I’m slightly surprised by the amount of grumbling I heard this week from within some upper levels of the athletic dept. regarding Lincoln Riley. It’s not unusual to hear one or two people criticize a coach after a 6-6 season but this seems a little more pervasive and organized, like it’s also being heard from above. When the news broke earlier in the week that … Continue reading If It’s Friday, It’s Time For A USC Notes Column

UCLA fired offensive coordinator Eric Bieniemy and is expected to hire Indiana QB coach Tino Sunseri. I’m mentioning this because as far back as the season-opener against Hawaii I’d heard that Bieniemy’s playbook was way too big and a problem for the team. It’s good for the rivalry that DeShaun Foster is not messing around. He has hired one-time USC assistant Demetrice Martin to coach … Continue reading Busy Day For Coaching Transactions

I envision USC as a perennial Top 10 program. But it’s hard to imagine it based on some of the things I heard and saw Wednesday. “We’re really going to be probably looking at somebody that would come in and provide some depth,” Riley said. The goal is supposed to be to win now. I like Jayden Maiava but doesn’t he need some competition? Why … Continue reading Morning Buzz: Some Questionable Decisions By USC

Lincoln Riley responded to the Athletic report that Central Florida made an inquiry to see if he was interested in the job. He called it a “non-starter.” “I’m a Trojan,” Riley said. “I’m home.” A Trojan? It’s 50-50 he even knows how to find Tommy Trojan on campus. A Trojan doesn’t want to end the Notre Dame series. He is not a Trojan. He is … Continue reading Lincoln Riley Shoots Down UCF Link

Five-star defensive end Jahkeem Stewart committed to USC, giving the Trojans some sorely needed good news on Signing Day. Now let me say this: I’ve been saying since Lincoln Riley got hired that he has not put together the high school recruiting classes that were expected. USC is not a place where Top 15 classes should be tolerated. USC is hovering around 15th in the … Continue reading USC Lands Badly Needed 5-Star But Riley Still Lacking

The buzz was that USC would sign four-star linebacker Madden Faraimo from JSerra High School today but Faraimo instead signed with Notre Dame. Was it because linebackers coach Matt Entz left for Fresno State? Was it because Faraimo visited USC this weekend when the Irish defeated the Trojans? Last year, Notre Dame plucked linebacker Kyngstonn Viliamu-Asa of St. John Bosco away from USC. Continue reading Linebacker Spurns USC For Notre Dame