USC tailback Stephen Carr is going to enter the transfer portal, according to USCFootball.com. On one hand, this is interesting because the fanboys said Carr was the best tailback in spring practice. On the other hand, Carr has not been happy for several seasons and this highlights a bigger problem: Running backs are starting to realize this offense is not friendly to a running game. … Continue reading Report: Stephen Carr To Enter Transfer Portal

I didn’t expect to be contacted by a member of the Board of Trustees, through a third party, but the comments were interesting. One thing I didn’t mention was the trustee initially wanted to discuss some USC history and why there isn’t more things showcased on campus. Frankly, the historic displays on campus at Heritage Hall/McKay Center are almost all reserved for athletes/recruits to see … Continue reading Morning Buzz: Insider Wonders If USC Can Beat Superpowers?

WINNERS USC trustee Imagine my surprise when a USC trustee told me this about football last week: “It’s a shame things are in the present state. There’s not much we can do about it but we see what’s happened. None of us are blind to what’s going on.” Joshua Pryor The football imposter did an interview and wants a real tryout. He’s a legend for … Continue reading USC Morning Buzz: Winners And Losers Of The Week

USC great Ronnie Lott turned 62 today. Did you know on Sept. 27, 1980, Lott intercepted three passes in a 24-7 victory over Minnesota? Two of the interceptions set up touchdowns. On one play, he had an interception, fumble and fumble recovery but gained 25 yards. “I was just trying to run too fast, and I lost the ball,” Lott said. He didn’t think his … Continue reading It’s Ronnie Lott’s Birthday

I wrote about some USC radio announcers from the 1940’s-50’s Friday, which led to an interesting detail about broadcasts from the past. When USC played Oregon State on Oct. 4, 1930, five radio stations in Los Angeles carried the game. Frank Bull, who did USC games from the 1920’s to the 1950’s, did the game for radio station KMTR. Radio historian Jim Hilliker wrote the … Continue reading USC Saturday Buzz: When Radio Ruled L.A.

USC linebacker Palaie Gaoteote will transfer to Texas, according to multiple reports. After three Texas players transferred to USC, maybe it’s fitting a player goes the other way. Continue reading Palaie Gaoteote To Texas?

Let’s see how smoothly things are going around USC at the moment during a normally quiet time of year. USC is still apparently conducting its investigation into swim coach Jeremy Kipp, who allegedly kicked a water bottle into the face of a swimmer. If you read the comments of this story, there are many other incidents involving Kipp. A football imposter, Joshua Pryor, says he … Continue reading If It’s Friday, It’s Time For A USC Notes Column

Notre Dame is putting up billboards across the country including  St. Louis, Atlanta, Cincinnati, Indianapolis, Pittsburgh, Jersey City, N.J., Charlotte, N.C., and Tampa, Fla. And Long Beach! Here’s the billboard off the 405 freeway featuring wide receiver Matt Salerno of Crespi High School. And here is one in St. Louis: I throw down for my city! Reppin tha Lou at 70 & Lindbergh! #StLouis #STLmade … Continue reading Notre Dame Gets Billboard in Southern California

I’ve got some more comments from a USC trustee on football in today’s newsletter. Continue reading More From A USC Trustee

The football imposter has done an interview! Joshua Pryor, 25, did a podcast (of course) that included USC QB Mo Hasan and former Miami QB Brad Kaaya,. Pryor said he walked into the McKay Center through an open door and used the cold tub and hot tub. He said he saw USC coach Clay Helton playing golf, presumably on the golf simulator under Heritage Hall. … Continue reading USC Morning Buzz: Football Imposter Does Interview

The USC newsletter today is a conversation I had with a member of the Board of Trustees. “It’s a shame things are in the present state,” the trustee said. Sign up for full interview. Earlier, I wrote about the changing face of the athletic dept. USC athletic director Mike Bohn continues to raid the University of Cincinnati for high-ranking positions inside the Trojan athletic dept. … Continue reading A USC Trustee Speaks

It’s an interesting thing about Clay Helton, because he has this media image that he is Mr. Nice Guy. But if you talk to people that coach under him, they say if you want to thrive at USC, you need to constantly kiss up to Helton or he will write you off. That’s relevant because some at USC have been deemed surplus to requirements amid … Continue reading USC Morning Buzz: No More Mr. Nice Guy

Clay Helton thinks spring practice was the “most physical yet.” He should have look at this picture from 1961. USC players had the “privilege” of playing against pro players Marlin McKeever, Ron Mix and Leon Clarke, who once broke open the door of a sorority by head-butting it. Mix is in the NFL Hall of Fame and considered one of the greatest offensive linemen in … Continue reading A Much More Physical Spring At USC

It is a rite of spring that USC calls the latest spring practice the most physical ever. It’s what happens when you are sensitive to criticism about how physical practices really are. The funny thing is I’ve had USC coaches tell me they didn’t think this spring practice was all that physical. Then again, 40 guys tapped out the final week. Most competitive and physical … Continue reading The “Most Physical Spring Yet”

I spoke to a USC official on Monday who said they believed less than 2,000 fans actually showed up at the Coliseum for the spring scrimmage. So 5,000 were allowed and 2,000 showed up? Sounds like a USC game. What does this portend for Sept. 4 when very few will be excited with the idea of watching San Jose State? Maybe the cardboard cutouts can … Continue reading USC Morning Buzz: What Did You Say That Crowd Size Was?

Wide receiver Munir McClain, who has been on double-secret probation since last summer, is back in the transfer portal. Did you know he ever left the portal? McClain has been suspended since being investigated over pandemic unemployment benefits. USC has a history of not re-instating players it suspends or taking a really long time to make a decision. McClain’s brother, Abdul-Malik, had already transferred to … Continue reading Munir McClain Back In Transfer Portal

When all your coaches have Texas ties, it makes sense that you want players from Texas. USC got a commitment today from University of Texas tight end Malcolm Epps, who caught three passes for 42 yards last season. Epps had 20 receptions for 232 yards in 2019. Maybe the good news is USC taking a tight end means Graham Harrell will throw to a tight … Continue reading Another Day, Another Texas Transfer

WINNERS Cronyism Mike Bohn keeps hiring Cincinnati employees, including as a replacement for Steve Lopes. Read about it here. Alijah Vera-Tucker He was able to fend off the negatives that surround USC and convinced the Jets to trade up in the first round. Art Bartner He finally got his farewell tribute after 50 — uh — 51 years Sunday night. Women’s water polo Won the … Continue reading USC Morning Buzz: Winners And Losers Of The Week

Kenan Christon won the 200 meters at the USC-UCLA dual meet today in a time of 21.17 as the Trojans’ men won, 114-42. The USC women won, 93-70. USC’s women have won seven straight dual meets vs. UCLA while the USC men have won three straight. This really says more about the dire state of UCLA track and field the past decade or so. I … Continue reading Good Day For Kenan Christon

Kind of a nothingburger draft, not that it was unexpected. Olaijah Griffin and Tyler Vaughns go undrafted. And this sense of deja vu as people wonder why players were not drafted higher or just not drafted. At the end of the day, players do not really improve or develop under Clay Helton. The End. Continue reading Someone Needs To Develop USC Players

Is this going to be the enduring image of spring practice? Clay Helton knows it’s always good to stay close to Carol Folt. Meanwhile the fourth round of the NFL Draft provided relief for USC as Jay Tufele was the first pick and went to the Jacksonville Jaguars. Six picks later, Detroit took Amon-Ra St. Brown. Talanoa Hufanga went to the San Francisco 49ers in … Continue reading The Lasting Image Of Spring Football

No matter what happens today, who predicted USC would have only one player selected in the first three rounds of the NFL Draft? It’s crushed the fanboys (including some media) that Amon-Ra St. Brown did not get picked Friday although I suspect NFL teams did not want to use such an early pick for a receiver with his size. The other possible prospect — defensive … Continue reading USC Saturday Buzz: Where Did All The Draft Picks Go?

It’s the last day of spring practice and Clay Helton unleashed this familiar refrain today: “Everybody’s going to have to earn a job. We’re going to play the best kids that are in the moment.” That’s a cliche. But how often is it even true at USC? Many times, you already know who is starting no matter what happens at practice . . . or … Continue reading Clay Helton Claims Jobs Must Be Earned

USC’s had two offensive linemen drafted in the first round the past two seasons and the offensive line was still a weak spot for the Trojans. What does that tell you? You can blame former offensive line coach Tim Drevno (like Clay Helton and Graham Harrell). I was pretty critical of Drevno while he was at USC, but I don’t blame him for the past … Continue reading If It’s Friday, It’s Time For A USC Notes Column

The Jets traded up to get the 14th pick and chose Alijah Vera-Tucker. The Jets hope he works out as well as the last USC offensive lineman they took in the first round: Marvin Powell in 1977. The Jets recently have taken these USC players in first round: Mark Sanchez (2009); Leonard Williams (2015) and Sam Darnold (2018). They also took Dave Cadigan (1988) and … Continue reading Alijah Vera-Tucker Goes To Jets

Zach Wilson went No. 2. Is he worth it? Trey Lance No. 3? Is he worth it? I know Jared Goff and Carsen Wentz weren’t worth it. Penei Sewell is worth it. Is Alijah Vera-Tucker destined for being picked between 15-20? We will see. Continue reading Where Will Alijah Vera-Tucker Get Drafted?

NBC will televise the USC-Notre Dame game at 4:30 p.m. PT on Oct. 23, the first game of the season with a kickoff time. Will the USC-Notre Dame game in South Bend ever be a day game again? For decades it was at 1:30 p.m. CT, a Notre Dame tradition. But then NBC stepped in 10 years ago and it’s never been the same since. … Continue reading USC-Notre Dame Kickoff Set

I mentioned this a couple weeks ago but I think it’s going to be listed as a concern going into the fall. A USC coach told me he’s been surprised in spring drills by the number of interceptions thrown by Kedon Slovis. The expectations were unusually high for Slovis a year ago. And now he’s under intense scrutiny because of his inconsistent 2020 performance. But … Continue reading USC Morning Buzz: Doubts Have Not Been Erased In Spring

I keep getting emails from USC season-ticket holders. Today, a USC fan who had eight season-tickets for 20-plus years told me he did not renew. “It had nothing to do with COVID, but everything to do with the lack of accountability over there (at USC). I’ll consider going back when they make the necessary changes. Until then, I’m not spending my money.” Wide receiver Amon-Ra … Continue reading USC Notes: The Fan Exodus Continues!

So many little things that happen by themselves at USC are not a big deal but when you add them all up, it continues to demonstrate the circus-like nature at the McKay Center/Heritage Hall. Here’s a small example: I’m hearing NFL teams are now consulting outside sources for evaluations of USC players this week because they don’t trust the information they are getting directly from … Continue reading USC Morning Buzz: NFL Teams Want Honest Evaluations

From long-time USC booster/graduate/insider today: “If you don’t think Clay Helton runs a tight ship, ask the homeless man posing as a USC player who apparently infiltrated the training facility and dining hall for weeks, becoming exposed only when he donned a practice uniform and helmet to field punts. “But I’m sure this imposter would’ve gone undetected had he simply signaled for a fair catch … Continue reading USC Thought For A Day

I was doing some research today and this quote popped up from last year. “I think it’s miraculous, it really is. It’s impressive. More importantly, Clay Helton and those new coaches, and the existing coaches that are on that staff. They have attacked (recruiting) with a competitive spirit and gusto.” It’s USC athletic director Mike Bohn last May on the coaching staff’s recruiting efforts. USC … Continue reading USC Morning Buzz: Does This Statement Hold Up?

WINNERS The two Drakes Does USC realize every time it hypes up wide receiver Drake London or defensive end Drake Jackson it reminds the fans it didn’t use either player enough last season? It can’t make the same mistake in 2021, can it? USC song girls The fact Lori Nelson resigned as coach is a big win for the song girls. If they scrap the … Continue reading USC Morning Buzz: Winners And Losers Of The Week

I got an email from an owner of four season-tickets since 1991 today: “Until USC decides to seriously improve the football team, we are going to spend our time and money on other things,” the season-ticket holder wrote. Continue reading USC Saturday Buzz: Another Day, Another Season Ticket Canceled

USC defensive lineman Caleb Tremblay announced today he would enter the NCAA transfer portal. Tremblay, 24, was one of the oldest players on the team. But there is a lot of depth on the defensive line, especially with players like Tuli Tuipulotu and the big role expected for incoming freshman Korey Foreman. So it’s a smart move to transfer. Continue reading Caleb Tremblay Enters Transfer Portal

If you want to hear the segment today on Petros and Money, click here. We talked about the football imposter, the song girls and spring practice! Continue reading Petros and Money Recap On USC