Isn’t it time for Clay Helton to donate part of his salary to some organization to help victims of the coronavirus? Or maybe to help the essential workers during the crisis? Helton’s been stealing millions the past two seasons (I’d argue longer than that) and what’s wrong with making a sizeable donation to a worthy cause? And it would mean more than filming a public-service … Continue reading If It’s Friday, It’s Time For A USC Notes Column

I wasn't planning to watch #USC-Texas but seeing USC without Clay Helton on sideline is very soothing — InsideUSC (@InsideUSC) April 3, 2020 https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js Continue reading Are You Watching USC-Texas?

Keldrick Wilson, an offensive lineman at Hampton, has been offered a scholarship by USC. Wilson, who is 6-5, 299 pounds, would be immediately eligible. He has offers from West Virginia, Pitt and Indiana. Hampton University plays in the Football Championship Subdivision and went 5-7 last season. Continue reading USC Offers Graduate Transfer Lineman

I’m hearing the USC ticket office, which has been in the student union since at least the 1930’s, is almost certain to move to the Galen Center. There’s certainly little demand for tickets over there except maybe on nights of big basketball games. The question is whether USC uses available ticket booths or opens a different spot at the arena to buy football tickets, etc. Continue reading New Home For USC Ticket Office?

USC held only one spring practice before the coronavirus restrictions put everything on hold. Here are the things to watch when analyzing the entirely new defensive staff: Do they have players in the right positions? Yelling and energy are two different things You can’t yell and teach at the same time When you have total defensive energy, it comes by itself Only time will tell … Continue reading USC Morning Buzz: Yelling And Coaching Are Different Things

Cornerback Anthony Beavers of Narbonne was supposed to go to USC based on the USC-friendly pundits’ projections. So it’s surprising he didn’t list USC among his final five schools. “USC didn’t want him,” will be the response from the apologists. Continue reading A Surprising Recruiting Development

The Dodgers will be on DirecTV after Spectrum Networks reached a deal with the satellite TV provider. Naturally, someone will wonder if this means the Pac-12 Network is next for DirecTV? I would caution against expecting this to happen. AT&T, which owns DirecTV, probably did this to make the provider appear more attractive to potential buyers. The Dodgers add value. The Pac-12 Network does not. … Continue reading First Dodgers, Will DirecTV Add Pac-12 Network?

Fans are starting to ask me if the coronavirus will save Clay Helton’s job? Obviously, we are not at that point yet but I’m hearing about it more often. If the football season gets canceled, would Helton get fired with 0-0 record? Here’s the crazy part: USC will play Oregon and Washington this season. But it won’t play them in 2021 or 2022. How happy … Continue reading USC Morning Buzz: Clay Helton Can See Light If He Gets To 2021

USC has the 13th-best odds per Fox Bet to make the College Football Playoff at 6/1. The only Pac-12 team ahead of the Trojans is Oregon. That’s a lot of confidence in Clay Helton. Clemson, Alabama, Ohio State and Oklahoma are the top four teams per Fox Bet. Here are the Pac-12 teams’ odds below: 5/1—Oregon 6/1—USC 9/1—Washington 11/1—Utah 40/1—Arizona State 50/1—UCLA 55/1—Arizona 75/1—Stanford Continue reading USC’s College Football Playoff Odds Are Not Bad

A couple recruiting stories from the past: If you think when coaches visit high schools, they just cordially greet other, it doesn’t always happen. Maybe 99 percent of the time, but not always. I remember hearing from a coach at Valencia High School that Ed Orgeron visited shortly after Paul Hackett had been fired in 2000, still recruiting for USC. A UCLA assistant just happened … Continue reading Entertaining USC Recruiting Tales

There might be a pandemic but the USC digital media team is working overtime. Here is a day with Clay Helton: He reads the bible. He lifts weights. He watches film. He walks the dogs. And my favorite part: At the end, he poses with the ocean in the background. Should Sam Darnold or Lynn Swann be thanked more for providing that view? Making the most of each day! #QuarantineRoutine … Continue reading USC Morning Buzz: Your Coach At Work

Richard Wood was the first three-time All-American in the history of USC and did it during an era when freshmen were ineligible. He still doesn’t always get his due and was not admitted into the USC Hall of Fame into 2007. I’m mentioning him today because the Athletic did an article on the best players to wear each jersey number. Wood was named the best … Continue reading Notes: USC Legend Honor; Pac-12 Suspends Activities

Former USC All-American Tony Boselli has contracted the coronavirus and was recently hospitalized in an intensive care unit, according to Michael Freeman of Bleacher Report. Freeman said Boselli is doing better but “still receiving treatment.” Continue reading Tony Boselli Contracts Coronavirus

We can praise/criticize Mike Bohn for the next eight months but the only thing that really matters from a football perspective is what he does with Clay Helton. If USC manages to win 9/10 games and Bohn has the guts to fire Helton, he will deserve praise and the “you all just needed to patient while Bohn fixed things” crowd in the athletic dept. will … Continue reading Sunday Buzz: Mike Bohn Will Be Judged On One Thing

Does anyone believe those green dots are the only current available seats in an upper deck end zone section of the Coliseum? That is all that is available on the USC website right now. Continue reading USC Looks Like A Tough Ticket

One of the first USC organizations to start supporting athletics was “the Trojan club,” which started in 1923 and created the “Monday Morning Quarterback” lunches where the football coach would review the previous game. The Trojan club was also a star-studded group in the late 1940’s. Actors Clark Gable, Robert Taylor and Edward Arnold were members in “good standing.” Los Angeles mayor Fletcher Bowron was … Continue reading Saturday Buzz: When The Stars Supported USC

USC said it desperately needed extra football support staff, including digital media people. Well, it’s obvious the coaches are not producing their own tweets. The question is whether this will cause a recruit to go to USC? But when you aren’t winning, you need to be creative, I guess. On the other hand, does anyone think Graham Harrell is actually creating this tweet? Welcome to … Continue reading Now We Know Why USC Needed More Support Staff

USC athletic director Mike Bohn announced today the season-ticket renewal deadline was extended to May 13. “For those currently on season ticket payment plans, we will delay processing the next installment until Friday, July 24,” Bohn said. This is the second time USC has extended the season-ticket deadline. I suspect the delay in processing payments will be welcomed by the non-millionaire segment of boosters. Last … Continue reading USC Extends Season-Ticket Deadline (Again)

ESPN college football analyst Kirk Herbstreit said he does expect football to be played in the fall. “I’ll be shocked if we have NFL football this fall, if we have college football. I’ll be so surprised if that happens,” he told ESPN radio. “Just because from what I understand, people that I listen to, you’re 12 to 18 months from a [coronavirus] vaccine. I don’t … Continue reading Kirk Herbstreit Doesn’t Expect College Football This Season

Did you know USC tried to hire legendary Alabama coach Bear Bryant? After USC fired Jeff Cravath in 1950, athletic director Willis O. Hunter contacted Bryant but he turned the Trojans down. “I had just signed a new contract at Kentucky,” Bryant told the Daily Trojan. Kentucky, you say? Bryant had just gone 11-1 and defeated No. 1-ranked Oklahoma in the Sugar Bowl. The final … Continue reading If It’s Friday, It’s Time For A USC Notes Column

Petros Papadakis suggested on his show that USC move to Staples Center . . . for football. He based his suggestion on declining fan interest and the Air Raid being conducive to indoor football. “It’s the downsizing of USC football because of the cheapening of the brand. and the way that they play,” Papadakis said. “Carol Folt and the Bohnerino can have a royal box … Continue reading USC Can Move To . . . Staples Center

A coach who is familiar with USC’s defensive personnel said with spring practice unlikely, new defensive coordinator Todd Orlando needs to keep his schemes simple heading into the practice. “He probably won’t have enough practices to install a complicated defense,” the coach said. “He should just worry about being simple, simple, simple. He would be smart to try and fit the personnel, and not force … Continue reading USC Morning Buzz: Defense Gets To Learn New System In Less Time

The game that really made people believe in Pete Carroll was USC’s 27-0 victory over No. 20-ranked UCLA. The Trojans were clear underdogs and still recorded their first shutout over UCLA since 1947. “To start 1-4 and to finish well is big,” USC QB Carson Palmer said. “To beat UCLA, who had been talking about the Rose Bowl, is huge.” Continue reading USC Time Capsule: 2001

USC coaches have been active on twitter. Graham Harrell said Tuesday he believes USC has the ” best staff in the country.” And then there is this tweet from Tim Drevno, which seems generated by a digital media support staffer. It also points out the obvious: When has USC produced a great lineman since Tyron Smith, who was drafted in 2011? If you want to … Continue reading Who Is The Next Great USC Offensive Lineman?

USC was supposed to hold its Pro Day today. There’s been some big ones at USC: The Matt Leinart-Reggie Bush Pro Day drew thousands to the track stadium and people then lined Howard Jones Field to watch Leinart throw. Matt Barkley’s Pro Day was televised live by the NFL Network and so was Sam Darnold’s Pro Day. But this one was more important for prospects … Continue reading USC Pro Day Another Event That Got Canceled