FOOTBALL

USC Saturday Buzz: Luke Fickell On Mike Bohn

Luke Fickell did an interview with CBS Sports and gave a quote about USC athletic director Mike Bohn.

“I really like Mike [Bohn],” Fickell said. “There are guys at places where there is bad blood. There’s none here. It’s not just because he hired me. He was an AD who played the game, too. So for a coach in general, that’s a good thing in a lot of situations.”

I don’t read too much into this. Fickell (or any coach) is not going to criticize an AD who might offer him a job.

The question is whether Fickell would take the USC job. At the moment, it seems very debatable that he would want it.

69 thoughts on “USC Saturday Buzz: Luke Fickell On Mike Bohn”

    1. I’ve heard (as usual I’m relying on 4th hand info —but that’s usually okay for “good to go!” here) that Donte hasn’t picked a starter at QB for Notre Dame. If true, big mistake. If he knows in his heart it’s ultimately gonna be Dart let the team know and start rallying around the guy NOW.
      #GiveOurGuysAChanceToPlayAsTEAM

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    3. Fickell is our #1 target, but Dave Aranda should be the solid number 2. In only his second year at Baylor (and the first non-COVID year) they are 6-1 and are solid throughout the program.

      Aranda and his wife want to return to LA. If we dont hire the guy, then UCLA probably will at some point. Do we want to go up against him?

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      1. I like Aranda. And he’s an LA guy. Definitely a huge improvement over Gomer. It’s harder to be 6-1 at Baylor than other Texas schools like UT and A&M (because in Tx they have to pick over the players that the other 2 schools do not want). Speaking of which, Suckissian is 4-3 at Texas and I’m hearing chatter from some Texas colleagues that he is NOT the answer for the Longhorns.

        Liked by 2 people

      2. Maybe there is NO answer for Texas.
        [Things have gotten pretty bad when you’ve got your players and recruits preferring to come to USC and play for then current coach Helton].

        Liked by 1 person

      3. I’m thinking the Chipper is winning “enough” to keep the bRuin “fanbase” appeased for some time. Nevertheless, Aranda is #1 on my list. Was my #1 DC choice BEFORE we fired Penderghast.

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  2. Disagree … it’s a great job for the right guy that wants to win big. And after the last 3 idiots, you only have to be decent ( like Pete … Chow made him great).

    Fickell ? while I certainly would take him. Doubt he comes to SC. Seems like a midwest guy.
    Franklin … Petersen … now we are talking

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      3. Both great coaches IMHO–PC as HC and Chow as the eternal OC.
        No reason to “diss” either. Pete is a defensive minded coach–like Saban, et al.
        Head Coaches like Carroll, Saban, (Aranda), need a great OC to round out the team into
        a true juggernaut.

        Let us not forget that PC should have won a third consecutive Natty and should have won two SB’s in a row. Lost both due to errors on the part of his OC’s.

        Liked by 1 person

      3. No –gt. That’s NOT how it works.
        Here is how it works: When anything you like, support or believe in collapses (which has happened a lot in the recent past—but nothing to compared to what is gonna happen in the near future), WE rub YOUR face in it.
        #ThatIsTheOnlyRule…
        #…GetReady

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      4. How did Hawaii vote in the last Presidential election? You are a Hulu
        Hoop loser! Biden is the PRESIDENT and you can kiss my ass.

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      5. MG, Bubba’s doing fine. Apparently Bubba broke a cardinal personal rule, he allowed an CA “Trump” bimbo to blow him and he got an infection.

        #That will learn him.

        Liked by 1 person

      6. I hear Hillary has been at his side since he arrived at the hospital —weeping and holding his hand and praying….
        “I won’t leave –he’s my whole world!..”
        #…YouGuysAreTooEasy

        Liked by 2 people

    3. JDR is one of my favorite Trojan alums (and teammates) of all time.
      JDR is my age.

      I don’t see JDR resonating with the younger group of social media cloying/NIL loving players.
      I don’t see JDR tirelessly recruiting.
      I see JDR as an NFL coach the remainder of his career and a CFB and NFL Hall of Famer.

      JDR WOULD BE A FINE DC at USC–something we have not had since 2009.
      (Monte Kiffin? Pendergast? Orlando?)

      Bill O’brien is in his 50’s, but if he takes the job after the obligatory internship with Saban, then I’m in.

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      1. MG, that’s what I love about Trump Trash Ratpublicans, Trump lies, cheats and is probably guilty of treason and it’s Hillary’s fault.

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      2. You sound like the unvaccinated guy from Arkansas I saw interviewed the other day–he only graduated from 4th grade but he made a good living as an an odd job man, paid his share of taxes, served 3 tours of duty in Iraq …and was wondering why Biden called HIM out for the virus produced in a Wuhan lab funded by OUR government….
        #….HeJustWasn’tEducatedEnuffToUnderstand

        Liked by 2 people

      3. Donald J. & Melania (wife #3) Trump epitomize the sanctity of marriage.
        I have no idea why there is even a debate over which political party is holier than everyone else.

        Like

      4. Evil gt —A ‘Big Thank You’ for noticing how much love Melania has in her eyes every time she looks at Donald… [no way she wants to kill him when he’s sleeping…]
        And an ‘Bigger Thank You’, Mr. Owns, for jinxing the Dodgers with all your cheap shots on Mike Garrett…
        #WithoutThatBadMagicInTheAirDodgersWinIn9th…..

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  5. Will the Jon Gruden thing ever die? I think people are making stuff up to see if it fits. At lunch I heard someone claiming that he suggested, “The Washington Foreskins because of all the dicks on capital hill. They could keep the nickname the skins and replace the logo with a pink oil well spurting white oil”
    I don’t believe everything I hear.
    In an article I read this morning the writer was talking about the Rams offensive line. They start with the run in mind and then protect the pocket better. I thought, “I wonder why USC never tried this approach ?”
    Then remembered once upon a time at tailback U….

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      1. did he break some law??? or is title9 just after some non feminist coach again? like not reporting some asst coach and his wife argued about some inane problem.

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  6. Pat Forde et al have been putting it out there that Fickell may have not liked working with Bohn. Yeah you would expect Fickell not to say anything negative here, but I read his comments here like he’s trying to clear the air that doesn’t have anything against Bohn.

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  7. James Franklin would do a great job. But if you really want to get the best guy available, we’re talking about Fickell. The question is….is he just saying that to get a raise at Cincinnati. As good a coach as he is, I don’t think that he will win a NC at Cincinnati

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    1. Franklin should get us regular 8-10 win seasons.
      He’s still plenty young and vigorous and relevant.
      A good recruiter.

      Fickell might be able to get us regular 10-12 win seasons.
      Still, I am always nervous about the coaches leaping from the AAC, C-USA, etc.
      Scott Frost.

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  8. Let’s not go for Mario Cristabol. Mario Cristobal is not a great coach. There are better coaches out there. He has one of the most talented teams in the country and yet, so far, Oregon is anything but a great team. The only game that they have dominated this year was against Stony Brook. Even against them they were only ahead at halftime 17-10. They broke it open in the 2nd half. But that game would have been even closer if Stony Brook didn’t have 4 turnovers. They beat Fresno State 31-24. They beat Arizona 41-19 but they were only ahead 24-19 going into the 4th quarter. Arizona dominated the stats. Colorado beat Arizona 34-0. They lost to Stanford. They beat Cal 24-17, but again, the stats were close. Their big claim to fame this year was the victory over Ohio State. I would take James Franklin over Cristobal but if you really want the best coach I would go with Luke Fickell.

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    1. Aranda is the coach on the rise. Just beat BYU and will finally break into the top 25.

      Two big games coming up – Texas and Oklahoma. Only loss is to a very tough Oklahoma State program.

      Aranda isnt the most charismatic coach, but he is the smartest. I think he could be the next Nick Saban and if we dont hire him, he might go to UCLA because he wants to return to LA, where he and his wife grew up.

      The way Baylor wins is physical and shows excellent coaching and game management.

      Liked by 3 people

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      1. Been on my list for 5+ years–either as DC when we knew Pender was a bust (and then move Aranda up to HC when we eventually fired HC CH).

        1. Aranda is my #1, Fickell #1.1
        2. Then James Franklin Matt Campbell, Bill O’Brien, etc.

        3. Jonathan Smith is still on the list, but I see him as a gamble. Urban Meyer? hmmm

        Not on the list: Orgeron, Gruden, JDR, Cristobal, Pete Carroll, Ken Norton JR, Erick Bienemy etc.

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  9. Aranda is beginning to look good. It’s taken only 2 years to turn Baylor into a pretty good team. But I still say that Fickell is the guy to go for if you can get him. I know he said how much he liked working under Bohn at Cincinnati. Hopefully that is a good sign. I must admit that I can’t help wondering if he is just saying that to get Cincinnati to give him a raise. If there are a lot of questions about whether you will be at a certain school next year, you usually just say “I’m only thinking about this year right now and you try to avoid the question”. Generally, you don’t start raving about how much look liked working under USC’s AD”. You don’t want your team to say “oh he’s not coming back next year” and that ends up causing a distraction. If they can get him that would be great. I just think that he is better than Aranda and all of the other people out there.

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    1. If Fickell gets invited to the CFB playoff from a G5 program, what does he do?
      He has 9 easy conference games per year and can just sit back and wait for the real glamour job. Fickell is probably smart enough to know that Pac12 football is dying.
      Why be linked to a dying product?

      Liked by 1 person

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    1. Watching CFB offense’s for other teams today on tv further cements we run a simpleton, clown offense that is embarrassing. No pulling, power, not even a little misdirection to make the defenses work for it. Get this over with.

      Liked by 4 people

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    2. I remember being really impressed with what Purdue did a couple of years ago in beating OSU. But there are also some games in which they look confused…

      Liked by 1 person

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      1. I’m not sure about Brohm, PJ Fleck, etc etc.
        They would both be a force in the hapless Pac 12.
        They both likely understand that they play real football in the B1G,
        and patsy-cake in the Pac.

        Liked by 2 people

    1. Chip’s guys are learning to play some defense, though UW under Lake has not shown much offensive innovation.

      Were it not to two inexplicable losses by the power blue??????

      Still, I see the Chippers being rank this week and rolling into a tough schedule.
      Chance to show how good they are.

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  14. probably more than sc would offer to get him, and still pay hellton on top of it.
    and surely folt would find something wrong with a coach who wants to win all the time…

    Liked by 2 people

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  15. The Miami Dolphins are A really bad team, if Jacksonville cannot beat them I believe that will be the end for urban Meyer. Folt and Bohn won’t have an excuse not to go after him if they want to turn his program around in one year. Deep down they know it no more excuses.

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  16. Look out for Utah……….they are developing into a very good team. Coach Kyle Whittngham is one of the best, if not the best coach in the Pac 12. No way he would leave Utah though so No Way he comes to USC.

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    1. Two reasons why Bohn won’t go with (the very talented) Coach Kyle:
      1) He’s over 60 (which doesn’t matter — but it is what it is),
      2) There’s no guarantee Kyle will wait around for Carol to finish talking when she starts blabbering ….

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      1. Yeah, that’s basically how I would sum up Coach O at LSU. Maybe he’s headed back to Southern Cal. Would you welcome him back? I would as a D line coach / assistant head of recruiting.

        Liked by 1 person

      2. Oh, fuck it all. I “liked” Fuck you.
        [Yes, we’re gonna need a Lead Recruiter when we say “thank you & goodbye” to Donte]..
        #OnlyQuestion:WhoWouldBeOrgeron’sCoach?

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    2. Thanks. Missed it on my ESPN sojourn this AM.

      A great defensive line coach/asst DC.
      Never a HC. Take away Joe Burrow and Coach O was 8-4 that year.

      Liked by 2 people

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