Here is some good news: USC will not lose a football game on Saturday. “It’s Ron Bloom and Bloomin’ Idiot,” a USC employee told me. Jim O’Rourke had grown up in New York as a Golden Gloves boxer before he moved to California and went to a barber college so he could make extra money while going to school. O’Rourke developed his own unique style … Continue reading If It’s Friday, It’s Time For A USC Notes Column

Carol Folt’s “special announcement” today was that long-time donor Ronald H. Bloom has donated $50 million to the new football building. On the one hand, it’s great to get a $50 million gift. On the other hand, it shows USC doesn’t really have new donors it can go to for athletic donations. Bloom, 91, and his family already donated for the Bloom Family Tunnel, which … Continue reading Loyal Alumnus Donates $50 Million To Football Center

The season may be over but it’s time to break ground on Lincoln Riley’s pet project, the $200 million football facility. Riley, Carol Folt and Jen Cohen will be at a ceremony today at 11 a.m. It’s quite a look to have this project going while USC has its first layoffs in 10 years and slashes budgets across campus. “We need to build it or … Continue reading USC Morning Buzz: Time For Some Groundbreaking!

QUARTERBACK It’s time to see what Jayden Maiava can do. But the QB whisperer hasn’t enhanced his reputation with the way he’s tried to shoehorn Miller Moss into his philosophy instead of trying a game plan that worked around Moss’s weaknesses. Grade: D RUNNING BACKS Woody Marks is a pretty good running back if he just gets enough carries. Grade: A- WIDE RECEIVERS Who has … Continue reading USC-Washington Report Card

I didn’t hold back talking about Lincoln Riley on the Petros and Money Show on Tuesday afternoon. You can hear the lively conversation about USC football by clicking this link and going to Hour 2 at the 17:52 mark. And remember that got him booed by some fans at a dance marathon in February that raised money to cover 100 percent of all medical expenses … Continue reading Morning Buzz: USC Is An Easy Job If You Don’t Mess It Up

Lincoln Riley discussed his decision to make a QB change after practice today. “It was tough,” Riley said. “It’s my job to take the emotion out of it. You have loyalty to all these guys individually, but you got a bigger loyalty to the team and program and it has always got to stay that way.” “When we went back and looked at it, we … Continue reading Lincoln Riley Talks QB Change