FOOTBALL

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

The George Kliavkoff Era officially ended Thursday for the Pac-12.

He leaves with a multi-million dollar severance package despite presiding over the demise of the conference.

You can blame other people too, especially the university presidents, but when did Kliavkoff do one thing that assured the future of the Pac-12? When did he ever make a decision that rivaled the survival skills of Big 12 commissioner Brett Yormark, who was in a worse position after Oklahoma and Texas left for the SEC?

Kliavkoff was a do-nothing who was over his head. And many in the media wrote puff pieces about him until it was too late to expose his incompetence.

And now for some history:

  • Apparently in 1968, you had to put a notice in the paper to tell football players when to show up for the first spring practice at USC.

STAT OF THE DAY

  • In 1974, the freshmen acceptance rate for high school seniors at USC was 93 percent. In 2024, it will be a record-low 9.2 percent.

  • Imagine going back to the weekend of March 10-12, 1972. There were some great performances: USC forward Ron Riley (above) scored 27 points and grabbed 22 rebounds against UCLA (and Bill Walton no less) at the Sports Arena.

Fred Lynn had two home runs, a triple and three doubles in a three-game series with Fresno State. The USC track team, coached by Vern Wolfe, won the NCAA Indoor title at Cobo Arena in Detroit as Doug Lane (shot put), Henry Jackson (triple jump) and Henry Hines (long jump) won individual NCAA titles. It was USC’s 27th NCAA title in track.

And after all that, you could go see a double feature of “It Came From Outer Space” and “Night Of The Living Dead” at the Park Theater, which was next to Langer’s Deli. That’s a weekend that can’t be duplicated today.

  • USC signed 17 players for its 1973 football recruiting class. The headliners: Ricky Bell (All-American); Rob Hertel; Donnie Hickman (All-Pac-8); Gary Jeter (All-American) and Marvin Powell (All-American). Note that USC signed four quarterbacks.
  • Here’s the underappreciated Hickman (61) blocking for QB Vince Evans against Pitt in 1974.
  • On Signing Day in 1982, USC coach John Robinson held a scholarship for strong safety Barry Larkin of powerhouse Moeller High School in Cincinnati. Larkin eventually signed with Michigan but during his freshman year decided to exclusively play baseball, where he was a 2-time All-American. Larkin then became a 12-time All-Star shortstop for the Cincinnati Reds and National League MVP in 1995.
The 1973 Rose Bowl capped an undefeated for USC as it defeated Ohio State, 42-17. Sam Cunningham (39) scored 4 touchdowns in the game.
  • Track and field used to be a major sport in the United States and there was not a more intense breed of sports writer than those who covered the sport. Here’s a tribute to sports writer Maxwell Stiles, a USC graduate.
  • Last week I wrote about Herman Hill, the first African-American basketball player at USC (1928-31), who also led a fascinating life. The USC Marshall School of Business did a nice article this week on Hill.

An interesting tidbit from the story: Hill became a mentor to Jackie Robinson and in 1942, Hill arranged for Jackie Robinson to try out with the Chicago White Sox in Pasadena during spring training, five years before he signed with the Dodgers.

The day Robinson signed with the Dodgers, he called Hill — who was a sports writer — to give him the scoop.

VIDEOS OF THE WEEK

A double feature this week, starting with Sweet performing “Ballroom Blitz” on New Year’s Eve in 1974.

And it’s Nick Lowe with “Cruel To Be Kind.”

PICTURE OF THE WEEK

  • Actress Nancy Hsueh was one of the first Asian-American actresses to have a lead role in a TV series, when she starred in the soap opera “Love Is a Many-Splendored Thing” in 1967.

Hsueh’s character was written out the series within a year when CBS censors became uncomfortable with the show’s portrayal of an interracial romance. Fast fact: She attended UCLA.

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

      1. Thanks for the reminder!
        #”WasIReallyThePersonWhoSaid&DidThoseThings?”
        —Francis Urquert In British version of “House of Cards”

        Liked by 1 person

    3. George got in after the damage had already been started. The true villain is Larry, who had been running the Pac 12 for many years. He was the failure, along with the member Presidents, including SC, who did nothing and allowed Larry to set up TV rights and so on.

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      2. Of course we know the story. All of the Larry issues were constantly in the public domain.

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    4. Yeah, well done, Scott — Ron Riley, Nancy Hsueh, Langer’s Deli, Vince Evans, Herman Hill. Reminders of a better time.
      Actually, double well done for finding and publishing that Tribute to Maxwell Stiles.

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  2. George Klivaloff..another in a long line of punk ass corporate schmucks who know how to get paid well for failing. And the people that hired him? The usual “We used a Search Firm and he looked good on paper”. Change the name and Cut and Paste this comment on the next guy (or gal).

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    1. Pac 10 Commissioner Tom Hansen was the dummy who first sent the Pac 12 on the way to oblivion when he was snookered by the Fiesta Bowl, Sugar Bowl and Orange Bowl into giving up the Rose Bowl’s Granddaddy of Them All status and joined the Bowl Alliance after the 1997 season.

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      1. Listen up members, only alumni and former players can talk about USC athletics, according to the blog Dunce.

        Already whining and crying because you took the bait and look like a troll. There you have it Mr. 3-speed……..slow slower and slowest!

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      2. That is not what I wrote, you idiot.

        It’s amazing that people can write one thing and you will claim it says something entirely different. No one stupider on this blog.

        Liked by 1 person

      4. And BTW, a troll is a person who throws shit out there just to get attention. That would be you and everyone on this blog knows it. Quit lying to yourself.

        You cried above about my post. And when you cry AND LIE, I’ll comment on it any time I like. As Grabbbyy said, your wish is that you can talk shit and we won’t give it back. That’s why you like to claim it’s bait. It’s a childish attempt to talk shit without getting it back.

        Liked by 1 person

      5. …… trolling is when you post political BS no one wants to read on a sports blog

        looks like you’re the real troll…..OUCH!

        (I enjoy playing the bait game with you, your narcissism can’t resist).

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      6. I love calling out your crying, lies and bullshit for what they are. Including it being “bait”. MG told you to give up. Unlike many others, I’m not going anywhere. But you’re too stupid to take his advice. So keep crying and I’ll keep laughing at it. Cuz that’s all you’re doing in most of your posts, no matter how much you lie about it.

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  5. That picture of Neanderthal-powered players on the national champion 1974 team indicates “men only” are allowed on a college football field

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      4. Uncle Rico WAS ready to come back ….until….. roughly the 5 minute mark of last night’s game…..
        #…WhenUSCLookedUp,SawTheyWereAhead….AndQuit

        Liked by 1 person

  6. Ron Riley from the past, another forgotten SC basketball hero.
    Problem has been sucla with its perpetually beating SC, but no more

    There have some great Trojan ‘ballers– my favorie is Harold Miner
    I met him once and was surprised he was only an inch taller than me at 6’2″ because he played ‘tall’ easily dunking and going all-out all the time and “doing it with style”

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    1. Problem has been USC AD’s hiring incompetent and underachieving coaches and AD’s firing the few competent ones like Stan Morrison. UCLA hasn’t dominated since the 1970s.

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  7. Vern Wolfe, another name I seldom think of because he has been gone a long time, but with innovations such as the use of weight-training aids in track, he led SC to win 7 track national championships
    over a 20-year Trojan career

    In the last of his 78-years he discussed how the “fun” had been taken out of track with the influx of enhancing stimulants, under-the-table payments and the competing shoe contracts.

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    1. While we’re on the subject of “enhancing stimulants” let’s talk more about Langer’s Deli: Best Pastrami and Corned Beef on rye sandwiches ever….
      #AndTheirChocolateMaltWithRawEggWasOuttaThisWorld
      #[IProsecutedTheRevolutionaryCommunistParty…
      #ForBlockingTheEntranceToLanger’sOnMayDay1980]…..

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      4. I like most foods especially fruits and vegetables, but don’t like pastrami, corned beef or rye bread, but have it!

        Liked by 1 person

      5. — not many people wanna go on living if the majority of their body parts aren’t working…
        #[I’mTryingToSetUpABidenJoke —AnyTakers?]…..

        Liked by 1 person

      7. Jimmy Webb was most likely munching on one of those sandwiches when he observed McArthur Park melting in the dark, its sweet green icing flowing down. Lots of oldsters deteriorating on this park benches back then. I preferred the fare at Canter’s where one could enjoy a cheese blintz while watching the hippie and associated oddballs gathering across the street at the Free Press Bookstore.

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      8. Rushmore,
        I said the same things [but I said them about the young, healthy panhandlers lining Telegraph Avenue] to the Bay area’s “Attorney of the Year” in 1995. He began musing out loud about the moral gulf that separated us….he being on the righteous side, me on the despicable side….
        #IDidn’tRealizeItThen….
        #…But…
        #IWasSeeingTheBeginningsOfTheNEWCalifornia
        #ThankYou,CaliforniaElites!
        #KeepUpTheGoodWork!

        Liked by 1 person

  9. Talk about different realities, the Eastern Sierra Range, a mere 300-miles north of Los Angeles will have 10-12 feet of snow with winds up to 140 mph in the highest peaks. I don’t believe a man can remain standing in the face of such winds

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    2. John,
      btw, remember the Woody Allen scene where he visits the future and is told fruits and vegetables are frowned on ….cuz … they’ve discovered hot fudge and fried food are more nutritious?

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      2. I don’t remember most of the movies you talk about MG, but I do recall that line and how my steak-and-cake addicted wife turned to me and said, “See, I was right”

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  10. Funny stuff. Or George Carlin asking “Do you know why hurricanes have names instead of numbers?– To keep the killing personal. No one cares about a bunch of people killed by a number. ‘200 Dead as Number-3 Hurricane slams ashore’ is not nearly as interesting a headline as “Charlie kills 200.”
    Death is much more satisfying and enertaining if you personalize it

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    1. On the subject of naming things that are about to inflict serious carnage…perhaps the best line in “Armageddon”:

      Karl: Sir, I’m retired navy, I know all about classified. But one more thing. The person who finds her gets to name her right?

      Dan: Yes, yes that’s right, that’s right.

      Karl: I wanna name her Dottie after my wife. She’s a vicious life-sucking bitch from which there is no escape.

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      3. ok…I’ll buy that explanation….
        #….It’sEasierThanWatchingBruceGiveHisLifeAgain….

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  12. $111k a day in interest……ouch!……He’s basically said, “I am a financial fraud”.

    How long can you continue to rob Peter to pay Paul…… small-dollar donations are down 64%. Looks like that percentage finally woke up! ….

    #PanicMode.

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    1. Panic mode:

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      2. I’m waiting for that hate-filled, humorless motherfuck to slip at some point & just blurt out “How can I accomplish election interference if the court gives the defendant time to prepare for each pretrial motion separately? Can’t you just schedule them for tomorrow & deny them all at once?”

        Liked by 1 person

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