FOOTBALL

USC Morning Buzz: Do Not Disturb, Genius At Work

Lincoln Riley has done what he probably wanted to do from Day 1 in his first season at USC and closed practices to the media.

Personally, I don’t think this matters much because he only allowed the media to watch 15 minutes of stretching and individual drills at two practices a week.

But it does show that the $10 million man is feeling the heat and looking for even more ways to sequester himself in his little bubble. He gets driven to USC every morning, parks right outside the McKay Center, goes to his office and doesn’t interact with most of the rank-and-file staff in the building.

Then he walks to football practice across the street, goes back to the office and gets driven back to Palos Verdes. Does he even know where Tommy Trojan is?

He doesn’t want outsiders to watch even 15 minutes of his 4-4 team’s workouts. Even some former USC players have complained to me about how hard it was for them to attend a practice. The guy loves a bunker mentality.

It’s OK when you win. But when you are doing a lousy job at USC, it comes off as another petty decision from the Smug Genius.

  • This was an interesting tidbit Monday. Former USC All-American Su’a Cravens said he cannot “stand” former coach Steve Sarkisian and he was not allowed to “interview with certain media groups” because he wouldn’t “protect him or his problem” back in 2015.

Can we get a comment from Tim Tessalone on this?

  • Safety Bryson Shaw was awarded the game ball for the Rutgers game. He should have been given it the week before when Lincoln Riley made him appear at the post-Maryland game press conference despite the fact he barely played.

31 thoughts on “USC Morning Buzz: Do Not Disturb, Genius At Work”

  1. It would appear the lincoln is now an edsel. We have watched him basically become more and more arrogant towards all. He must think people who watch what little practice they did see are calling all the plays during games. Prepare for a 5-7 season

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      1. so very talented but abysmal record….Not to mention that they miss the top 3 teams in the conference along with the 5th ans 6th best team. Or, OSU, In,…Iowa, Ill. So they play the cellar plus #4 PSU and that was at home. Talk about the dream schedule for your first year in the Big 10. And they are 4-4. With talent…I’d say that’s a crappy job of coaching.

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  5. Hiding in the basement worked for Joe in 2020. Kamala is using a slightly modified version of it this year and it’s working for her, too, according to many polls. So why shouldn’t Riley hide in the basement? When you don’t have a lot to offer, it’s the best strategy.

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    1. F U C K YOU!!!!……………………..You and trump both need a good a s s whipping….you’re nothing but a racist sack of s h i t who hides behind the keyboard running her mouth 24/7….

      A vote for trump is a vote for racism…….feel proud!

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      1. Plow Horse

        AUGUST 31, 2024 AT 9:42 PM

        I thought Gabby said a few days back that he was going to the USC marching band pep rally today at the Palms at 2:00 and wanted to “meet up” with Scott. Instead, he spent the day trolling the blog. Once again a threat followed by a no show.

        That’s our Cowardly Gabby.

        All talk, no walk.

        https://x.com/frank144/status/1851353642751664454

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  7. Defensive coordinators can review hundreds of hours of film in preparation for a game if they want to. Their key players review film too. Are they now going to study what the opposing team did in practice and scheme for it. I doubt it. Not enough time in the day.

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  8. With Wiley’s instant success at Oklahoma, 3 Playoff teams in a row, this undoubtedly is the first time he has had to deal with criticism and that is criticism with a ‘C’. Fans will do what they want but the ‘C’ probably doesn’t help Trojan matters

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  9. For example, a couple of 5-Star footballers are discussing which colleges to check out, ‘Naah, not looking into SC too negiative there–everybody hates the coach

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  10. Interesting how even losing teams in the Midwest sell out every game, and yet SC ends up half-full at the Coliseum the other night which proves the axiom “Win, and they will come”

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    1. It was a freaking Friday night at 8pm.

      I was there and most fans were outside watching/listening to Dodgers game.

      There were tons of events Friday.

      Stop the stupid narrative.

      Season ticket holder since the 80s.

      I liked to know when the last time all these fake USC supporters attended game in person.

      Enough already.

      Not an apolgist either.

      SC has some issues but winning solves everything, just remember reaction after LSU upset victory.

      Peace.

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      1. STOP THE WHINING AND CRYING…….YOU SOUND LIKE A 5 YEAR OLD……..QUIT WATCHING IF IT CHAPS YOUR A S S ….REAL SIMPLE

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  11. KAM: Being silly for a minute here, but did you know that the missing link between animal and civilized man is us?

    DON: Ha, I rather like the saying of “If heaven made him earth can find some use for him

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  12. SC could be 2-6 and not 4-4, with LSU and Wisconsin being possible losses. Or they could be 8-0 figuring every game was winnable up to the last moments. Maybe won-loss records are not the true test of a team’s achievements

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  13. He just needs to win. Everyone is different and being a social bug is not a mandate for success. I don’t care if he is the nicest, most accessible person at USC, if he does not win, nobody would want to see his loser face anyway.

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  14. Unlike politicians who only have half the people hating them, Wiley has all the people hating him, and it obviously is getting to him

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  15. At the new Yankee Stadium with the Dodgers last night the fans in the infamous right field bleachers chanted, “F— you Freddie” right before he deposited a home run into their midst. The Times’ Plaschke called them the ‘bleacher creatures’

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    1. Screw the Yankmee fans/ team and their false sense of entitlement. Constantly whining about balls/strikes- the bad strike zone is going both ways. As for Freddy- so happy he could drop 3 HR’s on em the last 3 games- maybe go for a 4th tonight?

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  16. Pretty interesting comment for Sua given he is part of the official use youtube pregame. I wonder if he keeps the job for airing dirty laundry.

    Did Lincoln have this bunker mentality at OK when he was winning a lot. Did he interact with staff, former players, boosters?

    I know he came up in the OK program and I imagine the people there are more culturally similar to him.

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  17. Why the sudden fuss over Wiley closing practices, this is the practice of most college teams. Carrot was the exception as his practices were always open, but he probably figured that with the teams he had it didn’t matter if the opposition knew what was coming

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  18. KAM: It’s probably good this political race to be president is winding down because the constant attention to our differences is polarizing the nation even worse. It’s insanity

    DON: It may be ‘insanity’ but it has become the American Way

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  19. Hey Little Man, I have a serious quest for you. Does it make you feel empowered to attack an accomplished football coach who makes $10 mil a year. What if people began to criticize your sports podcast ability. Oh yeah, they do, right?

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