FOOTBALL

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

A college coach offered me an example of how he thought Lincoln Riley’s search for a defensive coordinator should have gone.

“The Miami Dolphins hired a young head coach with a background on offense (Mike McDaniel). Did he worry about hiring a defensive coordinator who would challenge him? No. He hired Vic Fangio, who had been a defensive coordinator with five NFL teams. He’s letting Fangio take care of the defense.

“That’s what Riley should have done.”

  • Did you happen to watch any of the women’s volleyball Final Four on Thursday night? The teams were great and a reminder USC was once a premier program in the sport.

When Coach Bohn hired a new volleyball coach in 2020, a small group of fans attacked me for questioning the hire and assured me USC would soon be back as a national power. It hasn’t happened.

By the way, Texas plays Nebraska in the championship Sunday. The Longhorns coach, Jerritt Elliott, was a USC assistant coach and should have gotten the Trojan job in 2001. He got passed over; went to Texas and has won two NCAA titles.

  • It was a tough week for the Southern California sportswriting community.

Loren Ledin, a USC graduate and Daily Trojan sports editor, died after more than 40 years of covering high school sports in Ventura County. He was a fixture in the area as a long-time sports writer and prep editor for the Ventura County Star. He was sports editor of the Daily Trojan in 1974 and covered the John McKay era. Chris Foster, who worked for decades at the Los Angeles Times covering many sports, died earlier this week. He had most recently covered UCLA before he retired.

And now for some history:

  • From the Dave Levy files.

Nebraska tailback Johnny Rodgers won the Heisman Trophy in 1972 and was a two-time consensus All-American. But when he was in high school, he wrote a letter to USC saying he wanted to play for the Trojans.

But John McKay and Levy didn’t know about it until it was too late. What happened? A USC coach, who handled out-of-state recruits, read the letter and never got back to Rodgers. The letter was only discovered by McKay and Levy after Rodgers signed with Nebraska. Needless to say, the assistant coach fell out of favor with McKay.

Was this USC’s biggest recruiting blunder?

Who else slipped through the cracks? USC denied wide receiver Bobby Moore an official visit. He went to Oregon, became an All-American and then a four-time Pro Bowler under his better-known name, Ahmad Rashad. USC also passed on recruiting Dan Fouts.

In 1973, USC desperately wanted JC tailback Chuck Muncie of Arizona Western. When Levy saw his transcripts, he knew it would be impossible to get him eligible and basically gave up.

To his amazement, Muncie became eligible at Cal. Muncie finished No. 2 in the Heisman Trophy results in 1975 and was Pac-8 Player of the Year.

  • McKay didn’t really recruit out-of-state players until he hired Wayne Fontes as an assistant in 1971. Michigan State coach Duffy Daugherty told McKay to hire Fontes, who eventually became the Detroit Lions coach.
  • Let’s go way back . . . to 1948 when the great running back Hugh McElhenny graduated from Washington High School in Los Angeles. If you talk to anyone who was around in those days, they can tell you about McElhenny’s exploits in football and track.
  • McElhenny wanted to go to USC but did not have the grades. So he went to Compton College, coached by former USC player Tay Brown. But after just one season, he learned the University of Washington could accept him immediately. USC needed him to go another year to Compton.
  • McElhenny went to Washington, became an All-American, rushed for 296 yards and 5 TD’s vs. Washington State and returned a punt 100 yards for a TD vs. USC. He then became the ninth player selected overall in the 1952 NFL Draft and was selected for the Pro Bowl six times.
  • Stan Chambers, legendary TV reporter for KTLA (Channel 5), interviews USC students in 1974. It was a full circle moment for Chambers, who was a USC graduate. He was also known as one of the nicest people in the broadcasting business during his career.

Who knows if USC will ever play Washington State again after this season? This is from 1975 and I’m a big fan of these USC uniforms.

  • Pat Nixon, the former first lady, is a Trojan. As a USC student in the mid-1930’s, Pat Ryan was known for spending most of her time outside classes trying to earn money. She worked multiple jobs as a cafeteria waitress, librarian, survey writer, beauty products tester, movie extra and in the USC vice president’s office.

“As I recall, if you went into the cafeteria, there was Pat Ryan at the serving counter,” USC professor Frank Baxter said. “An hour later, if you went to the library, there was Pat Ryan checking out books, and if you came back to campus that evening there was Pat Ryan working on some student research program. Yet with it all, she was a good student, alert and interested.”

PICTURE OF THE WEEK

Capucine was a French model and actress, best known for being in The Pink Panther (1963) and What’s New Pussycat (1965).

VIDEOS OF THE WEEK

https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js

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

  1. Johnny Rodgers was involved in a gas station robbery and convicted of the crime while he was at Nebraska.

    Muncie had two brothers, who spelled their last name Munsey because Muncie’s father used various names to avoid paying bills, and used “Muncie” on hospital forms when Muncie was born

    Liked by 2 people

    Reply

      1. Gabby Thought Balloon: “It took a fricking hospital form to trigger Mr. Muncie’s single, solitary ‘double name’ scam?! I do quadruple that every day of my life…”

        Liked by 2 people

      2. “But John McKay and Levy didn’t know about it until it was too late.”

        John McKay was a racist/bigot.

        McKay didn’t put together or support a Heisman Trophy campaign for Anthony Davis because Davis was dating McKay’s daughter and he didn’t like it.

        Like

      4. I certainly wish Charles White and O. J. and Sam “Bam” and Jimmy Jones and Mike Garrett knew what you know about what a big racist John McKay was…. it coulda saved their careers….
        #[btw,DidYouEverTryTellingCoachMcKayAboutTheNASAScam..?
        #….I’mSureHeWouldHaveShownYourOpinionMuchRespect]!

        Liked by 2 people

      5. KKK, Aryan Nation/Brotherhood and White Nationalist, all representative of the Red State south…vote republican

        Like

      6. All you racist bigots vote Democrat, Cowardly Gabby aka TebowObama aka The Guy who posts as So Cal’s Wife & Michael Guarino & LawyerJohn & Pudly & Plow Horse & steveg49 & DOJ & Scott Wolf and Frank Young

        Like

      10. So Cal
        DECEMBER 14, 2023 AT 6:56 PM
        As with everything else, you accuse people of that which you are guilty.

        I post under this name only and my name is not Scott.

        SLO CAL PLAYS THE TUBA
        DECEMBER 14, 2023 AT 6:58 PM
        prove it!…….tell us how you are embedding posts lifted from Twitter……details……it’s a simple way to prove you are not Scott. …..clear your name……or STFU!..

        Like

      1. So Cal
        DECEMBER 14, 2023 AT 6:56 PM
        As with everything else, you accuse people of that which you are guilty.

        I post under this name only and my name is not Scott.

        SLO CAL PLAYS THE TUBA
        DECEMBER 14, 2023 AT 6:58 PM
        prove it!…….tell us how you are embedding posts lifted from Twitter……details……it’s a simple way to prove you are not Scott. …..clear your name……or STFU!..

        Like

    2. Yet at the same time,
      “USC’s new president, James H. Zumberge, released an in-house study suggesting that academic transgressions involving USC athletes went far beyond that lone speech class. Among other things, the study charged that over the past decade some 330 “academically marginal” athletes had been admitted to USC “based chiefly on athletic prowess as judged by the athletic department and without normal admissions office review.”

      https://vault.si.com/vault/1980/10/27/scorecard

      Like

      Reply

    1. George is a sweetheart…but he knows how to play rough when he wants….
      #Can’tWeRaiseScott’sGradeToAnA+++…..
      #…JustToHearSomethingCrude&UnfunnyFromGabby?

      Liked by 1 person

      Reply

      3. ..or William Holden and Audrey Hepburn…… or William Holden and Faye Dunaway…. or William Holden and Stephanie Powers……
        #WilliamHolden:NotCarolFolt’sKindOfGuy

        Like

      6. Crude becomes banal,Cowardly Gabby aka TebowObama aka The Guy who posts as So Cal’s Wife & Michael Guarino & LawyerJohn & Pudly & Plow Horse & steveg49 & DOJ & Scott Wolf and Frank Young

        Like

  4. Notes on how to go about Coordinator searches, lots of “I told you so’s” regarding women’s volleyball —Pat Nixon, Chuck Muncie, Capucine, John McKay, Johnny Rodgers —- if Gabby trashes this post with a poop video it better feature a rat.

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply

    1. TEACHER
      CAN ANYSTUDENT HERE USE PUSSY AND RAT IN THE SAME SENTENCE FOR OUR FIRST GRADE CLASS ??

      GEORGE
      I WANT SOME PUSSY RAT NOW !!

      MERRY CHRISTMAS EVERYBODY!!

      Liked by 1 person

      Reply

      3. Merry Christmas to you, too, George!!

        “For behold, I bring unto you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people. For unto you is born this day in the City of David a Savior, which is Christ the Lord. And this shall be a sign unto you; Ye shall find the babe wrapped in swaddling clothes, lying in a manger.’

        Liked by 3 people

      4. Pervert pedophile Slo Cal should go to the hell his twisted religion speaks of for his admittance of lusting after 12 year old looking females.

        So Cal

        NOVEMBER 20, 2023 AT 4:12 PM

        Doesn’t matter if she looks 12.

        It wouldn’t surprise me if pervert pedophile Slo Cal was a member of NAMBLA…he needs to be locked up away from children of all genders

        Like

      5. Cowardly Gabby aka TebowObama aka The Guy who posts as So Cal’s Wife & Michael Guarino & LawyerJohn & Pudly & Plow Horse & steveg49 & DOJ & Scott Wolf and Frank Young loves the pervert pedophiles Senile Joe and Hunter Biden

        Liked by 1 person

      6. Yeah, yeah, lying AGAIN. When you paste only half my post and insert your own sick, perverted version of its intent that is what you’re doing.

        Not shocked you’re too stupid to realize it.

        Liked by 3 people

      7. GEORGE TIREBITER

        DECEMBER 15, 2023 AT 6:34 PM

        TEACHER
        CAN ANYSTUDENT HERE USE PUSSY AND RAT IN THE SAME SENTENCE FOR OUR FIRST GRADE CLASS ??

        GEORGE
        I WANT SOME PUSSY RAT NOW !!

        MERRY CHRISTMAS EVERYBODY!!

        You senile pervert, did they teach you that in Sunday school?

        And these idiots claim to love this savior lord Jesus Christ they say they love and respect so much…goddamn!

        Like

      8. Cowardly Gabby aka TebowObama aka The Guy who posts as So Cal’s Wife & Michael Guarino & LawyerJohn & Pudly & Plow Horse & steveg49 & DOJ & Scott Wolf and Frank Young loves the senile pervert Joe Biden.

        Liked by 1 person

  5. Dean Spanos is a cheapskate but good riddance to Brandon Staley and GM Tom Telesco – the former was given the head coaching job after 1 yr as McVay’s DC and the latter hired 3 consecutive head coaches that had never been a head coach anywhere else at any level.

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply

      1. These recruiting rankings are so subjective; beauty in the eye of the beholder. An 86 could be a 91 in someone else’s opinion. Also Riley putting more weight on character and coachability than previously at USC.

        Liked by 1 person

      2. Cowan looked good to me on tape. The other kid (Abasiri) looked slow to me but they said that he is a project, not having played much football. The guy they say that they really want bad is the OT from SF(Kalolo Ta’aga). This year is his first year he’s ever played football(he played basketball before this year). Henson wants him bad.

        Liked by 2 people

      2. Why wouldn’t the ‘peckerwood’ coach in the NBA? Why did he make sure Tarkanian was targeted and nothing ‘Woodie’s’ way? Why did ‘Nellie’ have to scream “…you leave my Jonniekins alone!’ Why?

        Liked by 1 person

    2. Almost 24 hours ago…when I posted this:

      So Cal
      DECEMBER 15, 2023 AT 4:19 AM
      How far is Staley’s office from his parking spot? I know a candidate to whom that is VERY important. 😉

      Liked by 1 person

      Reply

      2. The sick senile pervert sack of shit tirebiter learned his foul language and pedophilia ways in Sunday school.

        The pedophile priests taught him everything he knows.

        Like

      4. George — I wasn’t “liking” the part about you telling our critics you “may be senile” [you’re sharp as a fricking tack] —I was liking the part about you calling them “sacks of shit”….
        #Oh,ExcuseMe…
        #…DidIQuoteYouAsSaying”SacksOfShit”?
        #…IMeant”SickSacksOfShit”….

        Liked by 1 person

  9. So Pat Ryan aka Pat Nixon worked her way through USC taking “multiple jobs as a cafeteria waitress, librarian, survey writer, beauty products tester, movie extra and in the USC vice president’s office.” Sounds like a truly down to earth person, the kind that is deserving of respect. Why didn’t we hear about this when she was first lady. Instead, the press portrayed her as some type of out of touch former beauty queen. They called her “Plastic Pat.” Incredibly unfair and the bias reporting on first ladies continues to this day. Michelle Obama was incredibly extravagant with spending the taxpayer money – a staff of 17 and multiple vacations every year to tropical islands and Europe. Prior to her role as first lady, she was a “diversity consultant” to the City of Chicago at a fee of $300,000 per year. The corruption didn’t start with the Bidens, they just took it to another level.

    Liked by 2 people

    Reply

    1. Should Jill send your old lady a voucher for a new dildo? We know she refuses to use the one you bought last Xmas because she caught you ramming it in and out of your asshole with great pleasure…..OUCH!

      Please give the blog an update on U.S. oil production……never mind, you struggled with the net importer vs, net exporter concept……pathetic!

      Like

      Reply

      1. GabbyObama:

        The asshole is not a sexual organ. It is an exhaust valve for human waste products. It stinks and is full of bacteria. You seem to think that it is an intake valve. You fantasize on almost a daily basis about two headed dildos and getting rammed in and out of your asshole. To normal people, these are not fantasies. They are vomit inducing images that are truly disgusting. You don’t need to share them with us. Get some help.

        Liked by 2 people

      3. Cowardly Gabby aka TebowObama aka The Guy who posts as So Cal’s Wife & Michael Guarino & LawyerJohn & Pudly & Plow Horse & steveg49 & DOJ & Scott Wolf and Frank Young is a chicken!

        He’s calling you out, Cowardly Gabby.

        Plow Horse
        JUNE 22, 2023 AT 8:33 PM
        Gabby: I didn’t use the term “white guy.” The CEO of Ocean Gate used the term white guy. I suppose that reading comprehension isn’t one of your strengths. But since you brought my wife into it, something that you would never do if we met face to face, let’s meet up Mr. keyboard tough guy or are you going to chickensh*t out like you normally do. I work out at a boxing gym in Pasadena, CA. Name a date and time and I will make a reservation.

        Like

    2. Well…to be fair… the Bidens are way out front in terms of out & out treason….the Obamas deserve most of the credit for sowing the seeds for civil war, though ….
      P. S.
      ….and they’re still working on it at Netflix….

      Liked by 1 person

      Reply

      2. No one is more self loathing than Cowardly Gabby aka TebowObama aka The Guy who posts as So Cal’s Wife & Michael Guarino & LawyerJohn & Pudly & Plow Horse & steveg49 & DOJ & Scott Wolf and Frank Young after she turned tail and ran away when Plow Horse called her bluff.

        Plow Horse
        JUNE 22, 2023 AT 10:23 PM
        Gabby is the biggest pussy on this blog.

        Still waiting for dates, Mr. keyboard tough guy.

        Like

      4. Cowardly Gabby aka TebowObama aka The Guy who posts as So Cal’s Wife & Michael Guarino & LawyerJohn & Pudly & Plow Horse & steveg49 & DOJ & Scott Wolf and Frank Young is afraid to accept PlowHorse’s challenge to box

        He told you, Cowardly Gabby, where to go for a fair and square battle and you wimped out and lied that you know Dana White!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

        This is what you posted-

        “Ocean Gate CEO won’t hire experienced white guys”. So how in the fuck would I know this comment was made by the CEO, dipshit. I suppose that writing comprehension isn’t one of your strengths.

        “chickensh*t out like you normally do” What the fuck does that mean? I am not you little bitch sloo troll.

        Better yet, I know Dana White, we can use one of the training octagons at UFC headquarters. Bring your wife and her little toy….ouch!

        Like

  10. I think it’s incredibly selfish of Riley to hold back on the announcement Will Howard is coming to USC just so the team can concentrate on the bowl game—- I hope he understands how many hits he’s costing Scott by not announcing now….

    Like

    Reply

    1. When you tell lies it’s hard to keep your story straight…how could you be in two places at the same time?….another lie, here’s proof!……wipe the drool

      Michael Guarino
      AUGUST 11, 2023 AT 4:47 PM
      Thanks so much, San Marcos! I grabbed files, artwork and photo albums when we left Oakland to wait out the fire at Harris Ranch.

      Michael Guarino
      AUGUST 9, 2023 AT 4:58 PM
      Yep. Had no home — but showed up in Judge Obera’s court to do an E.R.I.S.A. preemption motion on a wage theft case Monday morning …
      #ITellThatStoryToMyKids5TimesAYear
      [When we finally saw the house I was surprised —I expected to see a burned up house, burned up car in the driveway, burned up garden —- but—-there was no house, no car, no garden —- only thing left was the chain to my heavy bag in the backyard]………….

      Like

      Reply

      1. When you tell lies it’s hard to keep your story straight- you ask for fights and then chicken out, Cowardly Gabby aka TebowObama aka The Guy who posts as So Cal’s Wife & Michael Guarino & LawyerJohn & Pudly & Plow Horse & steveg49 & DOJ & Scott Wolf and Frank Young

        Speaking of Cowardly, when will you be fighting Plow Horse, Fake Gabby?

        Plow Horse
        JUNE 22, 2023 AT 9:57 PM
        Gabby:

        You have offended my wife, my mother and my father. All sexual inferences. I let the first two go because they are both deceased but not my wife. You are the one who offended my family, not visa versa. I have never brought your wife or parents into anything. It is therefore my call – boxing gym in Pasadena CA, Mr. tough guy. Give me a date and I will make the arrangements. Stop being a chickensh*t.

        And nobody believes you are friends with Dana White. If you ever read the news, he is a staunch conservative who left the country during Covid so that the Dems. couldn’t shut down UFC. He wouldn’t allow a pussy leftist like yourself anywhere near his octagon. Rummaging the dumpster outside of the premises for plastic bottles redeemable for 20 cents doesn’t mean you know Dana White you leftist, racist, pussy.

        Give me available dates.

        Like

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