It sure looks like Jaxson Dart is being readied for a possible role in the Notre Dame game. Dart did more Tuesday and by next week I can see him getting enough practice time to be available for the Notre Dame game. Kedon Slovis will start but if he struggles, Dart could get his chance. Donte Williams has nothing to lose. USC was picked to … Continue reading USC Morning Buzz: Get Ready For Return Of Jaxson Dart

When Pete Carroll said, “I don’t even know anybody hardly down there” about USC, my antennas went up. I know Carroll has talked to Mike Bohn and Carroll is notorious for giving advice in coaching searches. Years ago, he told me he called Nebraska and recommended Jeff Tedford because he wanted to get Tedford out of the Pac-10. Carroll’s comment does illustrate one issue: USC … Continue reading Will Anyone With USC Ties Be Involved In Coaching Search?

Pete Carroll He looks better every day. And is willing to talk about it! Carson Palmer He made a rare visit to the Coliseum on Saturday to celebrate being in College Football Hall of Fame. Mario Cristobal, Luke Fickell, Matt Campbell The way USC is imploding these guys are becoming demi-gods. Jaxson Dart He gets better every week he doesn’t play. LOSERS Donte Williams Being … Continue reading USC Winners And Losers Of The Week

With USC sinking, who else needs to weigh in but Pete Carroll in an L.A. Times interview. Here’s the money quote: “Unfortunately for the people who have followed, we made it really difficult on them. We won every game for three years in a row or whatever it was. The expectations were difficult. “In one regard I feel bad for the guys who followed because … Continue reading Pete Carroll Weighs In

Donte Williams was probably thrilled to get the chance to be interim coach after Clay Helton got fired. But he’s lost two games at the Coliseum and the secondary has been lousy this season, so his stock has been battered the past month. At least he can recruit. Williams is still above Todd Orlando, who has a worse reputation today than when he got fired … Continue reading USC Sunday Buzz: Are Any Coaches Doing Their Jobs?

USC is officially a joke. It has been blown out of three home games and pushed around physically. Let’s put this on Mike Bohn. He has been at USC for 2 years. He has been a blowhard about all the support staff he hired and done nothing to change the program in a meaningful way. And here we are now at 3-3 vs. a dreadful … Continue reading Discuss The USC-Utah Debacle

This game is offically a joke. Fans are leaving. Hey, it’s looking a lot like Stanford and Oregon State! Drake London does it himself for the TD. USC defense does not tackle well or contain edge. Kedon Slovis just does not impress even though I heard on pre-game show he is the best deep passer in nation per stats. A good reason to not trust … Continue reading USC-Utah Live Blog

Utah has never won at the Coliseum, where USC is 0-2 this season in Pac-12 games. Whatever happened to the Coliseum being a fortress? I thought it was interesting I did an interview with a Utah radio station this week and they never asked about the game. Kyle Whittingham doesn’t even get mentioned for the USC job. Meanwhile, I think USC is gaining confidence it … Continue reading Morning Buzz: Pick USC-Utah Score Plus My Pick

A reader suggested USC hire Oregon State coach Jonathan Smith. I think Smith would win if he came to USC. Why? Because for many years I’ve had the theory that you only need a competent coach to win at USC with the talent it attracts. Smith is more than competent. I don’t know what Coach Bohn thinks of him but Smith is from Southern California, … Continue reading USC Needs A Coach Who Won’t Do Damage

USC is not using a search firm to hire a football coach. I often find these firms to be a waste of money. But Mike Bohn has a mixed record hiring football coaches, so would it be a good idea in this case? You might have Bohn and a lackey deciding who to hire. And if they go to Carol Folt with a name, do … Continue reading Does USC Need A Search Firm?

I talked about the USC coaching search and the Trojans today on Utah radio station The Zone. You can listen here. Continue reading Radio, Radio

There’s definitely a contradiction here on the USC campus. Do no congregate but with a bunch of chairs for a large gathering. The chairs are for Parents Weekend, which is this weekend at USC. Just don’t tailgate. Continue reading USC Picture Of The Day

Jaxson Dart returned to practice Tuesday but did very little and is not cleared by doctors. However, the fact is he “week-to-week” according to Donte Williams could be setting up an interesting decision for the Notre Dame game on Oct. 23. Dart won’t play this week vs. Utah and then USC has a bye week. If he participates in some practices the bye week, he … Continue reading Jaxson Dart And James Franklin In The News

When USC dedicated its new track building last month, an attendee told me, “Mike Bohn didn’t seem genuine. More like a cheerleader.” I’ve seen Bohn act this way multiple times when talking to USC boosters/fans. This reminded me that someone who worked closely with Bohn at Cincinnati told me, “He has no contacts. He doesn’t know a lot of people.” That makes me wonder if … Continue reading USC Morning Buzz: The Luke Fickell-Mike Bohn Ties May Be Overrated

I spoke to a USC administrator today about the national media’s penchant for mentioning Lane Kiffin as a candidate at USC. “This is the biggest hire of Mike Bohn’s career. I don’t think he wants to be remembered as the guy who simply rehired Lane Kiffin,” the administrator said. Even if you believe Kiffin is a better coach today than 10 years ago, and he … Continue reading Here’s A Reason USC Won’t Hire Lane Kiffin

WINNERS Drake London Ship the Biletnikoff Award to Heritage Hall this week. It can always be returned. Like a Heisman. Keaontay Ingram It only took five games for USC to find its No. 1 tailback and discover a running game. Against Colorado, of course. Luke Fickell The Cincy coach is going to field a lot of job offers after the season. Michael Trigg He caught … Continue reading USC Morning Buzz: Winners And Losers Of The Week

I didn’t think too much would be made from the Colorado victory. I was wrong. I see phrases like “step in a better direction” and “peak performance” in media reports. Look, USC played a bad team and all that really matters is who is the next coach. The end. When is someone going to write that USC really hasn’t played a good team yet? USC … Continue reading Are People Keeping Colorado Victory In Perspective? No

One of the criticisms of Oregon coach Mario Cristobal is his clock management. Do you think yesterday’s game will influence USC? On the other end, Cincinnati coach Luke Fickell is riding so high that he might get too big for USC. He might be fielding NFL offers after the season. Or SEC offers. Iowa State coach Matt Campbell is under the radar but still in … Continue reading Who’s Up And Down In USC Coaching Search

USC wins, 37-14 but did we learn anything? The defense still looks sloppy at times even against Colorado. Isaiah Pola-Mao is not having a great season either, allowing three TDs in the past 2 weeks. Drake London and Drake Jackson are playing well. Frankly, I would have played Miller Moss at the end. What happens if Kedon Slovis gets hurt? So everything is status quo. … Continue reading Discuss The USC-Colorado Game

It’s an early kickoff in Boulder and it’s on the Pac-12 Network. Does that mean the game exists? USC still doesn’t run the ball enough but gets a TD from Vavae Malepeai and leads 30-7. All is well! USC leads 23-7 after another Parker Lewis FG. What are the USC recruiting sites that have built up defensive-line recruit Hero Kanu going to do now that … Continue reading USC-Colorado Live Blog

USC wide receiver KD Nixon has hardly played since transferring from Colorado. But he sort of summed up what USC football is all about this week when he talked about off-field aspects of being a Trojan. “Off the field, I’m right by Hollywood,” Nixon said. “Every day, there’s people we’re meeting on campus. You’re meeting multi-billionaires and millionaires every day. You even meet actors and … Continue reading There’s A New Meaning For Being A Trojan

With an early kickoff, it’s time to pick the score of the USC-Colorado game. USC is 14-0 vs. Colorado. Could it possibly lose this game? I don’t have much faith in the Buffs. Frankly, I don’t have much faith in USC’s coaches, Kedon Slovis or the defense. But they should all be better than Colorado. So I’m taking USC, 31-24. Steve Lopes has kept a … Continue reading Friday Buzz: Who Wins USC-Colorado And A Steve Lopes Sighting

This week’s USC-Colorado game is on the Pac-12 Network at 11 a.m. (PT). I wonder how many people will even bother trying to find someplace to watch the game that would have a month ago? It’s pretty hard to find a bar/restaurant that has the Pac-12 Network. How motivated will a USC fan be after watching the Stanford and Oregon State losses? I have no … Continue reading Who Will Bother To Find Saturday’s Game?

Max Gibbs, a 390-pound offensive lineman, is playing defensive line this week, according to Donte Williams. Williams said the move is for the Colorado game but not beyond. So USC does feel it is undersized apparently. Whatever happened to defensive tackle Jamar Sekona? These are moves typical of a 2-2 team, I guess. I’m sure Gibbs didn’t imagine he would be on defense his freshman … Continue reading USC Does Think It Is Too Small

I know USC makes strange hires but I’m not sure why people are treating former San Diego Chargers coach Anthony Lynn as a serious candidate. Lynn would not excite the fans and Mike Bohn would become even more unpopular with such a move. Nothing I’ve heard suggests Lynn is even a candidate. What’s the deal with defensive end Korey Foreman? I spoke to a football … Continue reading USC Morning Buzz: Why Is Anthony Lynn Being Discussed?

USC is surveying fans about their Game Day experience. I’ve heard a lot of complaints about the DJ and smaller role for the band. Some object to the band being stuck in the Sun Deck when they could easily move back next to the student section. Some people are not happy the Coliseum is now cashless. Others don’t like the tailgating situation, especially on campus. … Continue reading USC Surveys Fans On Game Day Experience

Congrats to everyone at USC for making the Trojans irrelevant before Oct. 1. The resources poured into football are supposedly unprecedented the past 2 years and what do we have to show for it? Will the new coach have the authority to come in and make root-and-branch changes? There’s more than 60 people working in the football offices right now. Some seem to do little … Continue reading USC Morning Buzz: The New Coach Might Want His Own Army

Is this one of the reasons USC likes Mario Cristobal? While some may focus on Coach Cristobal yelling, take a look at how Kris Hutson is handling this. Eye contact. Ends with a "Yes sir." Just an absolutely amazing job of receiving coaching right here. pic.twitter.com/iX7Q3dA1jW — Athletic Recruiting (@ncsa) September 28, 2021 https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js Continue reading Is This What USC Wants?

I missed this when I was away but former USC All-American Steve Riley died on Sept. 16 from cardiac arrest. He was 68. Riley was an offensive tackle on the 1972 national championship team that went undefeated and named an All-American in 1973. Riley was a first-round pick in 1974 and spent 11 seasons with the Minnesota Vikings, where he started 128 of the 138 … Continue reading Former USC All-American Steve Riley Passes Away

We can all agree USC’s defense was shoddy against Oregon State. But offensive coordinator Graham Harrell makes $1.2 million a year and I feel like this season opposing defenses believe they solved his version of the Air Raid. Unless Drake London takes over a game, what exactly does USC do right now that vexes the other team? So many plays look the same. And I … Continue reading USC Morning Buzz: More Scrutiny Needed At Top

As great as it is for Donte Williams to get to be interim head coach, the downside is you no longer get to hide behind Clay Helton as an excuse. The coaching staff can blame Helton for the culture, but they haven’t shown any capacity to change the mindset and they had plenty of freedom under Helton. Now all of a sudden USC’s defense is … Continue reading USC Is Too Small Now?

No winners this week. LOSERS Coach Bohn Did he really think if you just change/add all the pieces around Clay Helton, USC would get fixed? Donte Williams The turnaround lasted one game. Being a head coach isn’t so easy after all. Graham Harrell How predictable does the Air Raid look these days? Harrell’s refusal to establish the run is laughable. Todd Orlando Give him credit … Continue reading USC Morning Buzz: Winners And Losers Of The Week

Donte Williams said Drake Jackson played sparingly in the second half because of what Oregon State was doing. Would you really take your best defensive player off the field because of a scheme? And isn’t Jackson good enough for any scheme? Williams said freshman QB Jaxson Dart isn’t on crutches and still “week-to-week” until he is cleared to play. Williams said defensive end Korey Foreman … Continue reading Sunday Night With Donte Williams

Talk about a gutless performance. USC got dominated on the line of scrimmage by Oregon State? This was not about who started at QB. The USC defense was woeful. Is all that money spent on support staff worth it if you don’t win the line of scrimmage? Or tackle? You think Clay Helton was enjoying the game in Palos Verdes? What grade does Coach Bohn … Continue reading Discuss The USC Debacle

Is USC landing commitments on game days as a marketing ploy? Arron White, a Class of 2025 athlete from Orange High School, committed today. It feels a little staged and it’s the second game this season where USC took a commitment. Never from an offensive lineman, of course. Continue reading USC-Oregon State Live Blog

What an amazing conference where you can play Oregon State a week after Washington State. Oregon State has a 61-year, 24-game losing streak at USC. Donte Williams has to love this schedule. He was at the Mater Dei game on Friday night. Williams couldn’t have been serious on Thursday when he said everyone would find out Saturday who would start at QB. He already knew … Continue reading USC Saturday Buzz: Game Day!

When Marv Goux was a USC assistant coach in the 1960’s, the “jock rally” was created on Fridays before the game. After five decades, it looks like USC has turned the jock rally into a marketing tool and renamed it the “Sunset Rally.” Is any tradition sacred? It will be interesting to see how the whole DJ vs. band issues plays out Saturday. I hear … Continue reading USC Friday Buzz: Another Tradition Under Attack?

First, some housekeeping. I haven’t posted since the day Clay Helton got fired because of previously planned hospital visit. So I’ll start with what I know on the coaching search. Here’s what I hear from Heritage Hall: Mario Cristobal, Oregon. USC has identified him as its top choice. Matt Campbell, Iowa State; Luke Fickell, Cincinnati. The up-and-comers are the next choices. James Franklin, Penn State. … Continue reading We’re Baaaaack

He got two games even though it wasn’t a make-or-break season? Donte Williams is No. 2 even after his secondary got shredded on Saturday night? Bohn and his lackey, Brandon Sosna, were huddling all morning. That’s one reason I had not posted much today. They obviosly want Luck Fickell but I doubt he leaves Cinciinati at this point of the season. Some other names were … Continue reading Clay Helton Is Finally Fired!

Coach Bohn has a new problem he didn’t have before Saturday night. He has to feel heat from Bill Plasckhe’s column calling for the firing of Clay Helton. It’s not that it is a great column or anything. But Los Angeles is so soft from a media perspective that when when one does it, let alone the biggst paper in L.A., it’s an event. Bohn … Continue reading Coach Bohn Has New Problem

Got some new artwork from last night to capture Clay Helton. And now for some awful comments by him. “It’s a team that cares for each other and cares for our team’s success. Now it’s our job as coaches to identify those mistakes from last night and correct them” “It’s early in the season, I hope people will see us all the way through the … Continue reading Sunday Night With Clay Helton

Remember last year I continually wrote USC would be worse this season? But Mike Bohn wanted to talk about the support staff being increased. USC got pushed around the field despite a new strength coach. The media sucks up to Todd Orlando but USC has not had a sack in two games. Kedon Slovis has not improved and might be worse. And there is no … Continue reading Discuss The USC-Stanford Game

OK, time for a live blog. Really, we’ve seen this type of performance before. Todd Orlando, what are you doing? You gave up two huge plays. You are Clancy Pendergast Jr. How bad was that USC TD drive? Kept throwing to same receiver. Thankfully Keontay Ingram got pushed into the end zone to tie the game, 7-7. Targeting on the kicker! And an 87-yard TD … Continue reading USC-Stanford Live Blog

OK, it’s time to make a prediction. I think Stanford needs to bounce back from last week’s pathetic loss at Kansas State. USC is being challenged by its coach to play a 60-minute game. I’m taking USC, 42-31. It might be closer than expeced but not enough to actually lose. What’s your prediction? Continue reading USC-Stanford: Pick The Score