FOOTBALL

If It’s Friday, It’s Time For A USC Notes Column

There’s no word on how long it will take Lincoln Riley to do his “deep dive” into the football program, specifically the defense.

I can tell you that I know there are quite a few assistant coaches nationally who are putting out feelers to see what is going on in case Riley decides to replace Alex Grinch.

One problem is Riley’s ties are mostly from the Mike Leach tree, which is pretty much known for offense, never defense. Riley even got Grinch through his association with Leach from 2015-17 at Washington State.

So where would Riley turn? Does he even want to get out of his comfort zone? Time will tell.

  • South Carolina tailback Marshawn Lloyd has transferred to USC. In nine games in 2022, Lloyd rushed for 573 yards and scored 11 TD’s.
  • Here is former USC pitcher/major leaguer Bill “Spaceman” Lee talking to the Trojan baseball team at the alumni and boosters fall banquet in November. In the background are former USC pitcher Marcel Lachemann and football/baseball player John Jackson.

And now for some history:

  • Whatever happened to pocket schedules? Here’s the 1971-72 USC basketball pocket schedule.
  • Sam Cunningham runs the ball in the 1973 Rose Bowl, where USC defeated Ohio State, 42-17. No. 37 is running back Ken Gray. Cunningham scored 4 TD’s and was named player of the game.
  • USC linebacker Junior Seau rushes Notre Dame QB Tony Rice in 1989.
  • Willie Brown runs for yardage vs. UCLA in the early 1960’s.
  • In the 1940’s, on Vermont Ave. just off 28th Street, was the Trojan Bowl. The building is still there today but occupied by Leonardo’s Restaurant.
  • This is a picture of the 1978 USC-Michigan State game. The starting flanker for Michigan State is Kirk Gibson. Ten years later, he returned to Los Angeles and hit a memorable home run for the Dodgers in the 1988 World Series.
  • Here’s a photo of the 1953 Rose Bowl. Wisconsin tailback Alan Ameche rushed for 133 yards in 28 carries but the Badgers lost to USC, 7-0, before 101,500. Ameche won the Heisman Trophy in 1954.
  • The recently released movie, “Babylon” has received lackluster reviews, especially for its historical inaccuracies.

Here’s a scene where movie star “Nellie LaRoy” (Margot Robbie) parties with the USC football team in the 1920’s. She is on the shoulders of former USC football player Cyrus Hobbi.

  • This is based on actress Clara Bow, the hottest actress of the late 1920’s, who started attending USC games in 1926 and hosted parties for the team (and the opponents) at her home following games at the Coliseum. Alcohol was not permitted despite rumors of wild parties.

“We had a good time, but it wasn’t that exciting,” USC end Lowry McCaslin said.

Bow’s biographer, David Stenn, wrote “the facts reveal a group of well-behaved boys who were, in Morley Drury’s own words, ‘too damn innocent’ to be anything else.”

Bow did go on a double-date with Drury, the USC All-American tailback and first player to gain 1,000 yards.

“Nothing happened,” Drury said. “We never got involved in a ‘bedroom scene’ or anything like that. We were too damn innocent.”

Clara Bow

  • This is Gilmore Stadium, an 18,000-seat venue constructed in 1934. It was home to the Los Angeles Bulldogs, the site of a speech by President Truman in 1948 and a Three Stooges movie titled, “Three Little Pigskins.” The stadium was next to Farmer’s Market, which of course, is still there.

The better-known Gilmore Field baseball stadium was built in 1939 about 200 yards to the west.

PICTURES OF THE WEEK

On August 15, 1945, Japan surrended to bring World War II to a close.

The huge news caused actors Orson Welles, Rita Hayworth (Welles’ wife) and Marlene Dietrich to descend on radio station KFWB in Hollywood, where they spent all night monitoring the teletype machines, rushing bulletins to the microphone and offering commentary.

This picture includes sportscaster Sam Balter (right), who became the voice of UCLA football and basketball and was an All-American basketball player at UCLA. He attended Lincoln and Roosevelt High Schools. In the background is actor John B. Hughes (Meet John Doe).

Dietrich took a short nap in the middle of the night outside the newsroom.

VIDEO OF THE WEEK

Here is some amazing color footage of the 1948 Rose Parade and 1948 Rose Bowl (USC vs. Michigan) taken by British Pathe.

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49 thoughts on “If It’s Friday, It’s Time For A USC Notes Column”

    1. George — If we call Scott “late” with his column what word do we use to describe Riley’s delay in getting rid of Grinch?
      #ThankYouForMovingFasterThanLincoln,Scott

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  4. HEYOWNS
    I CANT BELIEVE YOU NEVER HEARD OF ANYA TAYLOR JOY
    JUST GO TO YOU TUBE
    TYPE IN HER NAME
    AND DROOL
    YEAH. MORE THAN USUAL MY FRIEND

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply

      1. GOOD OWNS

        YOU CAN SEE HER IN

        SPLIT

        LAST NIGHT IN SOHO

        AMSTERDAM

        THE NEW MUTANTS

        THOROUGHBREDS
        AND MANY MORE OTHER MOVIES AND INTERVIEWS ETC ON YOU TUBE

        SOPHIA LOREN WAS GREAT BUT SHE CANT BEAT ANYA

        Like

  5. Nice work Scottie. The Friday columns range from (on the Scottie Scale) B+ to an A-.
    Today’s is an A-, about as good as Caleb Williams during the Cotton Bowl.

    Great photos of Sam Bam and Junior Seau. Prayers out to their families, those guys gave so much of themselves to USC.

    Liked by 1 person

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  6. THANX WOLF
    I WAS AT THE 1953 ROSE BOWL GAME—-
    ALAN AMECHES NICKNAME WAS THE HORSE —-RUDY BUKICH THREW ABOUT A TWENTY YARD PASS TO AL CARMICHAEL FOR THE ONLY SCORE
    AMECHE GOT LOOSE FOR A LONG RUN IN THE THIRD QUARTER TO ALMOST TIE THE GAME BUT WAS PULLED DOWN FROM BEHIND
    OUR ALL AMERICAN TAILBACK JIMMY SEARS SUFFERED A BROKEN LEG EARLY IN THE GAME AND WAS REPLACED BY BUKICH

    IT WAS THE PAC COAST FIRST WIN OVER THE BIG TEN SINCE THAT DUMB CONTRACT WAS SIGNED EFFECTIVE WITH THE1947 GAME

    Liked by 2 people

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    1. I was at that game, and the ucla game when they clinched that rose bowl birth…great memories Al Carmichael is my all time favorite SC football player ,just as the 1952 football team is my all time favorite

      Liked by 2 people

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      1. HI TIM
        YEAH I WAS AT THE BRUIN GAME TOO
        WE WON 14-12
        WE GOT TWO TOUCHDOWNS
        BRUINS GOT A TD. A FIELD GOAL. AND A SAFETY

        OUR TDS WERE HELPED BY ELMER WILLHOITES INTERCEPTION AND SIXTY YARD RETURN —AND THEN THE LATERAL FROM SEARS TO CARMICHAEL FOR THE OTHER TD
        I REMEMBER THE BRUINS SCREAMING IT WAS A FORWARD LATERAL BUT THE GAME FILM SHOWED IT WAS NOT !!

        OUR BOYS GOT ROBBEB AT SOUTH BEND AFTER THE BRUIN GANE
        WE LOST 9-0 IN THE ICE AND SNOW AND THE IRISH USED THEIR CONTROVERSIAL SHIFT TO SET UP THEIR TD—- DAMN. STILL MAD

        Liked by 3 people

      1. THOSE WERE GREAT TEAMS TIM
        I WAS ALSO TOO YOUNG BUT MY DAD TOLD ME ALL ABOUT THEM AND I READ ABOUT THEM
        NATIONAL CHAMPS IN 1928. 1931. 1932

        IN LATER LIFE I WAS LUCKY ENOUGH TO GET TO KNOW ONE

        MARSHALL DUFFIELD

        HIS NICKNAME WAS FIELD MARSHAL

        A REALLY GREAT GUY
        STOOD MAYBE ONLY FIVE EIGHT BUT LOTS OF HEART

        PS CARMICHAEL WAS NICKNAMED
        AL. HOAGY CARMICHAEL

        AFTER THE BAND LEADER OF THR SAME NAME

        DID YOU KNOW THAT

        I JUST MENTIONED CUZ YOU SAID HE WAS YOUR FAVORITE PLAYER TIM

        Like

  8. Riley has no choice. If he wants to keep losing recruits,v then keep Grinch because guys want to know if you can develop them into pros and Grinch had no evidence of doing that. It is what it is.

    Liked by 3 people

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  9. VERY OLD TIMERS WILL REMEMBER SAM BALTER HAD A RADIO PROGRAM FOR MANY MANY YEARS ON KLAC AT 5:45 pm EVERY WEEKNIGHT CALLED THE BOOK OF SPORTS —HE WOULD ALWAYS OPEN HIS SHOWW BY SAYING LETS OPEN THE BOOK OF SPORTS TO PAGE ONE THE SPORTS STORY OF THE DAY—- MAYBE TIM LEFTWICH MIGHT REMEMBER HIM
    ANYONE ELSE
    FOR A BRUIN SAM WAS AN OK GUY
    MAYBE THE ONLY ONE !!

    Liked by 2 people

    Reply

      1. SHIT
        OWNS MY FRIEND
        YOU MUST BE REALLY REALLY OLD LIKE ME

        HERE WAS THE LINEUP
        5:15. I FORGOT
        5:30 KNX. TOM HARMON
        5:45. KLAC SAM BALTER

        CHARLIE CLIFTON ALSO ON AT THE SAME TIME
        ANOTHER STATION.

        6:00 pm BOB KELLY. WITH THE PARADE OF SPORTS SHOW—kmpc

        KELLY REPLACED BY JIM HEALY
        KELLYS KID PITCHED FOR THE LA ANGEL FOR A WHILE IN THE PACIFIC COAST LEAGUE

        Liked by 1 person

    2. I EVEN LISTENED TO HIM,QUITE THE DISTINCTIVE VOICE,
      I LIKED TOM HARMON on chnl 5 sports too…’ol’ 99
      and yes I know about the ‘hoagy’ handle…

      Like

      Reply

  10. We picked up a running back in the portal from South Carolina yesterday. My first question was, “can he tackle?”
    Scott’s throw back notes points to a time when players went both ways, maybe we need to think that way again.

    Liked by 2 people

    Reply

    1. Ghost —my only concern with our new find at running back is NOT his size ….but his speed (4.6)…
      #ButYouCan’tArgueW/HisResults….HeSureGetsTheJobDone

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  11. Glad Cyrus Hobbi found his true calling—as a USC center he was tied with Toa for last place….
    #MaybeThe”MarleneDietrichOnTheFloor”PhotoShouldReplace…
    #…TheGretaGarboPhotoNextHolidaySeason…
    Special Update: Generously giving Grinch lots & lots of time to put his affairs in order might get Lincoln into heaven…but…it’s not helping us attract defensive talent…..

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply

    1. NO NO NO MICHAEL
      IM IN LOVE WITH THE GARBO PICTURE

      BESIDES

      DIETRICH LOOKS LIKE SHE MIGHT HAVE HAD TOO MUCH SAUCE
      DUNNO

      BACK TO THE GARBO PIX

      HOW DO I CROP OUT THAT GUY WITH HIS UGLY HAND ON HER PRETTY BICEP ??

      IMEAN LIKE
      HOW DARE HE ??
      SHEBELONGS TO ME !!!!!!!!!!

      Liked by 1 person

      Reply

      1. George —We’re ALL thinking the same thing……
        #Scott:WeNeedTrackCoachPhotoShoppedOutOfGarboPic
        #[JustLeaveHerW/SerenaWilliams’SizeBicep]

        Like

      2. OH MY GOD

        MICHAEL

        YOUR HASHTAG MADE ME ALMOST PUKE

        NOW WE WILL BE BE CALLED RACIST AGAIN
        BUT WE ARE NOT
        BUT SERENA AND ROSEANNE BARR HAVE SOMETHING IN COMMON

        NOW IF YOU ARE TALKINGVENUS WILLIAMS
        THATS OK
        THATS ONE CUTE CHICK
        USED TO BE I MEAN
        WELL OK
        STILL IS

        HASHTAG
        ID LIKE TO MAKE LOVE TO VENUS BUT NOT SERENA. AND PLEASE DONT SAY THATS RACIST
        ITS NOT
        ITS
        ER. ER
        BODY TYPE !!!

        Like

      3. Venus? Yuck!

        Now if I’m getting down with the swirl, I’d go Janelle Monae! Yummy!! (But I think she might play for the other team. Not that there’s anything wrong wit that!) 😛

        Love her in “Hidden Figures”.

        Like

      4. OK SO CAL

        MAYBE TIFFANY HADDISH

        OR

        THE CHICK THAT PLAYED THE LEAD IN MONSTERS BALL

        CUTE LITTLE THING

        HALLE BERRY !!

        Like

  12. OK GUYS
    IF YOU WATCHED SCOTTS VIDEO
    YEAH MICHIGAN SMOKED US THAT ONE TIME
    HERES WHAT HAPPENED
    JEFF CRAVATH GOT SUPER PISSED AT THE TEAM AND PUT THEM THRU A FULL WORKOUT THE DAY BEFORE THE GAME
    OUR BOYS WERE GASSED

    NOT SAYING WE WOULD HAVE WON

    BUT THAT WAS A GOOD TROJAN TEAM

    NUMBER ONE NOTRE DAME WAS LUCKY TO TIE US 14-14 IN THE LAST GAME OF HE SEASON
    THEY SCORED IN THE FINAL MINUTE TO GET THAT TIR
    THAT TIE COST THR IRISH THE NATTY AND IT WAS GIVEN TO THE WOLVERINES

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply

    2. Ryno: Lloyd “yards after contact”

      Like

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  14. Harbaugh & Michigan are under NCAA investigation for COVID Period Recruiting Violations. Just a hunch but given the curious timing of this it is probably the SEC pissed off that the Big 10 got two teams in the playoffs versus their one and they have mobilized their NCAA Mafia Muscle to get even. Wonder how long they had this info, and what other schools do they have dirt on if needed?

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply

      1. GRINCH TO GEORGIA SOUTHERN AS DC !!
        NOW THAT SOUNDS REALLY COOL !!!!!!

        PS. HES THE GRINCH THAT STOLE NEW YEARS !!

        Like

    1. THE RUMOR WAS GARBO WAS BI SEXUAL AND MAY HAVE HAD MANY LOVERS OF BOTH SEXES. NEVER MARRIED
      BUT SEXY AS HELL
      AS FOR RITA
      WOW—- WONDERFUL GIRL WHO GOT SCREWED OVER
      THEY DIDNY LIKE HER BLACK HAIR
      THOUGHT IT WAS TOO MEXICAN
      SO MADE HER DYE IT

      HER BIG LOVE WAS PRINCE ALI KHAN
      THEY MARRIED
      BUT HE NEEDED A NEW BROAD EVERY MONTH SO POOR RITA

      VERY VERY LOVELY GIRL
      MAYBE THE PRETTIEST EVER
      CERTAINLY NO ONE PRETTIER
      BUT A SAD LIFE I THINK

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      Reply

      1. I think that you would find out that most of those hollywood stars live a sad life. There is more to life than just stardom and money and fame. Fame is fleeting. Most of the people that you meet out on the street today don’t even know who these people are.

        Like

  18. LR is a great coach. The first year was a smashing success. I just can’t figure the guy out. All the football pundants seem to think he should fire Grinch. That wasn’t even true about Clay Helton. Guys like Herb Kirkstreet and others used to defend CH.
    But with Grinch, the fans, the football analysts and all the rest are consistent about the need to jettison Grinch and I think that they are all right. This isn’t rocket science. Last years USC defense was one of the worst defenses that they have ever had. What is going to change between now and next year(which starts in about 6 weeks)?
    Is Grinch going to develope a whole new defense in 6 weeks? He had about 4 weeks to prepare for Tulane and look how that turned out. Are they going to bring a whole bunch of great players in the next few weeks.
    The great players aren’t going to come to SC as long as Grinch is there. What is the problem here? Are we going to really waste Calebs last year? Next years schedule will be tougher than this year.

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply

    1. PARCELMAN
      YOU ARE DEAD RIGHT ABOUT GRINCH
      AND DEAD RIGHT ABOUT MOST MOVIE STARS
      I DIDNT KNOW MANY BUT I DID KNOW A FEW
      ALL SAD LIVES
      AND THE STORIES I HEARD ABOUT OTHERS JUST CONFIRMED WHAT I SAW MYSELF
      THERE WERE SOME EXCEPTIONS BUT NOT MANY
      SAD TO SAY.

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  19. I guess I am all alone on the Grinch hating…I don’t blame him for all the defenses problems. Some blame has to belong to the athlete who has the ball carrier in their grasp and they don’t bring them down, or are in pass coverage and out of position.
    I know he doesn’t teach not to tackle or properly cover a receiver.
    This was a defense he inherited or last minute assembled and tried to make a unit. I think he deserves another year,and if this happens again during the season,have some one else take over.

    Like

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