Trojans are listening as UCLA QB Dorian Thompson-Robinson says he wants to top last year’s record 62 points
Adam Grosbard (OC Register) — LOS ANGELES — Crosstown rivalry week had barely even begun when the first shots were fired Monday morning from Westwood to South L.A.
“Obviously we hate those guys across town, it’s a bitter feeling with those guys,” UCLA quarterback Dorian Thompson-Robinson said. “We want to be even better, we want to break 60 [points] and all that stuff.”
The stakes are high enough this week. No. 7 USC and No. 16 UCLA will face each other in their annual rivalry Saturday, with both programs ranked in the Associated Press for the first time since 2014. Should the Trojans win, they would clinch a spot in the Pac-12 championship while eliminating the Bruins from contention.
And then there are the circumstances of the past two games between these teams.
Last year, UCLA scored a record 62 points in a humbling win over the Trojans at the Coliseum, capped off with Thompson-Robinson signing a hat for a USC fan after a touchdown. The year before, USC scored three fourth-quarter touchdowns to rally from 12-point deficit to win at the Rose Bowl.
It’s the aftermath of this game that seems to have stuck with Thompson-Robinson the longest.
“I remember it clear as day, cussing at us, flipping us off, as disrespectful as you can get,” Thompson-Robinson said Monday. “So we’ve got to go out there on Saturday and do the best we can to win this game.”
For USC’s part, the words from Thompson-Robinson did not seem to penetrate the Trojans’ locker room prior to media availability Tuesday.
“He said that?” safety Calen Bullock said when informed about the 60-point proclamation. “He can have his own opinion. We know what we’re about to go out there and do. We’re about to execute. I know that’s not gonna happen.”
“I really have nothing to say to that,” defensive end Nick Figueroa said.
“Who wouldn’t want to put 60 up on us? We’re USC,” added receiver Jordan Addison. “But they’re going to have to stand behind that. He’s gonna have to stand on them words.”
Addison feeling closer to normal
Addison returned for USC in Friday’s win over Colorado after a two-game absence due to a leg injury suffered against Utah. In the moment, the injury looked like it had the potential to end Addison’s season due to the angle at which his leg bent.
The junior receiver wasn’t sure he would be able to return so quickly, either.
“I first I thought it was gonna be longer than what it was, just how it looked and how it felt coming down on the sideline. But we have great trainers and they helped me get back out here as fast as I could,” Addison said. “It just feels good to be back out there. It’s always tough to be on the sideline watching.”
Addison caught the first pass of the Colorado game, taking it for two yards, but was targeted only once more and did not make another reception. He said he always feels fully healthy come game time, but did not elaborate on whether he was still progressing back from the injury.
But Addison was thrilled with the way receivers like Tahj Washington, Kyle Ford and Michael Jackson III stepped up in his absence.
“I knew they was going to go out there and do their thing,” Addison said. “I told y’all we got a deep receiver room and whoever’s up is gonna make a play.”
Injury report
Head coach Lincoln Riley expressed hope that LB Eric Gentry (ankle) and WR Mario Williams (undisclosed) would be able to participate Saturday in some manner after practicing Tuesday. He also said that safety Max Williams (undisclosed) was progressing well after leaving last weekend’s game with an injury.
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USC is the Biggest Rival: 93% vs 24% LAT — “According to a survey of Bruins athletes, 93% said it was important or very important to keep UCLA in the same conference as USC, the nemesis it will face Saturday at a sold-out Rose Bowl for a likely spot in the Pac-12 championship football game. Only 24% of Bruins athletes said keeping UCLA and sister school California in the same conference met the same level of importance. “In what might go down as one of the most monumental days in the history of UCLA athletics, the UC Regents could declare their… Read more »
Atlanta Wheeler’s five-star PG Isaiah Collier (6-3, 190, pictured below) — the top-rated 2023 prospect per 247Sports, is set to commit today (the final day of the early signing period) from among USC, CIN, UCLA and MICH.
Supposedly, Collier held off deciding until last night per his inner circle, but USC has been his rumored choice for months. The recruiting services have overwhelmingly picked the Trojans here. Hopefully, they have it right.
Collier’s team-mate/PF Arrinten Page (6-9, 225) has already signed with USC.
Update: As expected, Collier has just committed to USC.
If USC wins 3 more they should make the top 4. Can they hang with the top 2? Not sure. I would much rather see what the Trojans can do against TCU first. A win Saturday and everything else is gravy. I have a feeling Gentry will play and make the difference on D.
Here we are. USC sitting pretty, but on a cliff that drops down stiffly. I never even wanted USC to make the POs, thinking our 2022 team couldn’t possibly already be ready for that challenge as our often inept defense would get us shredded and embarrassed against teams like GA in that rarefied realm. Yet my pre-season 9-3 guess could be looking a little light. I really have no idea where USC goes from here. In two weeks, USC could be out of the top 20…or headed to the P12 championship game. What an amazing season. Clay Helton is 5-5… Read more »
I was predicting 9-3 way back in January and will be very happy if USC betters that. It’s just refreshing to be in this position versus last year. I’m hoping for a sound victory over the bRUINS Saturday and would be elated if one of our Defenders “rag dolls” DTR like Charlie Weaver of the “Wild Bunch” did to UCLA QB Dennis Dummit back in 1969. Hardest hit I’ve ever seen in college football and it happened right in front of where my Dad and I were seated in the Coliseum.
The famous 1969 game was by far one of the most enjoyable Trojan victories I have witnessed in person. I was a SR in HS sitting with a couple of my best friends right above where Sam Dickerson caught that wildly debated 32-yd corner end zone TD. I remember it seemed so dark in that northwest corner of the Coliseum.
Trojan fans stormed the field and the ride home was gleeful, to say the least.
Sadly, Sam died on Dec. 23, 2015, of cancer in Modesto, Calif. He was only 66.
Allen: thank you for the wonderful reply and photo of Sam. I’m sure that catch is still being debated along with Erik Affholter’s catch-bobble-catch from Rodney Peete in the 1987 game. That’s great you and your friends were sitting right above where Sam made the catch. I was sitting in the 4th row in the 1975 Rose Bowl where J.K. McKay made the TD catch and my classmate Shelton Diggs made the 2-point conversion catch from Pat Haden to win the game.
LSU will lose to Georgia in the SEC championship and with 3-loses they will be out. Michigan-OSU loser can possibly stay #4 in the playoff if the final score is a point or two difference. I see TCU winning out and making the playoff at #3. If the Michigan-OSU loser drops below #4, and USC wins out, they should get the nod over Tennessee who won’t be in the SEC championship game. This is pretty much how it has to go for USC making the playoff.
“Obviously we hate those guys across town, it’s a bitter feeling with those guys,” UCLA quarterback Dorian Thompson-Robinson said. “We want to be even better, we want to break 60 [points] and all that stuff.”
“He said that?” safety Calen Bullock said when informed about the 60-point proclamation. “He can have his own opinion. We know what we’re about to go out there and do. We’re about to execute. I know that’s not gonna happen.”
Addison returned for USC in Friday’s win over Colorado after a two-game absence due to a leg injury suffered against Utah. In the moment, the injury looked like it had the potential to end Addison’s season due to the angle at which his leg bent.
USC is the Biggest Rival: 93% vs 24% LAT — “According to a survey of Bruins athletes, 93% said it was important or very important to keep UCLA in the same conference as USC, the nemesis it will face Saturday at a sold-out Rose Bowl for a likely spot in the Pac-12 championship football game. Only 24% of Bruins athletes said keeping UCLA and sister school California in the same conference met the same level of importance. “In what might go down as one of the most monumental days in the history of UCLA athletics, the UC Regents could declare their… Read more »
Today’s the Day!
Atlanta Wheeler’s five-star PG Isaiah Collier (6-3, 190, pictured below) — the top-rated 2023 prospect per 247Sports, is set to commit today (the final day of the early signing period) from among USC, CIN, UCLA and MICH.
Supposedly, Collier held off deciding until last night per his inner circle, but USC has been his rumored choice for months. The recruiting services have overwhelmingly picked the Trojans here. Hopefully, they have it right.
Collier’s team-mate/PF Arrinten Page (6-9, 225) has already signed with USC.
Update: As expected, Collier has just committed to USC.
If USC wins 3 more they should make the top 4. Can they hang with the top 2? Not sure. I would much rather see what the Trojans can do against TCU first. A win Saturday and everything else is gravy. I have a feeling Gentry will play and make the difference on D.
Here we are. USC sitting pretty, but on a cliff that drops down stiffly. I never even wanted USC to make the POs, thinking our 2022 team couldn’t possibly already be ready for that challenge as our often inept defense would get us shredded and embarrassed against teams like GA in that rarefied realm. Yet my pre-season 9-3 guess could be looking a little light. I really have no idea where USC goes from here. In two weeks, USC could be out of the top 20…or headed to the P12 championship game. What an amazing season. Clay Helton is 5-5… Read more »
I was predicting 9-3 way back in January and will be very happy if USC betters that. It’s just refreshing to be in this position versus last year. I’m hoping for a sound victory over the bRUINS Saturday and would be elated if one of our Defenders “rag dolls” DTR like Charlie Weaver of the “Wild Bunch” did to UCLA QB Dennis Dummit back in 1969. Hardest hit I’ve ever seen in college football and it happened right in front of where my Dad and I were seated in the Coliseum.
The famous 1969 game was by far one of the most enjoyable Trojan victories I have witnessed in person. I was a SR in HS sitting with a couple of my best friends right above where Sam Dickerson caught that wildly debated 32-yd corner end zone TD. I remember it seemed so dark in that northwest corner of the Coliseum.
Trojan fans stormed the field and the ride home was gleeful, to say the least.
Sadly, Sam died on Dec. 23, 2015, of cancer in Modesto, Calif. He was only 66.
Allen: thank you for the wonderful reply and photo of Sam. I’m sure that catch is still being debated along with Erik Affholter’s catch-bobble-catch from Rodney Peete in the 1987 game. That’s great you and your friends were sitting right above where Sam made the catch. I was sitting in the 4th row in the 1975 Rose Bowl where J.K. McKay made the TD catch and my classmate Shelton Diggs made the 2-point conversion catch from Pat Haden to win the game.
LSU will lose to Georgia in the SEC championship and with 3-loses they will be out. Michigan-OSU loser can possibly stay #4 in the playoff if the final score is a point or two difference. I see TCU winning out and making the playoff at #3. If the Michigan-OSU loser drops below #4, and USC wins out, they should get the nod over Tennessee who won’t be in the SEC championship game. This is pretty much how it has to go for USC making the playoff.