FOOTBALL

USC Morning Buzz: Two Special Teams Coaches And Three Linebacker Coaches On A Busy Staff

USC now has two special teams coaches.

Ryan Dougherty, who is Lincoln Riley’s friend and worked with him since Oklahoma, will continue to coach kickers and punters. Mike Ekeler will coach the rest instead of Dougherty.

“When we’ve evaluated it, there’s certainly been some areas we’ve been really strong special teams-wise, and there’s been some areas that have held us back and obviously need to do better, plain and simple,” Riley said. “We felt the combination of Coach Ekeler and Coach Dougherty will be pretty tough to beat.”

USC has more coaches than ever. They seem to have three linebacker coaches because Rob Ryan is still around with the title, “assistant head coach for defense.”

The only thing missing is assistant to the assistant manager of the movie theater like Mark “Rat” Ratner of Fast Times At Ridgemont High.

  • An Associated Press reporter in Seattle became the first media member to finally ask Eric Musselman why he dismissed Chad Baker-Mazara from the USC basketball team.

Musselman declined comment last night.

That’s a weak response from the guy who likes to wear a football uniform and seems to have something to say about everything except the biggest development of the season.

USC put in a meek performance last night, losing to Washington, 91-72. The Huskies had only seven players so let’s not whine about USC being short-handed.

Washington forward Hannes Steinbach had 22 points AND 24 rebounds. His 12 offensive rebounds were as many as the entire USC team!

That should just about end the NCAA Tournament hopes and UCLA comes to the Galen Center on Saturday. Musselman is already 0-3 against the Bruins.

14 thoughts on “USC Morning Buzz: Two Special Teams Coaches And Three Linebacker Coaches On A Busy Staff”

  1. This must be a truly humbling experience for Rob Ryan. At one point, he was the NFL defensive coordinator of the year. Now he is relegated to walking around a college practice field with the coaches and players essentially ignoring him. Actually sad to watch.

    Liked by 2 people

    Reply

      1. P. S.

        It’s being reported Riley signed off today on Ryan’s request to be appointed Vice-Assistant-Deputy Coach of Miscellaneous Matters.

        Liked by 2 people

      1. Anyone who’s ever had a pool party with lots of neighborhood kids has been there…

        #[….Well,NotThe”EatingIt”Scene]….

        Liked by 1 person

  2. Sort of makes sense that you would have a coaches for the kickers and punter and a separate coaches for the rest of the special teams. But three linebacker coaches? Seems as thought USC does not concern itself with such mundane things as payroll costs.

    Liked by 2 people

    Reply

    1. It will be worth it if we beat Ohio State….which Sports Illustrated has picked us to do. Along with beating Washington…..

      #….WithLossesToOregon,PennState&Indiana…

      #[IDon’tBuyTheLossToPennState]

      Liked by 1 person

      Reply

    2. KAM: Wait, we went from no Special Teams coach to two?

      DON: In 2023 we were told that Riley Coyote didn’t believe in having a Special Teams coach.

      Like

      Reply

  3. Is the strength and conditioning coach for our basketball team [which loses the second half of games by 20-30 points] the same guy the football team relies on?

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply

  4. How many coaches does a high school team have?– Why so many college coaches? Can you imagine being a coach and at a party you are asked what you do, “Oh, I teach the SC linebackers how to line up”

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply

Leave a comment