FOOTBALL

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

USC men’s basketball was picked to finish 12th in the Big Ten preseason media poll.

  • Sitaya Fagan, a 6-2 forward from Australia, committed to USC on Thursday night. Fagan chose USC over South Carolina and Texas.
  • Former USC QB Sean Salisbury announced he has been laid off after eight years as a host at SportsTalk 790 in Houston, Texas.
  • John Ourand, the reporter who broke the story about USC trying to play Notre Dame on Netflix even though it violated its Big Ten TV contract, had this to say about it this week.

“It just shows there’s a naivete associated with this about what people can do,” Ourand said.

  • And now for some history:
  • USC has not played Michigan at the Coliseum since 1957. No. 10-ranked Michigan won, 16-6, despite the fact it complained its players had trouble breathing because of the smog.

Scouts from Illinois, Michigan State, Cal, Northwestern, Pitt and Georgia attended the game. Illinois had played UCLA at the Coliseum the night before and the Bruins won by an identical 16-6 score.

USC halfback Tony Ortega runs for yardage against Michigan in 1957. This was the only season the Trojans ever wore gold helmets.

  • A far more interesting game took place in 1958 in Ann Arbor. USC trailed, 20-7, entering the fourth quarter but Rex Johnston scored on a 66-yard TD run and Tom Maudlin threw a 35-yard TD pass to Hillard Hill.

With the Trojans trailing, 20-19, it lined up for the extra point but then committed two penalties to push the ball back to the 13-yard line. USC coach Don Clark called a swing pass that was stopped well short at the 8-yard line.

Despite the loss, a crowd of around 1,500 welcomed the Trojans at the airport when they arrived home Saturday night.

USC halfback Bob Arnett, the brother of Jon Arnett, dives for yardage vs. Michigan in 1958.

WHO RUINED HOMECOMING? THE STUDENTS (OF COURSE)

In the 1950’s, USC held Homecoming parades on the Miracle Mile (Wilshire Blvd.) that drew huge crowds (80,000-100,000), were televised on Channel 11 and drew celebrities like Danny Thomas, Jayne Mansfied, Leo Durocher and Laraine Day.

But in the late 1950’s, the parades on the Miracle Mile were eliminated. Why? Several reasons: The floats were considered too costly and took up too much class time to construct. USC had just raised the academic requirements to stay in school and fraternities were worried they would lose too many members.

The floats were constructed at Hancock Park and the L.A. County Museum, which ran the park, said students were disorderly, drank liquor, damaged power equipment and failed to clean up.

“Even if we wanted to have another parade this year down the Miracle Mile, we wouldn’t be welcome,” said Lee Rafner, chairman of USC Homecoming, in 1957.

The USC Homecoming Parade on the Miracle Mile
  • Let’s look at how similar TV options were 48 years ago on Oct. 8, 1977. The Dodgers played the Phillies in the NLCS at 12 p.m. PT on Channel 4 while USC played Alabama at 12:50 p.m. on Channel 7. You also had American Bandstand at 11:30 a.m. on Channel 7; Soul Train at 1:30 p.m. on Channel 11 and The Outer Limits at 2:30 p.m. on Channel 11.

This actually is better than this Saturday. If it’s a good episode of Outer Limits, I’d be flipping channels like crazy around 2:30.

  • Engineer Russ Kimble observes construction of the Sports Arena in 1958. One reason the $6 million arena was noteworthy according to Kimble was that there were no obstructions indoors because the roof was constructed “in the shape of a bowl on top of the ground work.”

VIDEOS OF THE WEEK

  • A few weeks ago, I featured the famous “Panzerlied” scene from the film, “Battle of the Bulge.”

But have you ever experienced it courtesy of the Tokyo Philharmonic Orchestra?

  • Jackson Browne, the pride of Sunny Hills High School, turned 77 on Thursday. So it’s time for Running on Empty.

PICTURE OF THE WEEK

Aliza Gur, who was also in a James Bond movie, which makes her a Bond girl. But who is with her? None other than Leslie Nielsen.

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

  2. I disagree with Scott about how entertaining the day’s schedule is before our game.

    1 Ohio State – 17 Illinois 9 am on Fox
    8 Alabama – 14 Missouri 9 am on ABC
    UCLA – Michigan State 9 am on Big Ten Network
    7 Indiana – 3 Oregon 12:30 on CBS
    6 Oklahoma – Texas 12:30 on ABC

    Liked by 3 people

    Reply

  3. KAM: Giants Defeat Eagles 34-17 on Dart’s 253 Yards and Skattebo’s Three TDs

    The New York Giants secured a 34-17 primetime victory over the Philadelphia Eagles at MetLife Stadium, driven by rookie quarterback Jaxson Dart’s 198 passing yards, one touchdown pass, and a rushing score, plus 253 total yards, despite a brief concussion exit. Former ASU running back Cam Skattebo added 110 rushing yards and three touchdowns.

    DON: Riley Coyote ran off then Trojan QB Jaxson Dart when he came to USC. What a difference it would have been for USC if Riley had left the over-rated underachieving head case QB Celeb Williams in Oklahoma where he belonged!

    Liked by 2 people

    Reply

  4. Another Friday solid.

    Leinart, who has been critical of Riley and the team’s performance since Riley took over, said that Maiava has the potential to be one of the best. Fingers crossed he delivers that tomorrow and the D contains Michigan’s Justice Haynes, who is averaging 7 per carry. He has a ton of very long rushes this year, but also many that are 3 or less.

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply

    1. KAM: Talk about hype, Maiava is not even to the level of Rodney Peete much less the level of Leinart, Palmer, Rae, McDonald, Darnold and Haden… He has a long way to make it to the level of a Rob Johnson or Sean Salisbury.

      DON: Great potential, not realized against Illinois… or Notre Dame last year

      Like

      Reply

  5. KAM: After tomorrow’s game the regular season will be half over, and most fans will be that closer to relief from feeling the pain of losses

    DON: You seem to handle losing better than most, but for me losing is unacceptable

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply

    1. LR seems to be more of a “KAM” loser than a “DON” loser, and that is probably part of LR’s inability to bring out the potential in his teams.

      Like

      Reply

  6. KAM: Washington Post Suddenly Decides Prosecuting Political Enemies is a Bad Idea.

    After eight years of cheering on Trump lawfare as the saving of the republic, the Washington Post has suddenly decided that prosecuting your political opponents is a bad idea.

    Much like the sudden calls for unity after Butler and Charlie Kirk’s assassination, there’s every reason to be skeptical of these rapid and rapidly passing revelations.

    DON: But it does show what it takes to even begin to break through the fanatical mindset that led to the Mueller and Jack Smith Deep State vendettas against Trump.

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply

    1. Just saw the latest “Yes on 50” commercial. Shows a Trump character watching election results and how upset he will be if it wins.

      When you can’t sell the merits of the proposition, just go with “If it passes, Trump will be unhappy!”

      They figure if enough unhinged people buy it, they’ll win! Pathetic.

      Liked by 2 people

      Reply

      1. It doesn’t matter if it passes, So Cal. It’s unconstitutional …. it will be fast-tracked to the United States Supreme Court and struck down 6-3.

        Liked by 1 person

      3. Not to worry, old buddy. Even Newsom knows passage is an empty victory…..

        #…[SybilDoesn’t,Though—

        #…She’llGoFromElatedToSuicidal]

        Like

  7. DON:: It was a different time in 1958 with 1500 Trojans greeting the football team at the airport after Losing a midwest game

    KAM: The U.S. was war free for a while and it took only one wage earner to carve out a comfortable living

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply

    1. The US had the best schools then, smaller government, so more resources available for the private sector, lots of energy and excitement among young people for their future, and a shared responsibility for making our country even better, with nearly all people on the same page.

      Liked by 2 people

      Reply

      2. Correct Buddha, it was not.

        DementiaGate was a far bigger scandal. It went on for four years and cost more than 2M lives, both foreign & domestic. We’ll never know who was truly running the country for four years.

        The people who voted for it pretend that never happened and just want to move on, so they can deny responsibility for it.

        Liked by 1 person

    2. KAM: Then came along the JFK a s s a s s i n a t i o n, LBJ and his Great Society , the Gulf of Tolkin and 58,000 wasted lives….

      DON : And the Watts Riots, the MLK and RFK as s a s s i n a t i o n s and Woodstock.

      Like

      Reply

  9. KAM: Music certainly enhanced the movie “Battle of the Bulge” as it does with all movies

    DON: Another thing a movie does is depict real life with all the dull parts cut out

    Like

    Reply

      2. Yep, 67—like I was told back in the day playing 3rd base — “you don’t have to catch those line drives…but don’t let the ball get by you!”

        #YesterdaySomebodySaid”TackleTheQB&RunnerInTheBackfield”

        #ThatWouldBePlan”A”….

        #Plan”B’IsDon’tLetThemGetPastTheSecondLevel

        Liked by 1 person

  11. KAM: When they do a movie about your life they probably won’t need music to enhance the things you’ve been through

    DON: I’d want upbeat danceable music played from “At the Hop” to “Brown Sugar”

    Like

    Reply

      1. A TRUE Lib…always accusing the other side of what THEY are guilty! Just as our favorite poster does, both with her lame names and her posts.

        Like

  13. Did read that right– Michigan played ucla in a 16-6 loss on a Friday night, and then the next day beats SC 16-6?

    Like

    Reply

  14. KAM:

    From: “There’s no evidence.”

    To: “This is weaponization.”

    To: “It was only $18,000 in fraud.”

    To: “Mortgage fraud is very common.”

    To: “Racist!”

    DON: Bottom Line: Big Ugly Tish is in big trouble.

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply

    1. If the jury follows the fraud instructions [intentional or grossly negligent misrepresentation relied on by the victim to his detriment and to defendant’s benefit], James is toast.

      Liked by 1 person

      Reply

  15. DON: An i l l e g a l a l i e n from Mexico being harbored by Democrat Illinois Governor JB Pritzker was arrested by ICE Agents for d e c a p i t a t i n g an Illinois woman, abusing her c o r p s e & then hiding her b o d y in his backyard.

    KAM: Did Trump incite this “Illinoisan” into v i o l e n c e too?

    Like

    Reply

      2. That would have probably been helpful for anyone who was actually surprised the night of that first debate in June 2024. You know, the people who finally caught on to what the rest of us had known for more than 4 years!

        Liked by 1 person

      3. Real Time Screen Caption During Debate:

        “The emotionally unstable & bumbling & mumbling & mistake prone man you are watching is simply the victim of a childhood stutter…. nothing to be concerned about”

        Like

  17. KAM: Big Ten closes in on $2 billion capital agreement vote, per sources

    DON: The Big Ten is closing in on voting on a capital agreement that will infuse league schools with more than $2 billion, industry sources told ESPN.

    There’s been momentum within recent days for the deal to push forward, and the structure of the complicated agreement is coming together. A vote is expected in the near future, per sources.

    The framework calls for the formation of a new entity, Big Ten Enterprises, which would hold all leaguewide media rights and sponsorship contracts.

    Shares of ownership in Big Ten Enterprises would fall to the league’s 18 schools, the conference office and the capital group — an investment fund that’s tied to the underfunded University of California pension system. Yahoo Sports first reported the involvement of the UC investment fund.

    The pension fund is not a private equity firm, and the UC fund valuation proved to be higher than other competing bids. This has been attractive to the Big Ten and its schools, according to sources.

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply

  18.  I went to USC in the late 70’s. It was largely a conservativish school. I remember going to hear Arthur Laffer, Reagan’s economic brain speak. Everything seems like it was better then. Classes taught the subject not politics. Football team won national championships. Trojan tradition was exceptional! Now it is getting more average and common. It seems like it went off the rails when President Steven Sample retired. Thoughts?

    Liked by 3 people

    Reply

    1. There was a general trend towards universities going for the $$$ while trying to become a “global university”. USC definitely did that, and in doing that became a very different organization.

      But I agree with you in that the post-sample choices of Nikas and Folt did not work out well.

      Liked by 1 person

      Reply

      1. It’s hard to watch USC fall in the US News and World Report rankings while schools like UC Riverside and University of Hawaii are leapfrogging upwards….

        #wtf?!

        Liked by 1 person

      2. Whoa, Hoss! Correction: I got bad info from my neighbor –I just checked for myself…and USC is still a solid top 25 school.

        #NowLet’sDoTheSame..OrBetter…ForOurFootballTeam

        Liked by 1 person

    1. I like it too Minnesota. Universities are an over priced joke and that has to change. Merit based admission policies, lower priced tuition for native born kids, tuition price freezes, limits on percentage of foreign students, ideological diversity in all departments, politically neutral, requirement to use endowment funds for STEM scholarships, no DEI – what’s not to like.

      Better than the current system. Go $400,000 in debt so your kid can earn a worthless degree and become indoctrinated with Godless, Marxist, Jew hating philosophy. He can come home and tell you there are 32 genders and Hamas are the victims.

      Liked by 1 person

      Reply

      2. KAM: No one carries hate like Cowardly Gabby:

        Gabby

        June 22, 2024 at 2:24 am

        3 plus years later, he still cries voter fraud…… a loss seals his death in prison…..fingers crossed

        DON You are a Mainstream Moderate Democrat Ghoul.

        Liked by 1 person

      4. KAM: Brain dead vile antisemitic and racist Board Pest Board Cancer Cowardly Gabby aka Sparrow Calypso aka TebowObama aka Charlie Bucket the UCLA Fan aka The Guy who posts as Buddhakarma & So Cal’s Wife & Michael Guarino & Trojan RJJ & LawyerJohn & Pudly & Plow Horse and TrojanFan 1-3 & steveg49 & DOJ & Scott Wolf and Frank Young and KATHY and Foreskin Thoughts and SCOTTLOVESTHEROOOOOTTÞ and Manureman and eric  and Smacky is The Coward of the County!

        Plow Horse

        February 3, 2025 at 2:27 pm

        If there is one thing we can be certain of regarding Cowardly Gabby’s threats, he will never back them up. All talk, no walk – the blog pu**y

        DON: BWWWWWWWWWWWWAAAAAHAHAHAAAAAAAAA!!!

        Like

      5. HOW DOES GABBY BACK UP THE THREATS IF YOU LIMP^^^DIC MAGATS WON’T SHOW UP IN BARSTOW…….DUMB^^^ASS

        Like

      6. KAM: Remember when Cowardly Gabby chickened out of fighting Scott Wolf when Scott Wolf was in Las Vegas?

        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.

        DON: That’s how we know Cowardly Gabby is The Coward of the County. If she really lived in Las Vegas like she pretended to, she would be a total coward for not showing up to confront Scott that day after wasting 25 years stalking him on this site.

        Like

      7. Remember when Cowardly fake Gabby, aka scott wolf, chickened out of fighting real gabby when was in Las Vegas?

        still laughing my ass^^^off

        Like

      1. So…. don’t blow people’s heads off over political disagreements?

        Don’t applaud and laugh at assassinations and/or attempted assassination?

        #MakesSenseToMe,SoCal

        Liked by 1 person

    2. Brain dead vile antisemitic and racist Board Pest Board Cancer Cowardly Gabby aka Sparrow Calypso aka TebowObama aka Charlie Bucket the UCLA Fan aka The Guy who posts as Buddhakarma & So Cal’s Wife & Michael Guarino & Trojan RJJ & LawyerJohn & Pudly & Plow Horse and TrojanFan 1-3 & steveg49 & DOJ & Scott Wolf and Frank Young and KATHY and Foreskin Thoughts and SCOTTLOVESTHEROOOOOTTÞ and Manureman and eric  and Smacky thinks it is fair that the Democrats already gerrymandered Alta Kalifornia with 43 of 52 Congressional seats and permanent 2/3rd majorities in the Assembly and State Senate in a state with only 45.27% registered Democrat voters.

      DON: Cowardly Gabby and Governor Mimbo are fascists who want total control over us.

      Liked by 2 people

      Reply

    1. KAM: 93% of Virginia Democrats Approve of Their Candidates Calling for the Murder of Republicans and Children Dying in Their Mothers’ Arms.

      DON: They are Cowardly Gabby Democrats!

      Liked by 1 person

      Reply

    1. Brain dead vile antisemitic and racist Board Pest Board Cancer Cowardly Gabby aka Sparrow Calypso aka TebowObama aka Charlie Bucket the UCLA Fan aka The Guy who posts as Buddhakarma & So Cal’s Wife & Michael Guarino & Trojan RJJ & LawyerJohn & Pudly & Plow Horse and TrojanFan 1-3 & steveg49 & DOJ & Scott Wolf and Frank Young and KATHY and Foreskin Thoughts and SCOTTLOVESTHEROOOOOTTÞ and Manureman and eric  and Smacky thinks it is fair that the Democrats already gerrymandered Alta Kalifornia with 43 of 52 Congressional seats and permanent 2/3rd majorities in the Assembly and State Senate in a state with only 45.27% registered Democrat voters.

      DON: Cowardly Gabby and Governor Mimbo are fascists who want total control over us….

      Like

      Reply

  24. KAM: Returning to ‘sports,’ Wiley says of his offensive line injuries that he is pleased that he has “accomplished second options”– So apparently he thinks this patched-up line is going to scare the pants off of Michigan

    DON: Wolverines are scared of nothing and they like doing it in packs, they’re always around the ball in case the first guy misses the tackle

    Like

    Reply

    1. KAM: Georgia Man with Severe TDS ARRESTED After Video Shows Him Tearing Down Trump Banner, Then Opening Fire on Business Ownerhttps://x.com/libsoftiktok/status/1976368188846961103?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw%7Ctwcamp%5Etweetembed%7Ctwterm%5E1976368188846961103%7Ctwgr%5Ef59fe01f56fd7dd25169017aac1ba7194fad0486%7Ctwcon%5Es1_&ref_url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.thegatewaypundit.com%2F2025%2F10%2Fgeorgia-man-severe-tds-arrested-after-video-shows%2F…

      DON: Cowardly Gabby’s brother!

      Like

      Reply

  25. DON: If Michigan recalls, they left SC battered and bruised after busting up the Trojans’ season last year. Michigan knows ‘defense’

    KAM: What worries me is what a Michigan coach confidently said yesterday, that “The toughest team is going to win this game, not the prettiest”

    DON: Prettiest?– That’s his way of saying SC plays soft

    Like

    Reply

  26. DON: Wiley said of last year’s Michigan team, “That’s as tough as it gets.”

    KAM: Tough brutality is what it is. I once was on the sidelines for some school’s football practice, and it scared me half to death. I had no idea!

    Like

    Reply

    1. KAM: BREAKING: Nobel Peace Prize winner Maria Corina Machado dedicates award to Trump

      “I dedicate this prize to the suffering people of Venezuela and to President Trump for his decisive support of our cause.”

      DON: Cowardly Gabby hardest hit!

      Liked by 1 person

      Reply

      1. Nobel committee gave trump the middle finger……laughing my ass***off

        BAAAAAAMMMM******CROTCH ******KICK

        fake gabby, aka scott wolf, hardest hit…….OUCH!!!!!!!!!!!

        Like

      2. KAM: Brain dead vile antisemitic and racist Board Pest Board Cancer Cowardly Gabby aka Sparrow Calypso aka TebowObama aka Charlie Bucket the UCLA Fan aka The Guy who posts as Buddhakarma & So Cal’s Wife & Michael Guarino & Trojan RJJ & LawyerJohn & Pudly & Plow Horse and TrojanFan 1-3 & steveg49 & DOJ & Scott Wolf and Frank Young and KATHY and Foreskin Thoughts and SCOTTLOVESTHEROOOOOTTÞ and Manureman and eric  and Smacky  hates it that Trump has brought peace to the Middle East.

        DON: What will she riot about now?

        Like

      3. WHAT TOOK SOOOOOOO LONG????????????????????

        HE TOLD YOU MAGATS HE WOULD BRING PEACE WITHIN 24 HOURS AFTER TAKING OFFICE…..

        ONCE AGAIN, FAKE GABBY HARDEST HIT……LAUGHING MY ASS%%%%OFF

        Like

      4. KAM: It takes a long time to clean up all the messes your Dictator Senile Joe left behind.

        DON: Just think, I accomplished what Jimmy Carter, BJ Clinton, Barack Hussein Obama and Senile Joe could never come close to doing. And Cowardly Gabby acts like Veruca Salt the spoiled child instead of congratulating me.https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5wAlQf4WdiElol

        Like

      5. You’re right…..the mentioned names would never come close to being convicted of 34 felonies….. thanks for calling trump out

        Like

      6. KAM: Poor Brain dead vile antisemitic and racist Board Pest Board Cancer Cowardly Gabby aka Sparrow Calypso aka TebowObama aka Charlie Bucket the UCLA Fan aka The Guy who posts as Buddhakarma & So Cal’s Wife & Michael Guarino & Trojan RJJ & LawyerJohn & Pudly & Plow Horse and TrojanFan 1-3 & steveg49 & DOJ & Scott Wolf and Frank Young and KATHY and Foreskin Thoughts and SCOTTLOVESTHEROOOOOTTÞ and Manureman and eric  and Smacky, your lawfare failed and now Trump is President and all those who persecuted him are now going to pay!

        DON: I love drinking Cowardly Gabby’s lib tears.

        Like

      8. KAM: Brain dead vile antisemitic and racist Board Pest Board Cancer Cowardly Gabby aka Sparrow Calypso aka TebowObama aka Charlie Bucket the UCLA Fan aka The Guy who posts as Buddhakarma & So Cal’s Wife & Michael Guarino & Trojan RJJ & LawyerJohn & Pudly & Plow Horse and TrojanFan 1-3 & steveg49 & DOJ & Scott Wolf and Frank Young and KATHY and Foreskin Thoughts and SCOTTLOVESTHEROOOOOTTÞ and Manureman and eric  and Smacky spends 25 years of her life stalking a USC sportswriter’s blog and she doesn’t find that weird?

        DON: Apparently she likes getting humiliated daily by the posters here.

        Like

  27. KAM: Digressing from sports, but what’s up with Putin? Now he has told Great Britain he has earmarked 23 different areas in the event of WWIII.

    DON: I’ve lost connection with the guy. He’s a loose cannon

    Like

    Reply

      1. 5 Years of Terror. Dem Establishment pays for and orchestrates it….Dem voters are too dumb to notice it….

        Like

  28. DON: I saw where an SC recruit said that he underestimated what it took to make the field in a Trojan uniform

    KAM: I still jump up and down and get chills when at the start of a big game the Trojans come flying out of the coliseum tunnel

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply

    1. John –There are, as you are well aware, lots of moving parts in a football game [coaching, officiating, good breaks, bad bounces] …but… I think it’s fair to say: USC will come out and play at their highest level today…

      One thing worries me — yesterday, Rutgers scored twice on terrible pass interference calls against Washington defenders. USC needs to play tough defense…and… hope the refs don’t screw us, the Big Ten Newcomer….

      Like

      Reply

  29. SC-Michigan is not quite at a Rose Bowl level, MG, but it still is a quasi-Playoff game. I always say that after a game look at the turnovers’ comparison and that usually is your winner

    I’m more interested in the remarkable ending to the Dodger’s and Phillies’ series. The Dodgers’ runner Kim could have been the goat since he failed to slide because he “knew” the throw would be going to first base, and he actually missed home plate

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply

Leave a comment