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USC Morning Buzz: Hobbled Caleb Williams Refused To Come Out

Here was Lincoln Riley on the hamstring injury to Caleb Williams last night.

“He was not even 50 percent,” Riley said. “… I thought about taking him out but he wouldn’t let me … maybe the gutsiest performance (at that position) I’ve ever seen.”

This begs the question whether it was a wise decision?

Let’s say we can all agree Williams is the best QB in the nation. If he is less than 50 percent, should Riley have given Miller Moss a series just for a change of pace?

The answer is Riley didn’t have the authority to take the franchise out even at less than 50 percent. It’s a debatable point whether it would be the right move. But we will never know whether Williams was 35 percent? 40 percent? 45 percent?

Or what percent he would need to be at to pull him.

This is one reason why maybe that Colorado game would have been good to give Moss more playing time. USC won 11 games but after Game 3 vs. Fresno State, there weren’t a lot of blowouts to play Moss. It was really just the Colorado game.

90 thoughts on “USC Morning Buzz: Hobbled Caleb Williams Refused To Come Out”

  1. Injury affected Caleb W’s ability to scramble. Still 28-41, 363 yards. 7 sacks and Austin Davis 35 yards. That’s on the OL. Riley needs to focus more on recruiting linemen. Hit the transfer portal just as hard as last year.

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    1. Riley should have taken Caleb out. He is the coach, not Caleb. Caleb was not only not able to execute plays and even more importantly, he was open to further injury because he could not escape the behemoth UTEs who appeared to be out for blood. Wittingham said they were tired of hearing about SC and its Heisman trophy candidate……it was more than a game to them.

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      1. Lincoln Riley better change his focus to recruiting big physical linemen, or the current Trojans team will resemble his always losing in the playoffs, Oklahoma Sooners . He’s not always going to have a Caleb Williams on his roster, so buyers beware. And not to mention, the Big Ten ain’t the weak patsy PAC 12 .

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      1. Well J.O. to be balanced ucla (there, I said it correctly) had an exceptional Season and SC had an extraordinary one ending with
        sucla (I’m back to normal), and then Neuter Dame, and then Utah,
        just too much of a mountain to climb for a fatigued Trojan squad
        beaten-down by Spirit-driven Utes

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      2. Go away you fucin clown. UCLA still sucks and will always suck. Bruin Rob. Get a fucin life you miserable puke. 48-45.. the victory bell is still dinging a linging in your head.

        Liked by 2 people

      3. USC 48 -ucla 45 (enough said)

        Wipe the drool and the sister-wife needs a new tin of chewing tobacco.

        I’ll be at the Las Vegas Bowl(pathetic) rooting for your opponent, and then watch USC play in a New Year’s 6 game in front of a large national audience

        Liked by 2 people

    1. Lawyer John, it appeared it did carry over to the coaches. The play calling and lack of adjustments was indicative of a deer in the head lights reaction from them.

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      1. 100%. But why? Lincoln’s been there before. He’s not Clay Helton…
        #ButYouCouldn’tTellFromLastNight…
        #InFact,TheResultWasEXACTLYWhatWEWouldHaveGottenW/Clay

        Liked by 2 people

      1. Wittingham is a tough competitor and he used Lou Holtz tactics. They were out for blood. Their play was not only tough, it was mean. Those post-mission players are older and bigger and have physical advantages that are a huge asset to the Utes.

        Frankly, my life doesn’t change when SC wins or loses, but I am sad for the SC players who played with heart all season. I hope they have a good bowl game and WIN to end their season on a high note. They accomplished a miracle this year going from 4-8 to 11-2. Congratulations are in order.

        Liked by 6 people

  7. Welcome back trolls one and all. You are what makes this place unique. No rule of civility here.
    I will leave this place to you for the time being, but know this you are not worthy of the cardinal and hold.
    As for Caleb, he should have had the sense to sit, but he didn’t. That’s on him. Not the best decision he threw away his Heisman.

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    2. Injury is what probably blew up Caleb’s chances for the Heisman. But The Heisman was never the point to the season. Leaving an injured QB in the game when we have a talented backup blew the Pac 12 Championship and the opportunity to make the playoffs. We won nothing. We had a great record —we beat our biggest rivals —but we didn’t win conference let alone the National Championship —-and all because we played FIFTY minutes of ball with a crippled QB.
      #NotFairToTheTeam…
      #…AndTheTeamPlayedLikeTheyKNEWItWasn’tFairToThem

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      1. So Caleb Williams is more important than the whole entire fucin team?. Riley really showed he was a deer in the head lights and didn’t have the testical fortitude to take CW out. He’s the head coach. He needs to grow a fucin pair. It’s about the team, not only CW. Not the Heisman. I guess resumes and accolades are more important now? WTF

        Liked by 2 people

      2. What leads you to believe he lost the Heisman?…. So who would you say is more deserving of it?….. Making it to the CFP is not a requirement to win the Heisman, but it may help.

        Sounds like Caleb gave you a chapped ass……Caleb got us there, it was his to win or lose. Don’t dismiss how strong loyalty can be………if Moss wants to play QB, I suggest he enter the portal….

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      1. The season is NOT about The Heisman. The beautiful, wonderful Heisman. If Riley thought Caleb was “not even 50%” it was his responsibility to play a QB who was 100%.
        All the nutso talk all week on The Heisman is one of the reasons we lost. The smart thing for Caleb to have done on that 60 yard run was slide after the first down. But we lost our focus….we were playing for The Heisman. The amazing, awesome Heisman — which doesn’t get us the Pac Championship, doesn’t put us in the playoffs, doesn’t bring O-Line recruits, doesn’t solve our defensive problems [or serious coaching problems on defense]….

        Liked by 2 people

      2. Thanks for proving my point so if the Heisman is locked up and Caleb Williams is injured. Why the fuc is he even in the game then? To make him look good? . 40% of himself and LR leaves him in there. Wtf. This was about getting to the playoffs not Caleb’s Heisman moments. You guys get fucin real. He should of been put on the bench period after hurting his hamstring. Not there at 40% not able to even compete to help his team win. Team! got it rah rah fan boys. Not just Caleb Williams and his Heisman come on now.

        Liked by 1 person

      3. Plus–
        Caleb probably blew the Heisman with “Fuck Utah” decals —don’t think that’s what the Committee is looking for in terms of the “character requirement.”
        [I need to say this: After Ali lost to Norton he was sitting in the dressing room with a sprained ankle and a badly broken jaw —the Pointer Sisters wanted to visit with him but his trainer said no –Ali overruled and said hello, hugged them and, then, went to the emergency hospital to get his jaw wired. He didn’t cry. He didn’t have “fuck Norton” painted on his fingernails]….

        Liked by 1 person

  8. If Wiley had taken out Celeb Celeb might be hitting the Portal again
    After Celeb’s long run he went down weirdly so it was clear something bad was up
    Celeb should have saved his Heisman pose for after the Utah game if applicable

    Wiley is good but not great & still has a ways to go to reach McKay and Carroll status
    Whittingham surprised Wiley with the 2-point play once and then the
    Slaughter-Game so who is the better coach now?

    The SC All-American tackle Bore-Horse or whatever his name is weakened the line
    Contrast that to the Utah character guys where ‘all hands were on deck’
    The Pac-12 finally got something right by sending its best, the Utes, to the Rose Bowl

    Liked by 1 person

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    1. Utah deserves the Rose Bowl…
      #ButSoWouldHaveAHealthyUSC…
      #…ItJustWasn’tToBe
      [This was actually very much like the Drake London situation last year —when the star went down, the team fell apart]…..

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      2. MG…..Caleb wasn’t the main problem or Riley’s unwillingness to make a change. Like we both said yesterday, the tacking had to be at a high level.

        I don’t have the statistical numbers in front of me, but the yards after contact killed us time after time. There were numerous plays where a tackle at the point of contact would have forced a long 4th down. Instead, a whiff by the defender led to a big gain and moved the chains.

        You can’t win games with your offense if the defense can’t get off the field. I put the majority of this loss squarely on the defense….

        Liked by 2 people

      3. So do I. [I’ve just been saying all week this game wasn’t about getting Caleb a Heisman. The Individual awards are secondary in team sports].
        #IAlsoFaultRileyForNotLookingOutForAnInjuredPlayer….
        #IDon’tCareHowMuchCaleb”Wanted”ToStayIn…
        #HeWasGrimacing,Limping&Crying …
        #…AllDangerSignsACoachHasToRespect

        Liked by 1 person

    2. Then let him hit the fucin portal. This is USC next man up. Sick of this prima Donna crap. We we’re sold a lie all fucin year. How the culture changed and they all played for each other. No, they only wanted to play for CW. To get him the Heisman. That’s all. More bull shyt from this program more glimpses of Clay Helton team last night. Couldn’t tackle worth a fucin crap. And got burnt on crossing patterns over and over again. Not to mention the tight end being wide fucin open down field. Again. Fight on!

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      1. Oh yeah and the offensive line looked like last year with Clay Helton; getting pushed around all over the field. No intensity what so ever. None.

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      2. When the bozos absolutely have to win ‘boogs, they choka, choka, choka, choka, choka choke. After Clown U took a lead of 17 – 3, the Utes rolled/bombed SUCC 44 – 7……44 to 7……44 to 7…..44 to 7……LOL.

        As usual Clown U is stinking OVERRATED and Vegas made a pile of $$$$ off of stupid, drunk, fat cat, bozo FB SUCCers.

        I imagine ‘boogs, you’re one of those red-faced, dumb SUCCers.

        #Cue: “Please Help Me I’m Falling” as in trip, stumble and fall.

        #STINK ON

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  9. Oh, fuck! Carol Folt just told Lincoln this morning she refuses to give up the head coaching job bestowed on her by Clay Helton. “No one’s taking me outta the Cotton Bowl!”

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    1. Hopefully she keeps her fucin mouth shut and let’s Bohn higher a new defensive coordinator. Open the check book for coach Orgeron and get the recruiting back up to top notch again.

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  10. Cotton Bowl here were come!!
    Vs winner of Tulane/UCF

    The big question is how many players will opt out –

    Also, how many players will have to opt in (ie wait to enter transfer portal so they play in game).

    Wait – isn’t this what blogger should be doing? Oops, forgot he is in breakfast buffet line –

    As I said last night, the sun is shining here in So Cal and all is good.
    USC is 11 and 2 with a remarkable turnaround from 4 and 8.

    Liked by 1 person

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    1. It will be interesting to see what Riley does if Caleb is out for an extended period. Will he figure out how to do his thing with Moss? Or will the Cotton Bowl be one, big fucking disaster?

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      2. My dear friend, Owns —why would we be happy?
        #OnlyBruinsTalkAbout”TheJoyOfALMOSTGettingToNC”
        [This was worse than your other, all time favorite game involving Enfield and Georgetown]…..

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  11. Imagine Saban saying “he refused to be come out”. Heisman chasing while you can’t even win the game. We had a cakewalk schedule, even ND lost players, recruits and their coach, while ours was bringing his players and reeling them in.

    We got former starters from ASU their All American, the best Colorado db, former Ohio State and Bama starter, and of course we singed 5 star Domani Jackson… Apparently however we will need to transfer in all of UGA’s defensive players, to just have a chance vs 3 loss PAC 12 teams.

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    1. I have been very impressed with Lincoln Riley —-until last night’s press conference….when he as much as said “I don’t coach my QB….my QB coaches me.”
      All this was foreseeable —but I didn’t want to see it. On Tuesday Caleb said something extraordinary: “Good teams are run by coaches, great teams are run by players.” Let that sink sink in. It’s the reason we lost.
      One more thing: When asked whether his team is taught how to tackle Riley got very annoyed and said, “I won’t justify (sic) that question with an answer.” Coach needs to watch the game film —-the question seems pretty “justified” (sic)…..

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      1. Where it applies by individual and groups:

        Tackling and standing up and pushing the pile in all situations, blocking in all situations, shedding blocking in all situations, jukes and fakes and feints, physical skills of running and jumping and skipping and diving and kneeling in all directions and with balance and control, ball catching and handling and exchanges and and fielding and corralling, ball security and ball stripping and pass break up, kicking where it applies, hand fighting and hand placement by position, foot placement, angles of pursuit and escape, body leverage and balance, eye discipline, lining up properly and quickly, communication, understanding situations to use and apply the skills … (and playing in the rules and avoiding penalties many of which come from not doing the stuff in this paragraph)… And with that, players know their assignments by position and group.

        All that is from the old coaching books, notebooks, pamphlets, with the drills and old tapes. Today in big time football many coaches from top to bottom are falling in love with recruiting and having their pet scheme and kewl plays. The kids aren’t there to be coached, they are buddies, that way it’s easy to recruit kids! These coaches want you to think they are geniuses, or the hot coach, hot recruiter, etc. rather than being seen as disciplinarians and in-the-trenches teachers.

        They depend on players to be most super athletic, gifted, pumped up so hopefully any lack of skills and discipline can be covered for or erased. Self promotion and landing the big gig is job #1. (These aren’t shots at LR but a direction things are going.)

        Teaching those skills and their development I mentioned above are a second thought; these coaches hope the kids learned them somewhere else and magically develop and upgrade and fine tune them.

        That’s where Whittingham earns his money with his 40th to 50th ranked classes of 2 and 3 stars (raw or potential overachievers, teachable) he and his coaches develop- and every rare 4 star kid they get they maximize too because there aren’t a bunch more coming in.

        Liked by 1 person

      3. He needs to hold himself and his team accountable. They we’re EXPOSED last night. Coming from a die hard 40 year USC fan. That made the trip to Vegas. To watch that debacle of me first stench last night. Miller Moss should of been in the game ass soon as Caleb Williams took of on that 12 yard scramble for a 1st down and could barely run. He was done and everyone can see it but the head coach.

        Liked by 1 person

  12. What with the guys from Ohio St, Tennessee and USC having horrible last games I say give this TCU kid the Heisman if he sparkles in the game against Kansas St that is about to begin

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      2. People handle adversity in different ways ……Who’s to say which way is right or wrong…..MG made that decision

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  13. You guys want to have someone else win the Heisman you are really missing the idea of the whole thing. What has Caleb done ALL season by carrying the USC team on his back and getting to where they did reflects on him and his being the best in college football. One game? All I can say is fuck that stupid bullshit, you are to blind to see what the hell USC has in Caleb Williams. Two injuries and he still wanted to stay in, although he should have been taken out I agree with.

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    1. Agree. It was Riley’s responsibility to make the call — Caleb was a sitting duck by the end of that game — we were playing with a makeshift o-line …and he couldn’t scramble. Leaving him out there under those circumstances couldn’t exactly be called exceptional judgement.

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      1. MG…..you seem to neglect the pathetic main issue “DEFENSE”……We scored enough points to win the game, but when the other side fails to get stops, the outcome was inevitable.

        We all the defense was our Achilles heel, it proved itself once again.

        Liked by 2 people

  14. The problem was not Williams, the problem IS Grinch.

    Grinch’s defense gave up 90 total points to Utah over two games! 90 points!

    Excuses USC fans make for Grinch:
    1. First year
    2. Injuries
    3. Inferior personnel

    Well, let’s see….
    1. His track record with star recruits at OU was horrible. Time is not the problem it is him. Time has already shown he is an inferior coach.
    2. All part of the game are injuries. If you have schemes and proper training like tackling then it should barely be a problem. PLUS, his defense with no injuries still gave up a ton of points. no difference.
    3. Recruits are way higher notched than say Illinois but their defense is way better. why? the defensive coach gets more out of less secondary to coaching. Other teams would die to have USC’s current defensive personnel. Even if you get high star recruits you need proper schemes to put them in position. Athleticism does not make up for everything.

    Riley needs to have a closed door conversation with him as the offense cannot be expected to score 40 plus EVERY game. Not realistic.

    The season was still a success nonetheless. It was amazing Riley was able to get this far in his first year. But, the negatives on the defensive side is glaring going forward. Not in just this game but most with the exception of the OSU game.

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    1. “The problem was not Williams, the problem IS Grinch. Grinch’s defense gave up 90 total points to Utah over two games! 90 points!”

      NAILED IT! …..I CONCUR 100%

      Caleb for Heisman!!!!……

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  16. Caleb is the franchise QB. Without him at full strength the who team suffered. Tackling is a matter of will. Our defense did not have the will.

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    1. They lost the “will” when they realized the game was COMPLETELY on their backs.
      #”Completely”WasTooBigAnAsk
      #OurDefenseNeedsToKnowTheOffenseWillAnswerEVERY….
      #…TouchDownTheyGiveUp

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  17. Anyone saying the problem is one person is also full of shit. There are problems all over the field and it does not boil down to just one guy, whether he is a player or a coach. This was a total team loss, not one guy lost it, they all did it together.

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  18. Keeping Caleb in the game is not the real problem here. The problem is that this team is totally dependent upon Caleb being Superman. That is an issue that Riley should have addressed at a core level.

    I hope Riley takes this as an opportunity to grow as a head coach.

    If I see towel wavers on the sidelines next year, I will know that Riley didnt learn anything.

    Liked by 1 person

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    2. Game, tell just exactly what do the towel wavers have to do with a team and their success. I am sure, like all of us, Riley will have an entire off season to reflect on his mistakes as will all the rest of the team and staff. The idea is to get better every year. This team took a huge step forward this year. I am sure like the rest of us, you too look forward to next year’s changes and improvements. I think we both agree it is a great time to be a Trojan. Towels or not.

      Liked by 1 person

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      1. Fuck these trolls who keep crying about the towel waving. I was at the game, and hardly even noticed about 8 to 10 people waving towels. The point is, it wasn’t a distraction, if anything it pumped enthusiasm.

        Gametv is a fucking know-it-all when half the shit he posts makes zero sense…..

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  19. If you or I were Celeb we probably would have done the same thing by telling the coach “I’m staying in the game,” otherwise the critics would start cricketing, “The guy’s soft, quit on the team”

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    2. There’s a difference between being soft and not being able to move and run. Which are Caleb Williams strengths to his game. Once he injured his hamstring, there went his strength to move back and forth in the pocket. Which limits his creativity not too hard to figure out what went wrong last night. Plus that atrocious defense! A storm of disaster.

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  20. Wow the crabs, SUCC’s olive oil coated gladiator shows up.

    Crabs do you like be rubbed/rolled in goose grease?, and play with your blow-up dolls.

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    1. Rent…..I thought you used KY jelly on your cucumber!

      Goose grease?….interesting, never heard of it….If it works more friction for you!

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  21. Wonder if the Selection Committee would have still considered USC if Williams would have been replaced by Moss when USC was up 17-3 then USC proceeded to get hammered 44-7.

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  22. This is peak Riley at southern cal.

    Gayleb Williams plays like an emotional teenage girl. He also peaked this year.

    Utah embarrassed Lincoln Riley, he’s never had a good defense anywhere. He’s an air raid wannabe that coaches flag football style football. No toughness, just beta bois on the sidelines dancing as the team gets curb stomped.

    Usc is the laughing stock of college football this weekend.

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    1. But no one was laughing after Fresno State. Or Oregon State. Or Washington State. Or UCLA. Or Notre Dame.
      #PeopleLaughedAtUCLAEveryOtherWeek

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    2. If caleb had not gotten hurt Utah would have been toast. Plays like a “teen ager”? what rock have you been under? He is thrilling and you know it. Or ought to know that. I am sure you have this great football background, please spell it out in your next comment! And, you played a perfect game, right? Where? Most of us are glad to have him. Is it perfect”NO. Is he great? Yes!

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      1. That’s why he was sacked 7 times. Even Whittingham said that once they saw that he couldn’t move well, they sent the heat on every play.

        Liked by 1 person

      2. That was nice of Whittingham. A lot of coaches would be ashamed to admit that —but not Whittingham….
        #…BetRileyRemembersThat[Extraordinary]AdmissionNextYear

        Liked by 1 person

  24. That’s a cop out from Riley. He didn’t want to come out or you needed an excuse for the loss? Pull his ass, grow the hel up. Riley tends to act imperious but it’s false pride. He should get Jim Leonard to coach so he can have a championship defense to bail him out. Grinch might take a head coaching job like UNLV or DC at Arizona St. If the money is right, he’s gone. They need to get more athletic on the line for both sides.

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  25. Caleb had earned the right to stay in if he wanted . He is this team. And, the players wanted him in. They like him he is a Franchise player? I would have wanted to take him out but would have not if he wanted to stay unless it was detrimental to his health. He earned the right to make that decision. I have seen that before in games. Franchise players have more to say than those of us who are not. Vince Lombardo said” winning was not everything but the only thing” but even he violated that. And, I am sure you know that.

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    1. I’m going back and forth on this one. I think it’s possible Riley was told by the medical staff they were pretty sure the hamstring injury was first degree —and that it wasn’t gonna get worse if Caleb didn’t take off again. I think Caleb felt the same way actually. I bet that’s why Caleb told people today he was 100% sure he’d be back for the bowl game January 2nd.
      #And….IReallyHopeI’mRight[ForEverybody’sSake]

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