USC football finds itself at a new bottom with no immediate answers
Adam Grosbard (OC Register) — LOS ANGELES — As stunning as the proportions of USC’s 62-33 loss to UCLA on Saturday were, the particulars were familiar to anyone who’s followed the Trojans this season.
A defense that got trampled in the run game. An offense that couldn’t convert red-zone opportunities into touchdowns. Turnovers, penalties, tackles for loss, the lot.
USC hasn’t been immune to bad performances in recent years. But the repeat issues, the failure to correct mistakes, they weigh heavily on the upperclassmen on the roster.
“Just guys not being accountable to one another, not playing with pride for this team,” defensive end Nick Figueroa said. “It’s just not the brand of football that we want to play, it’s not the brand of football that’s played here. So definitely a big disappointment.”
If these comments sound familiar, it’s because USC made similar remarks after Oregon State won at the Coliseum for the first time in 60 years. And when Utah won at the Coliseum for the first time in ever.
It’s just that 12 weeks into the season, and 10 weeks since Clay Helton was fired as head coach, USC still has no answers.
“If I was hired as the next head coach, maybe I’d have the answer but I have no clue,” center Brett Neilon said “This team’s been through a lot, lots of ups and downs and a lot of stuff behind the scenes. But yeah, it just seems like the only time all three phases came together was Washington State in the second half.”
More troubling, Neilon raised the possibility that this is simply the culture that’s been built at the program.
Changing the culture was a major part of interim head coach Donte Williams’ message when he took over the program in September. He talked of making players take their hats off indoors, and picking up trash in the locker room.
But these off-field habits have had no impact on game performance, and Williams admitted on Sunday that implementing a cultural shift mid-season was no easy task.
“You’d like to have a change, but you make a change right in the middle of the season, things are an obstacle,” Williams said. “You never got the chance to grow in the spring or the summer or fall camp in things in the way you want them to be done. All we can do is continue to try and push forward and change the culture in the right direction.”
It’s hard to blame the Trojans if their eyes starting peeking ahead to the future. Technically, USC can win the next two games and earn bowl eligibility. But that would require defeating No. 13 BYU, a particularly bad matchup for USC given its strong run game.
Even playing at the Coliseum is no comfort after surrendering 225 points in five games to Pac-12 opponents at home this season.
“I don’t know another way to put it, but that’s disgusting,” Williams said, practically spitting out the final word.
After the UCLA game, defensive line coach Vic So’oto told his group to take these bitter memories into the off-season, to not forget this disappointment as they prepare for 2022.
“Knowing that these games are vital to what this program’s going to be in the near future is like a big part of what’s going to drive me,” Figueroa said. “And I hope it’s what’s going to drive other people in our locker room.”
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Check out this story on Yahoo Sports, the 3 dimensional chess is fascinating. If you are a big time AD looking for a coach you are in the game of your career. Fight On Bohn, Fight On.
Football scoop had an interesting podcast today. They are hearing Fickell and Aranda like everyone else, but they also are hearing Dan Quinn and Hugh Jackson. They also believe that USC will have their coach announced this weekend or next at the latest. Not just to pull together this recruiting class, but also to keep their best players out of the transfer portal. It’s pretty interesting and a quick listen.
The good part about AD Bohn is he is a trained AD. He studied to prepare for it and has a lot of experience being an AD. He will make the best decision that is POSSIBLE at the time. But it is also a bad time to find a great coach. The coaches we want are in the top 10 teams with stable jobs. Can we offer them more at a big risk for them? Offer them but put waiting limit. We need to study the up and coming coaches that would consider USC a great job. We don’t want… Read more »
I don’t know why, but I have a gut feeling that Bohn and Franklin have had an understanding and agreement in place since right after Helton was fired. That has remained a secret that can’t be announced until the end of their season. I have no knowledge, and hope it’s not true, because he would not be in my top five. Just a hunch
That would be a shame if your gut turned out to be correct.
I think your sentiment reveals the general lack of confidence USC fans have in our current leadership to get the football program fixed.
USC’s general ineptness has crept onto the front pages in numerous areas that have made us all shake our heads in disbelief, even shame.
Sooner or later, something has to break right for USC.
Looking at all those empty seats at the USC/UCLA game, hopefully Folt/Caruso/Bohn can see the handwriting on the wall with another failed approach and coaching pick here.
I would think the understanding and agreement is between Bohn and Fickell. They have the relationship and history. We will see what the CFP ranking looks like but I have a feeling that Cinci will stay at #5 the rest of the way and only Power 5 will make the top 4. That is what will push Fickell to USC. Bohn will have to have at least 5 guys he has a chance at getting cause it could get crazy 2 weeks from now.
So my question is, how much is Folt involved with the hire. Is she going to close doors because the candidate is not black, woke, or he made a statement 25 years ago that she is uncomfortable with? Is Bohn going to take control or is he going to fold again like he did in the beginning. I have a feeling she is going to get in the way somehow.
I just don’t feel you can lay this team and its utter lack of performance on Williams. He got handed a turd, and it is still a turd. It was not his job to change anything, just to get the team through the rest of the season. It is obvious he is not quite ready to head coach, nor is anyone on the staff. Glad to see most of them go. A few I like, like the RB coach, and the D line coach.
IMO I hope we get Fickell or Matt Campbell. They know how to build programs from ground up. We need it and they have done it. Aranda took over after Rhule had done some heavy lifting at Baylor, we aren’t sure if he can rebuild. he’s a great defensive coach, no debate there, but can he do it from scratch? We are a completely broken program, we need ground up re-boot. Campbell and Fickell know how to do that.
Somehow what I posted on SW disappeared this morning. I thought about pasting it here but I’ll just put up the gist. Our most recent loss was a humiliating experience no doubt but USC can make it a win if the powers that spend finally see what we’ve been saying for a decade. Pay Haden set this in motion by hiring three inexperienced coaches in succession. Nobody called him out because in his own words it was going to take ten years to repair what NCAA did to the program with their draconian penalties. Haden never expected he would add… Read more »
I posted below/above about Vatican Chimney Smoke. Catholics know white=new pope, black=no decision. For us Trojans, white=great hire, black=USC football is truly dead. Let’s all hope and pray for white smoke from Heritage Hall chimney!
This hiring drama thing we have going is awesome! It’s all on the line for USC football. Absolutely! A miss here, and we might have to rename Heritage Hall to Hooter’s Hall! 😄. 😉😪
I was filled with optimism when The Cat was fired and the WSU win. I thought they’d get better, discipline and accountability, coaches freed to toughen up. That went out the window with Oregon St. They have been going downhill since. Since then it has felt like the NFL exhibition games, something to watch but don’t mean anything. In less than 2 weeks it will be over and we watch for the smoke coming out of the Vatican chimney.
Actually, USC is way worse than exhibition football, where all of a teams’ best players are on the bench, or not suited up, and most all plays are simply pedestrian.
What we see now from USC are the very best players (and coaches, of course), we have to offer. The very best!
This is now the best that big, bad USC can do. You’ve gotta laugh. Vic So’oto urges the USC players to never forget (who could ever do that!?) these bitter memories USC football has managed to create through years of a poorly functioning, derelict program.
And leading the pack in USC’s confusion derby is Todd Orlando, who ran away from the press after the UCLA humiliation and refused to talk. Really, Todd? You’ve come a long way, baby!
Adam Grosbard (OC Register) — LOS ANGELES — As stunning as the proportions of USC’s 62-33 loss to UCLA on Saturday were, the particulars were familiar to anyone who’s followed the Trojans this season.
Check out this story on Yahoo Sports, the 3 dimensional chess is fascinating. If you are a big time AD looking for a coach you are in the game of your career. Fight On Bohn, Fight On.
https://sports.yahoo.com/who-will-coach-at-florida-lsu-or-usc-timing-is-everything-002549496.html
Football scoop had an interesting podcast today. They are hearing Fickell and Aranda like everyone else, but they also are hearing Dan Quinn and Hugh Jackson. They also believe that USC will have their coach announced this weekend or next at the latest. Not just to pull together this recruiting class, but also to keep their best players out of the transfer portal. It’s pretty interesting and a quick listen.
I really think Bohn is gonna get USC a really good HC pretty soon here. It will be great to start coming across some leaks that are real indicators.
The good part about AD Bohn is he is a trained AD. He studied to prepare for it and has a lot of experience being an AD. He will make the best decision that is POSSIBLE at the time. But it is also a bad time to find a great coach. The coaches we want are in the top 10 teams with stable jobs. Can we offer them more at a big risk for them? Offer them but put waiting limit. We need to study the up and coming coaches that would consider USC a great job. We don’t want… Read more »
I don’t know why, but I have a gut feeling that Bohn and Franklin have had an understanding and agreement in place since right after Helton was fired. That has remained a secret that can’t be announced until the end of their season. I have no knowledge, and hope it’s not true, because he would not be in my top five. Just a hunch
Wow, your hunch just game me an upset stomach. Franklin is number last on my list.
That would be a shame if your gut turned out to be correct.
I think your sentiment reveals the general lack of confidence USC fans have in our current leadership to get the football program fixed.
USC’s general ineptness has crept onto the front pages in numerous areas that have made us all shake our heads in disbelief, even shame.
Sooner or later, something has to break right for USC.
Looking at all those empty seats at the USC/UCLA game, hopefully Folt/Caruso/Bohn can see the handwriting on the wall with another failed approach and coaching pick here.
I would think the understanding and agreement is between Bohn and Fickell. They have the relationship and history. We will see what the CFP ranking looks like but I have a feeling that Cinci will stay at #5 the rest of the way and only Power 5 will make the top 4. That is what will push Fickell to USC. Bohn will have to have at least 5 guys he has a chance at getting cause it could get crazy 2 weeks from now.
For sure there is going to be a lot of money flying around.
So my question is, how much is Folt involved with the hire. Is she going to close doors because the candidate is not black, woke, or he made a statement 25 years ago that she is uncomfortable with? Is Bohn going to take control or is he going to fold again like he did in the beginning. I have a feeling she is going to get in the way somehow.
If that little commie beotch is involved, look for a fully woke choice–like number last on your list Steveg.
I just don’t feel you can lay this team and its utter lack of performance on Williams. He got handed a turd, and it is still a turd. It was not his job to change anything, just to get the team through the rest of the season. It is obvious he is not quite ready to head coach, nor is anyone on the staff. Glad to see most of them go. A few I like, like the RB coach, and the D line coach.
IMO I hope we get Fickell or Matt Campbell. They know how to build programs from ground up. We need it and they have done it. Aranda took over after Rhule had done some heavy lifting at Baylor, we aren’t sure if he can rebuild. he’s a great defensive coach, no debate there, but can he do it from scratch? We are a completely broken program, we need ground up re-boot. Campbell and Fickell know how to do that.
So does Brian Kelly, according to espn.
I’m good with him as well. I’d take him first over the others.
Thought you were a Perterson guy?
Others meaning Fickell, Aranda, or Campbell.
Somehow what I posted on SW disappeared this morning. I thought about pasting it here but I’ll just put up the gist. Our most recent loss was a humiliating experience no doubt but USC can make it a win if the powers that spend finally see what we’ve been saying for a decade. Pay Haden set this in motion by hiring three inexperienced coaches in succession. Nobody called him out because in his own words it was going to take ten years to repair what NCAA did to the program with their draconian penalties. Haden never expected he would add… Read more »
I posted below/above about Vatican Chimney Smoke. Catholics know white=new pope, black=no decision. For us Trojans, white=great hire, black=USC football is truly dead. Let’s all hope and pray for white smoke from Heritage Hall chimney!
Also, the longer we have to wait the better the hire. Evidenced by Helton being the first coach hired in the cycle! 😝
This hiring drama thing we have going is awesome! It’s all on the line for USC football. Absolutely! A miss here, and we might have to rename Heritage Hall to Hooter’s Hall! 😄. 😉 😪
White Smoke, Baby, White Smoke! Keep it positive!✌
I never thought I’d say this:
I just wish the season was over already… 😥
I was filled with optimism when The Cat was fired and the WSU win. I thought they’d get better, discipline and accountability, coaches freed to toughen up. That went out the window with Oregon St. They have been going downhill since. Since then it has felt like the NFL exhibition games, something to watch but don’t mean anything. In less than 2 weeks it will be over and we watch for the smoke coming out of the Vatican chimney.
Nailed it! Exhibition football, ugh
Actually, USC is way worse than exhibition football, where all of a teams’ best players are on the bench, or not suited up, and most all plays are simply pedestrian.
What we see now from USC are the very best players (and coaches, of course), we have to offer. The very best!
This is now the best that big, bad USC can do. You’ve gotta laugh. Vic So’oto urges the USC players to never forget (who could ever do that!?) these bitter memories USC football has managed to create through years of a poorly functioning, derelict program.
Imagine USC somehow beating BYU at the Coliseum, and finally CAL in Berkeley, and going to a bad bowl. Your holiday nightmare!
This USC team isn’t going to win another game. They are done, they have thrown in the towel, they already know they are the WOAT. (worst of all time)
Shame on you Allen for even thinking it.
You know it could happen Johnny Utah! (Ooops! Sorry. That’s right. He played for OHIO ST in that cinematic Rose Bowl game against USC!).
But I’ve seen parts of that pretty good 1991 version of Point Break too many times to doubt that even the impossible can come true. 🏈
Clay Helton is a terrible leader of a football team. Apparently, he was the only leader the Trojans had/have.
And leading the pack in USC’s confusion derby is Todd Orlando, who ran away from the press after the UCLA humiliation and refused to talk. Really, Todd? You’ve come a long way, baby!
Sad is the only word that comes to mind.