What’s next? UCLA football visits USC at Coliseum
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USC update: The Trojans are coming off an unexpected bye after Saturday’s game at Cal was postponed due to COVID-19 issues within the Bears’ program. USC was able to change up its practice plan last week and use it as extra time to prepare for this weekend’s rivalry game against UCLA. … The big question for USC, as it has been the past few weeks, is how the quarterback situation plays out. Third-year starter Kedon Slovis, who led a wild comeback to beat the Bruins last season, injured his left leg two Saturdays ago against Arizona State and did not practice last week. If he can’t play, true freshman Jaxson Dart would become the starter after splitting time with Slovis the last two games.
Regarding Dave Aranda…his AD speaks about his choices.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y8wkgixbjNg
I have read several comments about Dave Aranda being the guy to go after for the future. I agree with that thought and sincerely hope we have the right negotiator for the job. The problem is that Bohn hasn’t impressed me or others with his style.
As important as this hire is if the guy whiffs he’s done. There’s no walking away from another decision like the one he made upon arrival.
Agreed that Bohn’s got to get this hiring right. What’s his style though, and what don’t you like about it?
“Coach Bohn’s” style is long on patience and short on action. He certainly had to know the the Cat was not a well suited coach for a national program such as USC when he arrived. Yet he gave Helton so much rope I thought Helton would build a suspension bridge. None of the improvements he supervised worked because he accepted Helton’s recommendations. The offense is a mess the defense doesn’t exist. Bohn also tends to major on the minors and over look the majors. (a line I’m borrowing from the Bible answer man) He shut down booster clubs and messed… Read more »
I had no idea Bohn is the person who was responsible for shutting down the booster clubs, which I have never even remotely understood. I figured that decision came from higher up. But if it’s all on Bohn, that’s beyond disappointing to me. I give Bohn more credit than you despite his failure to successfully address the USC football program yet. I think it’s been a very complicated situation at USC. But I’m still so happy that Helton is finally gone, I’m giving Bohn the chance here to prove himself by making the right hire. Getting someone like Aranda or… Read more »
Here is a good article on the QB (especially for fans of JT Daniels) situation at Georgia:
Link to Article at Dawg Nation
This was sent to us courtesy of Scipio. Thanks Scipio.
Amazing really. The former walk-on vs the #1 prep QB from the nation’s best HS team. Both transfer in, and right now, it’s Stetson Bennett’s job to lose which is very hard to do when your team never loses.
USC basketball travels to Florida Gulf Coast and gets a nice road win 78-61.
The basketball team is currently ranked #25 in the most recent poll.
Interesting note: Andy Enfield has 8 USC players currently playing in the NBA.
Mobley slammed the door shut, I’d say. Good team. Strong finish was good to see.
Now if SC fans would only support the team at Galen Center we might really be on to something.
Ready for this outside and out of the box candidate? What about Nathaniel Hackett? He is OC at Green Bay and supposedly in line for lots of NFL head coaching gigs this year. How excited would you all be to bring in Paul Hacketts son?
“Virginia Tech and sixth-year head football coach Justin Fuente mutually agreed to part ways, the school announced early Tuesday morning. Athletic director Whit Babcock announced the decision, stating that a search is underway and that co-defensive line coach/defensive recruiting coordinator J.C. Price is the Hokies’ interim head coach for the remainder of the 2021 season. By making the move, Virginia Tech reportedly owes Fuente a buyout of $10 million. “Virginia Tech hired Fuente after the 2015 season. He won 10 games in his first season as the team’s head coach. After the campaign, Fuente struggled to maintain that level of success and coached… Read more »
Boy the coaching dominoes are falling quickly. Hopefully Bohn having a 2 month head start has laid the ground work with his top 3-5 choices.
Looking at that “Virginia Tech reportedly owes Fuente a buyout of $10 million”. A fired coach doesn’t need the rest of his contract paid by the new school. Schools with smaller budgets may look at fired coaches to save money. Right?
So, of the schools now looking, who, besides SC and LSU, has the money to poach a big name and pay the buy out?
This two-month head start USC has had on the 2021 CFB coaching carousel is about to be put to the test. I know I’ve often wondered exactly what Bohn has been doing to beat out schools that just fired their coaches in October and November, and are now after the same guys Bohn is. For all I know, Bohn doesn’t even know who he wants yet, or who really wants the USC job. I’m trying not to believe that, as I expect USC to have named its new (big-time!) coach within a month at the longest. Your point about schools… Read more »
Fuente got 8.9 Million to not work any more. According to ESPNU radio.
VTech now in the mix for a coach. Fuente was the hot guy when the Hokies hired him. He really hadn’t done anything huge, just had a quick run at Memphis. Hiring the coach on a quick hot streak is always a gamble.
@Chris — I was a little shocked to read he had been hired by VT to start the now-distant 2016 season, initially winning 10 games. Time flies, even if Clay The Cat Helton is slowly stumbling along as the coach of your favorite team.
He took Beamers guys and won. Once those guys left the program the results started to change. Beamer’s shoes are pretty tough to fill. I am hoping it is the exact opposite for us.
I’d sure be willing to “gamble” on a guy like Aranda. Maybe that’s just because I’m desperate. Oh, that’s right. I am!
We all are
With all due respect, from what I’ve seen, I don’t see Aranda as much of a gamble. I see him as more of a godsend. I’m thinking lame-duck Ed O figures he might still have his LSU job if Aranda hadn’t taken the BAY job, replacing Matt Rhule. BTW, Aranda was earning $2.5 mil per year as LSU’s DC. Matt Zemek (Trojans Wire) — Quoting elections analyst Dave Wasserman, “I’ve seen enough.” Dave Aranda is the best coaching candidate among the various realistic possibilities on the board. I’m not predicting a single thing about where Aranda will go. I’m merely… Read more »
So we could see a bidding war between USC and LSU for Aranda and the loser gets Fickell. If Fickell won’t move out of Ohio then Campbell?
Sure hope we don’t lose Aranda to LSU, or anyone else for that matter. Of course, he could always stick with BAY I suppose, but his southern Calif roots have many of us thinking that’s a playing card that might trump some others.
Poor BAY. They expertly hire guys like Rhule and Aranda and have to worry about being permanently labeled as a “jump off school.”
Fickell sure sounds like a midwest family guy to me (that’s not exactly L.A., huh?). I’m not all that excited about Campbell, but don’t really know much about him.
LSU is paying Ed O $9million, second on the country to Saban at $9.5. They will have to pay his buyout of $17million minus his next contract, likely a DC. SC will owe Helton $8.4million ($10million minus $1.6million from GSU). Aranda may be getting $4million at Baylor. What’s the ceiling for USC? $9-$9.5million?
I like your numbers. I don’t know what USC’s ceiling is, but I know that its bottom has hit record lows!
Golden, You must include not only the HC but also the assistants. Remember, Aranda was making 2.5 million as a DC. SC will have to commit at least 25 million to the hiring pool to stay competitive. It will make that back in a flash, if the team produces.
SC’ ceiling is exactly what it’s going to take for a “World Class” Coach.
Campbell biggest asset is his ability to coach 2 and 3 star players up, which he has proven.
California Roots mean different things to different people. Some leave and can’t wait to get back, others leave and never return.
Aranda’s roots in Redlands are Inland Empire roots, not L.A. or Newport Beach roots. There are people who are not interested in the beach or Hollywood.
as I posted earlier…It’s About Fit” not money!
Only Aranda knows if he fits. It will be known before long.
I sure hope you didn’t get the idea from my comment that I ever felt for one second that Aranda was interested in either the beach, or Hollywood.
I’m all in on Aranda as well, he’s done enough to know he can build a great culture and defense. If we get him a lights out offensive coordinator I think he’s a no doubt home run guy. I’m my dream scenario we get Aranda and Dan Mullen as our OC after Florida let’s him go.
@Chris I sure miss having a great, or even decent defense that could at least occasionally be counted on.
It’s flat strange to watch USC flop all over the place with a porous, laughable, soft, slow D. Combine that with Drake London being out, and well, I’m picking the Trojans by a landslide! 😂🙏
Problem might be Aranda is a loyal type of man if reports about him are accurate. He has been at Baylor a very short time and may feel strongly enough to stick around longer. Fickel seems attached to Ohio and that might be another road block?
BAY isn’t a Golden Ring job, and never will be, especially with TEXAS and OU leaving for the SEC. The Big 12 will never replace those two huge programs successfully, and they know it. “Striking when the iron is hot” is a maxim that has endured through the ages. Aranda’s there right this moment. He’s at the apex of his stock price. All coaches have reasons to say no to every opportunity, and frequently do until they say yes. Coaching Search 101. Hopefully, USC is prepared to overcome these “roadblocks” you mention and has already figured out if Aranda and… Read more »
It depends on what Aranda wants to do with his career. I agree he will never see the level of opportunity again in his life time. If he wants to compete with Nick Saban and Kirby Smart, then he should take the SC job, assuming he gets what he requires to run a program at that level. Realize that FOUR schools will be bidding for his services: SC, LSU, UW and Baylor. He will NEVER see that again. And, yes, he is about to become very wealthy. I could easily see a 5 year, $45-50 Million Dollar contract, plus another… Read more »
I say spend the money, they will make it back plus. Get Aranda, have him get Ed O to come coach the D line and recruit with Williams. Then find the top line OC.
Allen what do you think about USC going after Lincoln Riley? Think about it. He has what 2or 3 heisman qb’s and runs a dynomite offense. Does he want to go to the SEC for sure? Just an idea I heard on the radio.
I just don’t think Riley would even remotely consider leaving OU for USC. Many would argue OU is the better job. I don’t think that, but it’s just a lateral I don’t see Riley making. If Riley likes recruiting, I figure he’ll always be in CFB, and at OU. If he gets tired of recruiting and portal stuff, I see him in the NFL.
But if he secretly wants to live in Santa Monica, CA, then come on down Lincoln!
Frank Beamer was the Hokies’ HFC from 1987 to 2015. He earned an impressive record of 238-121-2.
Williams named Dart the starter for Saturday due to Slovis injuries. Trojansports.com.
Thanks VT. Great news (at least for me), plus USC is getting healthy! Ryan Young (TrojanSports.com) — “USC interim head coach Donte Williams said during his appearance on the Trojans Live radio show Monday night that JR QB Kedon Slovis is not yet able to practice due to a lower leg injury and that freshman Jaxson Dart will make his first career start. “‘Right now, Kedon, we still don’t like where he’s at right now just from a health standpoint, so he’s not truly able to go right now. So Jaxson’s going to be our starter, and just like everyone… Read more »
If I were Kedon’s parents, I would be grateful. Kedon was run three times in the ASU game. And he gets hurt. UCLA and BYU have much better D lines. Given the USC O Line’s talent and performance, I would not want an immobile Kedon sitting back there. Kedon has fared far better than I thought he would. Maybe Kedon gets the start against Cal on 12/04.
The LA Times (Ryan Kartje) thinks Dart is here to stay, as I read it:
“For Dart, it will be the first of likely many starts as USC’s quarterback. What it means for Slovis and his future could prove a bit more complicated…”
Thought just popped into my mind ….Cinn goes undefeated and for some not nice reason (Behind closed-doors Politics ? ) finishes ranked #5 does a certain Head Coach start to think he needs to go to a maybe ……bigger name program ?
He has a better shot when they go into the Big12.
As far as #1 seed in NFC ……..Would not be surprised if it was revealed that a lot of players in the NFC would very much prefer NOT to go play in Wisconsin in January ……..Just saying .
Per some UCLA fans a gut retching loss was November 21, 1981 USC 22 UCLA 21 ….My FAVORITE Trojan of all time (Marcus Allen ) had 210 yards rushing ……He scored the game winning TD with 2 minutes left AND SC blocked a UCLA last-play-of-the-game Field Goal. We did not go to the Rose Bowl that year BUT THAT GAME KNOCKED UCLA OUT IT ALSO !!!!!!!!!! ………Fight On !!!!!
89,432 at that game at the Coliseum. Marcus Allen and Chip Banks were the captains.
USC went on to lose a real stinker to PSU in the Fiesta Bowl, 26-10. I still remember how bad USC looked that day. The 4th quarter was scoreless, even with Allen, in his final Trojan game, rushing for over 2,000 yds that year.
I figure attendance on Saturday will be lucky to break 65,000 (real, not announced), though I suspect Bruin fans might want to show and see themselves winning easy.
Whomever profits the most cash wise from a PACKED LA Coliseum I hope is someone in position to levy a TON of pressure on the people who run the University of Southern California !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Geez, do the 7-2 Rams ever look bad, losing to the 49ers 31-7 with six mins to go. The entire team on both offense and defense looks abysmal and like a total NFL bottom feeder with no hope.
If UCLA would only look like the Rams on Saturday, I’d say we’ve got ’em!
Best Team in the NFC ? ……Dallas or Green Bay or Arizona or Rams ? …………..Oops forgot Mr. Brady .
Looks like Dallas to me.
Stock down, I like it (Adam Grosbard, OC Register):
James Franklin, Penn State
“The Nittany Lions lost their fourth game in five attempts on Saturday, this time to Michigan, to further push their 5-0 start to the season further into a memory. It’s been a rough month-and-a-half for Franklin, with job rumors flying around and his team seeming to struggle in light of the whispers. Over the last two seasons, Penn State is now 10-9, a far cry from the Lions’ 11-2 record in 2019.”
Wouldn’t it be severely disheartening if USC lost Dave Aranda to UW as the hottest available savior of the program, exactly like USC also lost treasured Chris Petersen to the Huskies and had to take Seven Win Sark as a substitute, exactly what UW wanted all along?
Beware these Huskies. I think they are just as desperate as USC is.
I hope WA gets a great coach, just cannot see Aranda going there. Pac12 needs some good coaches to raise the stature of the conference. Perhaps skinny jeans Justin Wilcox will want to go there, he is fed up with Cal.
More on Dave Aranda (Bruce Feldman, The Athletic): “Aranda is about as ego-less as you will find in the profession amongst head coaches, according to peers. He is thoughtful and engaging in one-on-one settings and that resonates well with people when they get to know him. “Aranda is also very self-aware and realizes he may not be an ideal fit for certain jobs and settings, according to sources. At Baylor, he has thrived. It will probably take a great opportunity to get him to even consider leaving his situation with the Bears. Whether that is USC, a job that is set up… Read more »
Picking on the losers:
Even if UCLA (6-4 overall, 4-3 P12) beats USC (4-5, 3-4) and CAL (3-6, 2-4), the little gutties will have completed the reg season without having beaten one opponent with a winning record.
UCLA’s P12 wins are against STAN, ARIZ, UW, and CU, teams that are a combined 11-29.
This is the rivalry I like. I remember the old days when it was never known who would win, both teams were pretty good or even great. The last 10 years has been either one or the other had the upper hand. Kind of boring, not exciting as it used to be. This game is not going to mean a great deal, just bragging rights and a pass to some lower bowl game. Whoever Williams decides to start, this switching of the QB’s has to stop. If one is failing then of course make the change, but if USC is… Read more »
I am hoping there is some magic or pride or whatever it takes to keep the Victory Bell painted cardinal. Every year I take the opportunity to point out that the bell itself is really a Stanford bell. To say this, is simply a matter of history and maybe wonky logic. The Victory Bell is a 295-pound (134 kg) brass bell that originally rang atop a Southern Pacific railroad locomotive. It is currently mounted on a special wheeled carriage. The original Southern Pacific, Southern Pacific Railroad, was founded as a land holding company in 1865, later acquiring in 1885 the Central Pacific Railroad through leasing.… Read more »
I haven’t talked with one Trojan fan who actually thinks we’re gonna beat UCLA. There’s a lot of hopeful wishing, but no predicting. You don’t run across this type of Trojan ineptitude except in very dire circumstances. Sure, USC could shock the world and win it against another very beatable little gutty outfit. I think the Trojans might actually put some points on the board, but this 2021 USC D is one for the trash bin. I don’t quite understand how Todd Orlando cooked up this mess, but without Talanoa Hufanga roaming the secondary, who’s the Trojan defensive hero who’s… Read more »
The performance of the 2021 Trojans shows just how good Hufanga was. He was another All American safety at SC. We both correctly predicted that this D would not be as good as last year’s simply because no one on the D would be at his level of talent. I do not think either of us thought the D would be this bad.
Talanoa Hufanga, the “old school badass” started last night for the 49ers who totally destroyed the Rams on MNF: You and I sure got that one right @TrojanRJJ. The hard-working Hufanga artfully and aggressively made up for lots of holes and inefficiencies now on full display in this pitiful 2021 Trojan D that lacks so many traits you depend upon to have a superior team. I sure wish the captivating Pac-12 Defensive POY and 1st team AA who was specially groomed by none other than fantastic NFL HOFamer Troy Polamalu was available to lend a hand against the hated Bruins… Read more »
https://theathletic.com/2948077/2021/11/15/to-expose-some-of-the-coldest-battiest-college-football-takes-you-have-to-be-devoted-meet-pete-messageboardgeniuses/?source=user_shared_article I always thought USC fans were a bit less crazy than other CFB fans. This article confirms it.
Paywall.
Sorry about that. I thought it would be accessible.