FOOTBALL

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

A lot of USC fans are happy because defensive coordinator D’Anton Lynn received a contract extension.

Now that Lynn is committed to USC for at least another season, let’s see if he can improve the pass defense and produce a defense that actually shuts down the opponent in crunch time.

  • Former USC tailback Austin Jones, who was playing for the Trojans in 2023, has been named head coach at Lakeside High School in Lake Elsinore. It’s an out-of-the-box hire but Jones was well-liked at Stanford and USC so maybe it will work.
  • Former USC player/coach Lenny Vandermade has been named associate head coach to Carson Palmer at Santa Margarita High School. He has been the head coach at St. Ignatius in San Francisco.
  • This conversation was actually overheard yesterday at the Business School.

“Bro, how was Pete Carroll’s class?”

“Bro, I’m not in that class.”

  • And now for some history:
  • In 1976, USC games on KNX had Tom Kelly on play-by-play and Bud Tucker as the analyst. I’m not exactly going out on a limb by saying Friday nights on the road were probably more interesting than what happened on the field Saturday afternoon.

I have a soft spot for any color photo of USC basketball in their beautiful road uniforms in the 1970’s. This picture is from the 1977 USC-Washington State game.

  • The Motion Picture Electrical Parade at the Coliseum on Sept. 25, 1932. Proceeds went to both the Motion Picture Relief Fund and Marion Davies Foundation.

USC’s seniors on the 1975 basketball team. Top row: John Lambert and Clint Chapman. Bottom row: Biff Burrell and Gus Williams.

  • I asked a teammate of Gus Williams (above) for any memories of the Trojan great, who died this week.

“Gus was easy going, personable, and a better person than he was as an NBA All-Star and NBA champion.”

It wasn’t all roses for Williams at USC, however. He was demoted to the junior varsity just before the start his sophomore season and even though he was a starter by the end of that season, pondered transferring. One reason was being homesick.

“Being away from didn’t help,” Williams said. “I was away from New York and I missed my people a lot.”

Williams remained at USC and averaged 15.5 and 21.2 points the next two seasons.

Williams went to Mt. Vernon High School, which produced him and his brother, Ray Williams, who was a first-round pick by the New York Knicks and spent 12 seasons in the NBA. It was also the home of Rodney and Scooter McCray, who won an NCAA title at Louisville in 1980.

VIDEO OF THE WEEK

  • For the second straight week, it’s SCTV and one of its best-ever skits: Perry Como Still Alive.

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

    1. You’re a f-ing freeeeak….. troll-ing your own blog with political BS to generate hits….. p u p.p e t master

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  2. Today January 17, MLK Day, extends beyond one leader, but rather is a celebratiuon of what Black culture brought to America the past several centuries. Despite an unwelcome greeting when first arriving, they have pulled themselves up in every field– from providing danceable music to being acrobats on a football field

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      1. MLK said “judge one not by the color of their skin but by the content of their character.”

        Mayor Bass said “DEI is my first priority. Every decision will be made through the lens of diversity, equity, and inclusion.”

        These are contradictory philosophies. MLK was race neutral which allowed for a free enterprise Capitalistic system. Bass favors a Communist model where the State, not the market, decides what is an equitable income and who is deserving of a government contract or job based on things such as skin color and gender.

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  3. Wish there was more to discuss when it comes to SC basketball, but the Trojans were dwarfed by the great 1964-1974 Wooden teams and they never really recovered

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    1. I believe it was the 1971 USC hoops team that went 24-2, Paul Westphal, Ron Riley, Mo Layton. Perhaps they would have gone far in the tourney if more than one team per conference was admitted.

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      1. Yes, ’67, 24-2 was SC that year and both losses were to ucla, although the first one at the Sports Arena, 64-60, the team could have won

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  4. So New York Gus Williams was homesick for New York; not sure which is the greater culture shock– New York to L.A. or L.A. to New York

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  5. Vandermade was a volunteer coach at USC over 20 years ago. Decided to make coaching his career. He is now in his mid forties and has accepted a job as an assistant high school coach. Not much of a career projectory. Coaching is a difficult profession. Lots of hours, competition for jobs, and the majority of coaches make a substandard living.

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  6. Um, if I’m not mistaken, the defense stopped Texas A&M on the last series in the Vegas Bowl, that wasn’t good enough for you?

    If it’s only because of the posts such as the ones for Gus Johnson, your crap would be unnecessary to read.

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      1. Why not? 33-37% actually “approve” of the worst President ever!

        Too stubborn to admit what a horrible mistake they made. That’s what it is! No way ANYONE could approve of his performance.

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      2. I am thrill about the D’Anton Lynn contract extension. Our scheme was much better and we tackled better under Lynn. The injury to Eric Gentry hurt our defense. He was our big play guy. We will get him back next year along with some huge run stoppers. Our defense is on the right track. The biggest problem now seems to be the offense. Inconsistent quarterback play, too many turnovers, poor play calling and game management and perhaps some holes on the offensive line. Notwithstanding all of these concerns, it could all fall in place. That is the beauty of sports – the Cubs will get them next year.

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  7. 5 star QB USC commit Husan Longstreet looks very good in first half of the Polynesian Bowl. Roughly 16 of 23, 200 plus yards passing, 3 TDs. During practice, he threw a ball nearly 80 yards.

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  8. KAM: Pretty amazing how you and I each drew about 50-million votes. That’s close. I wonder how we could steal about 5000 from each other’s side?

    DON: By combining the best from each party and forming a 3rd Party, but it’ll never happen

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  9. KAM: Who you like Monday, Notre Dame or Ohio St?

    DON: If I were a betting man, which I’m not as the President, I have to say that as much as I ‘love Notre Dame its Ohio St’s to lose. If they played 10 successive games, the ‘Bucks would be 8-2 on the Irish

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  10. KAM: What do you think of SC’s chances going into next season?

    DON: The talent is good although not quite great. But Wiley, that’s my joke name for him, can win with less. But he’ll be paid either way

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  11. DON: Not to rub it in, but it’s nearly ‘Inaguration time’

    KAM: –Can’t wait, I just love crowds and parties. I only wish I was hosting it

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