I ran a picture last Friday of a brunch in Los Angeles with Notre Dame football players featuring 1953 Heisman Trophy winner Johnny Lattner. So I have to tell my Johnny Lattner story. Before covering USC, I used to go to the Notre Dame game in South Bend and sit in the stands. Back in those days, tickets were difficult to obtain because the stadium … Continue reading A Story About A Heisman Trophy Winner

Colorado coach Deion Sanders will not attend Pac-12 media day on Friday in Las Vegas because he is having surgery on Thursday. Defensive coordinator Charles Kelly will attend media day in place of Sanders. Tessier-Lavigner is also a member of the Pac-12 Executive Committee. Continue reading USC Notes: No Deion Sanders At Pac-12 Media Day

When people talk about what a great coach Lincoln Riley is, they list the fact he coached three Heisman Trophy winners as a major accomplishment. It is something Riley can be proud of as a coach. But there is another way to look at it: Who else has won three Heismans and never won a national championship? Or maybe even just multiple Heismans and no … Continue reading USC Morning Buzz: A Lincoln Riley Strength Highlights A Weakness

The Pac-12 will not announce a new TV rights deal at media day according to multiple reports. There is some spin emerging that it is simply because new players have emerged as potential suitors. I don’t know about that. Yahoo reports “it’s unclear with whom the Pac-12 has been negotiating.” And the pro-Pac-12 media hasn’t exactly named any one yet either. The only thing certain … Continue reading No Pac-12 TV Rights Deal Imminent (Of Course)

If it weren’t July, would anyone care who was on a preseason All-Pac-12 team? But it’s a quiet part of the year so it gets picked up. The media selected the team and five USC players made the first team: QB Caleb Williams, WR Dorian Singer, DB Calen Bullock, P Eddie Czaplicki and AP/ST Raleek Brown. So two of the five first-teamers are special teams. … Continue reading USC Notes: Five Players Named Pac-12 First Team

How will USC keep its running backs happy this season? The Trojans have six backs capable of playing this season and in the best of times, playing three is a challenge. I expect a lot from South Carolina-transfer MarShawn Lloyd. But returning tailback Austin Jones will play and Raleek Brown looks like he can play in the slot and at tailback. So where does that … Continue reading Morning Buzz: Can USC Keep Six Tailbacks Happy?