FOOTBALL

USC Morning Buzz: The Clock Keeps Ticking On Personnel Move

Is it possible USC will start spring practice in early March without a strength coach?

Of course it is, when you consider Clay Helton has such limited contacts. He merely retained Ivan Lewis instead of hiring his own strength coach when he replaced Steve Sarkisian.

That is almost unheard of. Previous USC coaches would bring in their own guy. Helton never has his own guy. He didn’t even replace Sarkisian’s secretary, which is another standard move for a new coach.

So USC might just stumble into spring without a new strength coach. It’s standard-operating procedure in the Helton era.

  • USC coach Andy Enfield criticized his team Saturday when asked about Nick Rackocevic‘s struggles vs. Oregon State.

“Sometimes, certain people have trouble handling success,” Enfield said. “The great teams have great leaders on them, usually. If you look at championship-level teams, there’s great leadership. There’s an unselfish spirit. Players that go out and do the right thing over and over and over offensively and defensively on the court, in the classroom, etc.

“We’ve had that the last three years. This year’s been a little bit if a struggle with that. It is hard on our team when that happens. In the bigger picture, certain guys that just need to be able to play with a more even temperament.”

  • USC prevented No. 12-ranked Arkansas from a three-game sweep as catcher CJ Stubbs hit a two-run home run with two outs in the 10th inning for a 6-4 victory at Dedeaux Field.
  • Former USC safety Charles Phillips, who played with the Raiders from 1975-79, is signing autographs at the Raiderfest today at the Pomona Fairplex. If you go, tell him you heard he played with a tooth pick in his mouth.

27 thoughts on “USC Morning Buzz: The Clock Keeps Ticking On Personnel Move”

  1. If Helton can’t attract a top-shelve S+C coach from one of the ranked universities in the top twenty-five (25), then why isn’t he considering and/or moving towards getting a very adept and qualified S+C coach from a ranked community college in California and/ or in the Western region? To have someone in place to provide the guidance during spring training is better than leaving a void. For a HC who is making several million a year to be remiss in taking care of this responsibility is an utter disgrace. Even the crosstown school (FUCLA) has someone to prepare their kids. Let’s add embarrassment to that utter disgrace.

    Liked by 2 people

    Reply

    2. drjess— I think it’s pretty obvious what Helton is up to with this strength coach delay (and, to tell the truth, I’m a little surprised that Scott hasn’t picked up on it yet). Clearly Clay knows he has to have a strength coach, & clearly he won’t be able to get hold of a big name [or anyone who could actually improve the program] —so Clay is waiting to announce the name [of a previously unheard of & unknown strength coach] until spring practice when people have other things to talk about….
      #…WithClayIt’sAlwaysAboutDiversion

      Liked by 2 people

      Reply

      2. drjess —you’ll have time for 13 cones, 19 sundaes and a dozen banana splits ….
        #PleaseEatResponsibly…..
        #..AndDon’tGoSwimmingFor20MinutesAfterwards

        Liked by 1 person

    3. No S.Coach?? R u kidding me?? It’s time allyu USC alumni and other persuasive clientele, might as well start at the top.Most wuould break it down and rebuild it, but in our case, demolish it, and rebuild it! I bleed Trojan blood through and through, enough is enough!!

      Like

      Reply

  2. Flow: No, “Thanks, Enfield!”??? Good for him for critiquing and criticizing his own players in a shitty loss. Would Helton do the same? “He’s the love my life…”

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply

  3. I said yesterday that baseball, like football, was DEAD. Add Basketball to that list and no I don’t care that Gap Tooth has a top rated class coming in, he’ll F it up like Gomer did.

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply

    1. I appreciate your thoughts on the current SC situation, but in terms of Pudly, he is not a Helton apologist. Pudly does know a lot about football, he has much more information than Scott does, and he is annoyed when Wolf’s posts are factually incorrect or incomplete, or misleading.

      He is as big of an SC fan as any of us, and wants a return to success just as much as any of us. All of us express frustration about the current situation differently.

      I want Helton and Swann gone like many others, but on the other hand, when I see Wolf write about Boatwright’s 36-point outing, with a record 10 3’s in one sentence, and then Scott craps on Boatwright for the Trojan’s loss to Stanford in the next sentence, it is obvious that Wolf is grinding his ax.

      In that Stanford game, Boatwright was the leading scorer. It was not Boatwright’s fault that SC lost. This is what I mean about Wolf’s misleading statements. Boatwright had a great game and set a record – let’s enjoy that. But for Wolf, that data point doesn’t fit in with his overall agenda, so he sweeps that one positive outcome under the rug, and then incorrectly blames Boatwright for the SC loss. Pudly is trying to keep Scott honest, which I appreciate.

      Liked by 4 people

      Reply

      1. Great fricking post, 67. Maybe the best ever. Obviously, Scott knows that he’ll get (way) more hits with a negative piece than a positive one. I marvel at his ability to generate debate during dead periods. It’s kinda unparalleled. But it’s also [deliberately] unfair. Scott depends on us to write the “other” side of each post. That’s what makes InsideUSC work. The people who dismiss Pudly’s remarks tend to forget that. This site isn’t fun if it’s ALL trash Helton/Swann ALL the time. Helton is far from ALL bad —he can get us through the season if he sticks to what he knows (which is orchestrating the work of his assistants). Helton can be valuable if that’s the way he sees his job in 2019 —-he only becomes a liability when he tries to do more than that.
        I get a tremendous kick outta tebow’s acidic humor —but we need Pudly’s maturity (as well as your own) to make this thing work and keep things reasonably objective.

        Liked by 2 people

      2. James —I can’t really disagree with any of your criticisms of the present regime. I defend Helton (occasionally) out of deep commitment to the Beatitude which calls for being merciful. He seems to honestly believe that mastering pressers and keeping the team and coaches on the right side of the sideline during games is all there is to being a top level coach.
        But at least he has some skills. Swann is a whole different story. He’s just a master at shielding himself from decision making —-the kind of administrator that thrives at USC these days.
        I think it is the hope and prayer of us occasional sunshine pumpers that Helton lucks out with a great offensive coordinator, improved (but, let’s face it, not dramatically improved) line play, and no significant injuries or off the field drama. If EVERYTHING —and I mean EVERYTHING—-breaks right, Helton could be looking at an 8-4 season. If it doesn’t, there is no telling how bad this thing can get.

        Liked by 1 person

    2. MG:

      Great point in that we need both, to include some positive to balance out Woofie’s baiting…I tend to fall more on the side of T’BoKnows than Pudly, but I’ll gladly hear out both, and understand that their points of view are just as valid as mine (even if, as I’m guessing each of us feels about ourselves, I’m always right!), especially when there are great points made backed up by facts, as is often the case…

      Personally, I am of the opinion that Helton and Swann long ago crossed the threshold of no longer deserving any benefit of the doubt, and they both have continued to, unabatedly, make one mistake (omission and commission) after another and are continuing to drive the program further into the ground…and I believe that can be factually substantiated (MG, we have something in common I believe, so yes…what can you prove?) with little difficulty.

      But I’m always open to the opinions of others…and especially when you all do it with that nice splash of humor [to include our ability to foster an environment that strikes a nice balance with our despised enemies such as Cal (BigBear) and Owns (Rented/Mule)]…

      Liked by 2 people

      Reply

      1. I’m surprised Pudly has the time to post here as much as he rides Helton’s ball sack and kisses his ass.

        Like

    5. Honestly speaking, Pud is one of the reasons why I check the sight on a daily basis. I don’t even read SW’ slanted posts that often, but when I do, I usually regret I did. Most of us are either die hard fans, or alumni and we all want what is best for USC. If SW’s posts are slanted, Pud’s info,at the very least, balances them out. Peace, brother.

      Like

      Reply

  5. Michael, many thanks (hitting “like button”, I wish Scott’s IT guy would figure out why his website will recognize my posts, but not recognize my “likes”).

    Yes, we are all unpaid interns for Wolf! And we keep coming back every day for more!

    There is so much good input from the posters here. Pudly is a font of knowledge, particularly of the local (SoCal) football scene and he indeed is the hardest working guy (or gal) on here in terms of keeping Scottie honest.

    I will vicariously enjoy the tropical cocktail and the sunset that you enjoy tonight on Maui!

    Liked by 4 people

    Reply

    1. Nice sentiments, 67. Amazing sunsets —and for the past month, amazing rainbows. [The only drawback is nobody I know here cares about college football —-but I got my InsideUSC buds for that]!

      Liked by 2 people

      Reply

  6. Note to Pudly76: If you are in fact Helton’s new masseuse, please take a break and weigh in at the blog. No worries, I’m prepared to get my sorry ass blasted by you (Lol). 🖕🏽Just kidding

    Liked by 2 people

    Reply

    2. Tbow: So what would life be without clowns? They’re all over the place, e.g., the White House in DC, and running athletic programs and college football programs in Southern California.

      Liked by 1 person

      Reply

  8. February 25th and USC still has failed to hire a S&C Coach.
    Let me say I wouldn’t be surprised if they forgot that they need one.
    They were turned down already when they tried to low ball the Cal S&C by offering him peanuts. It backfired when he said they laid Ivan Lewis a lot more and make such a disrespectful offer to him.

    USC is solidified as the joke of college football.

    Like

    Reply

Leave a comment