FOOTBALL

USC Morning Buzz: The Coaches’ Rumor Mill Is Going Strong

The USC-UCLA game not only created a great matchup on the field, it allowed the coaches to trade gossip.

The word going around at the Rose Bowl was that UCLA defensive coordinator Bill McGovern will not be returning next season because of health issues. That is setting off a scramble as coaches try to figure out who Chip Kelly will hire this time around and whether he might make other moves on his staff.

Although Kelly comes across as surly with the media, he is considered a good coach to work for in terms of the workplace atmosphere.

As for USC, there was a lot of chatter centered on cornerbacks coach Donte Williams.

The play of the cornerbacks is one thing. The fact Williams was not brought in last season by Lincoln Riley also makes him a target.

“There’s obviously issues on defense but (Riley) isn’t going to replace (Alex) Grinch,” a Pac-12 coach said. “Williams is the biggest guy at risk.”

In fact, all the defensive coaches are Riley hires except Williams.

  • As the photo above shows, USC tailback Raleek Brown wore yellow socks vs. UCLA. One step forward. One step back with the uniforms.
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51 thoughts on “USC Morning Buzz: The Coaches’ Rumor Mill Is Going Strong”

      1. hi kaibigan, ito ako, kamusta ka? nawala si ol’peenus breth mula nang dalawang beses na dumikit si sucla sa kama.

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    2. ugh,dood ima gunna by u a pretzuhl end maik u eet it wile seeying da nile,smdh
      I like anybody’s peenus in my mouth, and misus like it in her stank vagina

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  3. Whew, for a moment there I thought Wolf’s headline had something to do with the NFL trying to poach Wiley from SC much as it did by stealing Carroll.
    I don’t know if Wiles has NFL ambitions but his $10-million or so per year Trojan contract probably would not be exceeded much if he went pro, but money was not the primary reason Pete took off instead it being the challenge to try to make it in the NFL

    With many teams scoring in the 40s these days the Trojans might have a shot at hitting the 50-marker against the Neuter Damers as a sort of payback for what they did to our boys back in1966, but realistically the Irish have a better defense than sucla and the Trojans probably will not be gifted 4-turnovers

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    1. It could be a foregone conclusion that in a few years LR may feel the need to move to the nfl. For whatever reason it will be a big mistake. He has the gift of building good players where they can be a success in the nfl. Will his style translate at the pro level is unknown. I can see him having decades of success at USC, or I can see him failing sadly with the pros.

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      1. Right, steveg49, you are I believe the only one who writes on Wolf’s blog and the Other’s blog, so you must know what you’re talking about-
        Great college coaches often go bust when moving to the NFL
        Worse, their beautiful college legacies are then tarnished
        Pete of course was an exception but then there is sucla’s Doughboy and that t.v. football analyst guy

        My wife is the psychologist but as an amateur I’d say Wiley was made for the college game, his small-town bred friendliness wins the young men over but it is his plans on how to win the next game is what his Trojans will fight on for

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      2. This morning might be a good time to ask the Arizona Cardinals Head Coach how happy he is with his decision to leave college for the pros….
        #Answer: NotVery
        #[SoGladWeHaveRileyInsteadOfHim]

        Liked by 1 person

    2. HEY LJ
      IM A LITTLE WORRIED ABOUT THIS GAME
      I THINK THR IRISH WILL BE OUR TOUGHEST OPPONENT SO FAR
      BUT I THINK WE GET A WIN
      ID BE HAPPY WITH A SEVEN POINT WIN
      VERY HAPPY

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      1. I’m with you GT, the midwesterners like Ohio St and ND have always valued running the football especially when the frigid weather sets in
        So they’re good at it and nobody likes to mow a defensive-line down more than the Irish as they use their offensive line as their favorite weapon i.e. “So what you think Rudy, is that Trojan line weaker on the right side or the left”

        Meanwhile in offense-land I have witnessed some of SC’s greatest quarterbacks not able to beat ND such as Rodney Peete and Marinovich so I always fear the offense might be a little “off” that day and fail to score enough points to bail out that still-developing Trojan defense

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    3. I think Notre Dame will be a tough game and definitely lower scoring. Notre Dame has a better defense, will that actually stop or slow down Caleb? Tough to know.

      It doesnt seem that USC’s defense can stop anyone, so I’m not sure Notre Dame cant score on us.

      I have given up defending Donte. I am actually more concerned that his recruiting has been poor this year. Honestly, considering that USC could be on the way to the CFP, USC’s recruiting efforts are horrible. We are not in the discussion for any of the top talent on either offensive or defensive line or for most of the top defensive talent. Outside of QB and receivers, this is a really pathetic, almost Heltonesque class. It might be that Bohn-head has made USC uncompetitive by insisting on a single NIL that is controlled by USC and cannot make the promises that other NIL programs (Miami, Oregon, Tennessee, Texas) and many others are making.

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      1. All good points especially regarding NIL “handouts” to the less celebrated footballers, the linemen, it seems they would be looking for a guarantee of some kind of financial compensation for their services, such as “I’m available to the highest bidder and SC said it hasn’t enough money to take care of me”

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      2. Directly after the Pac 12 Championship game it will be time for Lincoln to have what is called “The Talk” with Carol [“I’ve done everything that can be asked of me…and I’ll continue to do the same however many days a week & hours a day it takes….but if you don’t support me I’m gonna stab you with a pencil”]……

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  4. The Irish are a very strong running team. I think they have the best offensive lineman, #76, in the entire country. They have 3 great running backs. On the defensive side, they are very good. I think they will be the best defensive team we’ve seen all year. That said, I don’t think anyone can stop Caleb and company. ND’s best strategy may be to keep the ball away from our offense. Because of the methodical ball control nature of ND, I think it’s going to be a relatively low scoring game – maybe something like 28-24

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    1. Yes. That’s the Irish Plan….. hopefully it blows up in their face when they try to cover 4 or 5 VERY high end receivers …and a running QB…. and top running backs…for 60 minutes…..
      #WeDoNeedToLimitDumbDecisionsByRaleekOnReturns
      #TakeTheDecisionOuttaHisHands —TellHimToLetBallGo

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    2. Bryan,

      I think if SC takes the page that they used against ugly and stopped Chardonayy, then then can stop nutre dum. Yes you will give up yardage. However SC forced ugly to throw the ball because they fell behind and because they forced ugly to throw.

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  5. Again, I say: This is the game that USC shocks the world. Even the world cup will pause to pay utterance to the resounding defeat rendered by the rolling Trojans. Do not be dismayed if it starts slowly, that is the intent of LR to lull ND into a passive “we got this one” attitude before he unleashes an assault previously unknown to mankind. I agree with Eric, and 56-17 will be the half time score. Good riddance to the “princess”. We Fight On!

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    1. I WANT TO DRINK THE SAME STUFF YOU AND ERIC HAVE BEEN DOWNING

      I LOVE THE TROJANS MORE THAN ANYONE BUT OVERCONFIDENCE IS NOT GOOD

      OR WERE YOU TRYING HYPERBOLE???

      WHERES MY VALIUM ??????

      I HOPE KOREY HAS A FANTASTIC GAME

      RILEY HAD HIM IN AT CRUNCH TIME AND HE CAME THROUGH

      HEY ERIC
      I SEE YOU
      LETS MAKE OUR BOYS CONFIDENT
      BUT NOT OVERCONFIDENT

      THE IRISH HAVE FOUR AND FIVE STAR GUYS ALMOST EVERYWHERE AND THEY WILL BE CHARGED UP TO THE GILLS

      I WISH YOU WERE OUT THERE PLAYING FOR US
      YOU AND JOHN

      AND GABBY AND PASADENA AND SO CAL TOO
      THEY ARE FULL OF FIGHT
      JUST LIKE ME

      Liked by 3 people

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      1. George Tirebiter– So you want “to drink the same stuff” that our
        too overconfident to believe Posters were “downing” hey
        although no doubt a tad of hyperbole clouded their objectivity

        Seriously though, as they might ask in the back-streets of New York City, “So Georgie, how ya doin’ these days, we’re worried about ya”

        Liked by 1 person

  6. So we been saying that the stench of the Helton is gone because USC is 10-1 now and just clinched a spot in the PAC 12 championship game. But Scotty keeps reminding us of Donte Williams. The one lone hold over left from the Helton era, who’s 2ndary keeps on getting torched, but also makes plays when it matters! Fight on !

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      2. George — When it comes to Donte the most I can say is, “I guess we could do worse”….
        #HeIsANicePerson…
        #HopeHeFindsAGoodPlaceToLand

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    2. Donte seems to get alot of scorn, but what about Odom and the linebackers? If we really feel that a coach has not developed players, the linebackers are the worst position group on the field by far. And Grinch is really in charge of the safeties, so are we blaming Donte for the safety play? Actually Ceyair Wright seems like he is getting better and Mekhi has been playing very well.

      My bigger concern is what the heck is happening with recruiting? I assume USC will make a big push at the end, particularly if we win out and get into the CFP. But listening to a recruiting podcast, you just dont hear USC in the mix for any of the top remaining talent and USC has even failed to close on top local talent (Matayo and Duce). Whittingham recently said that the top teams will soon resemble the top NIL programs due to the importance of recruiting. Outside of the QB and receivers in the 2023 class, we have a Heltonesque incoming class. Not good for the future.

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      3. LR is mum about a lot of stuff, injuries, depth charts, and on top is recruiting. USC is quiet, which these days is the norm. I am not concerned about the recruiting even though I don’t know what the heck is going on. Remember the portal will open in a few days so buckle up.

        Liked by 1 person

  7. Yellow socks, black socks, anklets evidently nobody in the tradition office has talked to coach about the white sock tradition! And the towel wavers , my god, during the Carroll years the ucla wavers were laughed at!

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    1. Don’t forget the DJ!

      As I’ve stated, I have enjoyed the guy at Galen Center events (basketball, volleyball). But at the Coliseum, it’s kind of hokey. Our football team, the band, cheerleaders & yell fish should be more than enough to get us pumped up.

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    2. BTW, as others have expressed, it’s a shame the band is off in the endzone. When the band & cheerleaders were on the 40, they charged up the entire north side of the stadium.

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      1. So Cal,

        I agree. DJ Mokeski (black Polak) should only stay at the Galen Center. You have to get the crowd reved up there. At the Colsiuem it should be the yell fish and cheer leaders. by the way, what has happened to the twerkers that are in the seats?

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      2. Oh wow! I conveniently forgot about them.

        Maybe they felt as if they had triumphed and that was good enough. They didn’t really want to carve out 4 hours from their personal lives for every home game.

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  8. The towel waving is, sorry Reggie, bush
    And you would think Raleek Brown would be the last Trojan to go prima donna, the kid has much yet to prove and in the sucla game he killed an important SC drive by trying for a homer (end around) when a single (straight ahead) would do and was pulled from the game

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    1. Something tells me Riley has placed a bit too much confidence in Raleek as a weapon. He’s only an asset if he’s viewed as a nice changeup to Austin —he’s a liability if he’s viewed as a game changer… cuz he’s not.

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      1. I think he will be. His day is coming, just like Korey’s came. He has some growing to do, both physically and mentally, to fit into the college game.

        Liked by 2 people

      4. If you’re talking about his speed…yes. If you’re talking about his decision making when it comes to taking kickoffs landing at our 2 yard line…no. [Obviously he’s been told ‘if you see a lane opening up, go for it.’ I think the time has come to rescind that permission –what he thinks is a lane and what really is a lane are two different things]…..
        #He’llGetBetterAsABlocker…
        #ButI’mNotSureHe’llEverBeAnEveryDownBack

        Liked by 1 person

  9. What’s so bad about the corners? What specifically is so horrible about Coach Williams charges? Did you see UCLA? No team in the Pac 12 plays more man coverage than USC. The breakdowns are a result of a lack of communication on assignments during the play. How many times did Thompson-Robinson throw the ball in harm’s way or get a pass defensed? Don’t listen to Mr. Wolf when it comes to Coach Williams. Oklahoma fans weren’t sorry about losing their corners coach. Ceyair Wright has been playing better than Blackmon. Check the stats. Blackmon has better ball skills but he gambles a lot. Weight has more PD’s. College officials punish the defense more in pass coverage than the NFL. If Riley was worried, he would have isolated Williams and made him the special teams coach. This defense wins games what more do you want?

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  10. Releek needs to mature this is not high school where you are the fastest on the field and just outrun everyone or make a couple of cuts n go. If he wants to be Bush 2.0 he needs to bulk up in legs n chest. To be able to withstand the rigors of college football. Please don’t make him a gadget player. He can be a back that can carry the ball for 15-17 carries, once he puts on 10 -15 pounds to run the ball like LR wants him to. Too talented just needs to get the mental part of game situations down to make a constant impact.

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  11. Hey anyone notice where a certain previous DC hired by Heltonska and fired after the sterling 2019 record landed up in 2021 and has now replaced McGovern as ‘THE’ defensive coordinator for the Bruins and had them ready for the last two games played by them? (AZ and USC)….drum roll please……

    Clancy Pendergast !!!!!!

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