USC coach Lincoln Riley returned to practice today and is being treated for pneumonia, according to a school spokesperson. Riley is not speaking to the media today but will do a Zoom call tomorrow morning. Continue reading Lincoln Riley Has Pneumonia

Where is USC athletic director Jen Cohen? One of the things I liked about Cohen when she got hired at USC was the way she interacted with the media in Seattle. It’s good because it allows fans to get a sense of what the top person thinks and where the athletic dept. is going. Has Cohen done anything with the media since her introductory press … Continue reading USC Notes: Low Profile For Jen Cohen

I asked a coach who faced Caleb Williams the past 2 seasons for differences in the quarterback this year. “When he is in the pocket, he is as good as there is,” the coach said “Early in the season, he threw a couple balls that were dropped by the defense while he was running around. It was no harm, no foul. “But against Notre Dame, … Continue reading USC Morning Buzz: Perfomance Must Outweight Preening

Lincoln Riley is not at practice for the second straight day and resting at home per doctor’s orders. USC has elevated Kliff Kingsbury to acting assistant in Riley’s absence. Wide receivers coach Dennis Simmons will meet with reporters after practice. Continue reading Lincoln Riley Remains Out For Illness

Lincoln Riley isn’t the only one who missed a media appearance. Caleb Williams was not on the NIL-driven podcast the past two weeks that includes his name in the title. Between Williams pretending to place a crown on his head in recent games; saying lions don’t worry about sheep and looking checked out at the end of the Utah game, he hasn’t acquited himself too … Continue reading USC Notes: Adversity Can Be Revealing

One barometer I’ve used to judge past USC coaches was whether they were leaders of men. Specifically, I used this issue to criticize Paul Hackett, Lane Kiffin and Clay Helton. After 22 games at USC, it’s safe to say Lincoln Riley also has trouble in this category. He doesn’t strike me as true leader but more like an offensive coordinator-as-head coach. There’s a certain gravitas … Continue reading USC Morning Buzz: A Leader Of Men Is Needed