FOOTBALL

USC Night Notes

An NFL coach gave me his take on the USC situation.

“They didn’t like who was available and they decided to wait a year and see who is out there.”

The problem with that is it assumes they will fire Clay Helton next year. Especially if USC wins 8-9 games.

  • Former USC star linebacker Chris Claiborne has resigned at Calabasas High School to explore college opportunities.
  • Who did you pick in the Pac-12 title game? I made my pick here.

42 thoughts on “USC Night Notes”

    1. I want to address all of you who think that you are insulting Clay Helton by calling him Gomer.

      It does not bother Clay Helton at all… besides what does it say about your mind set when you use a television character who was in the USMC, honest, kind and always doing the right thing as an insult? He was also a hell of a singer and his girlfriend on the show was extremely beautiful.

      When you use “Gomer’ as an insult, you are disrespecting the United States Marine Corp and taking a giant $hit on honesty, kindness and doing the right thing!

      Clay Helton has always been upstanding coach who always did things the right way. He is also a hell of singer and his wife is beautiful to boot.

      Now, let the man do his job! Be a fan! Not just bunch of complainers who bitch about everything! Take a look at your comments, it’s starting to resemble what Scott Wolf usually writes. Do you really want to be like the wolfman??!!

      Sorry, I take that last statement back, I am grateful for the service that Mr. Wolf provides.

      #SorrybutNotSorryAboutCallingTheNegativeFansOut
      #FightOnClay

      Liked by 2 people

      Reply

      2. #1
        Always referred to coach as HC CH or as Gentleman Clay, and I’ve touted his accomplishment here repeatedly. You won’t find a single insult from me on this site.

        After 2018, he dumped his offensive (pardon the double entendre) coaches and the results were excellent. I’ve supported this work repeatedly here.

        I’ve tasked you with pulling your friend and/or his lovely wife aside at Church this Sunday and reminding him that the only way he will be coaching USC in 2021 is if he retains Harrell (despite some protestations by others here) and hires a top 10 defensive co-ordinator this month.
        Even with these changes, a 10-2 season next year will be difficult.
        The time for talk is over. Time for action.

        #faithfamilyfootballallrequiretoughlove

        Liked by 1 person

  2. “Who is available” depends on how much you are willing to pay the HC and his assistants. Sounds like they weren’t willing to pay enough to get whom they wanted.

    Penny wise, pound foolish.

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply

    1. The UM story is gonna unfold. I was never convinced that UM/wife wanted to join the USC family.

      Stoops? I think he is beyond his best years.

      Matt Campbell. Said it before–loses games he should win, wins ONE GAME every year he should lose. We’re living that story already.

      Matt Rhule…?maybe next year. Luke Fickell…?maybe next year.

      My concern? The Trojans go 9-3 next year (which is NOT guaranteed).

      Liked by 2 people

      Reply

      1. I don’t think you’ll need to be concerned, Bourbon, if that 9-3 includes 40-0 losses to Notre Dame, Oregon and Alabama.
        #OnTheOtherHand….
        #…IfIt’s28-21LossesToAllThree….
        #GetReadyFor,”Happy2021-2030Everybody!”

        Liked by 1 person

      3. 67
        I’m with you on the Rhule idea. He’s rebuilt two programs, albeit in conferences which seem less competitive. If Baylor goes 11-1 in 2020, I’d take a flyer.

        My caution? He has one winning season in Power 5 CFB. HC CH has 3/4.
        Tom Herrmann at UTexas is the cautionary tale…..

        Like

    1. Abel – he ‘should’ of won that Rose Bowl even accounting for their skill set of Sam. That was his ‘statement game’ and he didn’t deliver- a 12 point lead with 4:52 minute left.
      Understand he is a great coach but THAT game would have made his reputation – he didn’t.

      Liked by 4 people

      Reply

      2. Penn. St needed one 1st down to fly home a RB winner! How Franklin failed to realize that simple goal is just HFBC absurd?

        Like

      5. Good point.

        ALSO

        Our DC allowed 1,2,3,4,5,6,7……..7 Touchdowns on 7 consecutive Penn St possessions. And the guy is still on our staff.

        #IWillNeverGetOverThatFact

        Like

    2. My review of the scandals–and the coaches personal involvement– reveals that the Franklin scandal at Vandy is way worse than the UM scandal at OSU.

      I liked Franklin until I read the details of his scandal.

      Liked by 3 people

      Reply

      1. True John Daniels save…..Vanderbilt didn’t have the rigged ‘star chamber’ that moved to crush USC back in 2009 esp. that corrupt ‘deceased’ former AD @ Miami Paul Dee who was out to destroy USC but hey when the focus went on the ‘canes…are you kidding? The worst was that female attorney who was a paid employee of ‘the princess’ who joyfully sank her ‘shiv’ into SC. Garret did no one any favors claiming they ‘envied’ us but the worst was Haden, he championed ‘GLBTREWATY’ rights after his son ‘came out’ but would never stand up to the NCAA.

        Haden has done more damage than anyone else save Heinel and he promoted her.

        Liked by 2 people

  4. If all the stories about our savior coach coming next year are true, you can bet your ass the truth is not going to come out if they have any hope of pulling it off. Me, I am okay being in the dark about any dealings, just so long as they happen next year. Everything is you hear is nothing but BS, a way to sell clicks. So click away and remember, I told you is was BS until the official announcement comes out. Wolf will run with every rumor he possibly can to keep those clicks coming. I got that from an NFL coach.

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply

  7. I think we all understand that Helton will be gone after one more year. Problem is, USC just told everyone football is not that big of a deal and we refuse to pay for a mistake on our watch. Basically, “You guys made your bed before we got here, deal with it.”

    Like

    Reply

  9. Unfortunately, Utah plays in the weak Pac12 South. Truly reflected tonite in Utahs performance and overall a very weak schedule. This doesnt help USC that Utah sucked in the championship game.

    Like

    Reply

    1. I was never a believer in Utah this year.
      Gotta play one tough match in non-conference play.
      Utah never has. Wash State never does.

      Nevertheless, Oregon losing to the fighting Herm Edwards? Shameful

      Like

      Reply

  10. I want to address all of you who think that you are insulting me by calling me Gomer.

    It does not bother me at all… besides what does it say about your mind set when you use a television character who was in the USMC, honest, kind and always doing the right thing as an insult? He was also a hell of a singer and his girlfriend on the show was extremely beautiful.

    When you use “Gomer’ as an insult, you are disrespecting the me and taking a giant ki$$ on honesty, kindness and doing the right thing!

    Me has always been upstanding coach who always did things the right way. Me is also a hell of singer and my wife is beautiful like a boot.

    Now, let me do me job! Be a fan! Not just bunch of air conditioners who blow about leaves! Take a look at your comments, it’s starting to resemble what Scott Wolf usually writes. Do you really want to be like the wolfman??!!

    Sorry, I don’t take that last statement back, I am ungrateful for the service that Mr. Wolf provides.

    #SorryAboutCallingTheNegativeFansOut
    #SuckItClay

    Like

    Reply

    1. The kid deserves a chance to play a full season and show his talents–even if his departure from the team was ill-timed. For a week, I think Fink was back-up by a walk-on QB, No?

      Like

      Reply

      1. Yeah he was, and it would’ve been 2 wks had we not had the bye week before ND. I hope the best for him and perhaps he’ll draw more interest after bowl season.

        Liked by 1 person

  12. Enfield did another pathetic job of coaching blowing an 18 pt. lead
    to luck out on a tip at the buzzer by Rakocevic. He is a worthless
    head coach in Div. I. Fire his ass!

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply

  13. DECEMBER 7, 2019 AT 11:03 AM

    Understanding upfront that nothing on campus takes place in a vacuum. Problems with gen admin affect the athletic dept, and/or vice versa, although to varying degrees. Applied to the topic du jour, it’s widely understood that any potential solutions for football must be mindful and measured as to how it may impact the main campus, university finances, plans for facilities/faculty, public perception, alumni relations, etc, etc.
    That said, what’s not understood (as far as I can tell from my “interested alum perspective”) is the degree & duration of impact, both good & bad, that potential solutions for the football program may have on the main campus. I believe that failure to get a decent handle on the degree/duration of impact is the root cause behind Folt & Bohn choosing “Status Quo Clay”. Figuring something like that out has got to be tough. Especially at a place like ‘SC where everyone’s a spin doctor, where every BOT member and high ranking official issues their own version of “youth, injuries, and adversity” in hopes of keeping their ass outta the frying pan and in the tall cotton. Must be even tougher to figure if you’re just checking in from sleepy Chapel Hill or ho-hum Cincy.
    Now none of this is to absolve, nor give free passage to those two… they’re being paid way more than the average bear to dig thru the established old guard bullshit to arrive at a clear, concise appreciation for how change truly impacts the health and viability of our overall campus, AND how it affects a major revenue center like Trojan Football.
    If I have issue with F&B (not food & beverage) is that they had (as in had, not have anymore) the belief, the thumbs up, the green light, etc from an overwhelming % of Trojans from all walks, to swing for the fences, to take an educated semi-gut feeling leap of faith to restore order in the football universe by sacking sad sack clay and hiring the best money could by. If they struck out in thier first at-bat it would be easier to forgive than their choice of business as usual, the crap career administrators inherently default to. Great decisions always come with some form of risk. The University of Southern California that I know, that I proudly graduated from, and the one that I hope we will never stray from being, never backed down from a fight because there was risk involved, and never cowered because the path to a better tomorrow wasn’t fully guaranteed. There is no glory in certainty, and no progress in history.
    I mention all this because I suspect the established old guard admin, and the culture they foster, beleives our university’s path forward is one of constant contrition. A path where we’re afraid to celebrate the great we can, and have done. A path where we disavow accomplishments, national titles, or even #5, and we humble ourselves for striving to be great. A path where we fear the success an Urban Meyer would surely bring and instead accept the excuse laden spin of mediocrity clay helton embodies. If all of this is a result of unfounded fears that somehow the renewed success of a once proud football program will negatively affect public perception as the main campus moves into the award phase for the unforgivable sins of Tyndall, et al then we will never see the light of day. Assholes like that should be hung high in the center of campus, and anything that can be done to start the healing process for the affected should be done posthaste, without caveat, and even if we know complete healing to be impossible. But what shouldn’t be done is to attribute what used to be a Trojan championship mindset instilled in 10s of thousands of alum, as a primary contributing factor behind the actions of few. Hang those fu*kers as high as we can, but let’s not destroy everything this university stands for in the process. Winning is not a sin… avoiding it because of administrative paranoia is.

    Like

    Reply

  14. Utah starts too slow vs a team like Oregon was my prediction,even though most in the know it all category picked Utah’s big time line play, defense and offense,ground game ,etc…
    BTW
    WHERE IS UCLA in all this BOWL talk…surely they are in there…right?

    Like

    Reply

Leave a comment