FOOTBALL

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

USC men’s basketball assistant coach Todd Lee is close to being hired as the head coach at Cal State Bakersfield. If hired, he won’t have to get yelled at by Eric Musselman any more.

  • Former USC sexecutive senior assosiate athletic direcotor Paul Perrier, who was involved in the hiring of Musselman (for better or worse) before being laid off last year, has been hired as chief sport officer of Golf Canada.
  • And now for some history:
  • Defensive tackle Jeff Winans, shown against Illinois in 1972, grew up in Turlock and played a Modesto Junior College before he transferred to USC.

“I could have gone to a smaller school and been sure I played,” Winans said. “But I want to play pro and I wanted to play against the best in college and USC only plays the best.”

He was a second-round draft pick in 1973 by the Buffalo Bills and spent five seasons in the NFL.

  • Jim Fassel was a backup quarterback at USC in 1969. He was the head coach at Utah from 1985-89 and the New York Giants from 1997-2003.
  • Marcus Allen speaking at the football bonfire rally for the USC-UCLA game in 1981, back when star players actually spoke at the rally.
  • Allen and John Robinson raise their hands to Conquest after the Trojans’ 22-21 victory over the Bruins in 1981, back when players and coaches would celebrate together after big wins.
  • I keep waiting for USC to sign another linebacker like Chip Banks, shown here intercepting a pass in the 1981 USC-UCLA game.
  • The USC-Stanford rivalry deteriorated so badly in the early 1970’s that before the 1972 game, USC assistant coach Craig Fertig said, “We keep Marv Goux on a leash around the Stanford fans.”
  • Now this is an NCAA Tournament TV crew:

PICTURES OF THE WEEK

Donna Loren

Linda Harrison

Marisa Mell

30 thoughts on “If It’s Friday, It’s Time For a USC Notes Column”

  1. If you don’t want to get yelled at then don’t play sports. It seems to be a requirement of being a coach. I recall the first time I was yelled at was as a 13 year-old in Pony League, and the first day the coach said to me as I walked out onto the field, “Don’t f-in walk out there, run!”

    Liked by 2 people

    Reply

    1. You shoulda decked him, John….

      #I’mPrettySureHeWouldaRespectedThat

      [The first time I got balled out by a coach was Frosh Football —he caught me mimicking him as he talked to us during a timeout….I don’t know how he could see me cuz I was behind him]….

      Liked by 2 people

      Reply

    1. Yes sexecutive sounds good NIL. Maybe a Harvey Weinstein type of position where you interview new female hires while getting a massage at a hotel. “Chief sport officer of Golf Canada” doesn’t sound bad either. Collect a six figure government salary along with a pension for playing rounds of golf with people who can supposedly influence Canadian tourism. Doesn’t sound like a stressful way to ;make a dollar.

      Liked by 3 people

      Reply

      1. I told my buddy [who’s getting over a serious health setback] to advertise for a sexecutive …and get back to me after he finds out what she’s willing to do….

        Liked by 1 person

  5. All dark haired beauties! I like it!!

    Think I have to go with Linda Harrison! Who can forget her in Planet of the Apes with Charlton Heston?!

    Liked by 3 people

    Reply

  6. Perfect– Musselman should follow his friends to either Bakersfield, or Canada. Yes, the little midget screams alot but is he well respected the answer is no, and I am referring to Musselman.

    The fact that a USC top assistant is offered a head coaching job at Cal State Bakersfield shows you how little the program is currently respected. Who in the world would want to move to Bakersfield perhaps a Junior College Coach would, but to think our assistant basketball coaches with so much current coaching experience would only get an offer from Bakersfield should show us all how low the program has dropped under Musselman despite the 3 new recruits.

    More will jump ship including players– just watch.

    Liked by 2 people

    Reply

  7. Chip Banks was a good player………..but not as good as no. 83- Richard Wood- “The Batman”. He had it all size, terrific speed, very physical linebackers who opponent feared in the middle of the field. To this day I still don’t understand with all the talent in the world that he did not make the NFL Hall of Fame. We have not had a strong, fast, physical linebacker in a long time which has been one of the many problems on defense. Ricki Gray Ellison, was a good player also, but did not have the talent Wood, or Bank have. Seau, played on the outside in college but I am talking middle linebackers.

    In memory of Richard Wood- you were the best brother.

    Liked by 3 people

    Reply

      1. KAM: Richard “Batman” Wood:

        Professional Career

        • Wood was drafted in the third round of the 1975 NFL Draft by the New York Jets.
        • He played for the Jets (1975) and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers (1976-1984), where he became a key player.
        • He recorded 855 tackles, 9 interceptions, and 6 fumble recoveries during his NFL career.

        Factors Affecting Hall of Fame Induction

        • Despite his college success, Wood’s NFL career was not as dominant as some of his peers.
        • He faced challenges, including a difficult rookie season with the Jets and later transitioning roles with the Buccaneers.
        • His performance, while solid, did not reach the exceptional level often required for Hall of Fame consideration.
        • Wood’s later career included coaching roles, but he did not achieve the same level of recognition as some of his contemporaries.

        DON: Richard “Batman” Wood had a commendable football career but lacked the standout statistics and accolades in the NFL that typically lead to Hall of Fame induction.

        Like

  8. wolfman, you can deflect your cover-up of the NCAA investigation of Enfield by posting pics of Nova, but this will only delay the inevitable. don’t get hoisted by your own petard, wolfman!!

    #Wolf-Gate

    Liked by 2 people

    Reply

    1. KAM: In his fourth year as head coach, the 2000 season, Jim Fassel received acclaim for his “playoff guarantee” during which he led the Giants to an improbable NFC Championship and Super Bowl appearance. With the team having lost consecutive games and falling to 7–4, Fassel made a public guarantee that they would make the playoffs. The team then won their next five games to finish off the regular season, and cruised through the playoffs, defeating the heavily favored Vikings by a blowout score of 41–0 in the NFC Championship game, before losing to the Ray Lewis-led Baltimore Ravens 34-7 in the Super Bowl.

      DON: Fassel’s legacy as head coach for the Giants is mixed, as his Giants teams were also known for their highs as well as their disappointments against inferior teams in the regular season, as well as in the playoffs. The most notable loss was a 39–38 loss to the 49ers in the 2002 postseason, in which they blew a 38–14 third quarter lead. His last season as a NFL head coach he finished 4-12 in 2003. He passed away 5 years ago of a heart attack at age 71.

      Like

      Reply

  10. Hi Scott, thanks for the Friday history photos and comments. Correct me someone if I am wrong, but I believe that Jim Fassel transfered to USC from Fullerton Junior College, now Fullerton Community College. As I mentioned before, USC used to store players in junior colleges for one year because freshmen were not eligible to play on the varsity and the Trobabes, the freshmen team, only played a four game schedule against inferior teams. The junior Rose Bowl game played in December used to draw near capacity crowds to the game. Boise State played in the game before BSU became a four year school. It was a great showcase for future four year university talent. Frank Gifford was a JC transfer as were many more stars in the 30’s, 40’s, 50’s and 60’s. Fight on, Dan, Class of 1962

    Liked by 2 people

    Reply

  11. KAM: I remember the 1981 USC-UCLA football game well. The first six possessions for the Trojans were:

    Fumble

    Fumble

    Fumble

    Punt

    Punt

    Punt!

    DON: But somehow we rallied under Marcus Allen’s 219 yeards rushing , took the lead with 2 minutes left and then George Achica blocked UCLA’s excellent kicker Norm Johnson’s 46 yeard try for the winning field goal. What a game!

    Liked by 2 people

    Reply

      1. KAM: After pocketing a cool $3 million his first losing season as head football coach, UCLA owes DeShaun Foster a buyout of over $6 million after firing him following an 0-3 start to his second season!

        DON: No wonder UCLA is running a $425 million annual deficit!

        Like

Leave a reply to ambitious26ec8fb1b4 Cancel reply