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USC Morning Buzz: A New Low For Recruiting

Just when you think recruiting cannot go any lower, Rivals is charging high school athletes and parents $499 for an ‘evaluation’ by a Rivals scout.

The $499 fee includes a scouting report, grade, film evaluation, coach interview and consideration to be ranked on their site.

Sounds like you can try and buy a star ranking. Or maybe that is the impression Rivals wants parents and kids to have as they seek your $499.

  • Lincoln Riley said this week his takeaway from the Rutgers game was that “we need to play a lot better on third down and fourth down than we did the other night.”

Since there are only four downs, O’Riley’s comment means that on half the downs the defense needs to play better. Right?

50 thoughts on “USC Morning Buzz: A New Low For Recruiting”

  2. KAM: American style football is essentially 3-downs and a possible 4th down punt

    DON: So Wiley should only be worried about 3rd downs

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  3. wolfman, SC outta go all in on the Juice Box motif!! everyone gets a juicebox on sidelines!! ‘cuase nothing says “tough” like a juice box with a bendy straw!!

    #AndAnOrderOfChickenNuggets

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      1. Hold the nuggets, MickeyG…Word on the street is OR is donning their Star wars inspired “Stormtrooper” unis for the game Sat, no doubt mocking the monstrosity in Exposition Park!! can the trOJies make they pay in their Pimp-inspired Burgandy and Gold unis???

        #Pimpin’UpTheUnis

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      4. 67 — We need all our pals to recognize the superiority of Bonne Maman Cherry Preserves to Cranberry Sauce…

        #ICan’tStressThisEnough

        Liked by 1 person

  4. The QB’s primary goal is create third and short yardage. The defense’s position it to create third and long, which means first down and second down plays accumulate 3 yards or less. As Ed. G would say, “John, they iz all inextrikably linkked.”

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    1. Maybe someone should attempt (can’t envision it being successful) to explain to Charles Nelson Wiley the back story of the bell tolling on third down … just another way of saying what you just said ’67 …

      #ISayISayBoyYou’reDoingItAllWrong

      ##SimplyAmazingHowMuchMoreEffectiveDefensesAreOnThird(AndFourth)DownWhenTheyShutDownFirstAndSecondDown

      ###AndHowDoYouDoThat?StuffingTheRunByBeingPhysicalAndDisciplined?RushingThePasserWhileControllingAssignedLanesAndUsingProperTechniqueWhileNotBlowingAssignmentsInCoverage?

      ####NoWay!!!!

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      1. I’m for 5 man rush every play. [Unfortunately, there won’t be much help from the guys in back no matter what we do— but a 5 guy rush is our best option]…..

        #WeNeedToHitDanteSoMuchTheGameCeasesToBeFun

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      2. MG – There are a number of ways to accomplish the goal.

        My personal favorite is what can be referred to as a 6×5 but is really a 4x2x5 with the 2 being hybrid types who can rush, support on the corner for runs, and cover tight in the short outside area – but the 4 is the key, as it is with any other system).

        DL – the interior bowers – must be studs who play the run on the way to passer and remain disciplined – Sedrick Ellis was frequently a great example of this to name a fairly recent USC player (historically, the Bob Lilly, Buck Buchanan, Joe Greene, Merlin Olson, Gary Big Hands Johnson. Everything else comes from it. Lacking that, then you need disciplined gap control immovable types like Mike Patterson, but then need more from the outside.

        But whatever the scheme/alignment, it can’t be consistent. If anything is a takeaway from Pete, it is to mix it up and disguise (the best of the Pete era was the uncanny knack for delayed blitzes from unexpected directions).

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      3. Yep — I want to see what Dante does if he gets the crap blitzed outta him [my fear is he’ll do what he always does — dump it off to his uncovered safety valve]….

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      4. Who was the linebacker who intercepted, like, 4 passes in a game against a very good Utah team? One of which went for a TD. Was it Matt Grootegoed?

        Liked by 2 people

    2. KAM: The oddsmakers only gave the Dodgers an 18% chance to win the World Series last year on September 24, 2025. You act surprised. they are only 29% favorites this year.

      DON: Cowardly Sparrow Gabby has zero sports IQ.

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      2. I say, send Scottie in for one play, let him level Dante and get tossed for targetting.

        #HeWouldBeHonored

        #ThenAgain,IfItSavedRiley’sJob,MaybeNotSoHonored…

        Liked by 2 people

  7. If the perception is you can “buy” a star ranking, I want to see the parents of the slowest most out of shape mouth breather with man b**bs and flabby arms declare his committment for USC. That would be awesome.

    #HowIsThisNotGoingToEndUpLike”VarsityBlues”ForSCWhereParentsBoughtTheirWayIntoUSCForTheirKids?

    #IfAKidIsA5StarOnOneSiteButA4StarOnAnother,DoesHeGetHisMoneyBack?

    #CFBRecruiting=TheMostWorthlessPseudoSpectatorSportEverContrived

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    1. Scott agrees with you….but with a twist. He is initiating a system whereby the mother of a 4 star can pay to get 5 star players at the same position lowered to 3 stars.

      #CrazyLikeAFox

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  8. KAM: Who will be sadder if their team loses, Oregon or SC?

    DON: Oregon. The Ducks see beating SC as a birthright, and if they lose they will be sad–and mad

    KAM: SC will be more sad than mad. They half expect to lose

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  9. DON: Oregon owns SC like SC used to own Oregon. Turnaround is fair play?

    KAM: Not for SC fans who don’t take lightly their Trojans losing

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  10. DON: One of the biggest events of the year was China President Xi arriving to meet me at the airport. And CNN was not there to film it

    KAM: But I read somewhere that you banned CNN

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  11. DON: So SC-Oregon gets bumped in favor of Texas-Tennessee which figures with the Ducks losing in Oklahoma and the Longhorns currently No. 1

    KAM: Besides, those Tennesseeians love their football, not that LA doesn’t, but it feels more genuine

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  13. DON: I like how before a big game the team comes charging out of the tunnel in their vivid cardinal red and gold uniforms

    KAM: That color scheme makes them appear more menacing

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  14. DON: But the juiceboxes have got to go.

    KAM: I don’t know, it gives the reserves something to do and it seems to have inspired some of the players as in ‘You’re not putting enough juice into it’

    DON: There are complaints that Wiley is running a circus over there. The juiceboxes are just another act

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  15. Imaginary Wiley: ‘It has finally come to this, the Oregon game, a time of reckoning for me in the public’s eye as they find out whether I can win a big game in L.A.

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  16. KAM: So how do you figure the SC-Oregon game will turn out?

    DON: I can see Oregon running away with it but I don’t perceive SC as having that possibility. This will be a difficult game for the Trojans to win

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  17. KAM: I like the idea of Blogmaster Scott Wolf being thrown in a football game for one play

    DON: Every man should have first-hand experience of being in for one play so they understand the game better

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