FOOTBALL

Morning Buzz: Does USC Need To Completely Clean House?

It has generally been assumed when USC hires a new coach, Donte Williams will be retained as an assistant coach.

Williams is an excellent recruiter and the USC administration likes him, so it was no stretch to think he would remain.

But a Pac-12 coach told me this weekend he doesn’t think a lot of coaching candidates would keep Williams.

“A strong coach won’t want him,” the Pac-12 coach. “They are going to think he will be a potential snitch for the administration, always telling them what’s going on. They can’t keep him.

“A new coach will want his own guys.”

76 thoughts on “Morning Buzz: Does USC Need To Completely Clean House?”

  1. If you hire a high quality coach, you have to let them choose whom they want to hire, period. Start fresh. There are other high quality recruiters out there if he doesn’t want to retain Donte.

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    1. I’m sure Donte would get a good RECUITING job in the PAC12. I understand the attitude to bring in your own people. If you are being held responsible for performance, you should be able to determine how you can best provide excellent performance by hiring whomever you believe is the best team. I like Donte as a person and think he has good values. I hope he is a great success wherever he goes.

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      1. Donte Williams is the only credible football coach employed by USC. Todd Orlando, Graham Harrell, and all the position coaches under them won’t be in demand by any power five conference schools. IMO

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    2. A strong new coach (assuming that’s what Bohn wants —and that’s not altogether clear at this point) won’t want or need Donte. It hasn’t got anything to do with Donte snitching —it’s all about starting fresh. And Donte won’t want to stick around in some subordinate role either. He probably will be happy to never see Bohn’s face again after this year.

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      1. Don’t forget the reason Oregon let him come to USC was his father’s cancer. I don’t know what the status of that is but to me that means Donte ain’t going anywhere unless he wants to. It’d be a complete dick move to fire or force him off the staff.

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    3. 67, you’re exactly right. This ” oh we have to keep so and so because he can recruit” is just bullshit. Lots of guys can sell AND coach, Williams can only sell, he needs to go. Maybe the Cerritos Auto Mall is hiring, he’d kill it there !

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      1. I actually think the team is a smidgen tougher under Donte….. but ask Utah and Notre Dame how much difference that made….
        #Answer:NotSoMuch…
        #[HopeHeHasSOMEKindOfPlanOnWhatToDoW/ODrakeLondon]

        Liked by 4 people

      3. Yep. All we can ask for is giving Dart lots of repetitions in practice — letting him get comfortable with where his NEW receivers are gonna be when he lets go of the ball.
        #AlsoAskingO-LineToTryALittleHarder…
        #…OneExtraSecondMeansALotToQB”LookingForTheGreenGrass”

        Liked by 3 people

      4. Easy there, the Cerritos Auto Mall is on BruinRob’s territory and you don’t want to ruffle his feathers. In all seriousness, the USC football program needs a complete enema from top to bottom.

        Liked by 2 people

      5. trojnfn4,
        Do you have any idea the level of anticipation your last sentence arouses in Folt & Bohn…?
        #”Yes,Please…
        #..CanWeHaveAnother?”

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      1. Well, a great recruiter. No question. And a solid QB coach. Personable, Dynamic. But he doesn’t want to be a position coach —he wants to be an O. C.

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      2. Tee Martin should never be allowed near USC ever again – recruiter, OC or whatever.

        #HisOffenseWasHorridAndGivingHimAnAssistantPositionToRecruitWoouldBeAWasteOfAnAssistantPositionForSomeoneWhoCouldCoach

        #CoachingSkill-EdOByAlot>TeeWhoBringsNothingToTheTable

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  3. seams like the couches got them hands full all ready with there couching jobs,dont think its a good idea to all so be come house cleaners,let ol’ed have one of them jobs for a change,

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  4. What good is he if he can’t coach ? He hasn’t exactly recruited great kids on the defense and Oregon sure doesn’t miss him.

    The new coach HAS TO CLEAN HOUSE !

    SC is going to need to use the transfer portal like never before to fix this team, this recruiting year will suck and if they try to go the ” no transfers only our recruits “route to fix this, it’s going to take 3+ years to fix this team.

    If they can use the portal effectively, see Michigan State, they can weed out the crap that Gomer recruited and get some better players in the following recruiting year.

    This is not going to be an easy fix for the new coach no matter who takes the job, which is why is IMPERATIVE they hire a young proven coach with TONS of energy who can attract top assistants and that recruits will want to play for.

    The ball is in your court Mr. Bohn

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      1. He may not know what to do with it, but the ball is still in his court. This hire is his legacy at USC, fuck it up and he’ll be gone at the end of his contract, if anyone still cares about football then.

        Liked by 3 people

      2. Got it. [But I couldn’t help thinking of Elizabeth Warren —during the last election cycle –speaking to a group of the goofiest dipshits you ever saw, saying “The Power is in your hands!” Yeah, like they’d know what to do with it…]
        #SameGoesForBohn,Unfortunately

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      3. Nothing Bohn had done in the last 2+ years inspires confidence.
        1. His retaining of the Village Idiot despite all the financial and football evidence that it would be more costly to retain him.
        2. Then compounding the bad decision to retain him, surrounding the Village Idiot with high priced Bozos as his assistants.
        3. The money wasted on the Video department.
        4. The tone deaf press releases.

        I hope I’m wrong, but I have little confidence he’ll get the coaching hiring right.

        Liked by 4 people

      4. Bohn said he was looking for a “unifying consoladationist” [or some batshit term like that] for the next coach. He’s so wrapped up in crazy talk he doesn’t know which end is up.
        #RealMenDon’tTalkThisWay

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    3. THIS IS A TRUE STATEMENT…and any recruit who leaves because he doesn’t like the fact hellton is gone and helltons staff…good riddance,who wants some one who wanted to be coached by ‘soft’ loser football coaches

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    4. Mostly correct, but Donte’s DBs are an improvement over the Helton era.
      The quality of their play has declined once he took over as interim HC–as would be expected.

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  5. I am neither impressed with Donte’s coaching (his position group is flat out terrible) or his recruiting (The “talent” he has brought in hasn’t moved the team up)
    So why keep him?
    When dumpster fire started they thought they caught the arsonist, but his accomplices remained. Take the dumpster to the scrap metal yard with all of the contents and bring in a new one.

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  6. First things first- Let’s get a top quality Head Football Coach this year, and worry about the assistants we have now later after all most of them already have their resumes out there. The New Head Football Coach will make the decision who he wants, and who he doesn’t, and if he doesn’t get that power I am sure he will say “no thank you” to Mr. Bohn.

    Too many politics going on at USC that’s part of the problem.. Donte, will be fine wherever he goes next year I am not so sure things will work out as well for the other assistants.

    EMERGENCY ALERT: I believe Mr. Bohn had the final say on many of these assistant coaches we have hired in the last two years from the State of Texas. Many of them are worthless, and it makes me really wonder how qualified Mike Bohn is at recruiting and hiring a top level Head Football Coach. His track record clearly shows he goes after coaches in smaller conferences, and not proven college football level coaching. My thinking is that Bohn is a major political player who will not accept a very powerful football coach who will uncover many of his weaknesses as an Athletic Director.

    I am sure Donte wants to stay, but I don’t think that will happen. He has recruited plenty of good DB’s, but there are many holes in our recruiting that are quite evident on Saturday’s.

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    2. I’m not sure “major political player” is the phrase you were looking for in your description of Bohn. If you actually meant to say he’s a cowardly, visionless compromiser who will do anything to survive without having to risk anything — I agree with you.
      #GladHe’sAllThatStandsBetweenUs&ADozenMoreYearsOfFailure

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  7. USC has opened as a TEN point underdog to Arizona State….
    #WhenIsTheLastTime[IfEver]ThatHappened?
    #[HopeThisWakesOur”Coaching”StaffUp]
    Special Note:
    Winners and Losers–
    Losers —Our entire coaching staff…
    Winners –Anybody coaching against us.

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      1. Maybe the spread is based on the fact Graham didn’t come up with anything other than “If in trouble, let Drake go up for it” in the first 8 games….

        Liked by 1 person

      2. Btw, it’s really important that Graham doesn’t fall back on “If in trouble, our new offense is —just give it to Ingram.” We can’t afford to lose him or we’re cooked. Play team football this weekend…. other teams seem to be able to do it.

        Liked by 1 person

      3. Though I don’t wager….

        Take the Trojans and the points.

        I think we may have a shoot-out in Tempe late Saturday Night.
        No reason to think we hold ASU to fewer than 35 points.

        We should be able to run the ball effectively vs this defense.
        They still have Jack Jack Jones at DB! Take advantage of him (he he).
        This is the week that Harrell puts Dart and Slovis on the field at the same time and uses Dart as an RPO on the perimeter. Should drive Antonio Pierce batty.

        With better run game in the Red Zone, Trojans should score 38.

        Liked by 1 person

  8. Bohn is looking to be popular with only two people. Caruso, and Folt. Everyone else is below him, and don’t really matter. A powerful football hire will be a threat to his power within the athletic department so I see him hiring a coach from a much smaller athletic program.

    MIKE BOHN= VERY POOR HIRE BY USC

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    1. When I became the dean of a small law school in the Bay Area, the outgoing dean, a former state assemblyman named Ken Meade, told me “you don’t have to please everyone…. only the people that matter.”

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  9. This is what I stated last night. I’m not sure Bohn/Folt are going to do this the right way. They will more than likely bring someone in who will concede the fact that they have to keep Donte Williams and a couple of other assistant coaches who Bohn hired himself. A strong head coach is going to bring in his own staff, lock, stock, and barrel.

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  10. “smackyd
    NOVEMBER 1, 2021 AT 7:49 PM
    Don’t forget the reason Oregon let him come to USC was his father’s cancer. I don’t know what the status of that is but to me that means Donte ain’t going anywhere unless he wants to. It’d be a complete dick move to fire or force him off the staff.”

    Donte’s dad died the first week of October. Donte tried to keep it quiet and continue to work as best he could. Smackyd, I like your compassion.

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    1. True enough. In the rush to judgement, it’s easy to forget all Donte is dealing with. Whatever else is said he’s proven he’s a special human being.
      #ThanksForTheReminder

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  11. This next game provides Graham with a great opportunity …if he’s smart enough to use it. Arizona State was prepared to go against Drake London…they knew exactly how they wanted to double and triple him. Now they’re gonna have to figure out how to defend the whole field. And they have 3 days to do it.
    #TimeForTheReceiversToShowUp&PutOnAShow

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    1. if you think Ariz st is going to play sc the same as Wash st…forgetaboutit…no fumbles and interception on first 3 possessions and then 2 more later…ain’tgonna’happen.
      and it isn’t going to be a 10 point game either…originally I had sc pegged at 5-7 ,now it may be a 4-8 year. They don’t confuse anybody, unless it is Dart to start and he has options to run.

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      1. It’s funny you said that, Tim —there is a YouTube video of Graham saying “We’re not going to try confusing anybody–we’re just gonna be SO good at what we do no one can stop it.”
        #GuessIt’sBackToTheDrawingBoard,Graham

        Liked by 1 person

    1. I’d even settle for starting AND ending with Folt —there would be a whole new outlook at every level of the university without her…
      #MaybeBohnWouldEvenActLikeAManAgain

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  13. It appears the USC Football Boycott is working after looking at the attendance last Saturday. No way there were 50,000 fans at that game. Is this under another cover up by Folt, and Bohn to make it look like everything is perfect, and right on plan in 2021.

    Dear Carol and Mike – Please wake up USC Football is very powerful. This is not UCSB, or KANSAS Football where there is either no football, or no fan attendance. The fans, alumni, and boosters are speaking, and this time you must listen, or get the hell out of here. The stadium is empty for games, and it was homecoming on Saturday so you must be embarrassed but perhaps not since both of you don’t seem to care.

    I promised you this that if this mess continues your power will be broken, and your bags will be packed for you. USC asked for and paid alot of money to renovate the Coliseum!! No way it should be empty on Saturdays.!!!Perhaps, new additional resources are needed starting with a new President and Athletic Director.

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  14. The easiest answer for all is to just fire the entire staff.

    I’ve seen a distinct improvement in how the RB’s hit the hole since Jinks arrived in 2019. The run game in 2019 was quite acceptable (1600 yards gained), given the fact that Harrell/Slovis/Helton and some baller WR’s got all the attention. Last year was not his fault. We Helton out and Donte in, the run game has progressed nicely each and every week. The TB’s have produce 100+ yards pretty much every week–despite being far behind in several games at the half and having to play catch-up.

    Colbert gets to prove his chops over the remaining 4 games. Hard to tell much about this WR crew when London received so many targets. If USC does not earn 20 receptions from the WR per game down THIS stretch, then maybe Colbert is not the man.

    Can’t say much about the O-line coach, as he was cursed with under-whelming recruits.

    I think Donte has a bright future as a CFB coach.
    I don’t think our DB’s are as bad as advertised, but I do think our D-line has failed to pressure the QB–even with help from the LB on blitz.

    In the long-run, poor recruiting under Helton has sunk the Defense and no one could improve this D.

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    1. Bourbon –The only thing I can think of at this point would be a team meeting for the defense attended by everybody’s high school coaches — where they get told “Remember your biggest hits in high school? Well, do it again on Saturday!”
      #PretendYou’reInHighSchoolEverybody!

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      1. YA’ how soon these guys forget ,they used to know how to block and tackle..
        BTW…DID YOU SEE FOLT in that groupie pix where warren was dishing the BS?? just figured she wouldn’t want to miss out on mother superior of communism

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    2. The problem with the defense is completely on Todd Orlando. In the past, I thought the guy was good, but I was wrong. His defenses always regress from year 1 to year 2 to year 3. That is the sign of bad coaching, period.

      I agree that Jinks seems to be doing a good job. Running backs seem highly competent, despite a mediocre o-line.

      Colbert is not a good recruiter and doesnt seem to be much of a coach either. The wide receivers cant hold onto the ball and cant seem to get open. The lack of chemistry with Slovis falls at least partly on Colbert.

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      1. I originally thought highly of Orlando too.
        As for Jinks –he’s always had the same winning philosophy: don’t dance around at the line, make your cut & GO. Ingram is the kind of fast, physical back who looks real good in this system. Christon isn’t —not because he dances around too much but cuz he’s not physical enough to get past the line of scrimmage …..which is why they should have tried to get him into space with short passes…..
        #…BeforeHeGotPlacedIntoLimboCourt,ThatIs…..

        Liked by 1 person

  15. I wouldn’t be upset if they did keep him. He’s an excellent recruiter and I think that he is a good DB coach. But whether they keep him or not should be up to the new coach.

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    1. Correct on all points.

      Unless the new HC has a hot shot DB coach, keep Donte.
      He WANTS to succeed at USC and stay.
      I really doubt that the average midwesterner or Texan coach really wants to live in Los Angeles. Takes a special guy to stay in LA long term.

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  16. I read in one place that that was one of the problems with Pat Hadens negotiations with Chris Petersen(other than the fact that Haden just flat out let Petersen know that he didn’t want him). Haden wanted to keep part of the previous staff(not because they were good but just because he didn’t wanted to pay them off the money SC owed them for the remainder of their contract) and Petersen wanted to bring in his own staff. The new coach should be able to bring in the people that he wants.

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  17. You really want to have Donte out there recruiting against USC?

    He is fine as a DB coach, but he needs to learn under a really good defensive coordinator. Aranda will have an organization where Donte can learn and become very good at his job.

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    1. In todays college football you have to have good recruiters. That may not have been true back in the days of Bud Wilkinson but it is today and I do think that he is a good DB coach.

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      1. I like Donte very much –and I appreciate the position he’s been put in [trying to save a sinking ship]. But can you tell me why a good DB coach hasn’t told his guys not to let receivers run past and get behind them on obvious passing downs?
        #ReceiversShouldn’tBeCloserToEndZoneThanOurGuysOn3rd&20

        Liked by 2 people

    1. Good point. It’s impossible to do all that Donte is being asked to do…
      #MaybeThat’sWhyThePathOfRighteousnessLadyAskedHimToTry…

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  19. Get rid of everyone including Donte … don’t have another Gomer hanging around for 11 damn years. Anyone can recruit at USC that has just a little talent.
    Clean house completely ! including the players !

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