FOOTBALL

Did USC Need To Lose?

This is clearly a game USC did not need to lose . . . did you hear me Clay Helton?

Whether it was the poor offensive line play (thanks, Drevno!), penalties, poor tackling or the play calling, USC didn’t do what it needed to do.

Of course, USC wins by losing if it gets rid of Helton. That was an atrocious offensive series in OT. Why is USC insisting on throwing over the middle when Kedon Slovis is struggling on those plays compared to sideline passes? Genius Graham Harrell sure didn’t look like one.

BYU ran the same defense Washington has used to shut down Washington State under Chris Petersen, which drops eight men back.

Here is what Utah tailback Zack Moss said on USC losing: “It’s a good little wound for those guys and we’re just going to go ahead and add to that next week.”

113 thoughts on “Did USC Need To Lose?”

    1. owns, it is 17-0 Oklahoma, with 3/4 of the game to play.

      Extrapolating out, Oklahoma barely edges the bruins, 68-0. Still happy with the Chipper?

      Both of the LA coaches need to go. But luckily, ours will go first.

      Liked by 1 person

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      2. 67 —Better make that “hopefully” ours goes first. Has Folt been making the phone calls? Is she ready to really right the ship? Or has she just been sitting around thinking about her next move?

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      3. I don’t think so ’67, UCLA has scored a TD.

        As you recall ’67, something the “Shock the World” bozos failed to do vs Alabama @ the Jerry Dome.

        52 – 6 wasn’t it ’67? Remember ’67, the bozos kicked a 48 yard FG down 38 – 3…….Talk about cheesy.

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      4. owns, yes, ucla scored a TD.

        The game now projects out to roughly 63-17. Sooners.

        Time for an 8 clap!

        And why are you still on this site? Today is ucla’s big opportunity. It requires your undivided attention.

        Liked by 1 person

      5. I think that Wasserman is done with ucla, at least as far as donating 7 figures.

        He is a smart fellow. No sense in throwing good money after bad.

        Liked by 1 person

      7. UCLA may never win big in football but USC is the biggest loser college of all. that’s why its called the Clown school? Garrett? Reggiegate! Carroll? Denial! Molester Doctor on campus? Prison coming! Sark the boozer? payoff! Helton ? Well the townfolk will get rid of him soon! at the end of the day. UCLA by the beach and beauty. USC still in the hood with the hoods! hahahaha

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      1. #1. “You’re” not your.
        #2. You’re a crybaby fan!
        #3. You’re a “refs are out to get USC” fan!
        #4. You kinda know what’s going on out on the field. But not really!!

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      2. BIG CRAP is right! Now my Mormon neighbors are going to drink Club Soda and maybe staying up till 10pm celebrating their victory!

        Thanks for nothing trOJans!

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      1. That 100% true, Patrick. But, being how we played this game in the Holy State of Utah, that was expected. We needed to keep our heads, stick with our modified Air Raid and show some confidence in Slovis. That’s what Harrell SAID he was going to do going in —I can only guess that Helton was overruling the plays coming down from Harrell after the 2 picks. And from that point on —we looked and played like another scared Helton team.

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    4. My dear friend Owns — you can say “I’m happy BYU won” or “BYU played over their heads” or “BYU played a great game” or “even though they were dominated in all categories, BYU had the most points on the scoreboard & that’s all that counts” —but generally when the other team (that would be USC) out gains, out firstdowns and out possesses the winning team —the ONE thing you DON’T say is that the team that came up short in every other measurable “deserved to win.”

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    5. They didn’t deserve to win, but USC didn’t either.
      I’m happy we lost. I’ll be happy next week because when we lose to the Utes it’ll be the Green Light for the president to start looking for his replacement.

      *PREDICTION*
      1. USC loses to Utah.
      & (Behind closed doors) The decision is made to fire Helton eventually.

      2. The decision to fire Helton comes sooner than we thought after the team lays an egg and Notre Dame beats USC convincingly.
      &
      Helton calls Swann up for the moving company he used. Later

      3. We don’t care that the season is over as Urban Meyer wears USC Polo on the set of Fox to announce he’s commiting to Coach USC.

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  2. There is no way BYU should rack up over 450 yards of offense. Roughly every third defensive play, there is at least one Trojan defender who is confused.

    The difference in how well the two teams are coached is obvious.

    It was great to have Sam Darnold. But he unfortunately painted over a very inconvenient truth about Helton.

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    1. Helton will always be Helton. Today G. Harrell added to the chaos. He stuck to his original game plan without ever adjusting to BYU’s 8 deep coverage packages. This is not North Texas State. USC’s opponents play “big boy” football. Today, he was MIA and his offense looked it. Hopefully, he learns from this and finds ways to make adjustments in the fog of war.

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      1. The play calling was so different, I am wondering whether Helton was calling a lot in the second half. It was nuts to have Slovis continue to throw over the middle.

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      2. 67 —THIS is important news: Harrell would not talk to reporters after the game. SOMETHING is up. My guess is psycho Helton took over the playcalling —-Dan Weber hinted at this in his Instant Analysis: “It didn’t look like Harrell’s promised offense —in fact, it looked a lot like Helton’s gumbo offense from 2018 — with the same results.”
        #….HeltonDestroysEverythingHeTouches

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  5. And someone please roundup the media clowns who defend Helton (eg Herbstreit, Abraham, eat all) – they should have to do a press conference with Helton and Clancy … there can be a pillow fight over who is forced to the little kids table….

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  6. Typical Gomer football.

    You’re in OT, you’re struggling to get into a rhythm on offense, just run the ball into the line, maybe you get the needed yardage, if not, kick the FG and live to play another day.

    Stepp finally sees action, 2 plays for about 30 yards, and there he goes back to the sideline, why ? USC running backs can’t carry the ball 3 times in a row these days ?

    Clancy will NEVER teach his DB’s to TURN AND LOOK FOR THE BALL, well # 6 did near the end, must have had a good high school coach.

    Bad refs and all, BYU was the better team, and that’s not saying much because they aren’t very good.

    Gomer’s only hope is that Utah, who can’t seem to play for shit in the Coli, will shit the bed on Friday, otherwise it’s going to get ugly, and UDUB at their place and @ ND loom, 2-4 is looking very real right now.

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    2. Did Michael Pittman lose the game (or at least a potential TD drive) when Slovis made that scary throw with all the Cougars surrounding Pittman over the middle………(Continued) but after seeing the replay was great fu**ing pass that Pittman flat out dropped or his hands whiffed like an air ball missing the net.

      FIRE CLAY HELTON
      He let a 5-Star WR go to Oregon State just two days after entering the portal neglecting to give the kid a shot for players who can’t hold onto the ball in big situations (See the UCLA game for the reference. What a joke) .

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  8. Okay, I’m going to pretend that 3 bad interceptions had nothing to do with the loss too. Here are the other issues I have:

    Why do you need a timeout when sending your offense out after a kick return?

    I’ve been raving about how the DBs are looking for the ball this year and all of a sudden nobody is looking for the ball in this game. The one time a guy is looking back (Stuart in OT) he bats the ball down. Otherwise, Griffin is getting called for P.I and Chase Williams is getting beat on a TD he’s in perfect position to make a play on. You know why? Because they have no idea where the ball is. Why were they being coached to get their heads around in the first 2 games, but not this one? If I’m going to get beat, I’m at least going to get beat trying to make a play on the ball. How can I make a play on the ball if I don’t see it? I thought there had been a change, but it looked like how we used to do things. I don’t understand the reversion.

    Why does every team we play tackle better than we do? EVERY SINGLE ONE.

    Michael Pittman is REALLY struggling with the sideline. Forget about the touchdown, why are you not dragging your feet on the 4th quarter catch on the sideline? You only need one in college and we couldn’t get that from you? First of all, why’d you need to jump for that ball? You didn’t need to jump. Do you understand that you are near the sideline and you need to drag your feet? Don’t worry about staying upright, leave your feet on the field of play and let yourself fall forward out of bounds. Give the refs the right look and you’ll get the right call. Have you never seen pros drag their feet? Is that not in your toolbox? That was really an easy catch and conversion for a guy who is ready for the next level. What is this issue you have with not recognizing where the sideline is??

    Why does BYU have a LINEBACKER laying out to make a great interception and my DEFENSIVE BACK can’t handle a blooper??

    Man, I’m out. That was bullshit ‘SC…

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      3. Michael, in referring to a “game owns should be watching”, would you even consider ucla-OK a game?

        Is 34-7 still a game?

        owns, by the way, the 68-0 first quarter extrapolation is now 68-14. bruins looking good.

        Liked by 1 person

      5. 67 —Excellent point. Let me put it this way —it’s not what MOST people would think of as being a “game.”
        #ThisIsSomethingUnholy…..

        Liked by 1 person

    2. Clay
      Maybe you’re putting your finger on the same things going thru Devon Williams’ mind last week…….
      #ClayActuallyLookedHappyDevonWasLeaving….

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      1. I like Pittman, MG, but I’m expecting him to come up with a catch like that when my young QB can use some help. That’s what leaders do in those moments and we didn’t get that. As well as he played otherwise, we needed that one and it wasn’t that hard. He has a problem recognizing where the sideline is and how to play near it.

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      2. I like Pittman too, Clay. He’s done a ton for our team. And I don’ think he blew that play. I think it was a catch. But I actually think that Devon has more to offer than Pittman—-and not only did Helton under-utilize Devon—he was fricking smug when he said “yeah, un huh, great kid –wish him luck.”….. (& said it twice!)—when he announced Devon was leaving!
        #HeltonWouldaNeededDevonIfHe(Helton)LastedTilNotreDame…
        But this is all beside the point — crap! —our players were getting unsportsmanlike penalties called when the game was on the line. By the second half, our linebackers were barely jogging as they chased BYU running backs. Helton was overruling the plays being sent by Harrell. (I say this because Harrell said he was EXPECTING BYU to play back and he had confidence that Kedon could execute in that situation. When Helton gave up on Slovis after the picks, he showed fear & panic and, then the team started exhibiting all the weaknesses all Helton teams show —lack of focus, sloppy play and just enough bone headed plays to drop the game —same as last year against Arizona State, Cal, UCLA and Notre Dame. And each time Clay said the same thing—“We were so close!”). The problem is bigger than Pittman. Or Slovis. There is no solution other than ending this misbegotten Haden experiment ASAP.

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      3. Nah…just need to execute better…sorry MG but we both know that is coming … along with other nonsensical excuses … if they don’t bag him now what horrors await in South Bend (and how many more recruits will mentally eliminate USC barring the hiring of an Urban or like coach? And how many current players are gonna throttle down?)…even though I think they all need to go, what the … house money to put Harrell behind the wheel for the balance …

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      4. First, James —How come the other Michael gets to be Denzel?
        As far as Helton —and what I’m about to say is cruel but true —players don’t play hard for a guy who looks more and more like Baby Huey every week. He even does the Baby Huey “ah, the gang doesn’t like me” routine on the sidelines when he’s getting bad calls –which is all the time cuz the refs don’t respect him either. Can you IMAGINE what Saban would have done if Alabama stopped BYU on 4th down and the refs blew the whistle AFTER the stop and said “we’re doing this to announce that Alabama is getting their timeout back —now let’s give BYU another shot at 4th down”…? Saban would have ripped somebody’s throat out. Helton JUST STOOD THERE —with “that” look on his face (you know the one I’m talking about —it’s the one he had on his face in 3rd grade when somebody made him put his gym shorts over his street pants and walk around the schoolyard).
        #INeverSaid”ThisTeamIsSoWondrousI’mShivering”….ThatWasDan
        #Really,ISwearIt….

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      5. Agreed on all of those accounts…and I know the look you’re referring to (think I once mentioned the little steam engine routine he does)…

        And they sure as hell aren’t going to go all in for a coach who won’t take responsibility but rather consistently points the finger at the players…

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  9. It was evident throughout the game that Helton was out coached again. Why on earth did Helton allow the refs to replay a fourth down that had already been stopped? My wife, who wouldn’t say sh@t if she had a mouthful, shouted, “What the f@ck!! That play was done over and they get a second chance?”
    Helton stands like a scarecrow and expected things to go his way? I wonder how long before the facade cracks and Harrell throws Helton on the tarmac?

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    1. When a coach just stands there with his mouth open and a spot on his pants as the other team gets AN EXTRA DOWN it’s really time to take that coach out of his misery…
      Helton:”PleaseKillMe”…..

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  10. That. Was. Ugly. I’m glad I didn’t get all giddy after last weekend, because this weekend revealed a lot. 5-7 seems realistic. Helton really is a dead man walking. Yikes. Flow? Thoughts?

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      1. Do you ever contribute anything constructive or are you simply a puppet for Wolf badmouthing Pudley all the time. You are one of the reasons this place totally sucks. I left because of people like you on here. Ya, I know, I can leave again. Doesn’t change anything. You guys have MG and Clay that can actually carry on a conversation, the rest mostly are insecure idiots and what’s even worse, you all know it.

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  11. Helton lost this game. Helton did not understand that this was a physical game played by men who are around 25 years old vs 20 year old kids. U put ur best personnel on the field even if it is not one of ur golden boys. U run the ball heavily to help a freshman qb. U run a two back system. U play Stepps and run him 30 times. U pass to the outside or throw to the flat. Why put the pressure to win the game on a freshman qb on the road. Helton does not know how to win. U run the ball on that third down in OT with Stepps. Helton blew it

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      2. According to Clay (fishing around for – limited – quotes) that couldn’t be allowed to happen because he put the ball on the ground in a crucial situation and USC was fortunate to recover so Stepp needs to improve his ball security in those types of situations…yep, that’s what he said…

        Oh, along with USC should have closed the game out but sometimes the ball doesn’t bounce your way…

        And that he’s used to noise and what they have to do is to get ready for the next game because that’s their job (WolfSnark time – kind of like a Scooby Snack?)…except the NCAA says that it isn’t because these are student…athletes…not employees…wherever one may stand on that issue, one thing that is indisputably true is that the head coach is an employee and it is his job to be prepared (and win)…

        Liked by 2 people

      3. right…but you must practice that way
        SC and hellton like parading around in shorts
        that means no real blocking and tackling at true game speed in practice

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    3. pt —What does it say about what you think of your coach’s play calling when your team gets the ball in overtime after the other team has been held to field goal and you’re actually thinking THIS thought: “Maybe it would be better to just have McGrath kick the tying field goal on first down so that our coach doesn’t lose the game for us?”

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      1. I thought of that. But that thought just undermines the entire program just like Helton does each and every time. In overtimeHelton could have made a statement by running the ball with Stepps. Heron does not know how to flex SC muscles and will on other teams. He is hoping to win. He does not expect to win. Right there is a mentality of defeat. U never saw that in Mckay, Robinson, or Carroll. But u see it in Helton. He acts out of control and he is out of control by being out coached. I’ve seen better high school coaches than him. I played for one. He would not put up with the crap that I see SC do every game. It is embarrassing and shows u have no clue on how to manage personnel or coaches

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      2. Michael, “kicking a field goal on first down”.

        That is so incredibly depressing and accurate.

        Was Helton calling the plays in the second half? And OT?

        Some of the play calls were awful.

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      4. 67 —
        Harrell said after Wednesday practice that he trusted Slovis to pull himself together if he committed miscues in the first quarter against BYU! He said they’d stick with the program —just like his other Air Raid teams if and when they got challenged. I DON’T think Harrell changed his mind. I think it’s that dumb fuck Helton who panicked and started overriding Harrell’s play calls. Helton can’t help being a fuck up —it’s who he is (or at least what he turns into in a crisis). Helton never was all in on Slovis —this was his dumb ass way of showing Harrell how smart he is. He needs to gooooooooo!

        Liked by 1 person

  12. Very frustrating loss. Once again, they lose to a team with less talent & more discipline. I can’t stand the arrogance of the kick returners, fair catch & take the ball at the 25. Did even one of their kick returns make it to the 25? Not to mention that their decision to not fair catch created more opportunity for this undisciplined team to commit more penalties.

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    1. Cardinal N Gold —- You might even say that the difference in this game was BYU always starting from at least their 25 (because their returners have the brains they were born with) and USC always starting from an average of about the 17 yard line (because we’re not only NOT fair catching but committing penalties on the return) . The WORST thing that could have happened to Jones —and USC—was that 100 yard return — now he thinks he can duplicate that run against more disciplined special teams personnel.

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  13. Absolutely ’67, it’s much better than 2 cheesy, “Shock the World” bozo FG’s on National Television.

    From now on ’67 when you wish to foot in the mouth off, do so that leaves me a reply option.

    I won’t accuse of being Chicken Shit ’67, but I bet it’s your shoe size.

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    1. owns, I read your post twice. I really have absolutely no clue as to what statement you are trying to make. But hey, no surprise there, what can we expect from someone who thought ucla would beat OK, 24-17.

      BTW, ucla looking better and better. 41-14.

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      1. I’m busy ’67, I’m still a swimming mile offshore of Santa Monica.

        You on the hand are making cheap excuses, excuses, excuses, excuses for the foul bozo loss to BYU.

        From my POV ’67, I enjoyed SUCCX loss, so you won’t hear any penny-ante whining from me.

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    2. Well, I can’t. And neither can my friends.
      #SoThere!
      P.S.
      I hope you didn’t actually place any MONEY on Chip’s football team…….. everything else you do or say is forgivable —-but that would be perverted.

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      1. And you gave him absolution!

        BTW-see Dan just went back to “Real Dan” mode (so Abraham must be reading tea leaves and thinking the wind shifted back again and gave him permission) on his follow-up tonight…Abraham doing his usual lily pad hop claiming he predicted a Stanford false positive…he has become the new face of duplicity…

        Liked by 3 people

      2. Michael, Was that the most lopsided 48-14 game in the history of football?

        OU easily could have scored 60 on ucla. OU had 260 yards of total offense in just the first quarter. I think that Hurts scored more TDs than he had incompletions.

        Liked by 2 people

      3. Is Dan Weber covering himself in glory again—- walking around the field of battle and shooting the wounded? He is a real Profile in Courage. He might even ask Clay a tough question next week….. (no, on second thought…that’s not his style —he’ll write a mealy mouthed column….)
        Speaking of shooting the wounded —if the Trojans don’t give Utah’s Zack Moss the dirtiest going over they can think of —for his remark about “opening up our little wound into a big wound next Friday” —they are bigger pansies than they acted like in the 4th quarter…

        Liked by 1 person

      5. Owns —
        I wish you hadn’t given your exact location out to a lot of angry USC fans….
        #ISawAColumboEpisodeLikeThis…..
        #Don’tWorryOldPalIfAnthingHappensToYou….
        #IPromiseI’llCrackTheCase……Oneday

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    1. Coach O is not laughing! I can assure you Coach O would never be fooled by something as insignificant as our players limping around as though they had load in their pants into thinking they haven’t been “finely conditioned over the off season”. I mean I’m sure he’s seen the umpteen (now more hilarious than ever) videos that the Athletic Department has put out of our guys lifting weights, grunting and saying “we can’t wait to get the bad taste outta our mouths!” ……
      #AndThat’sTheKindOfThingThatImpressesAllTheGreatCoaches…..
      #[…AsTotalBullshit…]

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  18. Bet he’d love to get a Clay-coached team on the field…
    This is his year I think – they finally have an offense…won’t be surprised if they run the table…
    Thanks Pat Haden

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    1. I think it was Linkster who started the “worst SC hire ever thread”?

      My money is on Haden as worst hire ever. Sadly, there are many other candidates.

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      1. 67 —If Folt lets the Helton experiment continue through Utah, Washington, Notre Dame, Arizona State and Oregon —I think it will be clear who #1 is…..

        Liked by 1 person

  19. Glad to see this blog has finally, almost universally come around to realizing Helton is an idiot.

    As Rafa Nadal said, “to be successful you have to suffer.”

    With the dismal state of USC football with Helton, we have to suffer and lose in order to be successful, because Helton needs to go.

    Even half wits are realizing that Helton is clueless.

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  20. Michael, I see your point and agree. But to play devil’s advocate, Helton would not have been hired if not for Haden…

    Then again, we also have Swann and his Helton 5-year extension…

    We could round and round on this…

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    1. Yes, 67. You’re right. It’s impossible to say. It’s kinda like who would win in a battle between Maleficent and Cruella DeVille and The Wicked Stepmother?….
      #They’reAllReallyBad,Yes?

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      1. MG, has owns been communing with peyote this evening? He seems to think he is posting on Scottie’s website while swimming somewhere in the Pacific…

        Liked by 1 person

      2. I was wondering the same thing…
        #…..IGuessItAllGoesBackToMultiTasking…
        #[AndMultipleDimensionsOfExistence,OfCourse]…
        #Owns:”TheSeaSpidersAreGettingInMyHair!”

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  23. USC lost the game because of what I’ve been saying for the last three years, and that’s Clay Helton ignores the line of scrimmage. The core of a great football coach is, run the ball, and stop the run, anything you do in between, is icing on the cake .

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  25. After watching Ariz St and its q/b which ran and passed his team to victory over a tough Mich St team and a BYU q/b run and pass his team to victory over a semi tough SC team…me thinks a q/b that can run and pass ,which SC had/has better than even the current one and definitely over the former one ,would be a nice solution…so forget about it.
    Slovis could have run more but chickened out .
    I don’t care what he was told ,leaders improvise and overcome or at least attempt to, like the Mich St q/b at end of their game …that is a competitor…
    and our punter ??? great placement and distance??? where or when???
    We got beat in the 2nd half ,offense and defense…thanks for those practices in shorts hellton…

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  26. Jolly ho lads. Anyone committed suicide yet? Axing for a friend.

    #PACSharesIt’sLoveForCoachHeltonPleaseStay
    #$4MillionAYear?&WorthTwiceThatDemandARaiseShowSomeChutzpah

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  27. Let’s be honest: David Shaw and Stanford played very soft last week. BYU was all over the field making plays. Throwing over the middle was about as ridiculous as their attempt to make a run game.

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