FOOTBALL

USC Morning Buzz: When A Former Player Says Practices Are Soft . . .

In this week’s podcast, I talk to Aram Tolegian and offer my prediction on whether USC goes over/under 3.5 more wins the rest of season. I also detail why cornerback Max Williams was suspended. And I discuss the difference between a team quitting on a coach and tuning a coach out and much, much more!

  • I wil post my USC-Notre Dame report card by 12 p.m.
  • Now here is a surprise: Former USC All-American offensive tackle Sam Baker spoke to the Pasadena Quarterbacks Club on Friday. Someone who went told me Baker said one of USC’s current problems is practices are not difficult enough.

Baker was soft-spoken and never criticized anyone when he played at USC so even stating a widespread negative opinion of the program is newsworthy.

  • You think the Pac-12 refs are bad? The NFL officials didn’t catch the Packers had 13 men on the field last night. 13!
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31 thoughts on “USC Morning Buzz: When A Former Player Says Practices Are Soft . . .”

  1. Former USC all American linebacker, Riki Ellison/Gray ripped the Trojans defense, and Clay Helton’s overall philosophy on his Facebook page, after the Notre Dame game. He said Helton’s team is soft, small, lacks toughness, and will always get pushed around against the bigger more physical teams. But still, the Helton defenders, who usually know nothing about football, still defend him with hundreds of excuses.

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    2. I‘m not disputing anything you write or have said, so please don’t infer that I’m being antagonistic. Who are Helton’s defenders at this point? Does anyone actually believe this guy is a capable coach?

      Everyone’s fear is that he will return next season and perpetuate the sucking because of 1) financial reasons. I believe his buyout is in the $10M range and USC is facing probable large legal payouts on other matters. And 2) a coaching change is unlikely without a new AD and the clock is ticking on that.

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      1. I’ve seen many Clay Helton defenders on the different Trojans sites on Facebook. Is a matter of fact, somebody insisted that Helton needs one more year, and the team will develop for a playoff run. And I’m pretty sure that after Helton runs up the score against Arizona, and Colorado over the next two weeks, the defenders will be running rampant, I guarantee! Even Pudly 76 will be crawling from under his rock

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      2. FCH,
        The AD search might be more of a challenge than expected bu our Wonderful Administration, according to a bi-weekly blurb I get from Jon Wilmer of the SacBee, the school and search firm have approached many

        Wilmer indicates over twenty and have received “Its an interesting opportunity, but I need to finish what I started at my current Uni”
        Basically, a thanks, but no thanks reply, at the AD level it’s about support, financial and Administrative and having autonomy of their department.

        I think they all talk amongst themselves and are aware of SC’s stifling overbearing and micro managing BoT and want no part of it.

        Liked by 3 people

      3. Factor13, really good point. It is hard to hire the best when the university has made such bad decisions for years. Same thing may have happened with the president search. Note that Folt was without a job after being fired at UNC.

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      4. There will be an AD and a new coach soon. Helton has a buyout around 9million but I have heard the president is set on bringing in her own people as she has already worked for a basketball driven sports program at UNC she’s very well aware of USC’s tradition and the mistakes of the last few years and is on a mission to correct those mistakes.

        Urban Meyer will be hired at USC by a former boss.

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    1. This team is not well coached ….but they (i. e., the individual players) are not soft. They’ve had a couple chances this season to quit and they haven’t. What is hurting them is not their intrinsic softness but the lack of focus, ability and imagination of their coaching staff… (I know, I know —hardly breaking news either)…..

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    1. True, 67. [Both sides of the line have gotten better since then —but they play unevenly and that’s hurting us]…..
      #UnevenPlayIsALWAYSSymptomOfUnevenCoaching[Lombardi]

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  4. Fan Boy,
    Probably you read P76 incorrectly. I believe he wants what every alum wants. For the guys on the team to have a good college experience. For most it will be a highlight of their life. A coaching change from a mediocre Helton to a new regime just means upheaval within the program. It might be better in the long run but a lot of players will be cast aside.
    Look at the ruins. Mediocre Mora gives way to a has been super coach & 50+ players hit the road. 50+ casualties with choc chip. 50+ lives impacted because ruin alums want better FB. Kelly is a big money hire that looked smart at the time. Most know that it is a disaster now. The same outcome can happen at SC.
    BTW, I’d wager P76 has contributed more to the USC Athletic Dept. than 95% of the people on this blog. He’s got nothing to hide by not showing up when SC loses. He just doesn’t want the low life trolls badgering him. Unlike some here, he does have a life.

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    1. Cal75 — I think it’ll help Pudly if he tries to see our blog more like one of those National Geographic Specials. You know, the ones where a pack of animals attack one animal because, for no good reason, it’s seen as an “outsider.” Or maybe he can think of us as all living on that island the kids get stuck on in “Lord of the Flies.”
      #WorksForMe
      P. S.
      Really good point about never counterpointing somebody who contributes to the USC Athletic Department….
      #That’sANewOne….

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      1. I’d like to see Pudly come back and post. I can’t fault a person for enthusiastically supporting his school.

        I don’t like the personal attacks especially when they are crass and offensive but I also like that this blog and it’s previous iteration are as Alv/Rusoviet once described, “a free fire zone.”

        So, we endure some nasty offensive remarks that would probably lead to a broken nose if they were ever said in person. But, we do get an uncensored and often humorous dialogue.

        Liked by 2 people

      2. Yeah —that is so on the money. I LIKE being on the island with the gang from Lord of the Flies. This is the best USC blog because there is so much good natured disagreement. [And I agree that things got a bit out of hand with the personal attacks on Pudly —hope he comes back and joins the fray]…..

        Liked by 1 person

    2. Memo to: Kal ’86

      1970 – 2018 UCLA FB 32 – Kal rugby 16

      All Time BB: UCLA 136 – kal JV 102

      Correct me if I’m wrong ’86, but wasn’t Cal BB a unanimous choice to finish dead last in the 2019 Pac-12 BB conf.? – just asking little guy.

      #”Facts matter” ~Dear Pisley
      #”I know I’m a whiny horse’s ass loser” ~Kal ’86

      #Prortal on

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      1. Hey Yooper,
        Your ruin college experience really paid off. What year were you on any of those teams?

        #GetYourFreeTicketSignOutOnColoradoBlvd
        #HaHaHaHaHaHaHaHaHa
        #Roflmao

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    3. Exactly right regarding P76. He is not a defender of Helton, he is a defender of the the kids who are here, and the program and its legacy. There are dozens of tweets that are critical of Helton and that advocate replacing Helton that he has voted up.

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      1. 67 —You’re right. Pudly was never a “Helton right or wrong!” proponent. He tried, though, to bring us —me, in particular —back to reality when our criticisms were unfair. It’s too bad that his attempts at mediation brought such an avalanche of personal attacks. I understand why he left….but I wish he’d come back. He has lots of support here —even if we don’t voice it every time he posts. [I will say that I don’t go after some of his detractors cuz a lot of the stuff they say —when they’re off the subject of Pudly —is stuff I agree with]…….

        Liked by 1 person

      1. PJMMcTrollShit
        The reference to low life trolls included you. I neglected to include vulgar in your jacket. I have a hard time figuring out how you paid for college.

        #WestHollywoodOrCastroStreet?

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