USC in Paris: Meet the Trojans’ Olympians headed to the 2024 Summer Games
A sport-by-sport breakdown of the 63 past, current and future USC athletes going to Paris to compete in the Olympics
USC will have several people with Trojans ties representing the United States in the Paris Olympics, including, clockwise from top left, Andy Benesh (beach volleyball), Micah Christenson (indoor volleyball), Michael Norman (track and field), Emily Ausmus (women’s water polo), Twanisha Terry (track and field) and the team of Kelly Cheng and Sara Hughes (beach volleyball). (Ausmus by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/ SCNG; others by Getty Images)
Luca Evans (OC Register) — LOS ANGELES — Inside a pristine Newport Beach hotel ballroom in late April, where USC’s NIL collective House of Victory hosted a wide range of former athletic luminaries and deep-pocketed alumni for an event titled “Legends of Troy,” one of the greatest points of emphasis to donors was USC’s status as the pre-eminent Olympic university in the country.
And after a university-record 65 past, then-present and future USC students competed in the 2020 Summer Olympics in Tokyo, USC is sending another impressive crop to Paris, with 63 athletes headed to represent countries around the world.
A wide range, too, enter as favorites in their respective fields. Sara Hughes and Kelly Cheng, who once dazzled on the sand as partners at USC, will vie for the gold in women’s beach volleyball for Team USA. Michael Norman, the longtime Trojan track favorite who has been steadily building momentum after a disappointing fifth-place finish in the 400 meters in Tokyo, will seek redemption. And former water polo standouts Amanda Longan, Emily Ausmus and Kaleigh Gilchrist will look to lead the USA women to a medal in the pool.
Here’s a primer on every USC athlete headed to Paris for the 2024 Summer Olympics.
ATHLETICS
Ashley Erasmus, South Africa, shot put
BASKETBALL, WOMEN’S
Amy Okonkwo, Nigeria, forward
BEACH VOLLEYBALL, MEN’S
Andy Benesh, USA: Not a few years ago, the 29-year-old Benesh was working as a financial advisor after hanging it up on the beach, making hundreds of cold calls a day. After feeling the burn to return to the sport, Benesh and partner Miles Partain – a 22-year-old former indoor setter at UCLA – enter Paris as the USA’s prominent team in the International Volleyball Federation’s world rankings. A local product from Palos Verdes High who played four years of indoor volleyball at USC, it will be Benesh’s first Olympics.
Izac Carracher, Australia
BEACH VOLLEYBALL, WOMEN’S
Sophie Bukovec, Canada
Kelly Cheng and Sara Hughes, USA: Since the 29-year-old Hughes and 28-year-old Cheng re-paired in 2022, ending a hiatus after a dominant three-year beach partnership at USC, they’ve re-asserted themselves on a world stage behind an innovative option-style offense. The hometown duo – Hughes from Newport Beach, Cheng from Fullerton – won the 2023 Beach World Championships, becoming the first American women’s team to win such a title since 2009. That October win clinched them a slot in Paris, where Hughes and Cheng will try to topple top-ranked Eduarda Santos Lisboa (Duda) and Ana Patricia Ramos of Brazil.
Tina Graudina, Latvia
DIVING, WOMEN’S
Kate Miller, Canada, 10-meter, 10-meter synchro
INDOOR VOLLEYBALL, MEN’S
Micah Christenson, USA, setter: Known as one of the most creative setters in the world, the 31-year-old Christenson will play in his third Olympics for Team USA. The Honolulu, Hawaii, native was the back-to-back winner of the first two Lloy Ball Awards in 2014 and 2015 at USC, presented annually to the nation’s best setter. Fun fact – he and his wife Brooke Fournier are a Trojan power couple, as Fournier played beach volleyball at USC from 2013-14.
ROWING, WOMEN’S
Chloe Brew, Great Britain, women’s pair
Nikoline Laidlaw, Denmark, women’s eight
Radka Novotnikova, Czech Republic, women’s pair
Astrid Steensberg, Denmark, women’s four
SOCCER, WOMEN’S
Simi Awujo, Canada, midfielder
Nicole Payne, Nigeria, defender
SWIMMING, MEN’S
Dylan Carter, Trinidad and Tobago, 100-meter, 50-meter freestyle
Rai Benjamin, USA, 400-meter hurdles: The 26-year-old Benjamin was a Trojan for just one season after transferring from UCLA and later turning pro, but he made his mark at USC in 2018, setting a then-collegiate record in the 400 hurdles with a time of 47.02. Back for his second Olympics, the Mount Vernon, New York, native will lace up for a tantalizing matchup in Paris after beating Norway’s Karsten Warholm – also headed to the Olympics – in the 400 meters at the Monaco Diamond League July 12 by .06 seconds.
Chris Borzor, Haiti, 100 meters
Aaron Brown, Canada, 200 meters
Andre De Grasse, Canada, 100 meters, 200 meters, 4×100 relay
Michael Norman, USA, 400 meters: Three years ago, amid chatter he could shatter the world record in the men’s 400, the 26-year-old Norman crossed the finish line at the Tokyo Olympics a distant fifth, his head stretched and bowed. Since that disappointment, the San Diego native has built steady momentum up to a redemption in Paris, claiming a first-place title at the 400 at the World Athletics Championships in Eugene, Oregon, in 2022. Norman is one of the great track-and-field athletes in USC history, winning the 2018 NCAA title in the 400 and running on a 4×400 relay that set a then-college record.
Tade Ojora, Great Britain, 110-meter hurdles
Ayden Owens-Delerme, Puerto Rico, decathlon
Jordan Scott, Jamaica, triple jump
TRACK AND FIELD, WOMEN’S
Anna Cockrell, USA, 400-meter hurdles: The 26-year-old Cockrell left a legacy much larger than track-and-field at USC, as she bravely opened up on her struggles with mental health and depression in a 2019 commencement speech at USC’s student-athlete graduation, and in 2020 co-founded USC’s United Black Student-Athletes Association. After a lane violation led to a disqualification in her first Olympic foray in the Tokyo Games, Cockrell will look to rebound in Paris against a stacked field.
Kyra Constantine, Canada, 4×400-meter relay
Kendall Ellis, USA, 400 meters: In late June, an hour before she was set to race for a spot in the Olympics, the 28-year-old Ellis found herself trapped – inside the bathroom. She was stuck inside a Porta-Potty in Eugene, Oregon, banging on the door, as reported by the Associated Press. The 400 semifinal at the Olympic trials loomed, and Ellis was “crying and sweating,” as she later tweeted. After someone finally found her and let her out, Ellis sped to a personal-best and then won the final with a time of 49.46 seconds. It will set the native of Pembroke Pines, Florida, up as a top competitor in Paris, her second Olympics.
Remember this unbelievable and shocking final 400m relay leg (50.0 split) by Kendall Ellis to win USC the race over PUR — as well as the 2018 national championship for the Trojans. Anna Cockrell ran an incredible 2nd leg too.
Lorea Ibarzabal, Spain, 800 meters
Amalie Iuel, Norway, 400-meter hurdles
Yemi John, Great Britain, 4×400-meter relay
Jasmine Jones, USA, 400-meter hurdles: All of 22 years old, Jones has rapidly ascended among the national hierarchy in the 400 hurdles, focusing on the event for the first time in her collegiate career at USC in 2023. Her PR as a junior was 56.17 seconds, good enough for seventh on USC’s all-time list. By this spring, however, the Atlanta native had blazed to a personal-best and meet-record time of 53.15 seconds at the NCAA Championships in early June.
Lanae Tava-Thomas, Jamaica, 200 meters
Twanisha Terry, USA, 100 meters: The 25-year-old Terry has burst onto the national scene ever since her freshman year at USC, breaking the school record for the women’s 100 at the Mt. SAC relays. A native of Miami, Florida, Terry will compete against training partner and prospective favorite Sha’Carri Richardson in the 100 in Paris.
Gianna Woodruff, Panama, 400-meter hurdles
Nicole Yeargin, Great Britain, 4×400-meter relay
WATER POLO, MEN’S
Hannes Daube, USA, attacker: The 24-year-old Daube was a staple of USC’s program in his time in the pool, earning All-America First Team honors in his freshman season in helping lead the Trojans to an NCAA title. An Orange Lutheran product before USC, he’ll head into Paris for his second Olympics as one of Team USA’s top-scoring threats.
Blake Edwards, Australia, attacker
Lachlan Edwards, Australia, center forward
Kostas Genidounias, Greece, attacker
Jacob Mercep, Australia, attacker
Nic Porter, Australia, goalie
Marko Vavic, USA, attacker: Before Varsity Blues rocked USC, the 25-year-old Vavic, a Palos Verdes native, was part of a proud Trojan water-polo family legacy. BrotherNikola Vavic became the men’s program’s all-time top scorer, while sister Monica dominated for four years in the pool for the women’s program. Brother Stefan, too, went to USC to play water polo. But after USC fired father Jovan Vavic in the wake of his indictment in a national college admissions scandal, later convicted in 2022, son Vavic – an Olympian at Tokyo in 2020 – told the Associated Press in 2021 he couldn’t play college water polo as USC was investigating a possible admissions infraction. Three years later, after his college career came to an end, he’ll represent Team USA in Paris for a second consecutive Olympics.
WATER POLO, WOMEN’S
Emily Ausmus, USA, attacker: The 18-year-old incoming USC freshman from Riverside is the youngest player on Team USA, a phenom in the water polo world. It seems a daunting challenge, but Ausmus has been playing up all her life. A Riverside King High graduate who was named the Press-Enterprise’s IE Varsity Girls Water Polo Player of the Year in 2023, she was first selected a member of the USA Youth National Team when she was 12.
Verica Bakoc, Canada, attacker
Anni Espar, Spain, attacker
Kaleigh Gilchrist, USA, attacker: The 32-year-old Gilchrist grew up surfing in Newport Beach and taking to the pool for water polo, and simply never stopped. In one of the more unique journeys of any Olympic athlete, she’s both a two-time Olympian in water polo and a professional surfer, prepping at Newport Harbor High while winning back-to-back Surfing America titles, according to Surfer.
Tilly Kearns, Australia, center forward
Amanda Longan, USA, goalkeeper: A Southern California native through and through, playing at Oaks Christian High before she arrived at USC, the 27-year-old Longan has been a winning anchor from the goal at every stop – first a Moorpark native who led Oaks Christian to its first Tri-Valley League championship in school history, then winning two national titles with USC and helping the women’s national team to a gold medal in Tokyo.
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Lincoln Riley ‘Would Love’ to Keep Notre Dame on Schedule After Big Ten Move Scott Polacek (B/R) — USC head coach Lincoln Riley said he “would love” to continue playing against Notre Dame but would not commit to continuing the rivalry now that the Trojans are in the Big Ten. “I would love to,” he said Wednesday, per Matt Fortuna of The Inside Zone. “I know it means a lot to a lot of people. The purist in you, no doubt. Now if you get in a position where you got to make a decision on what’s best for SC to… Read more »
Notre Dame has NBC through 2029. NBC also has some Big10 games. It would be nice if ND would roll into the Big10 in the next couple years. That would make the game a conference rivalry game. ND would get a slight bump in $$$ as well. It’s tough on Big10 teams with 9 conference games to have too many tough nonconference games especially with playoff games after that.
Just watched the player interviews with Moss Monheim and Kamari. Monheim looks huge especially next to Moss. That reporter didn’t ask anything about improving the run game and OL play especially with Jonah there. Softball interview.
Lincoln Riley just spoke at the B1G Media Days. (NEB coach Matt Rhule later spoke of how he and LR are such great friends). Riley was impressive and confident. He emphasized that USC’s current season really began with the Holiday Bowl win, stating that the team actually played “more together” during that game than at any time during the entire season. “We had a different mentality.” He says USC has had a great off-season with a lot of positive momentum. The addition of D’Anton Lynn and the new defensive staff has been a huge focal point. Riley said he wanted… Read more »
He clearly did, indeed. It was my impression that he spoke heavily of Matt Entz the HC from North Dakota State in an attempt to relate his feeling that a guy like Entz will impact that huge problem in a very positive way.
Riley doesn’t want to talk about the past and who can blame him.
OK in a roundabout way. But you are right Allen, and I think the press knows very well if you ask a tough question, especially in a big enough forum, the coach will not give you much of an answer. I only remember TJ Simers asking tough questions anywhere anytime. Still he wouldn’t get much of an answer but you could tell he got a coach’s ire. He would have had a field day with the Cat just like he did with Karl Doral.
It is surprising to me as well that the press so often completely neglects to ask the questions which are foremost in my mind. For instance, as I pointed out in this thread starter, LR emphasized that in his mind, USC’s current season really began with the Holiday Bowl win. How convenient. He stated that the team actually played “more together” during that game than at any time during the entire season — even against all of our long-standing major rivals. “We had a different mentality” were LR’s words. It makes a great Trojan sound bite, but I’d really like to… Read more »
One theory on the attitude change. Grinch was fired, the anchor was cut loose. Caleb wasn’t playing, the mainsail was down. Everybody had to pull together and make a new start.
You’d think your “mainsail” would be up and fully filled with your best QB ever in your near-140-year football history, and everyone’s #1 pick in the Draft. Is it your theory everyone wasn’t pulling together under Caleb Williams during the 2023 season? Everyone in the Bears organization already thinks he’s God’s Gift to Chicago. Maybe you’re right, at least in part. I think part of it was definitely the fact that USC was playing a team missing many of its best players in a bowl that lots of players don’t even feel obligated to play in. A humiliated USC had… Read more »
There was certainly more effort in the Holiday Bowl than the UCLA game. Something changed with the team. The only changes were no Grinch and Caleb. Now with Caleb SC would have wiped the Cardinals but maybe with less total team effort. A depleted Louisville may have helped. We shall see in 5 weeks and 4 days if there is a new energized Trojan team.
You mean this upcoming Trojan team will actually be more “energized” than last year’s lazy, disorganized, collapsed horrible outfit which totally fell off a cliff, humiliated by its rivals, losing five of its last six, barely squeaking by 6-7 CAL 50-49? Shocker! USC was lucky it didn’t finish its reg season 6-6, with the best Trojan QB of all time and maybe the best RB in the Draft on the roster. Sorry GT, but none of us need to wait a second more to see if USC will be more energized. That’s already been guaranteed for many months. LR, his… Read more »
We were much more depleted. they had their starting RB and best wideout opt out. Thats it, that’s the list. All the other opt outs were guys who barely played or didn’t play.
A seemingly very nervous rookie head coach DeShaun Foster opened with an embarrassingly bad one-minute long intro statement at the Big Ten Media Days. Here is exactly what he said before he started taking questions: “How you guys doin’? I’m happy to be here. Glad to be a part of this great conference. Um, finally puttin’ two great emblems together, UCLA and the Big Ten. Um, we’re a school that’s won, what 123 championships, so this fit of bein’ right in this conference. Football-wise, we’re just excited, you know, um. I’m sure you guys don’t know too much about UCLA,… Read more »
As a power conference, and seeking as much revenue as possible, you would want to protect all of Southern California for yourself. With the exception of football, the Ruin sports program is just as successful as well as the academics.
UCLA’s Deshaun Foster Brutally Roasted for Super Awkward Big Ten Press Conference SI.com — While attempting to give the Big Ten media an understanding of UCLA football and its place in the Los Angeles area, Foster awkwardly froze and trailed off into a statement that didn’t make too much sense.
“I’m sure you guys don’t know too much about UCLA and our football program, but we’re in LA. Um…” Foster froze. “It’s us and USC. We, um…I’m just basically excited really. That’s it. Any questions?”
Is Foster getting public speaking lessons from Joe Biden? Right in the first minute he freezes up. Very embarrassing for the baby blues. I am very thankful that Foster, and not Jonathan Smith or Jedd Fisch is the bruins new coach. This could be as bad a hire as Karl Dorrell.
Dam da freaken Ducks, once again doing their stupid shenanigans. Oregon is the only school I hate/despise. In regards to Notre Dame and UCLA our biggest rivalries, I respect their FB programs. However, I get great satisfaction whenever USC beats them. Cheers.
Really, why would you think this is a stupid play by the Ducks? It’s intimidating, but friendly. It’s annoying, yet harmless. It’s hugely visible, yet temporary. It’s cute, but not weak. It’s just another ORE billboard like the ones they have become famous for, but much more fun. The Ducks are 15-3 vs UCLA since 2000 and are a vastly superior program. The Bruins are officially chump change these days compared to ORE. I fear the Ducks much more on the field than the Bruins, who have been completely surpassed by ORE which will likely smash them again this year… Read more »
I hate the school and most of all their fans. Oregon is a power due to Uncle Phil and his Nike money. Ducks as a mascot, where’s my puke bag. I can’t imagine any of their players want to be known as a Duck.
Heck, Hawaii (UH) many of the FB players did not want to known as Rainbows. Thus the university changed their school name and mascot to da Warriors.
Canyon, you should put Stanford ahead of Oregon on the hate list. Both Pc & McKay wanted to beat them more than anyone, even That school across town. By the way, maybe you know this, UDUB is the school Oregon hates and wants to
beat the most.
It’s a very personal thing. Oregon is enemy #1 for me. Every USC fan have their personal mortal enemy school. Stanford, I have great respect for da school and sports. Dat’s an elite school with a rich history of great athletes. Dam, too bad Stanford will not be in the Big 10.
STAN’s a pile of crap, and they stabbed USC in the back big-time when the NCAA decided to prosecute Bushgate. They were overjoyed when USC got hammered.
I’m glad they were forced to get exiled cross-country to the beleaguered ACC. Since they don’t need the reduced-share money, they would have been much better off had they remained in the Pac-2, just like doormat afterthought CAL.
Nobody ever filled their silent stadium unless USC was in it.
Oh Canyon, man, as soon as I read your response to mine. I knew Allen was going to jump on it quickly. It’s all personal
like you said. But the two independents do not like eachother.
Are STAN and ORE the only two schools on your hate list Jam? Would you say you really hate them, or did I misread you? What about UCLA or ND? They seem to have totally dropped behind ORE as the school that torments USC the most. UCLA’s been so basically bad for so many years now, that it’s hard to get too riled up about them, even when they beat us badly like last year. ND still seems vulnerable while Marcus Freeman struggles to prove he really has what it takes. In the end, the Irish are still the team… Read more »
My hate list is ND because it is one of the very few if any other schools who have a winning record against us, since January 2005-Texas because they think they discovered football but that’s not true, LA did, Stanford due to their classless superiority attitude and not caring about football but do all other sports (that rakes me), and I want to beat Oregon, but I don’t hate them yet as they are truly Johnny come latelys. I feel more sorry for the program across town than hate it as it has always underachieved in football due in part… Read more »
Congrats on actually being able to feel sorry for UCLA.
I can’t seem to muster up that emotion for the too-often pesky little gutties. I think it’s because of Freeman McNeil catching that tip off of Jeff Fisher! 😂 😪
OK, I can understand where a USC and Stanford alum do not like one another. I’m neutral, not a USC alum. I was so proud of da PAC 12 and its rich history in sports, mucho championships and so many great athletes. Plus, top academics.
USC, Stanford, UCLA, Cal and UDub brought prestige to the PAC 12. Oregon forget about it… Cheers.
It’s interesting how we see things so differently.
I couldn’t care less about the now-defunct and horribly run Pac-12.
They used USC for years as a giant piggy bank, then refused to compensate us fairly for our massive market, and being the only legendary football power on the West Coast.
While he was the AD, Pat Haden threatened the rest of the Pac-12 with the possibility we would have to consider leaving if things weren’t modified in terms of the unfair monetary split. STAN reps literally laughed in our face and dared USC to try it. That’s a fact.
Eugene is a hick town. Up until three months ago I lived an hour away from there for 6- years. Oregon St. is the land grant Univesity up there and has better academic standings. But OSU doesn’t have Phil Knight as an alumn. Until he came around with his checkbook, the Ducks were road kill for just about anyone who played them. In fact they were like the ruins always waiting for the basketball season to start. I golfed with countless OU alumns who told me OU has an inferiority complex knowing Knight is the sole reason the Ducks are… Read more »
I have 2 nephews and a niece that went up to Oregon from SoCal. They all beat it back to SoCal as soon as they got their degrees. One nephew took off to Montana when he got too sick of Calif. I bet the native Oregonians head to Portland or out of state after their Duck days.
They head to Portland only if they are willing to pay the high taxes to live there and are anything goes liberals and that includes letting the homeless trash the town into a dump.
USC will have several people with Trojans ties representing the United States in the Paris Olympics, including, clockwise from top left, Andy Benesh (beach volleyball), Micah Christenson (indoor volleyball), Michael Norman (track and field), Emily Ausmus (women’s water polo), Twanisha Terry (track and field) and the team of Kelly Cheng and Sara Hughes (beach volleyball). (Ausmus by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/ SCNG; others by Getty Images)
Paris Olympics.
There are 2 types Olympic medal count rankings.
One, list the top to bottom nations with the most Gold’s.
2nd type, list top to bottom nations with the most medals.
I think the 2nd type is the correct rankings. What do you guys think?
Lincoln Riley ‘Would Love’ to Keep Notre Dame on Schedule After Big Ten Move Scott Polacek (B/R) — USC head coach Lincoln Riley said he “would love” to continue playing against Notre Dame but would not commit to continuing the rivalry now that the Trojans are in the Big Ten. “I would love to,” he said Wednesday, per Matt Fortuna of The Inside Zone. “I know it means a lot to a lot of people. The purist in you, no doubt. Now if you get in a position where you got to make a decision on what’s best for SC to… Read more »
Notre Dame has NBC through 2029. NBC also has some Big10 games. It would be nice if ND would roll into the Big10 in the next couple years. That would make the game a conference rivalry game. ND would get a slight bump in $$$ as well. It’s tough on Big10 teams with 9 conference games to have too many tough nonconference games especially with playoff games after that.
So following this articles lead, if ND wants to keep the rivalry, maybe they should show some resolve and join the Big temp to keep it?
Big Ten
Just watched the player interviews with Moss Monheim and Kamari. Monheim looks huge especially next to Moss. That reporter didn’t ask anything about improving the run game and OL play especially with Jonah there. Softball interview.
Thanks for warning me.
Lincoln Riley just spoke at the B1G Media Days. (NEB coach Matt Rhule later spoke of how he and LR are such great friends). Riley was impressive and confident. He emphasized that USC’s current season really began with the Holiday Bowl win, stating that the team actually played “more together” during that game than at any time during the entire season. “We had a different mentality.” He says USC has had a great off-season with a lot of positive momentum. The addition of D’Anton Lynn and the new defensive staff has been a huge focal point. Riley said he wanted… Read more »
And he ignored the question about why the tackling has been so bad.
He clearly did, indeed. It was my impression that he spoke heavily of Matt Entz the HC from North Dakota State in an attempt to relate his feeling that a guy like Entz will impact that huge problem in a very positive way.
Riley doesn’t want to talk about the past and who can blame him.
OK in a roundabout way. But you are right Allen, and I think the press knows very well if you ask a tough question, especially in a big enough forum, the coach will not give you much of an answer. I only remember TJ Simers asking tough questions anywhere anytime. Still he wouldn’t get much of an answer but you could tell he got a coach’s ire. He would have had a field day with the Cat just like he did with Karl Doral.
It is surprising to me as well that the press so often completely neglects to ask the questions which are foremost in my mind. For instance, as I pointed out in this thread starter, LR emphasized that in his mind, USC’s current season really began with the Holiday Bowl win. How convenient. He stated that the team actually played “more together” during that game than at any time during the entire season — even against all of our long-standing major rivals. “We had a different mentality” were LR’s words. It makes a great Trojan sound bite, but I’d really like to… Read more »
One theory on the attitude change. Grinch was fired, the anchor was cut loose. Caleb wasn’t playing, the mainsail was down. Everybody had to pull together and make a new start.
You’d think your “mainsail” would be up and fully filled with your best QB ever in your near-140-year football history, and everyone’s #1 pick in the Draft. Is it your theory everyone wasn’t pulling together under Caleb Williams during the 2023 season? Everyone in the Bears organization already thinks he’s God’s Gift to Chicago. Maybe you’re right, at least in part. I think part of it was definitely the fact that USC was playing a team missing many of its best players in a bowl that lots of players don’t even feel obligated to play in. A humiliated USC had… Read more »
There was certainly more effort in the Holiday Bowl than the UCLA game. Something changed with the team. The only changes were no Grinch and Caleb. Now with Caleb SC would have wiped the Cardinals but maybe with less total team effort. A depleted Louisville may have helped. We shall see in 5 weeks and 4 days if there is a new energized Trojan team.
You mean this upcoming Trojan team will actually be more “energized” than last year’s lazy, disorganized, collapsed horrible outfit which totally fell off a cliff, humiliated by its rivals, losing five of its last six, barely squeaking by 6-7 CAL 50-49? Shocker! USC was lucky it didn’t finish its reg season 6-6, with the best Trojan QB of all time and maybe the best RB in the Draft on the roster. Sorry GT, but none of us need to wait a second more to see if USC will be more energized. That’s already been guaranteed for many months. LR, his… Read more »
We were much more depleted. they had their starting RB and best wideout opt out. Thats it, that’s the list. All the other opt outs were guys who barely played or didn’t play.
A seemingly very nervous rookie head coach DeShaun Foster opened with an embarrassingly bad one-minute long intro statement at the Big Ten Media Days. Here is exactly what he said before he started taking questions: “How you guys doin’? I’m happy to be here. Glad to be a part of this great conference. Um, finally puttin’ two great emblems together, UCLA and the Big Ten. Um, we’re a school that’s won, what 123 championships, so this fit of bein’ right in this conference. Football-wise, we’re just excited, you know, um. I’m sure you guys don’t know too much about UCLA,… Read more »
What a joke UCLA and Foster are. The only reason they’re not in the Pac-2 as we brought them to the Big 10 with us.
As a power conference, and seeking as much revenue as possible, you would want to protect all of Southern California for yourself. With the exception of football, the Ruin sports program is just as successful as well as the academics.
UCLA’s Deshaun Foster Brutally Roasted for Super Awkward Big Ten Press Conference
SI.com — While attempting to give the Big Ten media an understanding of UCLA football and its place in the Los Angeles area, Foster awkwardly froze and trailed off into a statement that didn’t make too much sense.
“I’m sure you guys don’t know too much about UCLA and our football program, but we’re in LA. Um…” Foster froze. “It’s us and USC. We, um…I’m just basically excited really. That’s it. Any questions?”
DeShaun Foster gets hammered by media and fans
Good grief
Is Foster getting public speaking lessons from Joe Biden? Right in the first minute he freezes up. Very embarrassing for the baby blues. I am very thankful that Foster, and not Jonathan Smith or Jedd Fisch is the bruins new coach. This could be as bad a hire as Karl Dorrell.
Classic, PN4SC!
People inside UCLA have to be shocked and horribly dismayed about Debong’s total lack of ability to handle himself at B1G Media Days.
It was a stunning display of something that just looked terribly bad.
UCLA’s ticket sales just came to a major slowdown.
His later interview with the 3 Big Network guys was just as bad. Can’t imagine how awkward he must be in a recruits living room.
Suddenly, Chip Kelly never looked so good
Lincoln Riley arrives at Big Ten Media Days
The Ducks really know how to get under people’s skin
Dam da freaken Ducks, once again doing their stupid shenanigans. Oregon is the only school I hate/despise. In regards to Notre Dame and UCLA our biggest rivalries, I respect their FB programs. However, I get great satisfaction whenever USC beats them. Cheers.
Really, why would you think this is a stupid play by the Ducks? It’s intimidating, but friendly. It’s annoying, yet harmless. It’s hugely visible, yet temporary. It’s cute, but not weak. It’s just another ORE billboard like the ones they have become famous for, but much more fun. The Ducks are 15-3 vs UCLA since 2000 and are a vastly superior program. The Bruins are officially chump change these days compared to ORE. I fear the Ducks much more on the field than the Bruins, who have been completely surpassed by ORE which will likely smash them again this year… Read more »
I hate the school and most of all their fans. Oregon is a power due to Uncle Phil and his Nike money. Ducks as a mascot, where’s my puke bag. I can’t imagine any of their players want to be known as a Duck.
Heck, Hawaii (UH) many of the FB players did not want to known as Rainbows. Thus the university changed their school name and mascot to da Warriors.
Ah, pure hatred. I see. Always a good reason.
I’m just glad they’re off our reg season schedule.
Canyon, you should put Stanford ahead of Oregon on the hate list. Both Pc & McKay wanted to beat them more than anyone, even That school across town. By the way, maybe you know this, UDUB is the school Oregon hates and wants to
beat the most.
It’s a very personal thing. Oregon is enemy #1 for me. Every USC fan have their personal mortal enemy school. Stanford, I have great respect for da school and sports. Dat’s an elite school with a rich history of great athletes. Dam, too bad Stanford will not be in the Big 10.
STAN’s a pile of crap, and they stabbed USC in the back big-time when the NCAA decided to prosecute Bushgate. They were overjoyed when USC got hammered.
I’m glad they were forced to get exiled cross-country to the beleaguered ACC. Since they don’t need the reduced-share money, they would have been much better off had they remained in the Pac-2, just like doormat afterthought CAL.
Nobody ever filled their silent stadium unless USC was in it.
Oh Canyon, man, as soon as I read your response to mine. I knew Allen was going to jump on it quickly. It’s all personal
like you said. But the two independents do not like eachother.
Are STAN and ORE the only two schools on your hate list Jam? Would you say you really hate them, or did I misread you? What about UCLA or ND? They seem to have totally dropped behind ORE as the school that torments USC the most. UCLA’s been so basically bad for so many years now, that it’s hard to get too riled up about them, even when they beat us badly like last year. ND still seems vulnerable while Marcus Freeman struggles to prove he really has what it takes. In the end, the Irish are still the team… Read more »
My hate list is ND because it is one of the very few if any other schools who have a winning record against us, since January 2005-Texas because they think they discovered football but that’s not true, LA did, Stanford due to their classless superiority attitude and not caring about football but do all other sports (that rakes me), and I want to beat Oregon, but I don’t hate them yet as they are truly Johnny come latelys. I feel more sorry for the program across town than hate it as it has always underachieved in football due in part… Read more »
Congrats on actually being able to feel sorry for UCLA.
I can’t seem to muster up that emotion for the too-often pesky little gutties. I think it’s because of Freeman McNeil catching that tip off of Jeff Fisher! 😂 😪
He also said I want to beat that classless program (Stanford) by 100 points.
John Ralston and McKay totally despised one another. And remember this fantastic cartoon?
OK, I can understand where a USC and Stanford alum do not like one another. I’m neutral, not a USC alum. I was so proud of da PAC 12 and its rich history in sports, mucho championships and so many great athletes. Plus, top academics.
USC, Stanford, UCLA, Cal and UDub brought prestige to the PAC 12. Oregon forget about it… Cheers.
👍
It’s interesting how we see things so differently.
I couldn’t care less about the now-defunct and horribly run Pac-12.
They used USC for years as a giant piggy bank, then refused to compensate us fairly for our massive market, and being the only legendary football power on the West Coast.
While he was the AD, Pat Haden threatened the rest of the Pac-12 with the possibility we would have to consider leaving if things weren’t modified in terms of the unfair monetary split. STAN reps literally laughed in our face and dared USC to try it. That’s a fact.
With Stanford I just can’t get past their obnoxious band.
Plus, their band actually pissed on the Coliseum field.
Eugene is a hick town. Up until three months ago I lived an hour away from there for 6- years. Oregon St. is the land grant Univesity up there and has better academic standings. But OSU doesn’t have Phil Knight as an alumn. Until he came around with his checkbook, the Ducks were road kill for just about anyone who played them. In fact they were like the ruins always waiting for the basketball season to start. I golfed with countless OU alumns who told me OU has an inferiority complex knowing Knight is the sole reason the Ducks are… Read more »
I have 2 nephews and a niece that went up to Oregon from SoCal. They all beat it back to SoCal as soon as they got their degrees. One nephew took off to Montana when he got too sick of Calif. I bet the native Oregonians head to Portland or out of state after their Duck days.
They head to Portland only if they are willing to pay the high taxes to live there and are anything goes liberals and that includes letting the homeless trash the town into a dump.
Shaka Bruddah, liked your story about da Quacks. Thanxs for sharing dat… Cheers.