FOOTBALL

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

Illinois defensive coordinator Jim Leonhard was offered a similar job at USC but turned it down, according to a source within the football program.

“He didn’t want to to move to Los Angeles,” the source said.

  • USC is going to build a new baseball stadium, football building and women’s soccer stadium. So if you want to complain that Oregon is spending more on NIL, blame USC. It always has the money when it wants to spend it. It has donors it can tap for more NIL at any time.
  • Donte Williams will make $825,000 at Georgia according to the Athens Banner-Herald. He made more than $1 million at USC.
  • Vivian Iwuchukwu, the 6-foot-3 sister of USC forward Vincent Iwuchukwu, committed to USC on Thursday. She is rated Top 50 women’s basketball player in the nation.
  • I wanted to mention the passing of Mike Gin, a USC graduate and loyal Trojan fan, who died last weekend at age 55 and was well-liked by everyone he came into contact with.

He was a familiar presence at the Coliseum and used to have a tailgate open to the public outside the Peristyle. He was a co-owner of the Far Bar restaurant in Little Tokyo and co-founder of the Senor Fish restaurant in South Pasadena.

For 27 years, Gin was also a long-time volunteer with the Pasadena Tournament of Roses. Before he died, he was working on organizing schedules for marching bands that will participate in the Rose Parade on Jan. 1.

One time, I went to see Pete Carroll speak at the Pasadena Quarterbacks Club. As I pulled into the parking lot, I saw Gin patiently escorting an elderly gentleman who could barely walk to the event. It was a perfect illustration of Gin, who was always helping others and offering assistance. He will be missed by his many friends.

  • And now for some history:
Ed Hookstratten in 1950
  • For years, I’ve meant to talk about Ed Hookstratten but never gotten around to it. He came to USC from Whittier High School on an athletic scholarship in 1948, where he was a teammate of Bob Boyd on the basketball team and a left-handed pitcher for Rod Dedeaux.

“The first couple weeks at USC I felt lonely and out of place,” Hookstratten said. “I guess I was still in awe of all the tall buildings.
“But there was something about the athletic department. It was like a family. And the longer you’re part of the family, the better family member you become.”

During this time, Hookstratten developed an admiration for baseball coach Rod Dedeaux.

“As a coach he is second to none; he spreads goodwill wherever he goes. He’s helped me so much in the area of character and desire — helping me get the most out of myself.”

Hookstratten became a legendary sports and entertainment attorney. Among his clients were Elvis Presley, Johnny Carson, Vin Scully, Tom Brokaw, Dick Enberg, Tom Snyder, Don Meredith, Marcus Allen, Pat Riley, John Robinson, Chuck Knox, George Allen and Bryant Gumbel.

He was a dominant agent on the local L.A. news scene with Paul Moyer, Ann Martin, Colleen Williams and Jim Hill among his clients.

Hookstratten introduced Scully to his wife, Sandi, and was the best man at their wedding. He even had a character named after him, Lt. Bob Hookstratten (Fred Willard) in the 1984 film, “This is Spinal Tap.”

His first wife was actress Pat Crowley, who starred in the TV series, “Please Don’t Eat The Daisies.”

Pat Crowley

Hookstratten chaired fundraising on Dedeaux Field in 1971 and loved USC.

“I admit. I remain very pro-USC,” he said. “I’m almost neurotic on the subject. The lessons it taught me, particularly in dealing with people, they’re something I’ll never be able to totally pay back.”

  • Note that Hookstratten talked about the athletic dept. being like a family. That was a hallmark of USC. It’s gone now. But for decades it was a pervasive feeling among fans, athletes, boosters, employees, etc.
  • Gorgeous George was one of the most famous wrestlers in history and a national celebrity on par with Lucille Ball and Bob Hope. He was the first wrestling TV star. And he was known for his elaborate robes and many were designed by Kay Cantowine, a USC student.

“Gorgeous, I must call him Gorgeous, demands only the best material in his robes,” Cantowine said. “He’ll reject any robe that has inferior material or doesn’t suit his taste. We usually discuss the plans for his robes with his wife, and, confidentially, even he is sometimes shocked by the results.”

Don Clark in 1950 at Baltimore Memorial Stadium, where USC played Navy

The Battle of the Bulge started on Dec. 16, 1944. Don Clark played football at USC in 1942 before joining the Army. Clark was only 20 when he fought in the Battle of the Bulge. He lost six fillings in his teeth when a German 88 mm artillery shell went off near him.

After the war, Clark returned to USC and played football in 1946-47. He became a USC assistant coach for five years and was the Trojans’ head coach in 1957-59. He should also get credit for hiring John McKay as an assistant coach in 1959.

VIDEOS OF THE WEEK

  • Dick Van Dyke turned 98 last week. Here is an iconic dance number from his 1964 film, “Mary Poppins.” Former USC All-American Cotton Warburton won an Academy Award for film editing on Mary Poppins, including this scene.
  • Christmas is coming, so here’s Darlene Love, who for years appeared with David Letterman to sing “Christmas (Baby Please Come Home).”

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

  1. As far as Will Howard is concerned, USC better plan on rolling out the Brinks truck. He’s going to go with the money and there are other programs talking to him. That’s why he still hasn’t signed. Personally, I’m not convinced we are going to get him.

    Liked by 2 people

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  2. Scott: I saw Gin patiently escorting an elderly gentleman who could barely walk to the event.

    According to a source, the old guy was a diaper-wearing troll who posts under the username pasadenatrojan…….aka The drooler

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      1. speaking of unload!…………what’s going on with that diaper…….that load is hanging halfway down your leg

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      2. 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 never progressed past the anal stage of development.

        Anal stage, in Freudian psychoanalytic theory, the period in a child’s psychosexual development during which the child’s main concerns are with the processes of elimination. The anal stage, generally the second and third years of life, is held to be significant for the child’s later development because the acquisition of bowel control is presumed to be connected to other forms of self-control, such as cleanliness and orderliness.

        Liked by 1 person

      4. Pasadena,
        Gabby has been reduced to one life goal — being hated.
        #He’sAHUGESuccess
        #[He’llReachHisPersonalCrescendoOnChristmasDay….
        #…It’sJustWhoHeIs]…..

        Liked by 2 people

      2. Senile Joe has some new Depends for you, 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

      3. Gabby thinks the authentic video of Biden is faked [like the moon landing and the state bar site] but the puppet-toon of Trump is real….
        #WhatCanYouSayToAGuyLikeThat?

        Liked by 1 person

      2. You will see videos like this popping up throughout 2024 —- angry citizens articulating their frustration with BOTH establishment parties (as led by Schumer….. and McConnell)….
        Gabby and people like him will be seen as dinosaurs defending the old order…..
        #PopulismIsTheNewWave…
        #…Here…&ThroughoutEurope
        #TheScamIsOver,Gabby

        Liked by 1 person

      2. 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 Coward!

        Plow Horse
        JUNE 23, 2023 AT 2:02 AM
        Instead of Gabby and Fake Gabby how about Gabby and Chickensh*t Gabby. This way there will be no doubt who is who.

        Boxing gym in Pasadena, CA – name a date you foul mouth chickensh*t. I want a piece of you.

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  5. Scooter,

    I love this song and with Darlene Love singing it. You can never go wrong with this. Ms. Love is from Hawthorne, CA, and she led many bands and backed up for Phil Spector on many projects. I think she is infinitly better than Marya Cary. But that is my opinion

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    1. After a shooting at a grammar school in Stockton [which killed many youngsters], Michael Jackson visited the school and handed out autographed photos to the surviving students. Paul Moyer ran the tape and smilingly commented [wait for it] “All’s well that ends well!”
      #NeverToppedForAbjectStupidity…
      #[…AlthoughIt’sGivenGabbyAStandardToShootForEveryday]…

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    2. I remember Moyer broadcasting after an earthquake. He had no idea what to say or do without a script. He panicked and predictably began yelling at his co-anchor and staff.

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      1. I remember going into The Daily Grill on Sunset [or San Vincente] by UCLA and seeing Moyer sitting at a booth by himself eating a hamburger, staring at the floor….. he looked like a completely miserable guy…
        #Hey,Look…IDidn’tSayAnythingBadAboutGabby….
        #….IWillNotBeTheOneToBreakTheChristmasCeaseFire!

        Liked by 1 person

      2. Point Of Order: The Official Ceasefire went into effect at 11am [Hawaiian Time] on December 22, 2023…..
        #Let’sSeeHowLongItLasts

        Liked by 1 person

      3. Quit trying to call balls and strike!. Once your butt-sniff grabbbyy goes away a ceasefire might be in the cards. Until then, it’s status quo

        Tell us about Sola, was she the one who ruined your marriage to the first Susan……don’t lie, I have my sources!

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      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’s whole existence is one big lie. We don’t believe anything you have ever said here. You lie like a Biden

        Liked by 1 person

  7. Nice piece on Ed Hookstratten who never forgot how SC taught him
    “how to deal with people,” a subject I am sure he knew well being such a successful high-profile agent. Not many of those kind of loyal Trojans today

    And Dick Van Dyke, still a marvel all these years,
    “Ain’t it a glorious day, bright as a morning in May, I think that I could fly”

    Liked by 1 person

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      1. too bad you’re a limp-dick brain-dead MAGAT.

        TRUMP FOR PRISOM! (just for my bitch budda)

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      4. Such a lonely old man who has lived an empty life to the point that he has to start trolling a thrid-rate blog at 4:00am every day, for the past 10 years, to feel better about this pathetic situation. Claims to be married, but records say differently!…

        Like

      5. Plow Horse
        JUNE 23, 2023 AT 2:50 AM
        Hey chickensh*t Gabby: You called me out when you brought my wife and mother into it. You would never do that face to face and you know it. You are the one who knows nothing about street etiquette. So stop acting like I need to canvass the homeless encampments trying to find you. Be a man. Pasadena boxing gym – give me a date pussy boy. Have the balls to tell me about my wife and mother to my face.

        Liked by 1 person

  8. Georgia might be paying Williams “only” $825K, but I think USC is probably contractually obligated to continue paying Williams the difference until the contract expires. That’s why Helton isn’t all that unhappy being paid a fraction of what his USC salary was.

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      3. Why ae you such a Coward, 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?

        Gabby (original)
        JUNE 23, 2023 AT 3:14 AM
        Why in the fuck would I drive to LA to give you an ass whipping. You’re the one who wants a piece of me, dipshit. Let me know when you can make it….I am giving you the chance to prove you have the balls to come get me…your pussy boy slooo cal lost his ball. Fuck your wife and mother…

        Liked by 1 person

      5. Sure you are, 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. You are a lying piece of dung like your role model Senile Joe. Such a bad day for you both!

        Liked by 1 person

      7. Yes you are, 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. How Satanic of you to constantly lie here. You serve your Master well.

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      8. I swear to you I’m not. I don’t know if any of the other guys are the same person but I’m not connected to any of them.
        I can say this with certainty. You are merely speculating and you are wrong about this.
        I’m trying to help you out here, buddy.

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  9. What Wolf left out of his note about Vivian Iwuchukwu signing with USC was that ESPN has USC’s recruiting class ranked # 1 and that was BEFORE Iwuchukwu signed

    USC signed seven players, six of them are top 100 caliber players

    All rankings come from ESPN

    Kennedy Smith, Forward/Wing # 6
    Avery Howell, Guard/Wing # 23
    Kayleigh Heckel, Guard # 28
    Vivian Iwuchukwu, Forward # 47
    Rian Forestier, Guard # 53
    Laura Williams, Forward # 89

    Liked by 1 person

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    1. I’m wondering if there’s some technical difficulty involved in eliminating the photos —my guess is Scott would bid adieu to the photos if it just entailed pushing a button….

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      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 as popular as Senile Joe:

        Like

      1. And trump has what to offer the people? …. A Hilter mindset, and vengeful retiliation…. That sounds like a winner at the ballot box. You fools never learn…… Keep digging another grave…. While the DEMS laugh their ass off. I have yet to hear any economic platform from trump…. O wait, repukes don’t care about kitchen table issues!

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      2. 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 Trump will act like this Dictator:

        Liked by 1 person

    1. It’s obvious you are 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

      Gabby (original)
      JUNE 22, 2023 AT 5:04 PM
      Any news on the next peenus sword fight tournament. My little clown show act, sloooo troll, wants to enter. Since he’s a little light in the shorts the shar pei said he can borrow her new dildo, “Tiny”, to use in combat….sweeeeeet!

      Like

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