FOOTBALL

Saturday Buzz: Some Perspective On Player Departures

Some USC fans really need to relax and stop looking for a savior.

Four players entered the transfer portal on Friday: Linebacker linebacker Matai Tagoa’i; defensive lineman Carlon Jones; offensive lineman Micah Banuelos and linebacker Anthony Beavers.

I didn’t make a big deal when these players came to USC and I won’t make a big deal when they leave. Of the group, Tagoa’i flashed at times and was supposed to challenge for a starting job next season.

But some of the reactions are hilarious, with many saying they completely trust general manager Chad Bowden to fill the spots and aggressively hit the transfer portal.

None of these players are current starters but we all need to pray for Lord Bowden to provide his amazing expertise to replace them? Puh-leeze.

What expertise do he have evaluating offensive and defensive linemen? Or cornerbacks?

Notre Dame missed him so much they just had a stellar recruiting class.

  • On a serious note, Carlon Jones was a four-star defensive lineman from the Class of 2024. Didn’t I just say Friday morning I was tired of highly touted defensive line recruits not developing at USC?

So another departs and no one will hold Dawg Work accountable.

66 thoughts on “Saturday Buzz: Some Perspective On Player Departures”

  1. I wonder if the departures of Matai Tagoa’i and Gus Cordova have anything to do with the NIL packages offered to Luke Wafle and Talanoa Ili. These guys must be thinking “I was just as good as the new guys in high school and I didn’t get that kind of money.” They also likely concluded that USC is not going to pay that kind of money and keep those guys on the bench and they were going to get passed over on the depth chart.

    Liked by 3 people

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    1. KAM: Plow Horse sums up Cowardly Gabby like no other:

      Plow Horse

      July 2, 2025 at 3:57 pm

      The guy threatens to harm or even kill other posters, laments that the a s s a s s i n’ s b u l l e t missed, posts photos of the President is dresses and ballerina outfits, calls fire victims whiners and laughs at cancer victims in hospice care, calls his own mother a prostitute, routinely talks about other posters’ wives and mothers, shares stories of his s e x u a l perversions, constantly lies and manipulates, posts under other users names, and posted hundreds of animal videos in an attempt to drive others off the blog.

      But according to Sparrow, the guy is being picked on. Just a bit “eccentric.” No, Michael Jackson was eccentric.

      This guy is mentally ill. A bully who was called out and exposed as a coward.

      DON: BWAAAAAAAAAAHAHAHAAA!!!!!!!!!!!!!

      Liked by 2 people

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      2. So eccentric now also means into little kids? Put a picture of someone she thinks looks 12 years old and her mind goes to “sick” thoughts.

        Well, yeah, I suppose they DO have that in common.

        Liked by 1 person

      3. KAM: Cowardly Gabby admits she lies and can’t spell!

        Gabby

        June 26, 2025 at 11:24 pm

        Let me correct the lie I just posted above. 92% of the people who parished on Biden watch were anti-vaxxers.

        BAAAAAMMMM….. I JUST GAVE MYSELF A CROTCH KICK FOR LYING

        DON: You sound like a total dumbass, Cowardly Gabby

        Like

      4. Long ago a serial burglar was brought to trial in my courtroom on murder charges. Near midnight he entered the home of the victims, two young men, allegedly to confront them over their intrusion into what he considered his territory. He claimed that during a heated argument the duo drew handguns and he merely responded, killing both in self-defense. The medical examiner testified that both of the decedents were shot in the back of the head at close range, execution style. At sentencing, with friends and relatives of the victims present, I asked the defendant if he had anything he’d like to share. He smiled and said, “Looks like I won’t be attending the class reunion this summer.”  My disgusted response: “True. This summer. And every summer thereafter.” Then I sentenced him to two life terms without possibility of parole. He laughed as he passed by friends and family of the victims on his way out of the courtroom. That vile, noxious miscreant inhabited  an impenetrable self-delusional dimension, the same dimension where fake Gabby dwells. 

        Liked by 4 people

      5. The man who inhabits the “. . . impenetrable self-delusional dimension. . . “

        That sums it up. Perhaps Real Gabby will add it to the various aliases. You write extraordinarily well Rush and I am sure you have many stories to share based on your time on the bench. Hope you consider writing a book about them. I would read it.

        Liked by 3 people

  2. Beavers will be in his 5th year, Banuelos will be in his 4th year. If they haven’t been able to consistently start in that amount of time, then they should go elsewhere.

    Tagoa’i is more troublesome, it looked like he would possibly start next year. $$$ ?

    Liked by 3 people

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    1. KAM: Beavers was injured this year. In 2024 Beavers saw action in 13 games with 5 starts at nickelback or linebacker as a redshirt junior in 2024. He recorded 18 tackles, 10 of which were unassisted.

      DON: He had 6 tackles versus Minnesota and 2 tackles against Penn State. He recorded 2 tackles against Washington and 3 tackles versus UCLA. He collected 3 tackles against Notre Dame. He recorded 2 tackles in the Las Vegas Bowl against Texas A&M.

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    2. 67: Tagoa’i and Cordova are both troublesome. Two of the best players in last years recruiting cycle. Tagoa’i stood out in the Polynesian Bowl along with Longstreet and Alex Graham. Runs and hits. Cordova was one of the most highly recruited players in the nation. He already looks like an NFL player – 6’6″, 270 lbs., and can run. You can’t let these guys get away. I blame the coaches. You need to instill in the young players the idea that they are developing and if they continue to work hard they will start and have an opportunity to play in the NFL.

      Liked by 2 people

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  3. KAM: Cowardly Gabby’s bad day just got worse:

    The 30-year-old Virginia man accused of planting pipe bombs near Capitol Hill on the eve of the January 6, 2021 riots is an autistic recluse and ‘computer nerd’ who has no party affiliation, his grandmother told the Daily Mail on Friday.

    Sweet Loretta, his grandmother, said Cole has no party affiliation and never votes. The Fake News parrotted the lying  MSNBC/MNNOW  Democrat propaganda machine claim with no proof that Brian Cole confessed and told his FBI interrogators that he is a Trump supporter and holds anarchist views.

    DON: Will the Fake News apologize?

    Liked by 1 person

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    2. THE GRANDMA JUST ADMITTED SHE WAS LYING AND COLE REALLY IS A HARDCORE MAGAT.

      FAKE GABBY HARDEST HIT……BAAAMMMM!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

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      1. KAM: More lies from 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 Psycho and Manureman and eric  and Smacky and Susan.

        DON: She is the Queen of Lies!

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  4. #11 BYU loses to Texas Tech 34-7.

    There is a big divide between the top ten teams and everyone else.

    BYU looked really bad. Maybe 200 yards of total offense. I hope they are not USC’s bowl opponent.

    Liked by 2 people

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    1. I’m pretty sure we’ll get BYU at the Alamo Bowl —- it’s still a better match up than Houston.

      All I care about is getting the win …so I can keep saying the number “Ten” every time I see my in-laws….

      #IKnowThatSoundsSmall…[IGuessSybilIsRubbingOffOnUs]

      Liked by 3 people

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      1. Need to beat BYU by more than Texas Tech. Waymo Jordan should be back, the RB position is so thin now with Brian Jackson leaving.

        Liked by 2 people

      4. Maybe the Freshman running backs, Harry Dalton and Riley Wormley, will be ready to contribute by the bowl game. I think they have potential. Those bowl practices are so important in developing the young guys.

        Liked by 1 person

      5. Maybe the Freshman running backs, Harry Dalton and Riley Wormley, will be ready to contribute by the bowl game. I think they have potential. Those bowl practices are so important in developing the young guys.

        Liked by 2 people

  5. A recent Fox News poll found that 76% of voters view the economy negatively — up from 67% in July

    Trump currently has a 41% approval rating among respondents, with 58% disapproving. His only lower rating came in October 2017, when it was 38-57%.

    FAKE GABBY HARDEST HIT…..OUCH!

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      1. I don’t think millions of people who are struggling to make ends meet are worried about 2028…..you sound really stupid making that comment….

        it’s creepy how you don’t vote yet are a political fanatic…

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      2. Hey Cowardly Gabby: Were people doing better under Biden and his open border policy? Did the 12 to 20 million unvetted illegals affect the cost of housing? We won’t mention the increase in crime. How much did eggs cost under Biden? How about gasoline? Inflation was at 9% at one point. 7% mortgages. Did the Biden policy of 4 trillion annual debt help the country. Was just printing more money and devaluing the dollar a workable solution. Do you think that impacted inflation.

        Maybe these struggling people should move to Somalia occupied Minnesota. I heard you can get millions in benefits for hungry children in that state. All of it courtesy of Tampon Tim Walz, the Democratic VP candidate you voted for and his sidekick Ilhan Omar – the U.S. representative for Somalia.

        Liked by 2 people

      2. Now that Trump is back, Sybil —like the rest of the Marxist brigade —-pretends to care about a stalled economy. They didn’t worry when Pelosi was pushing 7 trillion in spending while we took in 4 trillion in taxes.

        Liked by 3 people

      3. Why worry about something from 5 years ago. Dumbass.

        We live in the present not the past.

        PS…..wipe the chin ….looks like sola left a few icicles….. long nose working overtime…..ouch!

        Like

      4. Until they took full responsibility for having gone with dementia in 2020 and all the blood on their hands as a result, they should be reminded for the rest of their lives! That is the only way we MAY avoid a repeat of it.

        But, of course, they cry and want to say “Let’s move on.” Pretend it didn’t happen.

        Liked by 2 people

    3. There are several periods in history wherein the corruption and incompetence of a leader outlived their time in office… sometimes for decades. Biden’s spending policies [actually Susan Rice’s —since Biden was brain-dead] will take a long time to correct

      Read some history, dumbo ….then get back to us.

      Liked by 3 people

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      1. Hey dumbo…….l just read some history…..it said trump spent more money than any other prez in history during his first term.

        ……and lost 11 million jobs….which lead to Biden creating the most jobs in history and the lowest unemployment rate in 50 years.

        sound like you got your cr0tch caved in….DUMBO!!!!!

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      2. Phuck —you’re dumb —Trump is getting rid of the hundreds of thousands of do-nothing, know-nothing federal workers. The jobs Biden created weren’t private sector jobs —they were bullsh*t government jobs designed for people like you [answering constituent phone calls and saying “we’ll get back to you”]….

        Liked by 2 people

    4. KAM: Remember when preachy lying Democrat freak Cowardly Gabby challenged Plow Horse to a fight and then chickened out?

      She ran like the yellow belly coward she is when Plow Horse said put up or shut up in Pasadena.

      Plow Horse
      JUNE 22, 2023 AT 10:23 PM
      Gabby is the biggest p #$# y on this blog.

      Still waiting for dates, Mr. keyboard tough guy

      DON: Cowardly Gabby is The Coward of the County!

      Liked by 1 person

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      1. Gabby showed up, and asked an 80 year old hunchback in a wheelchair where plow was at…the hunchback replied- “you’re looking at him”

        …..enough said!

        Like

      2. KAM: You admitted you were lying, remember?

        Gabby (original)

        JULY 8, 2023 AT 3:06 AM

        no one is going to fight someone over comments made in a blog…..plow is an old man just popping off…and you f#$king know it…

        DON: Cowardly Gabby convicted by her own big mouth once again!

        Liked by 1 person

  6. Scott, Can you please do a All-USC Transfer portal team of players that left USC? For example, Raleek Brown, running back, ASU All Big 12 first team Zacariah Branch Georgia WR Emmanual Pregnon OL Oregon

    Liked by 2 people

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      2. KAM: You wasted 25 years of your life spamming this site night and day 24-7, impersonating and doxxing SC alumni posters … and for what? Your Bruins football and basketball programs have fallen, your Democrat Party is in disarray and you have nothing to live for. You are a sad lonely mean creature deserving only scorn.

        DON: Leave, you pest.

        Liked by 1 person

  7. Scott, Can you please do a All-USC Transfer portal team of players that left USC? For example, Raleek Brown, running back, ASU All Big 12 first team Zacariah Branch Georgia WR Emmanual Pregnon OL Oregon

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply

  8. I will take Makai Lemon and Wamond Jordan over Branch and Brown. We could have used Pregnon but he agreed to a renegotiated contract with a big NIL raise and then breached it two months later to go to Oregon for $50,000 more. Not exactly a character guy. You can’t do business that way.

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      2. KAM: “Schools typically do not ask coaches to pay out the balance of their contracts when leaving for another job.”

        DON: How dare those uppity slaves I mean players forget their place.

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      3. So Riley didn’t have to pay Oklahoma for taking the USC job. And Kiffin didn’t pay Tennessee for leaving for USC and Mississippi State for going to LSU. I doubt that. Generally, there is a clause in the contract that penalizes a coach for an early departure.

        And these players are hardly “uppity slaves.” They get free tuition, room, and board and trained to become professional players at no cost if they wish to pursue it. At USC that is worth $100,000 per year. But, the false narrative that Black players were being exploited by the universities prevailed and now we have NIL plus payola. How is that working out? Instead of donors directing money toward medical and biological research we have 200 million going to a football facility, 20 million plus for payola to players, and 10 million to a coach. A top quarterback earns 2 million a year while a university professor earns 200,000. Strange world. At some point, the house of cards is going to collapse.

        Liked by 1 person

      1. the endurance tr0ll is working on 16 straight hours, pathetic

        you need to get a hobby…..better yet, a real job……just saying

        Like

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