Caleb Williams Focusing On Team, Not Heisman

USC QB Caleb Williams tries to block out noise amid Heisman buzz

Williams says he is focused on bigger goals, like beating Utah in the Pac-12 championship game Friday in Las Vegas

Adam Grosbard (OC Register)  —  LOS ANGELES — The past few weeks, USC quarterback Caleb Williams has seen an uptick in text messages from friends and family. Some are congratulatory, others are commenting on all the hype surrounding Williams as a leading candidate for the Heisman Trophy.

Williams is sure to send an obligatory “thank you” back, then tries to get back to the work at hand for the Trojans.

“One of the things that we did two weeks ago was block out the noise and that’s what I’ve been doing because we have bigger goals in mind,” Williams said after practice Tuesday. “I’m sticking to my same routine, still trying to lead these guys.”

Williams and the Trojans will face Utah on Friday in the Pac-12 championship game in Las Vegas. A win there, and USC will lock up its spot in the College Football Playoff for the first time in program history.

So that is where the attention should be. But Williams has established himself as the Heisman favorite at this point in the season. His 44 total touchdowns are a single-season record at USC, and his 65.8% completion rate is higher than either Matt Leinart’s or Carson Palmer’s during their Heisman campaigns at USC.

Williams first learned of the Heisman, given annually to college football’s best player, when he was nearing the end of elementary school. It quickly became a goal of his, as he’s always considered himself the best player on the field.

“I thought that last year when I was playing, I thought it before I came into college,” Williams said. “It’s a certain confidence.”

And it was something head coach Lincoln Riley spoke with Williams about when he first recruited the quarterback to Oklahoma. Riley coached Heisman winners Baker Mayfield and Kyler Murray with the Sooners, as well as finalist Jalen Hurts. So the comparison resonated with Williams.

[Riley] believed that I had traits of them all and also had some unique traits of myself,” Williams said. “He tries to recruit guys like that, that can help him go win championships.”

It’s the idea of a championship that Williams is trying to focus on right now, despite all the hype surrounding him personally. His teammates have appreciated that concentration, with linebacker Shane Lee noting that Williams has not brought up the possibility of the award with the team.

Williams said he’s relied on his family as a support system, as well as lessons learned from his parents to guide him through these moments.

“I want to win and getting too big-headed and focusing on the highs and anything like that is where you start going downhill,” Williams said. “So focusing on routine, being here, trying to win with these guys and leading them keeps things in perspective.”

ocregister.com

__________

TrojanDailyBlog members  —  Always feel free to add information or new topics to the TDB which don’t necessarily pertain to any particular moderator post or member comment.

SUBSCRIBE HERE TO RECEIVE NOTICE OF NEW COMMENTS OR REPLIES.
Notify of
76 Comments
newest
oldest most voted
Inline Feedbacks
View all comments
Jamaica
Noble Genius
Jamaica
Offline
November 30, 2022 11:07 am

Win or lose, Utah will be in the Rose Bowl just because of the normal attrition that goes on in this conference. Washington deserves to go if not USC. Unless Ohio State gets invited to the playoff, they will again meet and beat Utah. Borrrrrring. Today the Rose Bowl committee must either give up the guaranteed & exclusive (no other games being played) 2pm New Year’s day game time or be out of the playoff rotation bowl schedule. It’s a standoff on both sides but I am afraid the Rose Bowl will have to give in or get run over… Read more »

TrojanRJJ
Noble Genius
TrojanRJJ
Offline
November 30, 2022 1:48 pm
Reply to  Jamaica

Jamaica, I do not think that is correct. If SC wins and plays in a CFP Bowl, the Rose Bowl is not contractually obligated to take any Pac team (remember when TCU played in the Rose Bowl the year Washington was in the CFP Bowl I think against an Big 10 team). The Rose will NOT take a 4 loss Utah team. What I have read is the choice will probably be 2 loss UW or some other team. If it loses, Utah will go to the Alamo Bowl. I think an tOSU and UW match up is a great… Read more »

HOF19
Noble Genius
HOF19
Offline
November 30, 2022 10:56 am

This is what I am thinking……USC media will be disappointed (or more) if we lose ……USC Fan Base will be disappointed (or more) if we lose But players in that SC Lockeroom will be CRUSHED if they lose (because they have goals/expectations that very very high now …..Especially Caleb ) …..FIGHT ON !!!!!

HOF19
Noble Genius
HOF19
Offline
November 30, 2022 10:48 am

Family member asked me If Utah wins will The USC fan base be in shock ?…..Had to think about for quite a while but I finally answered ………. YES Because if we lose to Utah ……No being involved in the playoffs and……NO playing in the Rose Bowl (Utah would be in Rose Bowl as Pac-12 Champs…..as they should be ).

HOF19
Noble Genius
HOF19
Offline
November 30, 2022 10:40 am

And ESPN spent 5 minutes talking about Ohio State Playing Georgia in the Playoffs ?????

volunteerTrojan
Noble Genius
November 30, 2022 10:54 am
Reply to  Allen Wallace

I’d say if we cover Kincaid like we did Mayer, we will win.

Rock2112
Noble Genius
Rock2112
Offline
November 30, 2022 1:22 pm
Reply to  Allen Wallace

I am skeptical on any Kincaid injury. They could have sat him against CO, but it would look bad. So he leaves early with an “unspecified injury?” If it isn’t a definitive tweak or awkward twist that shows on the film, I would treat him as 100% healthy. Although, we’re probably wisely doing that no matter what. In general, I don’t like the sea of concensus that we will win Friday, as if no one can notice the spread has this in “anything can happen” territory. And the assumption that Caleb can’t lose, despite that he has — to THIS… Read more »

Steveg
Noble Genius
Steveg
Offline
November 30, 2022 1:42 pm
Reply to  Rock2112

What you describe sounds like Riley. They say they are not seeking vengeance, which I find hard to believe among the players. Their motivation should be future games and a shot at the trophy. I am anxious to see how they defend Kincaid and what they do with Rising. I hope they have him Setting.

UtahTrojan
Noble Genius
UtahTrojan
Offline
November 30, 2022 9:27 pm
Reply to  Steveg

I see what you did there.

Rock2112
Noble Genius
Rock2112
Offline
November 30, 2022 5:32 pm
Reply to  Allen Wallace

I generally agree with both of you. I just am of the “one game at a time school” — and I don’t like my team being told that they will win by everyone — especially in a short week. Riley is doing the right thing to play down the revenge factor, because he knows that revenge is not a strategy. It IS a motivator, and he knows the players will be hungry to right the only wrong of this season. But the main things for a game like this are preparation, focus, and not looking ahead to a playoff we… Read more »

Cezwonski
Cezwonski
Offline
November 30, 2022 10:10 pm
Reply to  Allen Wallace

Allen,
One of the big reasons we lost that game was our offensive staff at the time got way too cocky.. They literally thought they would put 40 points on Dewayne Walker’s defense.. We held them to 13 points… You win those games 95% of the time.. You could tell during the game something wasn’t right. It was abysmal to say the least…

volunteerTrojan
Noble Genius
November 30, 2022 6:57 pm
Reply to  Rock2112

Funny the 13-9 game was brought up, that one still stings badly to me too. One reason is that it allowed the gators into the natty game at SC’s expense, and I really really really hate the gators. A bunch of cousins from FL let me have it pretty good, and still do. But I was thinking about that game earlier today, and decided that Friday’s game is the most important game the Trojans have played since that game. This game has the opportunity to propel us into the playoff, with is a shot at the national championship. As big… Read more »

UtahTrojan
Noble Genius
UtahTrojan
Offline
November 30, 2022 9:30 pm
Reply to  Allen Wallace

Not to guarantee it will happen in Vegas, but all year the Utes have definitely played worse away from the friendly confines of Salt Lake City.

volunteerTrojan
Noble Genius
November 30, 2022 11:01 am
Reply to  HOF19

As one article I read suggested, just win, leave no doubt, and don’t put it in the hands of the playoff selection committee.

HOF19
Noble Genius
HOF19
Offline
November 30, 2022 11:07 am

Best plan for SC right there Volunteer ↑↑↑↑↑ (and I am leaning/rooting for the “Leave No Doubt” part) Fight On !

Rock2112
Noble Genius
Rock2112
Offline
November 30, 2022 11:53 pm

Absolutely. And I assure you, if we lose, even by one point (again), we are not in the big show. Ohio State will jump us. That is just reality. We’re being delusional if we think we can lose this game and hold the 4th spot without dropping.

HOF19
Noble Genius
HOF19
Offline
November 30, 2022 10:38 am

As I am going room to room doing chores today I have had ESPN College football shows on (over last 2 hours) and I am noticing …..Say ….2-out-of-5 predictions (or Predictors) have Utah beating USC .

Steveg
Noble Genius
Steveg
Offline
November 30, 2022 11:28 am
Reply to  HOF19

It’s espn, the clown network. You have disregard anything they say.

PN4SC
Genius Member
PN4SC
Offline
November 30, 2022 8:18 am

No matter what happens Friday night, this season has exceeded most reasonable people’s expectations. The future for SC football is bright. I am so thankful that Bohn, Sosna, Folt, Caruso, etc, reached for the moon and got Riley.
Hard to believe we have gone from one of the worst teams in school history to the precipice of a playoff spot in one year.

UtahTrojan
Noble Genius
UtahTrojan
Offline
November 29, 2022 8:57 pm

Can’t wait for Friday, I will be at the game with my two daughters that attend the U.

volunteerTrojan
Noble Genius
November 30, 2022 6:18 am
Reply to  UtahTrojan

Lucky dog! Have fun!

TrojanMPA90
Noble Genius
TrojanMPA90
Offline
November 30, 2022 12:19 pm
Reply to  UtahTrojan

Hope the split allegiances don’t tear your family apart.

UtahTrojan
Noble Genius
UtahTrojan
Offline
November 30, 2022 9:55 pm
Reply to  TrojanMPA90

They know who is paying the bill.

RialtoTrojan
Noble Genius
RialtoTrojan
Offline
November 29, 2022 7:00 pm

My initial reaction to pinning all our hopes on one player was that it was foolish. There games early on this season where I would have sat Caleb down and put in his backup. He was hanging on to the ball too long and throwing ill advised passes.Someone even called me stupid for mentioning this. On top of all that Caleb has been coaching up his backup. Maybe I’m stupid, but I can stand by what I said when I said it. Caleb is probably the most valuable player on the team, and he has a great backup. I’m happy… Read more »

Golden Trojan
Noble Genius
Golden Trojan
Offline
November 29, 2022 7:58 pm
Reply to  RialtoTrojan

For sure Rialto, in the first half of the season, CW was making the sophomore mistakes. But he has righted himself and is playing amazingly.

HOF19
Noble Genius
HOF19
Offline
November 29, 2022 5:54 pm

Well one person is sold and totally feels that if SC Beats Utah SC belongs in the Nat’l Champ Playoff (and he is an Ohio State Grad ) >>>>> Kirk Herbstreit …..FightOn !!!!!

alfa1
Genius Member
alfa1
Offline
November 30, 2022 5:34 am
Reply to  HOF19

You will hear more of Herbstreit’ positive comments the closer it gets to SC becoming a BiG member…Imagine three of CFB great Legacy programs in one conference… TOSU, MICHIGAN and USC. Perhaps, someday Notre Dame as well. When the Saban era ends,I fully expect the BiG to eclipse the SEC. The SEC media footprint is regional, BiG with the inclusion of SC and the Bruins…and perhaps Oregon or Washington, it’s media footprint will be National, from New Jersey to the West Coast, far, far larger and with that…More Money, more interest.

Chris
Major Genius
Chris
Offline
November 29, 2022 5:25 pm

Transfer portal is filling up fast. So many names will be in there. Who is better positioned to pull in the top guys than us? Riley is going to pick and choose. Fight on!

San Diego Trojan
November 29, 2022 6:00 pm
Reply to  Chris

I’m sure Chip and Dan Lanning will be looking for replacement QB’s in the portal.I saw that Texas QB Hudson Card is joining Rattler so far in the portal. The portal is the best thing to happen for lazy recruiters like Chip, who doesn’t have to put in the effort as much anymore

UtahTrojan
Noble Genius
UtahTrojan
Offline
November 29, 2022 7:21 pm
Reply to  Chris

The advantage this year is with the improvement of the team there will be even more interest than last year. He should be able to pick and choose.

San Diego Trojan
November 29, 2022 5:54 pm
Reply to  Allen Wallace

Best late season showing by the conference that I can remember. It’s too bad that Larry Scott screwed things up so bad, because there are many good coaches and players, who can play with anyone this year. Too little too late for a comparative TV deal that maybe could have kept the conference together

Golden Trojan
Noble Genius
Golden Trojan
Offline
November 29, 2022 7:54 pm
Reply to  Allen Wallace

So I see Ohio St lurking around waiting for somebody to fall. Will they squeak in with a loss by one of the top 4 while sitting on the couch this weekend?

Golden Trojan
Noble Genius
Golden Trojan
Offline
November 29, 2022 8:05 pm
Reply to  Allen Wallace

So if things play out like we think they will, USC gets Georgia in the Peach Bowl? Will Ohio St play Utah again in the Rose Bowl?

UtahTrojan
Noble Genius
UtahTrojan
Offline
November 29, 2022 8:52 pm
Reply to  Allen Wallace

I believe you are right Allen. The way the current PAC standing are lined up if USC wins then Washington is in 2nd place and would go to the Rose Bowl. Unless the Rose Bowl committee chooses the Utes.

Golden Trojan
Noble Genius
Golden Trojan
Offline
November 29, 2022 8:55 pm
Reply to  UtahTrojan

Bowls generally don’t like rematches from the previous year. Next Sunday will fun as things sort themselves out. I like our chances with Georgia. Could be they have too much depth but I think SC will give them a game.

Steveg
Noble Genius
Steveg
Offline
November 30, 2022 8:31 am
Reply to  Golden Trojan

Golden, I have been thinking the same thing. I don’t think Georgia has faced an offense like USC presents. If the D line could get pressure on their Qb they would expose him and turn the tide of the game toward a USC victory.

volunteerTrojan
Noble Genius
November 30, 2022 6:32 am
Reply to  Allen Wallace

The higher USC soars this year, the larger the travesty of the lost Cat years becomes. If his destruction of my beloved football program weren’t so devastating, I’d almost admire the guy for his amazing ability to fail. Clearly, it takes special talent to be so devoid of talent.

But baby we’re back! Beat the Utes Friday and we’ll get to measure ourselves against the big boys. What a great season to behold!

TrojanRJJ
Noble Genius
TrojanRJJ
Offline
November 30, 2022 7:49 am

Volunteer, The travesty lies completely at the foot of the Nikias/Haden/Swann administration. What we are witnessing is the level of pure incompetence in the last administration. Whatever I think of Folt, she is clearly competent. And, she hired an elite AD who brought in elite staff, who in turn hired an elite HC. And, the change has been remarkable. Utterly remarkable. Look at the record of Nikias/Haden/Swann. They totally botched the NCAA sanctions, then compounded the problem with three straight bad coaching hires with each one being much worse than the prior. Lane Kiffin was a bad hire not because… Read more »

Steveg
Noble Genius
Steveg
Offline
November 30, 2022 8:36 am
Reply to  Allen Wallace

Allen, I still think Bosna was the brains behind getting the Linc-dog. Bohn and the others just got to take the bow. imho

volunteerTrojan
Noble Genius
November 30, 2022 10:06 am
Reply to  TrojanRJJ

RJJ, I get it, it was a collective fail. But had The Cat been competent, he could have had much more success with his luck as the “next man up” when he took over. So, in spite of the upper management failure and desire for “continuity, stability and a nice guy”, “Clipboard Clay” could have been a diamond in the rough” waiting for his chance to be discovered. At the end of the day, he had the opportunity to succeed, all he had to have was head coaching competence. So, in the collective fail equation, it sounds like I assign… Read more »

TrojanRJJ
Noble Genius
TrojanRJJ
Offline
November 30, 2022 10:30 am

volunteer, while I could be wrong, my experience has lead me to conclude the opposite. It is a very rare person who can evaluate him/herself. SC hired him as its HC and then renewed him. He had won both a Rose Bowl and the Pac 12 and was for his first two years the most successful HC in SC history. I do not know if I would have doubted myself in those circumstances. I was a CEO of my own midsize company and I learned never to expect my staff to evaluate themselves; I tried it early on and it… Read more »

volunteerTrojan
Noble Genius
November 30, 2022 10:51 am
Reply to  TrojanRJJ

Fair enough, I see your viewpoint. I would add though, from my personal experience, that great leaders are never satisfied with what they know or how they do things. Rather, they seek outside perspectives from other successful leaders. For example, I know for a fact that Steve Jobs hired a professional “coach” to expose his blind spots and help him improve, and this happened within two years of his passing, so he was already one of the most successful leaders in the business world. Yet he strove to get better, reaching out to external sources. My point? Do we have… Read more »

TrojanRJJ
Noble Genius
TrojanRJJ
Offline
November 30, 2022 1:40 pm

Great response. We both agree as I think our difference is semantic. Clay never had the ability to be an elite coach (or an elite anything). What you are describing is a characteristic of the elite. Very few are capable of the transition from mediocre to elite. I think this is expressed in Pareto’s Principle. 80% of the productivity in any field is produced by 20% of the participants. And, I am willing to bet of that 20% the top 2% produce 80% of that. So, my take is the bottom 80% produce 20%; the next 18% produce 16% and… Read more »

volunteerTrojan
Noble Genius
November 30, 2022 4:13 pm
Reply to  TrojanRJJ

Agree 100%, and give you triple thumbs up for your usage of the “Pareto Principle”. 👍👍👍

San Diego Trojan
November 29, 2022 4:26 pm
Reply to  Allen Wallace

This is the downside to the transfer portal. Shane Beamer has rejuvenated that South Carolina program with some big late season wins, and in turn help raise Rattler’s profile in doing so. It takes the wind out of the fans and alumni sails. There should be restrictions as to how many times you can enter the portal. I don’t like that you can change allegiances every year if you want, because there is always that threat hanging over a program if a kid doesn’t get what he wants all of the time. He was already starting. Good riddance to him

San Diego Trojan
November 29, 2022 5:56 pm
Reply to  Allen Wallace

Agree. It’s a good thing the dollars are there for coaches now.

volunteerTrojan
Noble Genius
November 29, 2022 5:59 pm

There is already a limit on the rule allowing players to immediately play once they transfer. The rule allows to transfer once “for free”, then for subsequent transfers, a player must sit out a year.

San Diego Trojan
November 29, 2022 6:04 pm

So Rattler has to sit out a year? If true, wonder why he wouldn’t just stay where he was at, then hope to get drafted the following? I’m glad that stipulation is in the guidelines

TrojanRJJ
Noble Genius
TrojanRJJ
Offline
November 30, 2022 7:52 am
Reply to  Allen Wallace

To play next year, Rattler will either need to get a waiver approval to transfer or graduate from South Carolina this summer to play at NE. Or, he can apply for a waiver, have it denied, and then sue the NCAA for an anti-trust violation (I think his chances on that are no better than 50/50).

Trojan5
Genius Member
Trojan5
Offline
November 30, 2022 10:01 am
Reply to  Allen Wallace

Rattler was at OU when LR left. Because of the coaching change I don’t think Rattlers move to S Carolina counts as his “free” move. I might be wrong. But based on all the talk shows I have listened to & articles I have read this is the conclusion I have reached.

TrojanRJJ
Noble Genius
TrojanRJJ
Offline
November 30, 2022 10:33 am
Reply to  Trojan5

Trojan 5 and Allen, Rattler’s 4th year in college is this year. He has only one year left. I assume he will graduate from SC in June and then be able to play immediately. If he cannot graduate, he needs to return to So. Car. He does not want to be a test case. As I recall Anti-Trust law, reasonable restraints are allowed. I think allowing one free year and one year to “sit” stands a good chance of being upheld as “reasonable”.

TrojanRJJ
Noble Genius
TrojanRJJ
Offline
November 30, 2022 1:41 pm
Reply to  Allen Wallace

Smart man. His son may have said something like he was thinking of transferring. Dad checked it out and ended the discussion.

Trojan5
Genius Member
Trojan5
Offline
November 30, 2022 11:54 am
Reply to  TrojanRJJ

The transfer portal is a wild ride. I heard an estimate that 1500-2000 kids from FBS schools could enter the portal when the transfer window opens on 12/5. No wonder schools are hiring a CEO of football operations.

ATL D.D.S.
Noble Genius
ATL D.D.S.
Offline
November 29, 2022 2:18 pm

CW is just the perfect teammate. Knows he is the straw that stirs the drink, but quick to understand he needs good ingredients around him to make a great cocktail. And he brings out the best of everyone on the roster. His parents and mentors have done an excellent job on Caleb’s development as a person and a player.

And he plays for the TROJANS! Life is good!

ATL D.D.S.
Noble Genius
ATL D.D.S.
Offline
November 30, 2022 6:33 am
Reply to  Allen Wallace

Very good, Allen-san.