John McKay’s birthday was yesterday. The renowned quipster who many believe was USC’s greatest coach ever, died at age 77 on June 10, 2001 in Tampa, Fla, from diabetes-related complications. His ashes were spread on the field of the L.A. Memorial Coliseum. He would be 96 today.
My three favorite McKay quotes:
— Following a Buccaneers loss in their early seasons, McKay was asked what he thought of his offense’s “execution.” He replied, “I’m in favor of it.”
— After the Buccaneers won their first reg-season game against the New Orleans Saints during the 1977 season 33–14, McKay mused, “Three or four plane crashes and we’re in the playoffs.”
— After receiving harsh criticism from the media about McKay’s coaching skills in the NFL, McKay replies “You guys don’t know the difference between a football and a bunch of bananas.” In the next interview, members of the media left bananas for McKay. He then replied, “You guys don’t know the difference between a football and a Mercedes Benz.”
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I am wondering if I am living in an alternative universe. Phil Steele just picked Clay’s “Cats” to finish 13th in the nation. Sporting News picked “The Cat” as a top 25 Coach. Phil also picked Clay’s “Cats” to win the South and to lose to Washington in the Conference finals. I cannot recall such divergent views of a team. We will know in about two months. I am still at 6-6 and Clay is replaced by Donte as season’s end. Please note, I am NOT pulling for SC to go 6-6, I just think the team is what is… Read more »
Odds don’t look good for Reggie:
Per Arash Markazi
These odds were just posted on @BovadaOfficial
Will The Heisman Trophy Be Returned To Reggie Bush By The Heisman Trust In 2021?
Yes +330
No -500
Will Reggie Bush’s College Records Be Reinstatement By The NCAA In 2021?
Yes +300
No -450
Antonio Morales (The Athletic) on USC’s latest commitment: Keith Olson, OL High school: Napavine (Wa.) High School Ranking: No. 1052 overall, No. 106 OT Date of commitment: July 6, 2021 Notable: USC entered July without an offensive line commitment — a concern, considering that’s the spot where talent needs to upgrade most. But USC landed a commitment from Olson on Tuesday evening. Olson visited USC in mid-June and also took trips to Oregon State (the crystal ball favorite) and Utah. At 6-foot-6 and 285 pounds, Olson projects to play tackle at the collegiate level. He’s also the first offensive line commitment since Clay McGuire… Read more »
From reading all the pre-season CFB rags and internet snippets from so-called experts, writers, anonymous coaches, and fans alike, the overwhelming sentiment about this 2021 USC outfit always comes out the same — “USC’s O-line is a major question.”
This post and your post below reflect what Arledge noted and I think we all agreed; it looks like the 2021 SC Helton “Cats” will not be able to run the ball effectively, protect the quarterback, or stop the run. Hopefully, we are all wrong, but at this time, despite having an extremely favorable schedule, SC sure looks like a team that will end up somewhere between 6-6 and 8-4 and probably battling for 3rd in the weak Pac 12 South.
Clay “The Cat” Helton is poised for a run to yet another USC football contract extension. Will Mike Dohn even require that the “The Cat” somehow “stumble” into CFB’s anticipated expanded playoffs?
Again, as written by Mik Dietlin (SportsPac12.com):
“If The Cat gets extended beyond 2023, no matter who lands in Los Angeles when the assistant coach carousel spins again, or how many Top 10 recruiting classes he produces, USC will always get crushed by IOWA, or a reasonable facsimile…”
Allen, until now I’ve seen the “glass half-full” where it concern Mike because I think he’s doing as well as as he can with his current situation (e.g.. Caruso; Folt). But short of National Titile, I will be disgusted if Helton get extended.
I’m starting to get a little worried about Bohn. I just don’t get the whole departure of our amazing T/F coach Caryl Smith Gilbert. Suddenly, after winning the NC, she’s off to fix the GA program, and word is that USC never lifted a finger to keep her. She’s maybe the finest college T/F coach in America if you look at all her awards and accomplishments. At least an argument could be made. Anyway, Bohn has always been mum about Helton outside of generalizations and his basic decision to originally keep him on against the loud will of the fans.… Read more »
Tommy, I will probably turn away from USC football if CH gets extended. It is just unimaginable to me anyone would spend a second considering it. Today’s leadership at USC does confound me though, nobody has sat in their seats and thought like they do. Caruso is a cancer upon USC, and Folt is just a tumor.
If Gentleman Clay were for whatever reason to get renewed past 2023, to an even better contract, unless he outright wins the conference and gets a good playoff berth this season, I think a lot of us would simply stop taking USC football seriously. I’m still really interested to see what USC’s attendance at the Coliseum is this year. I really have no idea how to project the support USC fans intend to show up with, as Helton’s schtick winds forward, “Trojan warriors” and all. We’ve all seen enough tape. Who knows? If USC hadn’t gotten so lucky and miraculously… Read more »
Ah…come on. Best thing Bone and Dolt could do to crush fan and alumni enthusiasm would be to give “Helton the Great” a full Professorship and tenured status. If you’re further interested in CFB you have multiple choices.
For what has taken place with Trojan football for the last decade, is nothing short of a disaster.
Frosh DL Jay Toia, who suddenly, and very quickly, portaled out from USC after a superior spring practice (a simple “bad fit” they say in today’s parlance) has the Bruins all jacked up:
Says Bruce Feldman (The Athletic): “UCLA’s staff also is really excited about young D-lineman Jay Toia, a former four-star who wowed USC coaches in the spring before transferring across town, who could be special. He’s powerful and moves exceptionally well for being 325 pounds. The USC transfer has a chance to be a dominant force in the middle of the Bruin defense in the not-too-distant future.”
The situation with Toia makes me sick. Signing a LOI apparently means nothing, and tampering is just fine. SC doesn’t have the guts to try and block Toia’s release, and force him to sit out another year.
This sounds harsh, but if there is any justice, coachNansen will end up on a ventilator with COVID, and Toia blows out an ACL.
On a lighter note, Isiah Mobley is coming back for another year. Alan- I disagree with your assessment on Enfield. He is one of our few competent coaches, who has elevated the program. Hope he sticks around.
You might be totally right about Enfield.
His teams usually were disappointing IMO — until this season, at least for me. I’d really like to see what he does with the Trojans this season before an extension offer is made. A big year should equal a big offer.
It doesn’t seem like Enfield and Bohn are overly friendly. But both are at least good at their jobs, so I trust Bohn to make the right call based on his proximity to everything.
Some of you may have different recollections, but I don’t remember ever seeing John McKay get really upset over a call on the field. If he did, it was rare, and slipped by me. McKay was generally very cool, the Steve McQueen of Coaches.
His staff could get upset, but McKay, referred to as “The General” by Marv Goux, always seemed stoic and relaxed, arms sometimes crossed, as though he knew in the grand scheme of the game, things would even out and his Trojans would get their shot.
Thank God we got another wide receiver out of the portal. We probably need more, so maybe we can force some of our OL into the portal so we can sign more pass catchers. Who cares if we done have any lineman to block. Any chance we can get Olson to decommit?
On a side note, McKay was the greatest SC football coach ever, and had some amazing quotes. He was a super brilliant guy.(Not quite as smart as Helton) There will never be another quite like him
Ya, I’d call McKay a quirky genius, with great instincts and amazing talent eval skills, who was perfectly suited for coaching an elite program like USC in the ’60s and ’70s. He really had a knack for correctly placing players on a roster. There was no one else out there at the time who came close to approximating his combination of intelligence, guts, aloofness (which he really used to his advantage in college) media skill, and toughness. He also assembled terrific staffs whom he coached to do the hands-on work (unless he felt his dominating presence was needed) while he… Read more »
USC received its second oral commitment today from three-star Napavine (WA) 2022 OT Keith Olson (6-6, 278), who visited the Trojans in June and was also offered by CAL, BOISE ST, UTAH and ORE ST (initial fave because father played for the Beavers). “I had a great time meeting all the offensive line coaches during the visits. USC has a great legacy, I really enjoyed coach (Clay) McGuire and the other coaches at USC,” said the small town (low 2B class) prospect. Olson’s the first Washington OL to commit to USC since Lakewood’s Zach Banner (class of 2012), who is… Read more »
Ex-TEXAS WR Jake Smith transferring to USC as Trojans pick up fourth Longhorns transfer entering 2021 season. Smith’s time at Texas has been marred by injuries. CBSSports.com — Not long after entering the transfer portal, former TEXAS WR Jake Smith (6-0, 200) has found a new home. The sophomore and former top-50 recruit announced on his Twitter account Tuesday that he would be transferring to USC. “Coach [Clay] Helton I can’t thank you enough for this opportunity,” Smith wrote. “I can’t wait to get to LA and become a Trojan! Fight on!” Official word of Smith’s transfer came just before the Fourth of July… Read more »
John McKay had a great sense of timing, and usually drew smiles. But he had a shaky start as a head coach. He isn’t remembered for the losses, but for the way he won games using skill. He would rather lose by one point than the the game. He didn’t waste time outs. He built confidence and experience by putting in backups when the game was well in hand. He was a good gamemaster and took advantage of the opponent’s mistakes. He was coach when I became a fan through my teens.
A riverboat gambler, that’s for sure. Tough, strong, confident, prepared, and very smart. Great to be McKay’s friend. Not great to be his enemy. He sure inspired confidence from the USC fans and was generally beloved. I often thought our opponents would love to have McKay as their coach, instead of who they had. I’m not sure that McKay fired up his troops much. He left that to his staff. In fact, while coaching the Bucs, he was criticized frequently by his players for being way too detached. Sometimes he never addressed his team either before or after games. But… Read more »