FOOTBALL

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

Can you believe USC wraps up spring practice this week?

It was a quick month of workouts. The biggest accomplishment was getting the defense comfortable with Gary Patterson’s new system.

Unfortunately, too much of the focus is on who had an explosive play in practice. No one ever focuses on who gave up those plays, of course. That’s not something they can promote.

But when USC gets into the season, it will be Patterson’s defense that determines the season. So spring was vital for him and his unit, especially with Oregon, Ohio State and Indiana on the schedule.

  • Class of 2027 three-star athlete Javon Vital of Lake Charles, La., committed to USC.
  • The starting time of Sunday’s USC-UCLA baseball game has been moved to 4 p.m.
  • And now for some history:
  • Let’s remember a Joey Browner moment.

In 1982, the Trojans went to Tucson to play Arizona, a year after the Wildcats’ huge 13-10 upset victory at the Coliseum. Arizona featured gunslinging QB Tom Tunnicliffe of Burroughs High School in Burbank.

More than 55,000 jammed into the stadium and the Wildcats held a 20-17 lead with five seconds left in the first half. Instead of running out the clock, and with the prolific Tunnicliffe at QB, Arizona coach Larry Smith called a pass play.

Tunnicliffe dropped back and passed but it was intercepted by Browner and returned 47 yards for a touchdown to give the Trojans a 24-20 halftime advantage.

“If Tunnicliffe hadn’t thrown with five seconds left, everyone would have booed,” John Robinson said after the game. “Next time when Smith doesn’t throw with five seconds left, you will all say, `That’s very smart.’ “

That play was the start of a 24-0 USC run and 41-20 Trojans’ advantage. But Arizona came back and fell just short, 48-41.

The Trojans had three interceptions returned for touchdowns, including Browner’s play.

  • In 1981, USC actually encouraged the public to come to come to the Monday luncheons with John Robinson during the season. The cost: $7.25. Quite a deal to watch game films, hear Robinson analyze film and answer questions plus lunch.

What would it take to get Lincoln Riley to have lunch with the fans?

  • Here’s USC linebackers Chip Banks (left) and Tim Sullivan at practice preparing to face Tennessee in 1981. Can anyone tell me the last time USC had a linebacker with the talent of Banks? Read some of the breathless reports on spring practice and you might think someone currently might but let’s be honest, no one is even close.

By the way, USC beat the Vols, 43-7.

  • This is a Daily Trojan caricature of USC women’s volleyball coach Chuck Erbe, who was known for his extremely rigourous training methods and considered a bit of a taskmaster. He also won four national titles.

Can you imagine a coach today being depicted like this?

  • Marcus Allen’s got a big hole against Oregon State in 1981.

PICTURES OF THE WEEK

Gloria Guida

Jean-Paul Charles Belmondo and Claudia Cardinale

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

  2. Scott: Coach Riley, do you ever plan to eat lunch with fans?

    Riley: No.

    Scott: Why not?

    Riley: No one will remember how many lunches I ate —only how many games I won.

    P. S.

    I could have done with a little more Claudia Cardinale …and a little [lot] less of Jean- Paul…..

    #ThisWouldHaveBeenAGoodWeekToRunPicsOfKristiNoem’sHubby

    Liked by 2 people

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    1. P. S.

      Sybil: What red blooded American male hasn’t dreamt of strapping on size 60 boobs? How come everybody is acting like it’s so weird?

      Liked by 2 people

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      1. Didn’t mean to critique he/she’s who feel the urge to strap on size 60 boobs…

        #It’sThe21stCentury…YouHaveEveryRight

        Liked by 2 people

      1. Claudia surely did specialize in adulteresses —-From “Rocco and his Brothers” right on through “Once Upon a Time In the West”….

        Liked by 1 person

    4. KAM Weird how John Robinson could interact with fans and win conference titles, Rose Bowls and a NC…

      DON: While Riley Coyote can’t do either.

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    1. I can’t stand by & let you call the late John Robinson an animal….

      #[SorryForTheCheapShot,John—LoveYa]….

      P. S.

      If Only You Were A Ghost, Ghost Of Bucket

      Liked by 2 people

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    2. KAM:BEYOND PARODY: G a v i n N e w s o m Spends $20 Million on Consulting Firm in Effort to Find Ways to Cut Waste!

      DON: A n t i s e m i t e vile disgusting freak Cowardly Gabby aka Charlie Bucket the UCLA Fan aka TebowObama aka The Guy who posts as So Cal’s Wife & Michael Guarino & Buddhakarma &LawyerJohn & Pudly & Plow Horse & steveg49 & DOJ & Scott Wolf & Kathy & Foreskin Thoughts & Frank Young and The Moderator and Marjorie Taylor and Chuck Newton hardest hit!

      Liked by 1 person

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      2. KAM: A n t i s e m i t e vile disgusting freak Cowardly Gabby aka Charlie Bucket the UCLA Fan aka TebowObama aka The Guy who posts as So Cal’s Wife & Michael Guarino & Buddhakarma &LawyerJohn & Pudly & Plow Horse & steveg49 & DOJ & Scott Wolf & Kathy & Foreskin Thoughts & Frank Young and The Moderator and Marjorie Taylor and Chuck Newton lives in a dumpster on 6th and Grand Avenue.

        DON: You no showed when Scott Wolf came to Vegas for the LSU game in 2024 so we know you don’t live there.

        Liked by 1 person

  6. Veteran quarterback, returning offensive line, great running backs – we will likely have a top rated offense. It’s all about the defense. So it looks like Riley made a good decision with hiring Patterson and focusing practice time on learning his defensive scheme.

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    1. The yards we lost with Lemon & Lane leaving will be [more than] made up by our running backs…. and, since they’ll slow down our touchdown drives, we’ll be in better shape than ever in terms of game management….

      #Pete:”KeepRunningAt’EmTillTheyDon’tWantItAnymore”

      Liked by 1 person

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    2. KAM: The problem is that veteran quarterback couldn’t lead the team to a touchdown in OT against mediocre TCU

      DON: He chokes in key moments like Duke.

      Liked by 1 person

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      2. If I were Riley I’d hire a hypnotist to work with Jayden: “Big games are just like little games…. overtimes are just like regulation time…it’s all the same.”

        Liked by 1 person

      4. 18-30 and 2 interceptions will not do it against Oregon…or Ohio State…

        #ThisIsTheYearToBecome”BigGameJayden”

        Like

      1. KAM: It’s amazing how willfully stupid Cowardly Sparrow Gabby is….

        DON: And she seems determined to never change.

        Like

      3. Just as Clint was at the end of Gran Torino, Jesus was more than willing to sacrifice Himself for us.

        John 15:13

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