Former USC Linebacker Rod Martin Passes Away

Rod Martin, a standout linebaker with USC and the Raiders, has passed away, the Raiders announced today. Martin was a first-team all-conference in 1976 on the Rose Bowl-winning team and then drafted by the Raiders in the 12th round of the 1977 NFL Draft. He was a two-time Super Bowl champion with the Raiders in 1980 and 1983 and intercepted a record three passes in … Continue reading Former USC Linebacker Rod Martin Passes Away

USC Morning Buzz: Remember These Positions For Weak Spots

I looked again at the USC roster over the weekend and it confirmed some things to me. Mainly, I see some real question marks at linebacker and in the secondary (cornerback and safety). I’ve mentioned it before but there are some players expected to play who haven’t done much in their careers. Some might exceed what they have done but not everyone. And I’m not … Continue reading USC Morning Buzz: Remember These Positions For Weak Spots

Sunday Buzz: What Might Have Been At USC?

Here is a tweet I stumbled across that I wrote in 2010 after Pete Carroll resigned from USC. Imagine how much better off USC would have been if they took my advice. USC should offer $4 million a year to Mike Riley, Jim Harbaugh, Gary Patterson and Kyle Whittingham and see who takes it — InsideUSC (@InsideUSC) January 10, 2010 https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js RUN-RULE WALKOFF! HUSKERS WIN! … Continue reading Sunday Buzz: What Might Have Been At USC?

USC Saturday Buzz: The Petty GM At Work

Is Chad “Charmin” Bowden just a petty person or did he leave Notre Dame on bad terms? The Trojans just mocked Notre Dame in a video (below) and it’s basically taking shots at a video the Irish previously produced. Who else at USC would even remember a Notre Dame video than the small-minded Bowden? He even did a voice-over in the USC version, which takes … Continue reading USC Saturday Buzz: The Petty GM At Work

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

This column will be Gary Patterson free, for better or worse. The Big Ten and Fox Sports are pushing for a 24-team College Football Playoff. That’s grotesque but if it happens, will Lincoln Riley agree to play Notre Dame again? The Festival of Books is one of his coups after he stole the event from long-time host, UCLA. It was the TV show, “Rooster” shooting … Continue reading If It’s Friday, It’s Time For A USC Notes Columm

USC Morning Buzz: I Hear Things That Remind Me Of Pete Carroll

I like to write about Gary Patterson because I know a lot about him through common friends. Patterson said this week he has incorporated some zone concepts into his defense and favoring man-to-man schemes. But I hear this is actually not really a departure. He’s always run hybrid defenses that played man defense within a zone. So far, I hear things about him thatr remind … Continue reading USC Morning Buzz: I Hear Things That Remind Me Of Pete Carroll