FOOTBALL

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

USC plays Oklahoma in men’s basketball today at 12:30 p.m. in San Diego. If only this were a football game. Actually, probably better it isn’t a football game from USC’s point of view.

  • Here’s another story told to me by former USC assistant coach Dave Levy.

One night, when John McKay was coaching at USC, he told his staff they were going to Julie’s restaurant to have a few drinks with Chuck Knox and the Rams staff.

The coaching staffs had a drinking contest in a private room, which was won by the USC staff. Some Rams coaches had to be carried out of Julie’s. Levy told me all of the USC coaches were in the office the next day at 8 a.m.

Keep in mind this was during the season. I confirmed the story with a USC coach from another sport, who by chance also attended the drinking session.

Levy said about a month later, Knox called McKay and asked for a rematch. The USC staff won again. How did USC win?

“Nobody could compete with McKay,” Levy said.

  • Students from Silverado High School, a continuation school in Mission Viejo, visited USC as part of a program to learn different paths existed on getting to college. They even met Pete Carroll in Heritage Hall on Nov. 4, 2005.

This was the day before the No. 1-ranked Trojans played Stanford at the Coliseum and Carroll surprised the students by offering them seats to the Fresno State game two weeks later.

“Now if you come, you can’t just come out and sit there,” Carroll said. “You have to get fired up!”

“That was the coolest thing ever in my whole life,” one student said.

Why am I telling this story? Can you imagine Lincoln Riley doing something like this? Can you imagine him doing it the day before a game? Can you imagine USC being ranked No. 1 . . . Anyways, it would be nice if Riley interacted with people.

  • This is the 1986 USC-UCLA game. I was reminded of this game after last weekend’s Crosstown Rivalry debacle when I tried to come up with a similarly listless performance. UCLA defeated USC, 45-25. That USC team also went 7-5. Ted Tollner was fired after the season.
  • This scene from the 1956 science fiction classic “Invasion of the Body Snatchers” was filmed in Beachwood Canyon, which was a setting for the fictional Santa Mira.

BANQUETS, BEAUTY QUEENS AND LUNCHEONS

  • Dawna Boller was selected USC Homecoming Queen in 1953. But that wasn’t her most impressive accomplishment in college.

In 1954, she was a panelist on the Daily Trojan football picks panel and finished first! Boller beat out such luminaries as Rod Dedeaux and football legend Mel Hein as they picked college football winners each week. Bowler became the first woman to win the contest.

Here’s the proof:

  • The USC Diamond Jubilee Homecoming Dance was a who’s who of jazz artists at the Deauville Club in Santa Monica.

Ray Anthony and his orchestra also performed. He is still alive today at age 101.

PHOTO OF THE WEEK

France Nuyen in 1960
  • Oregon State coach Joe Avezzano and USC coach John Robinson in 1981.

Here’s a good story: After Avezzano was dismissed in 1984, Oregon State demoted athletic director Dee Andros because he wanted to hire Idaho coach Dennis Erickson.

Instead, school president John Byrne hired former Utah State athletic director Dave Kragthorpe as coach. Oops.

Speaking of Oregon State, it’s kind of sad that USC might never play the Beavers again.

  • USC played Arizona State on Thanksgiving in 2007. I don’t remember this today but Arizona State was ranked higher (No. 7) than USC (No. 11). The Trojans won, 44-24.
The 1938 USC-UCLA game was played on Thanksgiving before 65,000 at the Coliseum. No. 14-ranked USC won, 42-7.
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  • I ran this video of Woody Hayes squaring up to a reporter because in 1959, Hayes was accused of attacking a reporter after the USC-Ohio State game at the Coliseum.

First, Hayes berated the Buckeyes following their 17-0 loss to the Trojans, and then Al Bine, a sportswriter for the Los Angeles Examiner, accused Hayes of attacking him and Dick Shafer, the brother of Bob Shafer, executive sports editor of the Pasadena Independent Star News.

Hayes said he merely hastened the reporters from the locker room, but Dick Shafer said he was punched in the back.

“I’ve been writing boxing for 21 years and I know a punch when I see one,” Bine said. But Hayes told UPI, “I didn’t hit anyone. I just told them to stay out. When one of them wouldn’t leave, I shoved him along, that’s all.”

Shafer recalled the incident differently. “Hayes yelled at us (reporters) to get the hell out of the way, then swung and slammed me into the wall (outside the Buckeyes’ dressing room),” he said.

Dick Shafer and his brother were long-time Ohio State fans. He said afterward his back was sore and had a “slight knot.”

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

  1. Those ‘were’ the days and sad to say they are no more – not condoning unbridled corporal punishment but masculinity is handed down from father to son or, in many cases mentor to boy. Males need strong examples of masculinity to understand the need for courage and valor – not the evil alleged culture the LAT has been reporting of a corrupt hazing of LAPD recruits by ‘veterans’ but tough but also meaningful initiating into becoming a man.

    Hayes was one of a kind – that kid at Clemson he slugged in 1978 was the final straw….just like Bobby Knight he was both reviled but also revered by many many of his former players.

    Liked by 6 people

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      3. Naah, I don’t believe Woody would fit in with this blog, MG,
        the guy was too honest and here we have several phonies who enjoy spewing lies about others

        Liked by 4 people

      4. That doesn’t make them bad people…..
        #I’mTryingToMergeWithTheTimes,John
        #[Besides,I’mCloserToHalfOfThose”Phonies”ThanMyOwnInlaws]

        Liked by 4 people

      6. Ha! It occurred to me a couple of days ago that anyone who wants to check can call me at the number listed on the state bar site [unless they’re concerned the state bar is part of the big “conspiracy”…like what happened with the moon landing]…..
        All I ask is they give advance notice here and provide their area code so I’ll know to pick up [or call back if I’m out]…

        Liked by 2 people

    2. If USC accepts a bowl invitation the media consensus is that their likely opponent would be UNLV currently with a 9-2 record in the L.A. Bowl at SOFI Stadium.

      Another embarrassing loss for Lincoln Riley in USC’s own backyard.

      I can already hear ‘Ol Mule Shoe making excuses and blaming Miller Moss or Mikayla Nelson for the loss.

      Liked by 1 person

      Reply

      3. Or maybe not– Wiles wants a win any win real badly now.
        He’s motivated and will pass that spirit on to his ‘followers’
        with a new quarterback at the helm and consequently SC running.

        At least the offense will be excited;
        the defense– so maligned all season long do any of them have any confidence in their return next year?

        Liked by 2 people

  2. Caleb Williams Announcement:
    “After gathering together with my family for Thanksgiving and praying on my decision for one second I have decided to get as far away from Lincoln Riley and USC as I can get.”
    #”ThisWasTheMostDifficult1SecondDecisionOfMyLife”

    Liked by 5 people

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    1. DOG 🐶 IS SUPER BUMMED OUT THAT HIS LAST COLLEGE YEAR WAS WASTED.
      BUT THE RETURN OF MICHAEL GIVES THE 🐕 NEW LIFE
      HOPE SPRINGS ETERNAL
      JUST GIMME FIFTY QUALIFIED TRANSFERS FROM THE PORTAL AND SEVERAL NEW COACHES
      YEP
      THATS ALL THIS DOG WANTS FOR CHRISTMAS AND THE NEW YEAR. 😃😃😃😃😀😀😀😀😇😇😇😇😇

      Liked by 5 people

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      2. Everybody here is looking forward to those “50 new qualified transfers” [that’s 50 unqualified transfers out & 50 qualified transfers in, right?] and enjoying next season with our George…!

        Liked by 3 people

      1. Correct…and it was probably made for him by behind -the -scenes- agents who told him not to take any unnecessary chances in the UCLA game……and to skip the bowl game….
        #”EvenIfTheSafetyMovesWayUp,Don’tRun!”

        Liked by 2 people

      2. HI JOHN
        THAT WAS ME THAT ASKED YOU IF YOU EVER SAW PLAYING TIME

        HEY

        GREETINGS TO SO CAL. GABBY. 67 AND ALL MY FRIENDS ON THE BLOG

        JOKE
        MY WIFE ALWAYS TIPTOES WHEN SHE WALKS BY OUR MEDICINE CABINET
        BECAUSE
        SHE DOEST WANT TO WAKE THE SLEEPING PILLS !!

        Sorry
        THATS ALL I GOT THIS MORNING
        BETTER JOKE NEXT TIME
        AFTER ALL
        TODAY IS BLACK FRIDAY !!

        Liked by 5 people

      4. What the world needs now is George, sweet George
        It’s the only thing that there’s just too little of.
        What the world needs now is George, sweet George
        No not just for some, but for everyone. 🙂

        Liked by 4 people

  3. In 2007 Arizona State had a chance to go to the Rose Bowl – USC had blown the Harbaugh and Dennis Dixon games (typical Pete era wasted opportunities) – believe it was the game where Sedrick Ellis nearly tombstoned Rudy Carpenter … epic beatdown.

    Liked by 4 people

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      1. Thanks for posting!
        Will we ever see this kind of USC football again?
        #Answer:JustCheckOutUCLAGameVideo…..
        #…RileyOnSidelinesW/TightBlackTurtleNeck&SkiPants

        Liked by 4 people

      2. MG, I was just watching the SC-Oregon tape and at the beginning of the second quarter SC was down 13-7, Oregon had the ball at their own 46 yard line and SC’s defense stopped the Ducks on 3rd down, but Oregon decide to go for it on 4th and one and Oregon QB Bo Nix was stopped on athe quarterback sneak for no gain… but then SC was assessed a 5 yard offsides penalty for Solomon Byrd lining up offside… Oregon immediately goes down the field and scores what turned out to be the crucial touchdown that made it a two score win.

        That one play epitomized the season.

        Liked by 2 people

  6. So female Boller won a straight up Football Contest, but try picking winners when there is a spread as most have ‘flunked out’ in the contest on the other blog

    Liked by 1 person

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    1. Pete Carroll blew his chances when he tried to nurse a less than touchdown lead through the 4th quarter against the Rams….
      #DecidingToPutOnTheBreaks…
      #…AndSitOnLessThanTDLead….
      #…..HasSunkPeteUmpteenTimes

      Liked by 2 people

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  8. – Still turning over in my head how a coach called up Wolf on Thanksgiving Day and informed him that Wiley was too radioactive for the Texas A&M job

    Liked by 3 people

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      3. It’s called “box out” not block out, dipshit…..it’s obvious you never played on a basketball team…..pussy boy!

        Like

      4. Tell me about Curtis Conway never returning a kickoff for USC, Board Coward, Zero Football IQ Charlie Bucket the UCLA Fan aka Cowardly Gabby/TebowObama. It’s obvious you never even played Pop Warner football in grade school.

        Like

  10. Scott – you give report cards on the team after a game, why not a grade on the different aspects of coach Riley’s job performance?

    Here are the categories I suggest:

    1. Leadership to External Audiences – This is how well Riley represents the face of the football program to media, alumni, students, donors, VIPs, ex-athletes, partnerships, etc.

    2. Leadership to Internal Audiences – This is how well Riley leads and inspires the athletes, coaches and staff at Heritage Hall with a vision of USC football that aligns everyone to a common goal.

    3. Recruiting – How does Riley lead the recruiting of the team?

    4. Staff management – How well does Riley do as a personnel manager of the coaching and support staff? Does Riley create a top-performing staff with clear performance metrics and hold them accountable to those goals?

    5. Game management – How effectively does Riley manage in-game decisions?

    6. Game strategy – How effectively does Riley prepare the team each week with a strategy to beat their opponents? Are the athletes well-prepared with an offensive and defensive strategy that exploits the weaknesses of their opponent?

    7. Player Development – Do players develop under Riley’s leadership? Do players achieve their goals or have a clear path to achieve their goals? Is the S&C program effective at building bodies? Do the coaches develop the core skills needed for each position, for example, blocking skills on offense, tackling skills on defense. Do players understand their responsibilities and have the ability to succeed?

    I have grades in mind, but would love to see Scott’s grades for the whole year for Riley.

    Liked by 2 people

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      1. Regarding #4 [Staff Management] —Here’s one where Riley scored a qualified success: Grinch was clearly & explicitly tasked with “making the 2023 Trojan defense one of the best in nation.”
        #YouCouldSayRileyDidn’tExactlyHoldHimAccountable,Though…..
        #[ButIsItReallyFairToJudgeOnRecordPointsAgainstUSCPerGame?
        #….OrRecordTotalYardageAgainstUSCPergame?
        #….OrRecordNumberOfMissedTacklesPerGame]?

        Liked by 2 people

  11. Pretty involved commentary even by your lofty standards
    but I would guess Wiley does ok with leading his football troops
    since he has had fine seasons except for the latest entry

    Liked by 2 people

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    1. …You know us, John: What has Riley done for us lately?
      P. S.
      Seriously, though, Riley is gonna have to win back the team. The UCLA game revealed some deep problems.

      Liked by 3 people

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      1. By the way, the missus was happy to see you and Tirebiter return with such gusto although it will remain a mystery as to your disappearing act

        Liked by 3 people

      2. I needed some time to figure out how I could prove I was me, John…. then it occurred to me my “doubter” can just consult the state bar site [on which he got the rest of my info] to call me directly.
        I’m more than happy to allay his concerns.

        Liked by 4 people

      4. You know me the ‘defender’ and I say Wiley deserves a break.
        He recognized problems with his linesmen after 2022
        and brought in a truckload of new linesmen as promised
        although the Portal guys turned out to be not top of the line talent.
        But it was not due to Wiles not trying to fortify his linesmen;
        There was an evaluation problem apparently

        Liked by 2 people

      5. No the cratering was deep prior to his arrival. I recall that one parent some 4 yrs ago stating that the USC program had many basic issues of need that 1 – 2 years were not going to solve. Riley was able to ‘patch’ it over for a year but he totally screwed real progress by retaining Grinch. Riley is a proud soul and based on the article/interview Antonio Morales put up today I’d say this was not just a total shock to Riley but also an injection of reality. Understand this was going to be his fate no matter where he coached next year – here or at OK, but esp of what it is to coach at USC. I’d say USC is 2 years away not just because Williams is ‘no more’ but because everything was catered to Williams – nothing was done to develop a run game.

        I am totally for wishing Williams good luck but also ‘good bye’

        Liked by 3 people

  12. MG, you never had to prove yourself here
    nor does anybody else
    Wolf’s blog does not censor, resulting in some of
    the most obnoxious gross-out writings imaginable and some
    unimaginable
    HOWEVER, this extreme writing liberality to the negative side
    also swings to the other side where we can explore and
    expand our writing-thinking horizons (without reservation)

    Liked by 5 people

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  16. This fix is not a great fix. All one needs is to get a great DC and I think that they will get a great one. A lot more coaches will be willing to come to SoCal and work under LR than under CH.
    They do have to fix their NIL problem. Everytime they are in a race for a player like Jerico Johnson and Oregon is one of the contenders….forget it….Oregon is going to get the guy because they will pay the money and the players will go where the money is. That’s 2 problems that they have to fix.
    Other than that, I still don’t see why anyone is not calling for the head of the O-Line coach. Your running game is dependent upon your O-Line. Without a good running game, you’re not going to have a great offense. Great offenses are balanced. Look at LR’s offenses at Oklahoma. They ran the ball 55% of the time. This last years O-Line was horrible. It seems that we are doing the same thing with this O-Line coach as we did with Grench after last year…..refusing to make the right decision.

    Liked by 2 people

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    1. Maybe Josh Hensen’s not the main problem. It’s possible there was a lack of chemistry between Caleb and his line and receivers. We’ve all seen Rice stomp his feet after Caleb sailed a pass over his head ….. and watched Caleb stare disgustedly at Dedich after getting sacked on 4th down [mainly cuz he hung on to the ball for 5 or more seconds —something Penix and Nix never do]. And don’t think there isn’t a little resentment about Williams making millions doing junk food commercials while practically everybody else got zip.

      Liked by 1 person

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      1. That’s a problem……..A small problem and it concerns the passing game which was outstanding this year(5th in the nation). But Caleb holding onto the ball had little effect on the running game which was 91st in the nation. That O-Line just didn’t play well this year. True, it takes awhile for O-Linemen to play as a unit even if they are talented individually. But Henson had the whole season and their last game was their worst. If that O-Line doesn’t excell next year, especially without Caleb, they will have problems on offense.

        Liked by 1 person

      2. MG,

        That is where coaching comes in. Coaches have to force the kids to put away their egos and buckle up. Henson has to build an oline that will take pride that they don’t allow sacks in practice or in the game. He has to get these guys on the same page with each other and with the qb. Henson and the dcordinator will be the two most important parts of SC football next year.

        Liked by 2 people

      3. Agreed, P. T. Once we enter the Big Ten USC either starts playing TEAM football or we get killed. And it’s up to the coaches to make sure its the former.
        #NoMoreSupermanAndThe10Dwarves

        Liked by 1 person

      1. Board Coward, Zero Football IQ Charlie Bucket the UCLA Fan aka Cowardly Gabby/TebowObama, why all the sock puppets? I know, to make up for your absolute lack of knowledge of sports. You know opera, Broadway show tunes and fashion.

        Like

      2. Unless the portal saves us…..yeah, it probably would be unrealistic to expect much, my friend.
        #AndYouKnowWhatThatSpellsInTheBigTen

        Liked by 1 person

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