We are going to see what develops with USC at the center position following the season-ending injury to Kilian O’Connor but one thing I learned long ago is you cannot assume how it will affect the team.
Way back in 2001, USC suffered a blow in the fifth game of the season when defensive tackle Bernard Riley tore his ACL. It was viewed as a devastating injury but the USC coaches were unfazed.
They simply replaced Riley with a freshman named Mike Patterson, who eventually became an All-American. I’m not predicting anything this year for the center position but we don’t know yet how it will turn out. We’ll have to wait and see.
- By the way, what is the deal with Lincoln Riley not even saying why type of injury O’Connor suffered? He is not coming back this season so what is he giving away to an opposing team by saying it’s a knee injury?
It’s just natural coach paranoia at work.
- Remember I wrote that one of the annual rites of training camp is when players say they are closer than ever. Here’s an early nominee.
“I feel like we a brotherhood for real,” USC cornerback Jontez Williams told the Big Ten Network this week.
InsideUSC with Scott Wolf 
Well, at least he didn’t say “for reals”.
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KAM: !https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fI569nw0YUQlol
What you find-ah
What you feel now
What you know-ah
To be real!
DON: Ooh, your love’s for real now
You know that your love is my love
My love is your love
Our love is here to stay!
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Scott, your comments amaze me at times. You do know as an experienced journalist that a person’s medical records are private and protected by federal law. MG, please give Scott a course in medical law. If Connor does not want his medical history known for any reason, that is his right. Why do you need to know a reason why he is injured? It might be strictly personal. The Mike Patterson information was good; so, find out who will be Connor’s replacement; now, that would be useful news. Fight on, Dan, Class of 1962
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KAM: I would imagine any football team has a brotherhood element to it, just maybe not with everybody
DON: Of course it is easier to feel the brotherhood when you are winning
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KAM: It is true that when a man goes down the replacement might turn out to be a Mike Patterson or Lou Gehrig
DON: But that’s not the way to bet
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KAM: I know how the team feels about losing their 1st string center
DON: “Next man up” sounds a bit flat
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