USC has the nation’s No. 1-ranked recruiting class but Lincoln Riley is bypassing the traditional Signing Day press conference that would celebrate the accomplishment. I bet Chad “Charmin” Bowden would love to hold a press conference to highlight the class. But Riley cannot be bothered. He must be feeling good about his 9-3 record. Continue reading Lincoln Riley Won’t Comment On Signing Day

Here’s a new USC tradition that seems to happen every year now at the last home game of the year. Once again, former players feel like they have been treated like cattle at the Coliseum. “You could not make former players feel more unwelcome and devalued,” a former player told me. Former players were told they could participate in the Senior Salute but instead of … Continue reading USC Notes: Here’s A New/Unwanted Tradition

QUARTERBACK Jayden Maiava was pretty much the offense, or whatever you would call it, until UCLA collapsed in the fourth quarter. It wasn’t one of his best games but it didn’t need to be. Grade: B- RUNNING BACK The running game was fairly atrocious until King Miller’s 41-yard TD run. If USC wasn’t playing UCLA, it might have mattered. Grade: C WIDE RECEIVER Can Makai … Continue reading USC-UCLA Report Card

As you know, UCLA hired James Madison coach Bob Chesney. My reaction: I always like it when you hire a coach who is used to doing more with less. When you hire someone who coached at Salve Regina, being at UCLA will seem like Disneyland. It’s the opposite of when you hire a Lincoln Riley, who demands a new football building and doesn’t want to … Continue reading The Crosstown Rivalry Gets Spicy

I will discuss the play of Jayden Maiava this season later in the week but it appears some USC fans want Maiava to turn pro because of speculation Husan Longstreet will transfer if he doesn’t start next season. This is the world we live in apparently. Maiava’s been inconsistent in some key games but I don’t know if I toss aside someone with 27 career … Continue reading USC Morning Buzz: Is QB Facing Changing Of The Guard?

Did you catch this comment from Lincoln Riley after the game last night? “Nine wins with the schedule we play is a really good year. It was close to being a great, great year.” If he thinks the schedule was tough, wait till he sees next year’s schedule. And memo to Riley, nine wins is never a “really good year” at USC. Imagine when he … Continue reading Lincoln Riley Redefines Success At USC