FOOTBALL

It’s Not What You Say, It’s When You Say It

Remember last week I compared Alex Grinch to Scotty in the engine room on Star Trek.

He’s doing the grinding in August with the season approaching.

“Some guys believe in practice, some guys don’t,” Grinch said. “Every coach says they do (but) the fact is they don’t. We do. You earn the right to have confidence walking into the stadium on Saturday. Your logo’s not going to get it done.”

In 1992, Larry Smith said something similar and it was used as a reason to get rid of him.

 “Names and logos don’t mean anything,” Smith said. “You don’t beat someone just because of your name and logo.”

The difference is Smith said it after a loss to Fresno State while Lincoln Riley (and Grinch) are in the honeymoon phase so the comment will go unnoticed.

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68 thoughts on “It’s Not What You Say, It’s When You Say It”

    1. May I defend Larry? He was a solid coach. He did well at Arizona, USC & Missouri —initially. But –due to the fact he was such a tough disciplinarian —he gradually lost his team at all three locations. That said, he was lightyears better than Helton….
      #….AndTollner&Hackett…AndProbablySark

      Liked by 2 people

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      1. Accurate assessment. Didn’t help that the star quarterback Marinovich was a total flake and it blew up on the sidelines on national TV against Michigan State.

        Liked by 2 people

      2. Larry Smith coached under Bo Schembechler at Miami Ohio and Michigan. He had a great coaching pedigree along with some moderate success at Tulane and Arizona before USC.

        Liked by 1 person

      3. Bill McCartney was also a Schembechler assistant who had much better success at Colorado around that same time. Colorado not exactly USC either.

        Liked by 1 person

      5. Micheal,
        Larry Smith could not recruit. he lost the team by the third year because he ws living off Tolner’s recruits. You can be a disciplinarian but with SC kids, you do it with positivity, not negativity. You approach it as a challenge to the kid instead of a punishment. Ex. A coach needs to discpline a kid, he goes to the kid and tells him that he has to be mentally in the game and to be in the game, you have to be in tip top shape. The mistake shows me that either you aren’t in shape or you had a mental fart. In order for you to be in the game, you will run 5 laps after practice thinking about that moment where you had the mental mistake and how to resolve it by doing this.

        Liked by 1 person

      1. The stupid ass idea to have JT Daniles graduate early from Mater Dei to save Helton’s Job. Thus screwing JT out of his senior year in high school something he can never get back, and Jack Sears out of a chance at the starting Qb job. That was such an awesome idea it got Swann fired along with him being incompetent at his job. The chuc n duc era, an era I soon want to forget. On to school number #3. for the chuc and duc era.

        Liked by 1 person

      2. AND IM FINE MY BROTHER
        HOW ARE YOU DOING
        MANY JERKS ARE TRYING TO COPY YOU NOW CUZ THEY ENVY YOU

        YOU ARE THE BEST AND THEY ARE SO JEALOUS OF YOU !!

        Liked by 1 person

      1. AND YOU ARE A
        MALIKI KIKI !!!
        HAH
        AND THE REAL ED KNOWS WHAT THAT MEANS
        AND WE BOTH LAUGHAT YOUWITH YOUR BIGPUSSY !!
        HAH

        Liked by 2 people

    1. That, and the fact he went 17-17-2 in his final 3 seasons did not win Smith very many friends at SC after the Rodney Peete and Todd M. special years, 1987-1989.

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    2. Same here OaktownTrojan it was one of the worst days of my life. At the game, all decked out in my USC gear, with my 2 bros. Watching them get their asses kicked in the rain and mud. Especially after the game. The misery at the McDonalds, across the street from the Big A, with all the Fresno St. fans. Waiting for my dad with my bros to take us home. The Freedom Bowl!

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  6. What worries me more than what Grinch says, is how Grinch looks as if he is perpetually worried.

    — “It takes a worried man, to sign a worried song”

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    1. I was at both games, Memphis and the Freedom Bowl. I had just graduated, Class of 90. My four years at SC were fun, football -wise. Three Rose Bowls. And then after graduation the bottom fell out.

      Liked by 1 person

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  9. When someone asked Smith about playing Notre Dame, his answer was there just another team nothing special. They should have fired him right there and then he had no idea how great a Tradition there was between these two Blue blood schools.

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  10. Come on guys lighten up on Scottie he is just putting bs post to show he is not a true Trojan base member. Just a wack journalist who has no cred with LR or AG just look at his sources about recruits we are targeting every time anti fan boy says we are going to get this person we don’t. After LR makes you eat crow Scottie your not a hottie nor a good journalist MG & lawyer John got a question for both of you. Last time I checked this was sports blog not a political blog, let’s keep all that shit when there is something that relates like sucla being strong armed by UC regents n Newsome. But using this sports blog to give your racist and narcissist opinions and talking about Donte William’s mother is so juvenile and immature but what should I expect from people like you that don’t believe in Democracy. For you guys go read my reply to Scottie post about William’s grinch co-existing . I’m am going to make sure you guys know who I am and what I believe in. Out #WaronourDemocracy #GoTrojansRiceMsssarce #ETisontheblock

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    1. Dear Eric,
      Back in the days when I used to prosecute political corruption & conflict of interest cases there was this guy who used to cover City Hall –he didn’t work for the Times of the Daily News. He worked for some small newspaper —the name of which I can’t even remember. No one talked to him —cuz they didn’t have to —he wasn’t on any big wig’s payroll. But he had a way of always getting to the truth. He knew when the official line smelled fishy. That’s what Scott represents: the outsider with a good nose and great instincts. Appreciate him for what he is rather than criticizing him for what he isn’t.
      As for the tired, silly (& embarrassing) rant about the 2 lawyers on this blog being “racists” — save that word for the Real Deal —it’s not smart to use it up on everybody you disagree with.
      Sincerely,
      Me

      Liked by 2 people

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      1. Dear Me:

        Why do I feel like I am talking to myself?– Anyway, if a racist is defined as being prejudiced against certain races, then I must be a positive-racist, because I am prejudiced for all races, especially women, for I never meant a woman of any race that I wouldn’t do, if they said ‘yes.’

        Maybe it really is time for me to turn in.

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      3. Check this out when you are talking about people’s mother making fun about someone who is of color I have a problem. Would you want someone talking about your mother. I’ve read many of your post some I agree with some on I don’t, everyone has a opinion but to what extent are you defaming someone character got response from the both of you. Just keep it 100% LJ & MG welcome to the real guys.

        Liked by 2 people

      4. Eric,
        I agree with the “leave mothers out of it” part…. [check out “3:10 to Yuma” and see what Russell Crowe thinks about Peter Fonda talking shit about his mama]……
        #It’llMakeYouSmile

        Liked by 2 people

      5. LJ, we need your definition of “woman” and would also like to know if your “yes” is in line with the title IX office definition of consent.

        Liked by 1 person

    2. ET,

      I am jumping in, first LJ and Micheal do not need any support from anyone because they can handle themslves, however, they have never made a comment about someone’s mother or a racist comment. Show us where they did. My friend, if you want a mother or wife hater, go after Gabby. he makes stupid comments about blogger’s mother’s here. He has called them a whore and has said stupid jokes.

      Scooter is a good journalist. he have proven it for 20 years. You are new. You will learn.

      As far as political talk goes, anything and everything WILL be discussed. I’m sorry, but you don’t own the blog, so you can’t censor or even think of censoring anyone.

      If you are respectful, then anything can be discussed. If you type things that people see as offensive, well, just wait for hell to rain upon you. Fair warning.

      Have fun on the board and enjoy.

      Liked by 1 person

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      2. Ben Foster was also great! But I really enjoyed his performance in “Hell or High Water”.

        And he really showed some versatility in “The Punisher”.

        Liked by 1 person

  12. Scott Wolf went undercover to go off on some lawyers? We need real games badly before somebody gets hurt. Grinch was honest and insightful. Larry Smith was being blunt and dismissive after a complete failure of coaching. Scott, go take some philosophy classes and learn what logic looks like to see the difference in intent in both statements.

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  13. Suppose C. Williams chokes and loses to Rice? What then Clownsters?

    Just asking for a bozo acquaintance.

    #Cue: “Will You Still Love Me Tomorrow”

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      1. MG, Chip eats donuts, not bombs.

        Clown U FB, overrated as usual………

        Rah-Rah bozo FB prognostication 12-1….which translates to a realistic 6 -6 record.

        #Cue: “Loser Blues”

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      2. Hi Old Pal,
        Please tell Chip that “if you eat enough donuts it has the effect of a bomb”….
        —-Dr. Oz

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    3. Just Rent,

      Then he still will pretend to coach and collect his paycheck until june 30, 2023 or until he quits unlike you where you collect bottles and cans and live in a two story cardboard box on Cerritos blvd.

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      2. “I won’t accept it! I can’t accept it!
        — Aragorn upon hearing of the death of Frodo

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      1. You had me there for a moment, MG, with ‘older’ and ‘male’,
        but then you got to the part of ‘celebrity’ and ‘with lots of money,’
        and so I was let off the hook.

        Liked by 1 person

  16. Larry Smith was right. Where he failed was not utilizing that name & logo to recruit players & top notch assistant coaches to go out and beat “someone.”

    Liked by 1 person

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    1. As much as I respect Coach Smith as a game day coach, you are probably correct –he did well with the last coach’s recruits —when they were gone he couldn’t find replacements and USC’s and Missouri’s programs suffered as a result….

      Liked by 1 person

      Reply

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