This tweet from USC athletics is in poor taste. A picture with a USC football player and the words “Avenge the fallen” seems over the top. Did someone die? UPDATED: Apparently this is copying a comic-book movie poster. Well, unless you are a 13-year-old boy, how many people get it? Most will not. So it’s still bad taste. Comeback season. #FightOn pic.twitter.com/S76U6gWkie — USC Trojans … Continue reading USC Tweet Of The Night

I was a little surprised USC had former senior vice president Todd Dickey go on radio station KPCC today to defend the naming rights deal for the Coliseum. Dickey is technically an emeritus (like Max Nikias!), which means he still works as a consultant, but I would think an athletic dept. official could handle this. Maybe they are all too scared to make public comments … Continue reading USC Afternoon Notes

A coach from a Big 12 school laughed when I asked him why Clay Helton takes so long to offer scholarships to some top Southern California prospects. USC offered cornerback Clark Phillips of La Habra last week. He is a 4-star prospect in USC’s backyard and already has 36 offers including Alabama, Clemson, Oklahoma, Ohio State, LSU and Notre Dame. “I don’t know why he is … Continue reading A Big 12 Coach Likes Clay Helton

Here is USC offensive line coach Tim Drevno talking about the Air Raid offense after Tuesday’s practice: “We go so fast that we slow down blitzes. It’s really about wearing the defense down.” Isn’t this what you would hear from any spread-offense coach too? I wonder if Drevno ever suggested to Jim Harbaugh that he run the Air Raid when Drevno was the offensive coordinator … Continue reading Beware Who Explains The Air Raid Offense

I don’t want to say USC is soft but the Trojans had a “situational scrimmage” Saturday and three members of the secondary (Greg Johnson, Isaac Taylor-Stuart, Talanoa Hufanga) are out the following Tuesday practice? Maybe Clay Helton has a point when he limits hitting. Freshman linebacker Solomon Tuliaupupu, who redshirted last season because of a foot injury, has missed four straight practices with an undisclosed … Continue reading USC Morning Buzz: Maybe More Tackling Is Not Great Idea

Talanoa Hufanga, who is USC’s best safety, broke his collarbone in Saturday’s practice and will be out eight weeks. Hufanga also broke his collarbone last season. He should be back for fall camp. Cornerbacks Greg Johnson and Isaac Taylor-Stuart were also out for Tuesday’s practice. Continue reading USC Safety Talanoa Hufanga Breaks Collarbone