made in the offseason (culture change, harder workouts, new offense) and the wheels are falling off the program after only nine games. I would have told Clay Helton 23 months ago to fire his entire coaching … Continue reading Follow The USC Assistant Coaches

I heard several USC coaches were arguing with special teams coach John Baxter during the Oregon game. Why? Because Baxter was trying to play starters, who were less than 100 percent, on special teams. This is what happens when Clay Helton gives so much authority to Baxter. And it’s one reason Helton is likely going to lose his job. Continue reading Another Reason USC Is Struggling

A source told me this morning that in a meeting USC administrators, school president Carol Folt described Urban Meyer as “radioactive.” I wonder what would happen if Rick Caruso, the chairperson of the Board of Trustees, wanted Meyer? Would it make a difference? Probably not. Has USC contacted Bob Stoops yet or is he radioactive too? A high school coach told last night that he … Continue reading Is Urban Meyer “Radioactive”?

If you heard Petros and Money yesterday, I said I spoke to a source in USC’s administration who said they believed Cincinnati athletic director Mike Bohn will come around and agree to take the USC job despite the snag involving Urban Meyer. The situation must be resolved in the next 2-3 days, the source said. “We’re optimistic,” the source said. “We like Mike and think … Continue reading USC Morning Buzz: Administration Believes Mike Bohn Will Come Around

USC president Carol Folt and Board of Trustees chairperson Rick Caruso were at football practice and spoke to Clay Helton. Was this a superficial show of support before the axe falls later this month? “Her support and Mr. Caruso’s support has always been there,” Helton said after practice. “Obviously this is a production-based business . . . those people have always been great to me. … Continue reading Clay Helton Gets Surprise Visitors

We talked to a source this afternoon who said USC president Carol Folt has not changed her mind regarding Urban Meyer. That means Mike Bohn will have to hire someone else if he officially becomes the athletic director. Bohn has expressed reservations because he wanted Meyer and now USC is trying to convince to take the A.D. job and find another candidate. Continue reading Sources: USC President Carol Folt Not Budging On AD

QUARTERBACK I don’t blame Kedon Slovis for all the interceptions but he’s an 18-year-old who is being asked to do everything and throw 57 passes. You can blame injuries for lack of running backs but Pete Carroll beat UCLA with Sunny Byrd and Chris Howard at tailback. Grade: D RUNNING BACKS Kenon Christon was a good decoy for most of the game. Grade: C WIDE … Continue reading USC-Oregon Report Card

USC was supposed to announce Mike Bohn as its new athletic director but Bohn is having second thoughts, according to sources. Why? Sources indicated USC president Carol Folt informed Bohn he would not be able to hire Urban Meyer as the next football coach. That is considered a dealbreaker for Bohn, according to sources. Bohn informed USC of his decision but sources said university officials … Continue reading Morning Buzz: Mike Bohn May Back Out Of USC Deal

Clay Helton was on Trojans Live tonight and he was asked about the kickoff just before halftime that Oregon returned for a touchdown. “I’d do it again,” Helton said. I’m sure he would. But did he have to admit it? He said something about not doing a squib kick because Justin Herbert has a strong arm and Oregon has a good kicker. I just checked: … Continue reading Clay Helton Double Downs On Kick Off Vs. Oregon

Here’s Graham Harrell after the Oregon game. Did he ever do interviews at North Texas? Does he know U-S-C is not North Texas? Harrell is eating, looking around like he doesn’t think he should do an interview. Remember all the bold promises made before the season: The offense is simple, just find the open grass, no one can cover all the receivers, blah blah blah. … Continue reading Caution: Genius At Work

Look at the video below of JT Daniels speaking to Oregon QB Justin Herbert. Daniels has a long way to go in his recovery from knee surgery. JT Daniels spoke to Justin Herbert after the #USC-Oregon game pic.twitter.com/6e6CGI6VOJ — InsideUSC (@InsideUSC) November 4, 2019 https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js Last week, I listed kick-and-punt returns as something USC needed to fix to beat Oregon. USC ranks last in the … Continue reading USC Notes: Interesting Post-Game Video

This photo of Clay Helton has gone viral since the Oregon game. Many are speculating Helton got into an altercation at halftime. Some say it’s merely a cold sore. Some contend his left eye also looks swollen. Something happened? Nothing happened? It wouldn’t surprise me either way the way this program has been run. Continue reading What Happened To Clay Helton’s Face?

The USC-Cal game on Nov. 16 will kick off at 8 p.m. and be on Fox Sports 1. I didn’t even know there was an 8 p.m. window that existed for start times. I get this game is considered irrelevant but 8 p.m.? That means walking out of Memorial Stadium around 11:45 p.m. or midnight. This might be the latest kick off for a USC … Continue reading The USC-Cal Game Will Kick Off When?!?!

An athletic director at another university told me this morning around 10 candidates turned down the USC job before Mike Bohn accepted it. Now, one thing I want to point out is that most well-known college football and basketball coaches usually have a national writer that they like to work with or people believe is “their guy.” Many believe the closest writer to Urban Meyer … Continue reading USC Morning Buzz: Urban Meyer Update

Clay Helton unloaded this gem in his Sunday night teleconference. “I am always confident in John Baxter.” I guess Helton is going to do down with the ship when it comes Baxter’s shoddy special teams. Here is what Helton said about the rest of the season: “There’s a lot of football that’s left to be played, and anything can happen. We have to worry about … Continue reading Sunday Night With Clay Helton

When Oregon returned a kickoff for a touchdown just before halftime, a USC player on the sideline was heard saying, “Clay is finished.” Believe it or not, USC is a 2-point favorite over Arizona State per BetOnline. Does anyone have a problem with USC’s coaches putting so much on an 18-year-old (Kedon Slovis)? He’s been taking a physical beating the past 2 weeks and hasn’t … Continue reading Even The Players Know It’s Over

Florida State just fired Willie Taggart. That’s how you do it. USC needs to take similar action this week. I hear Mike Bohn might be introduced at a press conference as soon as Monday. Bohn should make his first act to fire Clay Helton. The timing perfect coming off a demoralizing loss to Oregon. More importantly, USC needs to get ahead of any other schools … Continue reading USC Needs To Act Now

It is really beneath USC that during the radio broadcast it peddled a conspiracy theory that with Utah defeating Washington, the Pac-12 officiating crew was going to do what it could to make sure USC lost to Oregon to keep the Pac-12 South race interesting. This continued with the announcer complaining about two first-half calls (Tyler Vaughns‘ dropped pass, Isaiah Pola-Mao targeting) until replays forced … Continue reading Did You Hear The USC-Oregon Conspiracy Theory?

USC coach Clay Helton was asked last night why he was the right coach to lead the Trojans going forward? “Thank you for that question, I appreciate you,” Helton said. “I’ve been here 10 years, and I believe in being a servant to this university and to the young men that are here. “Each and every day I wake up and represent them and our … Continue reading USC Morning Buzz: Clay Helton Says Why He Is Right Coach Going Forward

Clay Helton has to know it’s over. What a pathetic performance. Oregon came into the Coliseum ready to fail and USC let them off the hook and then gave up. I have said forever that Helton is not a leader of men and tonight he was also done in by his poor coaching hires: John Baxter, Clancy Pendergast, Graham Harrell. Baxter’s decision to do a … Continue reading Discuss The USC-Oregon Game