FOOTBALL

Morning Buzz: Some USC Notes And Pick The Score

First a couple items to start the day.

Some friends who work at the USC athletic dept. agreed with me that Art Bartner probably wouldn’t have gone along willingly with the band not wearing their usual uniforms today because of the heat. Remember, a band member fainted at the Purdue game in 1998.

Some of those USC officials who made the decision Friday might have been afraid to even approach Bartner about it. But that potential drama is no longer a possibility.

  • USC announced Friday night new restrictions on interviewing players after games at the Coliseum. Since Pete Carroll left, players and coaches were usually interviewed in the tunnel outside the USC locker room.
  • No more. All interviews must be conducted in a press room.

“Media members are not permitted to wait outside the locker room or at the top of the ramp. No interaction with USC players, coaches or staff is permitted outside of the press room.”

This essentially eliminates one-on-one interviews but isn’t surprising given the fact a new coach is in charge and has his own ways.

  • Maybe more importantly, only select USC players will be brought to the press room so it will make a lot less players available after games. Not to mention less assistant coaches.
  • Now, it’s time for you to pick the score. I will make my pick around 1 p.m. The line is 32.5 points. The over/under is 61.5. That point spread is tough. USC should score a lot of points. But it might give up a few too.

90 thoughts on “Morning Buzz: Some USC Notes And Pick The Score”

      1. It took Art almost 20 years to finally allow the song girls to lose the thick sweaters for 90+ degree games and they are dancing throughout the games. Not only would he never have allowed the band to ditch the uniforms. He would have bragged about it during practice, yelling from the tower:

        “Some people are saying we should lose our uniforms for this game! I told them ‘Our band doesn’t do that! They’re Trojans!!”

        Liked by 2 people

      2. Fox news Trump bootlicker just gave Trump a crotch kick!

        LMFAO!

        OH MY SIDE HURTS FROM LAUGHING SO MUCH!

        AHA HA HA HA HA!

        Like

    5. In Other News… Bill Barr said the Justice Department probably had “pretty good evidence” before the Mar-a-Lago raid.

      He also said Trump’s request for a special master was a “crock of shit.”

      Trump on Friday called Barr, his one-time ally, a “weak and pathetic RINO.”

      Former President Donald Trump lashed out at his one-time ally Bill Barr on Friday after the former attorney general defended the Justice Department’s raid on Mar-a-Lago

      LOL!

      Like

      Reply

      4. Ha! When it comes to tolerance I need to start listening to my better self first….
        #Sometimes”I”Win,Sometimes”I”Lose…WorkInProgress

        Liked by 2 people

    1. Inventing an entirely new language is impressive….but your concepts are even more amazing, Ed ….someday I hope you share your creative process with us — I’m guessing you read Scott’s column, locate some emerging absurdity on the sports horizon….and, then, translate the idea into Ed-ese…. or is that too pedestrian an approach for the true Poet Laureate of InsideUSC?
      #Homer,Tennyson,Ed…NotInThatOrder

      Liked by 3 people

      Reply

      3. New language?….. It’s called “redneck ebonics”. Southern red States have been teaching how to read, write and speak it for many many decades. Textbooks that parents say are very important to their heritage.

        Like

      2. Max had all the trappings. All 5 star ratings, 6’5″, 215, I remember one of the services called him “a cross between Big Ben and Aaron Rogers.” He was supposed to excel when he had to scramble. Turns out there was a big chasm between high school and power 5.

        Liked by 3 people

      4. It’s funny that Clay, a former QB, couldn’t see that Max’s airballs and lack of mobility weren’t gonna cut it in major college football….

        Liked by 1 person

      7. My senior citizen neighbors and me throw the ball with more heat than Clay….
        #ClaySpecializedInPlayingForHisDad

        Like

    1. PT, great minds think alike, lol! My numbers were going to be 45-17

      I’m good with the 45, and now 13 for Rice….TD and 3 FGs. This puts my total number under the betting line of 63 and Rice covers the spread. At posting, the spread was 34.5

      45-13

      #FIGHT ON!

      Liked by 2 people

      Reply

      1. …good analysis, Gabby…. but it would be so wonderful to score in the 50’s today….
        #AsKindOfA”FuckYou”ToClay….
        #”Here’sHowYouDoAnOpener,Palsy!”

        Liked by 2 people

      2. MG……I know what you mean! USC at the 1-yard line, 4th down, up by 26 points, and I’m telling LR to kick the FG……How fucking wrong can it be for me to think that way?

        OK, OK!….. I rescind my prediction….85-0 (must score on every possession)

        Liked by 2 people

      3. I know it sounds cruel and unnecessary ….but it’s really the only way to go…
        #ItMakesTheHandshakeB/WCoachesMoreFunToWatchToo

        Liked by 1 person

  7. After games “..only select USC players will be brought to the press room” to be interviewed.

    I guess the Trojan football staff will pre-interview and select only those players who have good-stuff to say about the coaches, the game-plan, and its execution….

    Some of Scott’s USC friends who work on campus told Scott they were AFRAID to approach Bartner about the band skinnying down because of the heat?– Hmmm…..

    Finally, the score. I say, avenge 1966 and Neuter Dame’s 51-0 shellacking of
    Troy-nation, and do-away with the Owls 51-0.
    And please don’t ask me how the two are related.

    Liked by 3 people

    Reply

      1. Style points. One can go negative (like the Sanchez fumble back with the Jets). Just for this game. NCAA experiment. They figured Rice was going to lose by 50 anyway, so why not give it a shot.

        Liked by 1 person

  10. 48-24 – the defense is a work in progress and Rice is considerably better than last year. plus, they get some scores in the second half as USC gives playing time to the second string.

    Liked by 4 people

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      1. You might be right. I really couldnt find much information about Rice, I think I am just setting my own expectations to be reasonble

        I guess the Hellton years still have me in a state of fear. (sorry to mention that name)

        Liked by 2 people

      3. Gamer, I know what you mean. As a kid, I just couldn’t look at the face of the wolfman in movies. Just couldn’t. Now I can’t look at the face of Helton. Just can’t.

        Liked by 2 people

  11. Lots of good score predictions above. Raleek Brown breaks out a few long runs in his first game. Goes for over 100 yards on the day, total offense somewhere around 600 yards.

    Liked by 2 people

    Reply

  13. By midseason Releek will be major force, drawing comparisons to Bush, he most likely will be used on some 4 receivers formation with him on the same side as Jordan Addision and screens, to maximize match ups with linebackers trying cover in flat. The concerns about today 1. Pass Rush, 2 Tackling in the open field. 3. Not too many blown assignments in secondary, that doesn’t cost them points. 4. Limit penalties 5. Score in Red Zone.

    Liked by 4 people

    Reply

    1. Eric, that scoring in the red zone is the huge goal for this team. Fortunately Caleb has a very high percentage of scoring in that area. We will get a few penalties, 1st game stuff I am sure. What LR does with a player that gets a dumb penalty will be fun to watch. Today I am focusing on the edge and linebackers play. Especially the back ups.

      Liked by 4 people

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      1. Agree steveg49, the 2nd & 3rd are going viral going forward they must compete at a high level to strengthen our depth chart. No major injuries today. Looking for breakout game from Korey Foreman he should play with the biggest chip to silence his critics. #ForemanBlockOutAll TheOutsideNoise

        Liked by 3 people

      2. You nailed ALL 5 points of importance, Eric… every one of them is huge.
        #It’dBeNiceNotToHaveANYCompletelyBlownAssignments…
        #GettingBeatIsOneThing,ButNotBeingInThePlayIsAnother

        Liked by 2 people

  14. I’m in a bit of a sanguine mood here on game day.

    USC 49 (why attempt a FG, Riles? In fact, don’t punt either)
    Rice 17 (they kick a FG in first half to avert a scoreless half)

    ….and it will be a wee sip of Jack Daniels Tennessee Sour Mash for me after tonight’s victory.
    (this Win not deserving of any of the good stuff).

    Liked by 2 people

    Reply

    2. Bourbon, can’t recall if we talked about Angel’s Envy. Very vanilla nose, aged in old port (maybe sherry…) barrels. After you see this offense and what Williams can do, I think you will want to move up the pecking order in your collection…

      Liked by 2 people

      Reply

    3. 60 points on offense, limiting Rice to 10 or fewer points, fewer than 25 yards of penalties —- maybe that just might rate something more expensive, Bourbon….
      #AtAnyRate,ItWouldBeAGoodIndicatorOfFutureCelebrations

      Liked by 1 person

      Reply

      1. Ok Ok Ok.
        If MG’s predictions come true today, I might get a wee sip of the Woodford’s tonight.

        And yes, ‘1967, Angel’s Envy is delightfully warm and subtle. Worthy of a Pac-12 Champ game victory or similar W (Stanford, UCLA, you know…)

        The last 10 years of USC FB have been so demoralizing that I’ve lowered my expectations for the celebratory post-game “nipper.”

        …Just glad FB season is upon us!

        Liked by 1 person

    2. I am guessing we will hear from Scottie about either the USC student section f’ing up a card trick, or if there is no card trick, we will hear about that.

      Liked by 2 people

      Reply

    3. Agree with you Bourbon 4me. The last 10 years have always started with self made hype only to see 4/5 stars who dont develop under all the coaches, no matter who was AD. LR offense is going average 500 yds a game.. I’m stoked are all fanboys 38 minutes to kick off!!!!

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  16. But on a different level of football

    Neuter Dame plays Ohio State in it’s first game of the season.
    Not UC Davis or Rice or Southern Alabama of Eastern Wyoming trade school.
    What doesn’t kill you makes you stronger.

    And at night no less. 4:30 PDT

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply

  19. BOWLING GREEN 10 UCLA 7

    Great turnout by the UCLA Fans for the opener- Maybe 500 Bruin fans at the game and most of them are homeless people who receive free tickets to the games. Embarrassing for the Pac 12 to have so few fans attending games, but then again the program is so bad at UCLA even with free tickets can you blame the fans.

    The rent for the Rose Bowl was due on the 1st one has to wonder if the program will survive long enough financially to get their Big 10 pay check in two years.

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply

      1. No worries. Gavin will steal the money from Nancy …who stole it from Paul ….who stole it from Taiwan…

        Like

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