Sticky postDon’t worry, USC won’t play Mississippi in 2025 but it will still have a Southern school on the schedule. The Trojans play Georgia Southern on Sept. 6, 2025. Now that is a game Lincoln Riley fully supported. Continue reading USC Notes: Southern School Still On Schedule For 2025
Sticky postSeveral USC commitments were visiting big schools this weekend. Tailback Harry Dalton visited Alabama; defensive back Hylton Stubbs visited Florida and cornerback Trestin Castro visited Texas. Stankiewicz better hire a heckuva replacement or this will backfire on him. Continue reading USC Sunday Buzz: Busy Weekend For Recruits
Sticky postJackson Cantwell, a five-star offensive tackle from the Class of 2026, is visiting USC this weekend. He is from Nixa, Missouri, which is just 124 miles from the University of Arkansas. USC needs to start landing some guys like this if it wants to be a serious program and national championship contender. “So Carol Folt can get her parking space back?” quipped a former USC … Continue reading USC Saturday Buzz: Top Lineman In Town
Sticky postA bit of news today. Felicia Washington, USC’s first senior vice president of human resources, is resigning to become the head of human resources at the University of Pennsylvania. Why does it matter? Washington is exteremly close to Carol Folt and followed her to USC from North Carolina. Her departure has led to speculation among administration watchers that it is a harbinger of things to … Continue reading Carol Folt Loses Close Associate
Sticky postA high school coach was amused by USC coach Eric Musselman’s comment Thursday that “at USC there’s an academic piece as well. Our pool of recruits is different than maybe other places I’ve been.” I’ll cut Musselman some slack because he was at Arkansas. Call me crazy but wouldn’t it make more sense to play at BMO Stadium in Exposition Park? It’s close to campus … Continue reading If It’s Friday, It’s Time For A USC Notes Column
Sticky postSome people have asked me today if the Big Ten or SEC will change their names like the Big 12 and Conference USA appear likely to do? The huge difference is the SEC and Big Ten are coveted brands. They lose something with a name change. I don’t like the idea of the Big 12 changing its name, but it’s not the same as the … Continue reading Will Big Ten And SEC Follow Big 12 On Naming Rights?
Sticky postThere is buzz on campus that USC is considering restrictions to tailgating on campus this fall, as part of security measures enacted during the spring protests. If anything substantial is enacted, there would be a harsh blowback from fans, alumni and boosters who make being on campus a huge part of their game-day experience. I’ve said since the protests started that I think USC secretly … Continue reading USC Notes: Another Sign Of Apocalypse For College Sports
Can you believe it will cost $130 to buy a ticket to the USC-UCLA game at the Rose Bowl in the Trojan section? And that’s the price for those who belong to USC booster groups. Some USC boosters intend to wait until individual game seats are on sale for all UCLA games, because two years ago those seats were better and cheaper than the end … Continue reading USC Morning Buzz: Not Exactly A Bargain In Rose Bowl
Sticky postDid you see the headache Jen Cohen left when she departed Washington for USC? Here’s the projected deficits: So according to Washington, “much of the deficit can be attributed to (the) migration to the Big Ten conference and unanticipated expenses associated with the departure from the Pac-12.” I think Cohen probably should give the Seattle media a comment about these dire numbers. They won’t even … Continue reading USC Notes: A Problem Worth Fleeing From
Sticky postWhat a sad day to hear about Jerry West. One of the greatest players in basketball history. One of the greatest NBA executives in history. The logo. Mr. Clutch. Jerry West played in the 1960’s and 70’s but he would have thrived today. He was that good. And he spent some of his best years at the Sports Arena. In the picture below, West of … Continue reading Jerry West Passes Away At 86
Sticky postUSC has added four members to the Board of Trustees and it didn’t look far doing it. I’d say Carol Folt has consolidated her position here. Mark Stevens, who has donated more than $100 million to USC, is returning for a second stint on the board. He has his name on several things at USC including the Stevens Academic Center for athletes, which is under … Continue reading USC Adds Four To Board Of Trustees, Which Looks Like Good News For Carol Folt
Sticky postA lot of people confuse getting playing time with being good. Just because someone plays a lot, it doesn’t mean they are having a good season. I’ve noticed this looking at the USC depth chart. Last year was a great example. Domani Jackson started 11 of 12 games. A narrative also emerged that Jaylin Smith was indispensable. But if USC had a better secondary coach … Continue reading USC Morning Buzz: Quicker Decisions Needed On Defense
Sticky postDan Hurley turns down Lakers in 2024. Bob Boyd turns down Lakers in 1969. History repeats itself. Also, Jerry Tarkanian and Mike Krzyzewski turned down the Lakers job. Henry Bibby will take it. There is only one Daylon McCutcheon and he played at USC in the late 1990’s. Continue reading USC Notes: History Repeats Itself
Sticky postUConn coach Dan Hurley has turned down the Lakers job. Well, things will certainly be less interesting whoever gets the Lakers job because of Hurley’s intense personality. Eric Musselman will remain the most “colorful” personality among basketball coaches in town, although who will notice since almost no one cares about USC basketball? Continue reading Dan Hurley Turns Down Lakers
Sticky postHenry Bibby, who is 74 years old, applied for the Florida A&M job. So did former USC point guard Robert Pack. Is it absurd? Yes. Remember, his daughter will be a freshman on the USC women’s soccer team in the fall. There will be only two conferences (ACC and SEC) represented at the College World Series. The last time that happened was in 1948, when … Continue reading USC Morning Buzz: Oregon Keeps Stacking The Line
Sticky postHayden Lowe, a four-star defensive end from Oaks Christian High School, committed to USC. He chose USC over over Texas, Washington and UCLA. Continue reading Defensive End Commits To USC
Sticky postHow long before commitments start leaking from USC’s big recruiting weekend? Lincoln Riley has said three commitments are coming on social media. That said, look at two incidents in the past month. It gave out an award for at least the second straight year where it botched the name of the longest tenured athletic director, Willis O. Hunter, and called it the Willis O’Hunter Award. … Continue reading USC Sunday Buzz: When Will Commitments Come Out?
Sticky postWith the expansion of the College Football Playoff, it has put a squeeze on the bowl schedule. For example, on Saturday, Dec. 28th, there will be seven bowl games, including games at Fenway Park and Yankee Stadium. The games are the Fenway Bowl, Pinstripe Bowl, New Mexico Bowl, Pop-Tarts Bowl, Military Bowl, Alamo Bowl and Independence Bowl. Has there ever been seven bowl games in … Continue reading College Bowls Reach New Madness
Chuck McDonald, a four-star cornerback from Mater Dei High School, committed to Alabama today. He picked the Crimson Tide over USC, Oregon and Georgia (sorry Donte Williams!). McDonald’s commitment continues a trend of top Mater Dei recruits spurning USC. And it continued even though Nick Saban is no longer at Alabama. “I want to be the best, and there was no better place to be,” … Continue reading USC Saturday Buzz: Mater Dei Recruit Chooses Alabama
Sticky postThe Big Ten is having its media days July 23-25 in Indianapolis. USC’s media day is July 24. It’s not as easy to get away game tickets in the Big Ten. If you are in the Trojan Athletic Fund, you now have to enter a lottery just for a chance to purchase tickets to games at Michigan, Minnesota and Maryland. Michigan tickets cost $200 each. … Continue reading The USC Friday Column Supplement
Sticky postWhat would Wilt Chamberlain think of load management? In 1971-72, he was 35 years old and played all 82 regular season games and then was part of the Lakers’ post-season run to the NBA championship. Wilt averaged 42.3 minutes per game. He also shot 64 percent from the field, scored 14.8 points and grabbed 19.2 rebounds. Chamberlain played all 82 regular-season games the final three … Continue reading If It’s Friday, It’s Time For A USC Notes Column
Sticky postTommy Trojan was unveiled 94 years ago today on June 6, 1930. It was known as the Trojan Shrine back then. Here is sculptor Roger Noble Burnham creating his masterpiece. Here he is in 1956. Here is the famous author William Peter Blatty (“The Exorcist), who worked at the USC News Service, in 1958. Here’s Tommy Trojan at USC Homecoming in 1984. ActorGeorge Arlisswon the … Continue reading Big Birthday For The Trojan Shrine
Sticky postI’ve been wanting to say this for awhile but mentioning Velus Jones as a player who was not developed by Clay Helton reminded me. What about Amon-Ra St. Brown? He is considered one of the top receivers in the NFL. What did Helton get out of him? He caught about 7 passes a game his final year at USC for 11.7 yards. The year before … Continue reading While We’re On Subject Of Developing Players
Sticky postThe Lakers are courting UConn coach Dan Hurley, per ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski. If Hurley comes to L.A., it’ll be a contest to see who has the more intense personality between him and Eric Musselman. “He’s insane,” college basketball reporter Jeff Goodman said of Hurley on Thursday morning. The same has been said about Musselman, including by a former USC basketball coach recently. Remember, former USC … Continue reading USC Morning Buzz: The Insanity Level In L.A. Could Skyrocket
Sticky postJovani Ruff, a four-star shooting guard from Long Beach Poly, committed to Cal this afternoon. USC, Kansas and Oregon were the other finalists. Wonder what NIL was offered by Cal? Continue reading USC Notes: Four-Star Guard Chooses Cal
Sticky postI hear the USC Board of Trustees met Monday. We haven’t gotten any announcements out of it, so it looks like Carol Folt is secure. The tweet below (from the band) says “Tusk” is USC’s “fourth fight song.” What?!?!?!?!?! Tusk is a popular song and synonymous with the USC band. It is not and has never been a fight song. It is a Fleetwood Mac … Continue reading USC Morning Buzz: Even Basic Traditions Are Botched
Joel Klatt has apparently weighed in on the USC-Notre Dame series with Colin Cowherd (of course). “It’s not USC’s job to move off of Notre Dame as much as it is college football’s job and some overarching governing body scheduling, in particular for parity, so that the best teams have to play the most difficult schedules and the worse teams have some break, in particular … Continue reading USC Notes: Another Voice Against Notre Dame Game
Sticky postIt’s been assumed USC has one of the toughest schedules in the nation. No one told ESPN’s Football Power Index, however, which released its toughest schedules: 1. Florida 2. Mississippi State 3. Georgia 4. Kentucky 5. Auburn 6. Alabama 7. Oklahoma 8. Tennessee 9. Georgia Tech 10. Texas 11. Purdue 12. UCLA 13. Washington 14. Vanderbilt 15. Illinois 16. Ohio State 17. South Carolina 18. … Continue reading USC Morning Buzz: Tough Schedule Or Not?
USC is moving to the Big Ten but it still has the lousy Pac-12 bowl arrangements for the next two seasons, according to Brett McMurphy. That means trips to the Holiday, Alamo, Las Vegas, LA bowls if USC doesn’t make the College Football Playoff. It feels like the worst parts of the Pac-12 (the TV network, the bowls) are taking forever to shake off/eliminate. Continue reading USC Moved To Big Ten But Pac-12 Bowls Still Have Say
Sticky postUSC men’s basketball will play in the inaugural Acrisure Series in Palm Desert on Nov. 28-29. The Trojans will face St. Mary’s and either Arizona State or New Mexico. The women’s basketball team will also play in the event, facing Seton Hall on Nov. 27 and St. Louis on Nov. 29. Reaction: None of these games excite me. If you don’t live in the desert, … Continue reading USC Notes: Trojans To The Desert
Who has the worst Homecoming date of the season? Easy: UCLA. The Bruins’ Homecoming will be on FRIDAY, Nov. 8 against Iowa. Homecoming on a Friday night? People will make comments now about how no one will go to the game. But having Homecoming during rush hour in Pasadena on a Friday is ridiculous. There’s going to be a sizable contingent from Iowa so there … Continue reading We Have An Answer To Worst Homecoming Date Of Year
A USC alum emailed to tell me Lincoln Riley continued one of his traditions by not showing up at the Trojan Football Alumni Club golf tournament. The football alumni club includes former USC players. I’ve been to meetings on campus and it’s had close relationship with past coaches. But as I’ve said, Riley is not one to mingle, whether with former players, students or other … Continue reading USC Sunday Buzz: Lincoln Riley Continues Trend
USC has officially designated the Nov. 16 game against Nebraska as homecoming. It’s the second-to-last home game of the season. Can Matt Rhule field a team this season that might make this a good game? At least there should be a big crowd with the Cornhusker fans. Continue reading USC Finds Homecoming Opponent
Sticky postFive-star safety Jonah Williams and four-star safety Trey Mcnu*tt are visiting USC this weekend. Williams wants to play baseball but how big a deal is that? Two years ago, people were saying Duce Robinson might be a first-or-second pick in the MLB draft. Robinson played in an entire four games this season for USC baseball. He had one hit in six at-bats. Did you remember … Continue reading USC Saturday Buzz: Two-Sport Star?
Sticky postThe 1957 USC freshman team had such high expectations that a crowd of 10,000 was expected for its first game of the season against Stanford. The team featured the McKeever twins from Mt. Carmel High School in Los Angeles, highly regarded linemen like All-American Dan Ficca (all the way from Atlas, Pa.); All-City guard Bob Peters of Van Nuys High School and All-American center Bob … Continue reading USC Friday Column Supplement: Freshmen With High Expectations
Imagine being Trace Armstrong, the college football agent who represents Lincoln Riley and Brian Kelly. Riley tells Armstrong to convince Kelly to cancel the USC-LSU game. Kelly then tells Armstrong he doesn’t want to cancel the game. That’s the straightforward version. But imagine the actual conversations when dealing with egos like Riley and Kelly. And being the middle man. Phillips decommitted from Arizona after it … Continue reading If It’s Friday, It’s Time For A USC Notes Column
Sticky postUSC now has two 8 p.m. kickoffs against Utah State and Rutgers. I already see some fanboys defending it. They obviously don’t speak to the rank-and-file fans who hate getting out of the Coliseum at 11:30 p.m. and then having to fight traffic to get home. Not to mention those who take public transportation, which is often unavailable when the game ends. But I’ve even … Continue reading Notes: Late Night With USC
Sticky postThe USC-Utah State game on Sept. 7 will kick off at 8 p.m. PT and be on the Big Ten Network. Finally, games on a network that everyone can watch! But there is a slight catch. The game follows Ohio State-Western Michigan, which kicks off at 4:30 p.m. It should be over by 8 p.m., but if not, then what happens? USC-Utah State is joined … Continue reading USC-Utah State On Big Ten Network With Possible Catch
Sticky postColin Cowherd suggested yesterday that USC no longer continue to play Notre Dame. He has a history of making idiotic comments, so forget about him. But the USC-Notre Dame series is currently only scheduled through 2026. Does Lincoln Riley want to continue it? What does he care about “the greatest intersectional rivalry in college football.” He didn’t seem to have much interest in the UCLA … Continue reading USC Morning Buzz: Will Lincoln Riley Continue Notre Dame Series?
Sticky postCarol Folt still has security checkpoints where you must show ID to enter the USC campus. And an ID doesn’t get you on campus, you have to register before you even show up to the campus. But yesterday around 6 p.m., three teen-agers broke into a Starbucks inside the USC campus that is literally right next to the McCarthy Way checkpoint and has about a … Continue reading Fort USC Suffers A Breakdown
Sticky postScholarship limits for individual teams are expected to be lifted as a result of the NCAA’s huge anti-trust settlement and revenue sharing plan. That could mean sports like USC baseball could become fully funded. Baseball currently allows 11.7 scholarships. Imagine if USC no longer to offer partial scholarships against public schools? A player currently would pay at least $32,000 at USC vs. $3,500 at Cal … Continue reading USC Notes: Good News For Baseball?
Sticky postUSC coach Lincoln Riley has desperately tried to get out of the LSU game, according to a report from the website, Saturday Down South. Riley wanted out of the LSU game before USC even moved to the Big Ten and asked his agent, Trace Armstrong (who also represents LSU coach Brian Kelly) to convince Kelly to drop the game. The story said even after USC … Continue reading USC Morning Buzz: Lincoln Riley Wanted Out Of LSU Game
Sticky postUSC is a 6.5-point underdog to LSU in the season-opener, according to BetOnline.com Are you surprised? LSU did have a quarterback and two wide receivers taken in the first round of the NFL Draft. Overall, the Tigers had six players drafted. USC had seven selected but I think we can agree LSU lost more than USC via the draft. Maybe the oddsmakers don’t like USC’s … Continue reading USC Clear Underdog To LSU
Sticky postSan Jose State wide receiver Charles Ross has committed to USC. Ross caught 26 passes for 347 yards and one TD last season. He also went to Nevada and attended Culver City High School. He actually committed to Ohio U. back in January. When I’ve repeatedly heard from staffers at USC this offseason that the program wants to add a wide receiver, I actually expected … Continue reading USC Notes: Trojans Add Wide Receiver
Sticky postUSC heavily recruited wide receiver Nyck Harbor, who instead went to South Carolina. Over the weekend, qualified for the NCAA championships in 100 an 200 meters. He ran the 100 in 10.11 and the 200 in 20.20. Why am I mentioning it? Because Harbor weighs 242 pounds. And he’s already spent a year playing college football, which means he has gone through weight training. It’s … Continue reading USC Morning Buzz: Defying Odds In Two Sports
Sticky postHere’s some photos of Bill Walton vs. USC during his college career: Walton against USC at the Sports Arena in 1972. Here are three pictures of Bill Walton facing USC in 1974. Here is Walton facing USC great Ron Riley in 1972. At first glance, it looks like Bill Walton is facing USC at the Sports Arena. But this is Florida State in the national … Continue reading Bill Walton Vs. USC Photo Gallery
Sticky postSad news that Bill Walton passed away at age 71 from cancer. Walton was always entertaining but no current basketball announcer knew more about the history of USC and he frequently dropped historical references when he did Trojan games. Walton was also a staunch defender of the Pac-12 and vocally opposed UCLA’s move to the Big Ten. College basketball will be less interesting next season … Continue reading Bill Walton Passes Away
Sticky postRemember when Kentucky guard D.J. Wagner visited USC a few weeks ago and I questioned if this was just a free trip to L.A. for Wagner? Wagner was/is dating JuJu Watkins so a “visit” to USC sounded a little fishy. Well, Wagner has committed to Arkansas, according to the Arkansas Democrat-Gazette. No surprise that he followed John Calipari from Kentucky. By the way, Arkansas had … Continue reading Surprise, Surprise: Five-Star Guard Who Visited USC Chooses Arkansas
Sticky postUSC gave it a good run but fell short in a 4-3 loss to Arizona in the Pac-12 Championship game. It’s too bad USC wasn’t able to capitalize on a great performace by Cade Aoki, who allowed one hit in six-and-a-third innings. The season is over as the Trojans finished 31-28, winning nine of their final 10 games. What ruined USC’s chances for an NCAA … Continue reading USC’s Baseball’s Good Run Derailed By ShortSightedness
Sticky postThe USC-Arizona baseball game will be on ESPN2 at 7 p.m. tonight. The game was originally scheduled for ESPNU. Continue reading USC Baseball Channel Change
Recruiting analyst Tom Loy of 247 said today he expects five-star QB Julian Lewis to stick with his commitment to USC. “Right now I give the edge to Indiana over Colorado,” Loy said. This would certainly explain USC’s newfound interest in Corona Centennial QB Husan Longstreet, who is committed to Texas A&M. This is a big call by Loy. And it would be an amazing … Continue reading Is Julian Lewis Ready To Flip?
USC is ranked No. 23 in the AP Top 25 preseason. I’m not sure why Arizona is ranked ahead of USC, unless you want to say the Wildcats’ schedule is easier. I don’t think people realize how many players left the Wildcat program in the offseason and but most voters probably just see Noah Fifita and Tetairoa McMillan. Big Ten Passing Yards Leader Dillon Gabriel … Continue reading USC Notes: Some Respect For Miller Moss
If you like tradition, you know the Coliseum torch is usually lit during the Olympics. Especially when Los Angeles hosts the 2028 Olympics. Well, guess what. The torch wasn’t lit Friday. In fact, it wasn’t lit for other days either. I know it was lit Wednesday, at least. But it feels like it got lit when someone felt like doing it. Why does someone from … Continue reading USC Morning Buzz: A Forgotten Tradition?
No sooner had Rai Benjamin won the gold medal in the 400-meter hurdles, did the battle to claim begin. Benjamin spent two years at UCLA, transferred to USC for one season, graduated from USC and has worked as a volunteer coach with the USC track team. So that means he counts twice when colleges tally their Olympic medal winners. If UCLA has a ceremony for … Continue reading A Crosstown Rivalry On Olympic Medal Winner
I’m hearing the first week of practices confirmed that linebacker Easton Mascarenas-Arnold and safety Akili Arnold are going to be vital pieces of the defense. “They manage to flash in practices every day, which they should because they were top Pac-12 players last year,” a USC coach said. It’s true that the defense is always ahead of the offense the first week of training camp … Continue reading USC Sunday Buzz: Big Assist From Oregon State
Even though the NCAA eased restrictions on the numbers of on-field coaches, Lincoln Riley has not hired a special teams coach. Instead, he is continuing to use special teams analyst Ryan Dougherty, worked with Riley at Oklahoma (2017-21) and then came to USC last season. So Riley is going with what he is comfortable with. We’ll see how that works out but Riley was raving … Continue reading USC Saturday Buzz: Will They Really Be Special Teams?
