FOOTBALL

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

USC is offering a hot dog and drink on Saturday for $10 from 6:30-7:30 p.m. at the Coliseum in an effort to get fans into the stadium early against Michigan State. You would think the Trojans are hosting Ohio State this week, not a 17-point underdog.

  • Did you see a USC fan survey completed this month said, “A strong majority (nearly 70% of students) thought the balance between the band and DJ was “perfect.” This is higher than the season-ticket holder ratings, and fans can expect adjustments in the diversity and timing of song selections in future games.”

No specifics but obviously the older fans want less DJ. And I haven’t spoken to a student who thinks the balance is perfect.

  • USC mistakenly said two weeks ago the band would play the theme from “Jaws” on third downs but it’s actually just played over the loud speakers and easy to not even notice.
  • USC women’s basketball coach Lindsay Gottlieb said Thursday that “JuJu (Watkins) is going to be back at some point” but did not say if it would be this season.
  • And now for some history:
  • I want to tell a good story about Ken Matsuda and Vern Wolfe. They were USC track and field’s version of John McKay and Dave Levy, an elite head coach and the right-hand man who was hugely influential within the program and should have become head coach but did not.
Vern Wolfe and Ken Matsuda

Matsuda and Wolfe started coaching together in 1961 at San Jose State during the Speed City era and they reunited at USC for five NCAA titles.

Matsuda coached USC’s sprinters and jumpers from 1966-84. That means people like Olympic gold medalist long jumper Randy Williams; Lennox Miller, the silver medalist in the 100 in 1968 and bronze medalist in 1972 and Don Quarrie, who won four Olympic medals including gold in the 200 meters in 1976.

Now for the story: When USC won the NCAA championship in 1967, the meet was held at BYU. During some free time, Matsuda went trout fishing outside Provo.

USC easily won the meet by 46 points over Oregon with a star-studded team that featured Miller, McCullough, pole vaulter Bob Seagren, discus thrower Gary Carlsen and the world-record relay team of McCullouch, Fred Kuller, O.J. Simpson and Miller.

Matsuda gave some of the trout he caught to Wolfe, who packed them in dry ice and brought them on the plane back to Los Angeles. After the plane departed, Wolfe realized he had the fish but forgot to bring the NCAA championship trophy. Oops!

It was left abandoned on a seat of the bus that took the coaches to the Salt Lake City airport.

The following Monday at the weekly track writers’ luncheon, a club coach said, “I believe I have something Vern Wolfe wants” and presented a package to Wolfe that contained the trophy, which Wolfe is holding below.

The 1967 NCAA championship USC track and field team with coaches Vern Wolfe and Ken Matsuda.
  • One story that goes around the track program was that when big-time football player arrived at USC as a two-sport star in high school, he focused solely on football because he knew how hard Matsuda would make him train.
  • Mike Garrett rushed for 94 yards but No. 2-ranked USC was upset, 17-7, at Michigan State in 1964.

“They did a great job on us,” John McKay said afterward. “We tried a thousand ways to fool (Don) Japinga, their defensive back, and we never did.”

  • Do you think anything will be produced this week to match the cover of the 1964 USC-Michigan State game program?
  • Who remembers the 1988 Rose Bowl? I was there and all I remember is the end of the game when USC fumbled a snap and the ball somehow went 15 yards down the field to the Michigan State secondary.

USC ended up losing, 20-17, but it was Larry Smith’s first season and there was a lot of excitement around the program following the firing of Ted Tollner the previous season.

VIDEO OF THE WEEK

In honor of Robert Redford, it’s a scene from one of his best movies, “Three Days of the Condor.”

PICTURE OF THE WEEK

Jane Greer. Watch her in the classic “Out of the Past.”

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

  1. Gary Carlsen was the RA on third floor Trojan Hall my freshman year. He was an amazing physical specimen, Atlas like. One fall Friday evening one of the older guys on the floor took up a collection and bought a couple of cases of beer which were deposited in my dorm room. Word got out and the door remained open as several dorm dwellers joined the party. Unexpectedly Gary appeared in the doorway with a scowl on his face. We all fell silent expecting a lecture or worse. Gary, still scowling said, “What the hell are you guys thinking? Having a beer party! And not inviting me.” Laughter and a huge sigh of relief followed as Gary came into the room, helped himself to a beer, and jones the party. Great guy.

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      1. That would be very nice –but I’m not sure our defense is gonna be able to hold up their end of the deal….

        #…WeShouldWin,Though…

        #…And,Then,It’sOnToAHugeGameAtIllinois

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  3. That is OJ to the left of Wolfe in the picture above. Quite a year for Juice in 1967, helping to win SC national championships in track and football

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    1. There’s no “8” in 32.

      Just as there’s no “4” in David. (Maybe that kid will learn how to spell while he’s in prison, for killing that young girl.)

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  4. KAM: The DJ at the USC home games ruins the game experience. DJ Mal-Ski, whose real name is Jamal McCoy, is not a student at USC. He went to CSUN. He has no affiliation to USC. None whatsoever. He is a professional DJ, the hired help, just like Riley Coyote, and just as incompetent and annoying. What educrat decided to get rid of USC students leading the cheers and replacing them with this fingernail on the chalkboard?

    DON: Bring back the student yell leaders. After all, the games are supposed to be for the students and alumni.

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    1. Finally, a non-hyserical comment is squeezed out of The Exaggerator. Even if they played my favorite tunes at an SC football game I wouldn’t think it appropriate. I want to hear SC songs, and that’s it

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    2. WOLF POSTING ABOUT THE INTERACTION BETWEEN THE BAND AND THE DJ IS A PATHETIC EXAMPLE OF WHAT HE CONSIDERS RELEVANT CONTENT.

      NO ONE POSTING ON THIS SITE GOES TO THE GAMES……TOOOOO JUNNNNNY!!!!!

      WAIT, SLO CAL WILL CLAIM HE’S STILL A SEASON TICKET HOLDER. HE TOLD US 10 DIFFERENT STORIES ABOUT BEING A TICKET HOLDER THAT ALL CONTRADICT EACH OTHER.

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      2. KAM: Cowardly Gabby aka aka Charlie Bucket the UCLA Fan aka TebowObama aka The Guy who posts as So Cal’s Wife & Michael Guarino & LawyerJohn & Pudly & Plow Horse & steveg49 & DOJ & Scott Wolf & Kathy & Foreskin Thoughts & Frank Young admitted she hates USC yet she has devoted 25 years of her life to spamming this site with her obscene rants and animal d e f e c a t i o n videos:

        Gabby

        July 21, 2025 at 3:30PM

        USC PICKED 9TH……LAUGHING /MY/ A S S /OFF

        MG hardest hit…..OUCH

        DON: Why don’t you devote yourself to your dying UCLA football program and leave us alone you disgusting Bruin weirdo?

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  5. Instructive comment by Coach McKay. Football may be an 11-man game, but sometimes a team is concentrating on one particular player

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    1. KAM: Another antisemite Mainstream Moderate Democrat Arrested for Plotting to Murder Republican New Hampshire Governor Kelly Ayotte With Pipe Bombs.

      DON: The Exaggerator Cowardly Sparrow Gabby will claim he is MAGA.

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      1. The limp—dick magat troll fake gabby, aka scott wolf, claims it’s antifa…… the freak needs a good ass——whipping

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      2. KAM: Cowardly Gabby aka aka Charlie Bucket the UCLA Fan aka TebowObama aka The Guy who posts as So Cal’s Wife & Michael Guarino & LawyerJohn & Pudly & Plow Horse & steveg49 & DOJ & Scott Wolf & Kathy & Foreskin Thoughts & Frank Young is a member of Armed Queers SLC. It’s mission is to train gay, queer and transgender people to arm themselves and to fight against capitalism. As recently as this spring, its members traveled to Cuba for a meeting to celebrate the May Day holiday and participate in a march and events alongside revolutionaries from around the world.

        DON: She is worried I will prosecute her too.

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    1. KAM: Ex- Senile Joe Biden Aide Jeff Zeints Drops Bombshells in Explosive Testimony on Biden’s Cognitive Decline and Confesses Cokehead Hunter Biden Was “Directly Involved” in Pardons!

      DON: Yet The Exaggerator Cowardly Sparrow Gabby pretended Biden wasn’t senile the last 5 years! Why would he show his face around here and lecture us after he proved he is a complete liar? Has he no shame?

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    2. …but they’re not quite as much help in a knock down, drag out fight to the death as you might want or need—check out Faye Dunaway in the clip Scott posted ..

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  7. KAM: You have every comedian in America on edge after axing Kimmel

    DON: There is nothing funny when they start tearing into my MAGAs

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    1. KAM: The Exaggerator Cowardly Sparrow Gabby is hysterical. He doesn’t seem to know the difference between FCC regulations for broadcast channels and for cable channels. Anything goes on cable as anyone with a pulse knows. Broadcast channel content has always been regulated since television began. Cowardly Sparrow Gabby would know that if he ever took a Communications class at USC. Maybe he should do some research before posting that the sky is falling?

      DON: Funny coincidence how Cowardly Sparrow Gabby loves to exaggerate exactly like todays DNC Talking Points. It’s as if he can’t think on his own. The Feminazi wife must be posting for him now. What a poor whipped old man he is now.

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      2. KAM: Remember when Cowardly Gabby aka aka Charlie Bucket the UCLA Fan aka TebowObama aka The Guy who posts as So Cal’s Wife & Michael Guarino & LawyerJohn & Pudly & Plow Horse & steveg49 & DOJ & Scott Wolf & Kathy & Foreskin Thoughts & Frank Young  chickened out of this fight?

        Remember when Cowardly Gabby chickened out of this fight?

        Chickens%$t Gabby is a Bu)(hurt Narcissist
        JULY 4, 2023 AT 10:07 PM
        Meet me in Miami at 4pm ET tomorrow, Chickens$%t Gabby! If you aren’t there, you are only proving your name. I don’t want to hear any excuses! None! No f%$#ing excuses! Tomorrow at 4pm ET! Be there or everyone will know for a fact that you are a true chicken

        DON: Cowardly Gabby is The Coward of the County!

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    2. Political correctness is what ruined comedy. There are large ethnic and racial groups that are off limits along with gays and transexuals. It got so bad that Jerry Seinfeld and other comedians stop performing on college campuses. The only groups you could joke about on some campuses were white males, Christians, and Republicans. Dave Chappelle, the GOAT, speaks about this often during his sets. He is one of the few who refuses to bow to the political correctness crowd. And we all know who is responsible for political correctness. It is an outgrowth of embracing victimhood. It certainly is not MAGA.

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  8. DON: I don’t sleep much anyway, so SC playing at 8 at night tomorrow and at 9 in the morning next week at Illinois doesn’t bother me

    KAM: 9 in the morning is ok, but 8 at night for the 5 a.m. risers is a bit much

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    1. KAM: New Russiagate Documents Expose Media/Government Collusion. Recently declassified documents indicate that people close to former FBI Director James Comey and Democratic Sen. Adam Schiff were connected to leaks of classified information to prominent reporters designed to portray Donald Trump and his allies as being in league with Russia.

      Written in 2017, the FBI  documents expose how selected Washington reporters, including Ellen Nakashima of the Washington Post and Michael Schmidt of the New York Times, scored a series of Pulitzer Prize-winning scoops in 2017 by repeating false and inflammatory leaks during President Trump’s first term.

      Much of their reporting has been debunked – and shown to be part of a smear campaign by high-ranking officials to undermine Trump.

      DON: Imagine how the FBI and CIA tried to have be ousted as president in a Deep State coup fueled by Obama, Senile Joe and Hitlery. They are Traitors to America. They never imagined I would be back in power one day to bring them to justice.

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  9. KAM: Looks like the Dodgers will win their division again despite that relief pitching staff

    DON: I’m getting out of ‘Dodge’ because something is brewing in Milwaukee and don’t count out the ‘fillies’

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    1. KAM: Leading racist black Democrat Congresswoman Jasmine Crockett Insists Committing Crimes ‘Doesn’t Make You a Criminal’ ! And the racist black Democrat Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson wants to get rid of police and prisons!

      DON: This is the brain trust of the Democrat Party.

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      3. Of course she doesn’t. I’ve never said anything contradictory about our season tickets. But above she claims to have read ten different things!

        I’m not disputing that last sentence. I’m sure in her head, it was.

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      4. Yes MG. Sybil once had a job as a stable boy and the owner asked him to “hose down” the animals. Let’s just say he was fired immediately after that.

        Liked by 1 person

  10. KAM; You’ve covered all the sports but basketball, and if our September football team loses its way we got SC basketball in November

    DON: That might be like changing ships from one Titanic to another

    KAM: Talking basketball, the Lakers are a man short, even the great teams of Russell-Cousy, Jordan-Pippen, and Kobe-Shaq all had an allstar 3rd man to complement them

    DON: Is Lebron James still on the team, I can’t keep up. But the King-Luka combo is one short

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  11. –Another sterling Friday Edition from the ‘Wolfman, especially the Mike Garrett picture. My only encounter with Mike was at a Trojan basketball game when I jumped up because of an exciting SC basket, when Garrett who was sitting behind me, roughly placed his hands on my shoulders and pushed me back into my seat

    Not a large man at 190+ but he was built like a fire hydrant and no tackler liked him. I don’t recall his speed, probably not up there with A.D.’s, but good enough for 1960s football. And boy did he have football will

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  12. Years ago I was listening to a comic talk about O.J. Simpson. The comic met him at the China Club in Los Angeles. What struck him was the literal size of O.J.’s head. “How were they able to find a helmet that fit him.” The photo above shows that he may have a point. I suppose a large head might be an asset in football.

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    2. KAM:  Cowardly Gabby aka aka Charlie Bucket the UCLA Fan aka TebowObama aka The Guy who posts as So Cal’s Wife & Michael Guarino & LawyerJohn & Pudly & Plow Horse & steveg49 & DOJ & Scott Wolf & Kathy & Foreskin Thoughts & Frank Young’s hero The KO Kid represents Mainstream Moderate Democrats:https://x.com/AmiriKing/status/1968748686956957940?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw%7Ctwcamp%5Etweetembed%7Ctwterm%5E1968748686956957940%7Ctwgr%5E6905fbffa091773e186718f87f20de87ed7d2fe5%7Ctwcon%5Es1_&ref_url=https%3A%2F%2Finstapundit.com%2F745711%2F..

      DON: They worship Moloch

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  14. –Just happened to think of “retired” Cal75 or whatever he called himself. The guy gave me invaluable writing criticism, as do other posters here. So a ‘shout-out’ to the ol’ 75er, part of you lives on

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    2. This is how your fellow Democrat Cowardly Gabby aka aka Charlie Bucket the UCLA Fan aka TebowObama aka The Guy who posts as So Cal’s Wife & Michael Guarino & LawyerJohn & Pudly & Plow Horse & steveg49 & DOJ & Scott Wolf & Kathy & Foreskin Thoughts & Frank Young remembers Cal75:

      Gabby

      March 22, 2025 at 5:49 pm

      Cal was a racist limp—d i c troll. Who was constantly talking s h i t about about minorities and making things up to fuel his agenda.

      I had zero respect for the sack of dung. The world is a better place without his racism.

      DON: It turns out that’s how Mainstream Moderate Democrats feel about 77 million Americans.

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      1. …those remarks rank up [or down] there with the ones he made about the victims of the Lahaina fire……

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  15. Dear Scott,

    The reason for the bobbled exchange at the end of the 1988 Rose Bowl game was Rodney Peete got banged up from running on the play beforehand — everybody could see that one coming….

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