FOOTBALL

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

USC being in the Big Ten felt a little more real on Thursday when the conference schedules were announced.

Now we know who the Trojans will play — and which more-than-2,000 mile road trips USC will take in 2024-25. If the travel seemed hard, it could be worse. Wait till the volleyball, basketball and baseball schedules get released.

  • Carol Folt has hired Joel Curran as USC’s senior vice president and chief communications officer. Curran comes from Notre Dame, and more importantly, was at North Carolina before that, where Folt also worked before coming to USC.
  • I’ve heard several instances of belt-tightening measures in the athletic dept. What’s the cause? Certainly not football, which had a successful season. Perhaps USC is anticipating the $4-6 million hit it will take in Pac-12 revenues because of the overpayments made to the conference by Comcast, which is believed to be more than $50 million.
  • And now for some history:
The Sigma Phi Delta fraternity expressed its displeasure with the AAWU picking Oregon State over USC for the Rose Bowl
  • I’ve written as recently as last month about the dramatic 20-17 victory over No. 1-ranked Notre Dame in 1964 where USC overcame a 17-0 halftime deficit.

But two days later, things got ugly on The Row as 2,000 angry students gathered after the Athletic Assn. of Western Universities Conference (AAWU) selected Oregon State over the Trojans to go to the Rose Bowl. Both teams were 3-1 in the conference.

USC was 7-3 overall. Oregon State was 8-3. The USC argument was it played a tougher schedule. The Trojans defeated then-No. 2 Oklahoma, lost to then-No. 2 Ohio State and beat No. 1 Notre Dame.

The Beavers had beaten then-No. 8 Syracuse and No. 10 Oregon.

“So far as I am concerned, this is one of the rankest injustices ever perpetrated in the field of intercollegiate athletics,” USC athletic director Jess Hill said.

A vote to choose the Rose Bowl representative ended in a 4-4 deadlock. Because of the tie vote, Oregon State was selected because USC had been to the Rose Bowl more recently.

  • On Monday night at 9:15, the students began chanting, “We want the Rose Bowl.” Both entrances to the Row were barricaded and a truck dumped mattresses, doors, chairs and tree branches. Soon, a huge bonfire started with 30-foot flames.

Another fire was started around 9:45 p.m. on Severance St. near Adams Blvd.

By this time, half of the police precinct nearest USC had arrived along with fire engines and TV/Radio reporters.

At 10:09 p.m., Tom Hull, the Dean of Men, threatened to suspend any student who did not return to their houses or dorms within 5 minutes. Hull said the conduct exceeded, “good, clean fun.” As he spoke, students lit a trash can about 15 feet away from him.

At 10:45 p.m., it turned into a riot as students attempted to burn down the abandoned Phi Kappa Tau fraternity house. The attempt was unsuccessful but a couch and other debris were set ablaze. The crowd settled down but not before causing a massive scene on the Row.

  • USC will play at Ohio State in 2025. The last time the Trojans played in Columbus was in 2009 (above) with true freshman Matt Barkley at QB.
  • I noticed this week that in 1952, USC football coach Jess Hill said the Trojans had the best coaching staff in the nation. I think Pete Carroll, Lane Kiffin and Steve Sarkisian made similar statements.
  • USC safety Taylor Mays, linebacker Brian Cushing and cornerback Kevin Thomas pursue Oregon State tailback Jacquizz Rodgers in 2008.
  • Did you know USC had a tennis shop in 1952 that was literally on campus? The Phelps-Terkel Bldg. was a famous men’s clothing shop and today the non-descript building houses the Dept. of Environmental Studies. 
  • Above is the Phelps-Terkel building on the left.
  • Art Brewster wasn’t the only illustrator drawing USC football players back in the day. Bill Seelig was doing it in 1952. Center Lou Welsh was from Austin, Texas? USC was recruiting the Longhorn State back then too. This was in the days when it was common, almost expexted, some linemen would throw the shot put like Bob Van Doren did.
  • Dustin Hoffman sits at the fountain in front of Doheny Library at USC in a scene from “The Graduate.” It’s supposed to be UC Berkeley but the Bay Area university denied permission to film so USC served as the stand-in. Typical Cal.

TROJAN TRIVIA

Who is the only person to have won a World Series and have a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame?

The answer is USC baseball player John Beradino, who played major-league baseball for 13 years (1939-52) except for three years during World War II. He won a World Series with the Cleveland Indians in 1948. Beradino was known as John Bernardino at USC.

John Beradino waits for the throw at the base during a USC baseball game in 1937.

But for many, Beradino is best known as an actor, specifically his role as Dr. Steve Hardy on the soap opera “General Hospital” from 1963-96.

  • Earlier this week, I ran a photo of Roger Craig being interviewed by sports writer Bob Hunter at the Coliseum for the 1959 World Series.

Hunter was also part-owner of a bar called the Sports Club at Fifth and Hill in downtown Los Angeles and he used to throw a post-World Series party each fall during the 1950’s that was usually attended by the managers of the teams in the World Series. It really was a different world back then.

When the Dodgers moved to Los Angeles, Hunter would go to spring training in Vero Beach and play poker with a group that included Dodgers owner Walter O’Malley. A different world.

And, of course, Hunter was a USC graduate.

  • Speaking of baseball, here’s Vin Scully (right) at the Coliseum for Game 4 of the 1959 World Series between the Dodgers and Chicago White Sox.

PICTURE OF THE WEEK

  • Here is a slice of Los Angeles from the past.

A Junior High School convention at Berendo Middle School in Los Angeles brought the student body presidents together from many local schools in 1958. Anyone related to: (Sitting) Roberta Tanaka; Donna Adams, Alma McKay, Joyce Hagio, Jeanette Thomas, Tsuyu Sasaki, Pat Ferguson. (Standing from left) Joe Diaz, John Taylor, Bob Fisher or Richard Takagaki.

  • This is the Pan Pacific Auditorium in the 1940’s. It hosted some USC basketball games until the Sports Arena was built.
  • A view of Vine Street in 1948. Note the KECA-TV sign. Its callsign was named after Los Angeles broadcasting pioneer Earle C. Anthony. The station made its debut on September 16, 1949 and on February 1, 1954, changed its callsign to the present-day KABC-TV.

And finally, it’s Francoise Hardy and James Garner in a photo for the 1966 film, “Grand Prix.”

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

    2. I talked with my college football contacts, and they all feel that Lincoln Riley and his Trojans will be lucky to win six games in 2024. And I agree, because most of the teams in the Big Ten are similar to the big strong Utah Utes, and we all saw how they beat up USC along the lines of scrimmage. Some SC ass lick Fanboys think a healthier Caleb Williams would have changed the outcome 😂😂😂. NOT!!!

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      1. Replying to my pal, So Cal….
        #btw,Don’tYouWishSomeoneHadNeverLearnedPhrase…
        #…”ConfirmationBias”?

        Liked by 1 person

      2. there is no shame in posting pictures with a little(or a lot) of cleavage. it’s human nature to focus longer on that type of subject matter

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      4. …Like the others, Joe went too far…..
        #…&NoOneShedsATearForThemWhenTheyAreDefeated…

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      7. Hey, guys. Back to football. I just looked at USC’s site for the 1964 Trojan Football Schedule …and it shows us at 5-5 [losing to Oklahoma 40-14 instead of winning 40-14]. WTF?
        #NowWeHaveToGoToWikipediaToGetTheReal1964Won/LossRecord?

        Liked by 2 people

  2. Since “The Graduate” filming was supposed to be Berkeley I presume that Tommy Trojan got no play

    I could have been a chick magnet if I looked liked James Garner

    In 1964 the Row tried to burn down an abandoned frat house– where did that football passion vanish to

    Speaking of football, I was at that 2009 Ohio St game where SC mounted an unforeseen drive at the end to win it. If you go back to The Horseshow prepare to stand the entire game

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    1. Joe McKnight was the hero of the game and Barkley was solid for a true freshman on the road in a very hostile environment

      REST IN PEACE JOE!

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      1. Amen. That crowd was screaming at SC during “The Drive,” making it all the more improbable that the Trojans could get it done

        Liked by 3 people

      5. Think of how funny this would all be if it were a comedy starring Seth Rogan and James Franco….
        #ButIt’sJoeAndHunter….AndIt’sNotAComedy

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    2. Since “The Graduate” filming was supposed to be Berkeley I presume that Tommy Trojan got no play

      I could have been a chick magnet if I looked liked James Garner, but everyone thought I liked like Sargent Schultz from Hogans Hero’s 😂😂.

      In 1964 the Row tried to burn down an abandoned frat house– where did that football passion vanish to

      Speaking of football, I was at that 2009 Ohio St game where SC mounted an unforeseen drive at the end to win it. If you go back to The Horseshow prepare to stand the entire game

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  3. Actually, the Buckeyes’ stadium does not display ‘Horseshows’ but is instead called the Horseshoe.

    Pretty funny banner, “And damn everyone who won’t stay up all night damning the A.A.W.U.”

    So Folt and Curran worked in “communications” together at North Carolina– what in the world could Curran have talked to Folt about?

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  4. Next time you read Wolf bitching about USC home attendance for football games, look at the 1972 season, pretty woeful if you ask me for a team that was 12-0 and who many think was the best team of all time. And here’s some trivia, the largest crowd USC played before that season, aside from the Rose Bowl, was at Stanford, 84,000. Another trivia item, they played at Washington State, the game was at Huskey Stadium in Seattle.

    Oregon State 56,305
    Michigan State 63,934
    Cal 56,488
    Washington 59,151
    UCLA 82,929
    ND 75,243

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      1. and your point was, the crowd was late arriving typical of a weekday night game at dodger stadium thanks for the great insight

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  5. “Right defensive tackle Bob Van Doren is FAST for a big man!”
    The “big man” Doren was 6’3″, 215 lbs. How times have changed.

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  6. Scott,

    Are you just trying to get under rusoviet’s skin by including both frat row and Vin Scully in your Friday column?
    At least you didn’t mention John Wooden.

    Liked by 3 people

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  7. Lotta history in that area. NBC’s west coast studios were located just down the street at Sunset and Vine., with Wallich’s Music City just across the street. Home Savings purchased the Radio City property and tore it down in 1964 to make way for a Home Savings branch. Beneath the building today are the archives of Pacific Pioneer Broadcasters.

    Also notice the Santa Fe sign behind the KECA marquee. Back in those days train travel was still an important mode of transit, and all 3 of the Los Angeles railroads maintained ticket offices throughout the city.

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  8. The Mormon Church is now giving trump the middle finger. You can’t make this shit up

    https://original.newsbreak.com/@lord-shiva-1608995/3052337503480-message-to-donald-trump-mormon-church-emphasizes-voting-for-integrity-above-all?_f=app_share&s=a7&share_destination_id=NzQwMDkxNTgtMTY4NjMyNDkxMTA4Mw==&pd=050XA6SM&hl=en_US&send_time=1686324911&actBtn=floatShareButton&trans_data=%7B%22platform%22%3A1%2C%22cv%22%3A%2223.23.0%22%2C%22languages%22%3A%22en%22%7D

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    1. You Democrat Traitors gave America the middle finger.

      Liked by 1 person

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      1. How do you steal evidence that Trump didn’t know about? Would Trump had said that they were stealing documents that he needed? Wouldn’t he have made copies and shown the world? Better yet, wouldn’t Roger the Roid and Steve Bannon have published this “evidence?” Are you people that thirsty for QAnon?

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      4. trump only has himself to blame he’s too stupid to know better had he given them back you wouldn’t be all butt hurt on the subject of butt how’s the new butt plug fitting I heard it’s tighter than a 14 year old only trump would know how tight that is courtesy of your boy Epstein

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      1. Did you mention Lindsey has twinkling blue eyes and a cute little giggle?
        #ThePerfectFrontGuyForPerpetualWar

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      3. Did you mention Lindsey has twinkling blue eyes and a cute little giggle, she gave me a massive BONER!! Man, I had to rub one off before wifey came home 😂😂
        #ThePerfectFrontGuyForPerpetualWar

        Like

      6. real gabby just texted me he said if you continue to use his username he wants me to continue slapping you around like a bitch it’s your choice pussy boy

        HUNTER SAID YOU GIVE SLOPPY BJs

        Like

      8. TRUMP IS LOOKING FOR A GHOST WRITER HE WANTS TO PUBLISH A BOOK TITLED “HOW NOT TO CONCEAL GOVERNMENT DOCUMENTS: THE ART OF SHOOTING YOURSELF IN THE FOOT

        Like

  10. I remember the “vote” to send Oregon State to the Rose Bowl my parents were very upset. As a 9 year old fan I really didn’t think it was fair to have a vote for a bowl game, but I was only 9 what did I know? (The Wolverines were happy to prove the committee wrong 34-7)
    I noticed the Pan Pacific Auditorium picture and realized it must have been the inspiration for Disney’s California Adventure park (where sales tax is doubled if you mention you’re from outs state)

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  11. Hey wolfman,
    Graduate was filmed on private property at Cal. Ask me how I know.
    The production co choose not to jump through hoops to film on State of Calif property.
    ” Typically Berkeley”. No, more like typical unknowledgeable wolf.

    2024, new category for SC complaining. Travel. It’ll never end. NEVER. MORE COMPLAINING THAN THE ENTIRE PAC 11.

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    1. Glad you’re doing well, Cal 75 [sincerely!]….
      #[…ButThePicturesqueScenesInTheGraduateWereFilmedAtUSC]…

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    2. Touche’ Cal! But the conference is still in freefall and probably ending up on stream service. I’d fly to Ukraine and play in Donetsk Oblast than stick around for $15 million paydays (let’s call it the Comcast Larry Discount) and no chance playing playoff games at home.

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  12. You said “I’ve heard several instances of belt-tightening measures in the athletic dept. What’s the cause? Certainly not football, which had a successful season”. Yeah I would say that there is no reason to even think about cutting spending on the football program. That must be coming from all the football hating administrators and professors who want to cut football just because they are jealous of all the money the football personnel are making…..even the players. Considering that the football program made $17,016,508 in net profit for the school. That’s over 17 billion(with a B) that the football program made last year. Rather than cutting spending in the football program, they could afford to add money to the program. It supports all the other programs. The reason that they talk about cutting spending has nothing to do with financial matters. It’s simply about jealousy.
    https://www.collegefactual.com/colleges/university-of-southern-california/student-life/sports/#football

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    1. Parcelman — Various departments at USC envy the football program. They view the university budget as though it were potato salad at the family picnic which has to be distributed evenly….
      #That’sNotHowItWorks….
      #…TheProgramBringingInThe$$$GetsWhatItNeeds….

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