USC suffers first loss to Utah in L.A. since 1916 and third straight defeat at Coliseum
Ryan Kartje (LA Times) — In the fall of 1916, miles away from where the L.A. Memorial Coliseum would later be constructed, USC welcomed Utah to its home field at Fiesta Park for the two schools’ second-ever football matchup. The Trojans, who just a few years earlier had started using that nickname, were fresh off two shutout wins over the Sherman Institute and the Santa Fe Athletic Club and ready for their defense to dominate once again.
Instead, USC received a rude awakening from its future conference foe. Its defense was flattened by Utah in a 27-12 defeat apparently so demoralizing that for more than a century, USC refused to lose again to Utah in Los Angeles.
It took 105 years for history to repeat itself. But when it finally did Saturday in another humiliating loss — this time at the Coliseum, this time with Internet and high-definition television and the entire college football world watching — Utah was sure to pack a century’s worth of angst into the many punches it landed over a 42-26 win over USC that wasn’t anywhere as close as the final score indicated.
The most devastating of those blows came just before halftime, with the Trojans still clinging to hope they might avoid a third straight loss at home. On fourth and one, with 10 seconds left in the half, Utah quarterback Cam Rising handed off, before the ball was tossed back to him on a flea-flicker.
A discombobulated USC defense could only stare as Rising’s deep ball soared overhead and into the outstretched arms of Devaughn Vele for a 37-yard score. What was once a four-point lead heading into half ballooned to 11, leaving fans stunned and the team demoralized.
Utah WR Money Parks, right, celebrates with RB TJ Pledger after Parks’ 12-yard TD catch in the second quarter. (Luis Sinco / LAT)The circumstances improved for USC in a hurry after that 2001 season. But since Clay Helton was fired as coach almost a month ago, the Trojans haven’t offered any reasons for that level of optimism.
On Saturday, there were few positives to take away from USC’s historic loss, outside of the usual, jaw-dropping performance of wide receiver Drake London, who caught 16 passes for 162 yards and a touchdown, just one catch short of tying a USC record. Kedon Slovis threw for 335 yards and a touchdown. USC turned the ball over just once.
Beyond that, the Trojans would prefer their loss be lost to history.
In one of its ugliest performances of a season — a category that grows more competitive by the week — USC’s defense was embarrassed through the air, as Utah found open receiver after open receiver downfield. The Trojans’ offensive line was bullied up front, leaving quarterback Kedon Slovis to run for his life. While Utah (3-2, 2-0) took advantage of nearly all of its opportunities — at one point scoring touchdowns on five of six drives — USC managed to squander most of its chances.
USC came out of the gate determined to recapture the offensive balance it found last week in its win at Colorado. It threw screen after screen, dinking and dunking to get the offense in rhythm. It got London going early with five catches in the first seven minutes. It even kept with the ground game, handing off to Keaontay Ingram and Darwin Barlow 10 times in the first quarter.
But after three trips into Utah territory, USC still had little to show for its effort. An eight-play drive stalled … then, an 11-play drive … then a 12-play drive. Unable to take advantage on the doorstep of the end zone, the Trojans settled for two short-range field-goal attempts, but only made one, as Parker Lewis missed his first kick in 11 tries this season.
It would take a short Utah punt, a short field for USC and a potential Heisman Trophy-contending wideout to finally find pay dirt. Even then, as London caught a swing pass in space, it took a hurdle between two Utah defenders for him to score from 20 yards out, briefly giving the Trojans a lead.
Drake London, who had 16 catches for 162 yards, gets past UTAH CB Faybian Marks and scores on a 20-yard TD catch during the second quarter. (Luis Sinco / LAT) The Utes, meanwhile, had no trouble taking advantage of the many opportunities handed to them over the course of an embarrassing defensive effort. After a game-opening three and out, the Utes scored touchdowns on five of their next six drives — and needed just 30 plays. Utah didn’t even need good field position to do its work, with four of those scoring drives going 75 yards or more.
By the second half, as Utah opened with two more touchdowns in two drives, it even pulled back from its pummeling.
USC would wind up with more yards (493 to 486), more plays (78 to 63), and more time of possession. But when the dust had settled and history had been made, it was USC, for the first time in 105 years, that would walk off with its heads hanging once again.
latimes.com
___________
Going to be in the nose bleeds tonight watching my Dodgers beat the giants.
Have a great time @Chris. Go Dodgers!
I’d like to watch our Trojans beat anybody, might have to wait until next year.
Ya, the team I just saw get totally shredded by UTAH definitely has some bad losses in front of it. As Chris Arledge pointed out in his article on WeAreSC: Arledge — “The team is in full meltdown. USC football, Chernobyl edition. In the next Saw movie (Saw 43?), the protagonist will wake up in a dark room chained to a television and must watch an entire USC football game. They won’t make it. “Mike Bohn, Carol Folt, and Rick Caruso are going to decide whether USC rises again or stays submerged. Do I trust that group to make the… Read more »
I’m holding out for “world class”. 😜
The best thing to do is to be patient and let Bohn do his work.
It seems like the mistakes Helton made are carrying on into this season.
But it all started many years ago.
It will take time to fix.
I think that overall we are being patient. This is just how we look when we are patient. We have had several years of learning patience with USC. I would hate to see the posts on here if we were impatient. It would start to look like Wolf’s blog.
Posts that often pop up on SW’s blog aren’t allowed here, so that would never happen.
“It would start to look like Wolf’s blog.” Or like LSU’s is about to look.
The only patience that needs to be exercised is in the Athletics Department, patience and diligence.
We, on the other hand are nothing more than viewers at the Cinema, watching this situation solve itself.
Speaking of the cinema, yesterday I saw Daniel Craig’s biggest shoot ’em up ever in his final James Bond appearance. I would only lightly recommend No Time To Die, unless random, 15 minute straight AK-47 battles against no one in particular is your thing. Much of the action was complete nonsensical balderdash, but Craig is still fantastic as the best Bond ever, even better than Sean Connery IMO. Of course today’s James Bond is a very different, much more violent and physical animal. The Days of Goldfinger or Dr. No are long gone compared to what survives as entertainment today.
If you want more ‘shoot’um up’ Wick 4 is just around the corner and Matrix4 is out there also.
“OUT”
where is the edit button
You can edit your own comment. What you need to do is roll your cursor over the the comment you want to edit. In the lower right corner of your comment a ‘wheel’ symbol will appear, click on it and the word edit will appear and then click again on ‘edit’ and you can edit your comment. If you want to delete a comment you can delete all the words and just type ‘deleted’ and then save it and then I will delete it when I see it.
Thank you John
No cursor…using iPad Air
Let me talk to someone who uses Apple to see what needs to be done and I will get back to you in this space.
When it comes to USC football, I agree with WeAreSC.com’s Chris Arledge:
on3.com
It was rather scathing as well.
Well, Arledge’s tic-tac-toe remark hit below the belt, but that is the way sports commentators are built, to be overly critical to the players’ and coaches’ detriment.
And there is no need to dissect football– the team has some talent at certain spots, but it is clear that the Trojans need talent at all spots, across the board. A new coach needs at least 3-years to remedy SC’s various maladies, 2024 at best, so it might be wise to take up another hobby while SC is on the mend.
I’m quite sure Arledge isn’t discarding USC football as a hobby. Matter of fact, I don’t know anyone who is. It’s simply in our blood. Arledge on point and humorous, as often the case — “USC is suffering the consequences of many years of disastrous leadership. If you left three fourth-graders responsible to maintain your boat for five years, would you really be shocked if, on your return, it were covered in barnacles and half-sunk? USC has entrusted its offense to some combination of Clay Helton, Tee Martin, and Graham Harrell for many years now. These are three guys who… Read more »
Whatever you say. Interest in SC football is at an all-time low. It comes with the territory (consistent losing).
As you suggested, feel free to take up another hobby while USC is on the mend LJ. Maybe it would be good for you. 😂 😂
John, I am trying to enjoy the season for what it is – the year SC got rid of The Cat. I have zero expectations for the team. It is not very talented on the OL, the DL or at LB and is poorly coached at DB. It has an inexperienced OC who is very much learning on the job. It is now in the process of changing both the O scheme and the D scheme in midseason (which is difficult for a quality staff with quality talent). The only issue is what will the staff next year look like… Read more »
Allen, Thanks for the post. It is a wonderful article. I think Arledge was a bit too generous is comparing Clay and his staff to 3rd graders. It think 4 years olds would have been more appropriate. Imagine Caruso turning his yacht over to a 4 year old captain and a crew of his playmates. Then Caruso returns 6 years later. What do you think he would find? SC football 2021. How is it possible that WSU played Utah tougher in SLC than SC did playing at home? How is it possible that OSU totally routs SC in the Coliseum… Read more »
Forgot to post, my recommendation of the Fresno State coach is officially rescinded. The Bulldogs lost to Hawaii. Evidently, he let the kids get distracted by the beauty of Oahu.
Another one bites the dust. I just love this USC coaching search drama.
We all know so little aside from simplistic speculation. Good job Bohn! None of us has the faintest clue what you are up to (I kind of like it that way!), who you are really zoning in on, who wants USC, who doesn’t, and if you are going to fix USC’s football problem for us, or not. Your entire legacy in sports admin depends on what you do now. One shot.
No pressure.
Boy does Bohn have it, full-on pressure that is! Hope he’s up to it. I think he’s got the toughest task of any big brand AD in the country right now. He’s really under just massive time-sensitive pressure, and that’s just from us fans. When you figure he’s got to deal with Folt and Caruso to get anything huge done, I see it as a daunting task, for which he is very well paid. This is the job he wanted. Hope he likes it now because Bohn’s up to his eyebrows in alligators.
If I am Bohn, before I fired Helton I have already talked to Folt and Caruso. What do they want for SC football? What is my budget for the next coach and his staff? What are qualities they want in the next HC and prioritize them for me. Bohn so far is doing a good job avoiding rumors unlike previous ADs.
I can’t imagine Bohn didn’t get his hiring parameters fully set with Folt and Caruso before Helton was officially let go. It was my impression based on all the info that came out, including Caruso’s return to glory promise (exactly how I read it) that they had Helton on a “success schedule”, and as soon as he failed to meet it, they immed dumped him after the STAN debacle. After all that wasted time, the big three finally acted in concert. If Bohn is still playing with his hands tied behind his back, as always speculated but not proven, then… Read more »
Stay optimistic, at this juncture you’re one of the few.
I am positive they get a big time hire.
With you all the way here. I just think it’s in the cards.
Every team gets distracted playing in Hawaii, it is their secret weapon, and now the government is helping them with almost insurmountable obstacles to get into the islands. I will still endorse DeBoer from Fresno, he is still a great coach.
Do great CFB coaches really lose to HI? Sure they could, I suppose. Nice of you to give him a free pass here though. If Mario Cristobal did that, I wonder if he’d be given a free pass too? Not by me he wouldn’t.
Here is an answer for you.
:https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_Hawaii_Rainbow_Warriors_bowl_games
This is just a quickie…but it shows that even Power 5 programs are not immune to Hawaii winning.
I’m not talking about just any old Power 5 programs. I’m talking about great football coaches.
Can you name the GREAT football coaches now living besides Saban and Meyer.
Very subjective and my definition is considerably broader than yours. I’d say guys like Chris Petersen, Dabo Swinney, and Bob Stoops are great too, among a few others. Both Petersen and Stoops could be back in the game soon, given the right circumstances for each. I don’t think any of those guys ever lost to HI, and if they did, they’d never hear the end of it.
You’re fickle.
Just read Dan Weber’s column on Ryan’s Board. As background, Dan is retired and has moved from Orange County (I think he formerly lived in Tustin) to northern Kentucky, near Cincinnati. The exodus from CA is very well documented and ongoing. I think I wrote that my doc here in Frisco now has five USC Law Grads as patients and I am the only one that is retired. The others still have practices in the LA area, but are taking up Texas residency. But, I digress (a sign of my age no doubt). Dan did a great job of explaining… Read more »
My other hobby is playing the stock market with some “Mad Money”. Let’s use the analogy of USC football as a corporation. If Dan Weber says USC football is dead I would disagree. If dead it would mean they are closing their doors, they are not. I look at it more as declaring bankruptcy and reorganizing. You don’t announce you are looking for a solid CEO to bring the company back if you are closing your doors. USC suffered from terrible mismanagement since Nikias became president and included Haden and Swann. It has taken 2 years for a top down… Read more »
In your context, in the last two years, just as many Corporations,LLC’s have gone through the same ministrations Reorganization, New CEOs injection of new capital, which was generally fund managers, looking for quick profit in liquidation, many others downsized their brick and mortar and ultimately folded their tents, Pennys and Best Buy are just the next to expire. I believe Dan was referring to the Mental image as well as the physical image of a relentless, focused visceral mentality to defeat the foe, no matter the challenge the FIGHT ON spirit. Viewed on National Television so many times. When people,… Read more »
Ultimately, I even blame that incompetent clown and chief celebrity brown-nosing fundraiser Nikias most of all. The worst USC president ever, and by far!
Only God knows why he is still around USC. There must be just too many buried bodies to kick him to the curb. What a sad state of affairs for USC.
Nikias pulled ALL the strings leading to USC’s downfall, both as a university riddled with deep and varied scandal, and as an over-the-hill football program that was coached by that idiot Clay The Cat Helton.
“The Helton Curse” still lingers over the University as well as the Administration, it may never be exorcised.
Yes, excellent write up. Weber finally unloaded all the pent up frustrations he withheld while a beat writer and under Capo Tessalone’ scrutiny and dictates and Ryan’s incessant arse kissing at USC which led to his sellout to 247 Sports which negated any negative reporting on SC Football. Hat’s Off to Dan’s rubbing reality in our faces.
I did a little research to find out when did we last lose three or more games in the Coliseum in one season. I found that in 1957 which was Don Clark’s first year as head coach, we were 1-9 for the season. We played 6 games in the Coliseum and lost all 6. We only defeated the Washington Huskies in Seattle that year. Assistant coaches for Don Clark in 1959 were Marv Goux, Al Davis, YES, The Al Davis, John McKay and Ray George. In 1959 the Trojans were 8-2. Then John McKay took over in 1960. We did… Read more »
JuJu Smith-Schuster left the Steeler game against the Broncos with a shoulder injury. It looked like he was in a lot of pain.
And Darnold had three interceptions that led to Carolina’s defeat. Rough weekend all the way around in Trojan land
New AP rankings:
1. Georgia Bulldogs
2. Iowa Hawkeyes
3. Cincinnati Bearcats
4. Oklahoma Sooners
5. Alabama Crimson Tide
6. Ohio State Buckeyes
7. Penn State Nittany Lions
8. Michigan Wolverines
9. Oregon Ducks
10. Michigan State Spartans
11. Kentucky Wildcats
12. Oklahoma State Cowboys
13. Ole Miss Rebels
14. Notre Dame Fighting Irish
15. Coastal Carolina Chanticleers
16. Wake Forest Demon Deacons
17. Arkansas Razorbacks
18. Arizona State Sun Devils
19. BYU Cougars
20. Florida Gators
21. Texas A&M Aggies
22. NC State Wolfpack
23. SMU Mustangs
24. San Diego State Aztecs
25. Texas Longhorns
Allen, I am still at 6-6, though I probably should be at 5-7 as you indicate below. During the first half of the season, SC did not play a ranked team and played 4 of 6 at home. Yet, it is 3-3 with all three losses being at home and being blow outs. The next 6 are also 4 at home and 2 on the road. But, SC plays three ranked teams (ND, ASU and BYU) and a UCLA team that might be ranked if it runs the table in the next three games (at UW, OR and at Utah).… Read more »
6-6, 5-7 both spell out clearly where USC has fallen. Were I USC’s opponents, I’d just pick on our DBs and bully Slovis and USC’s substandard O-line. Easy formula for victory every time. It’s almost humorous watching some of USC’s players try to tackle. Now that USC has sunk to full-on grease-fire mode, the kids maybe can just start playing like they have nothing to lose. Maybe that will help, because they DO have nothing to lose, except a bad bowl appearance if lucky. Hopefully, a lot of new faces will get some playing time if they are able. They… Read more »
It may not be the matter of the players start playing for themselves as it is losing confidence in what the coaching staff is telling them isn’t good enough and what follows is they start losing confidence in their own abilities. ‘This isn’t Oregon St. where losing is expected and accepted. We know those players coming in here are aware of the expectations this program has in winning. But when the talent recruited these past 5-years was not up to the level accustomed, by a HC who didn’t bother to push himself to compete for the best talent even though… Read more »
Jamaica, Had Helton been allowed to continue, SC would have moved from a mid-level Pac 12 team to a cellar dweller. He is simply incompetent as a HC, but was extraordinary competent at academic politics. The second skill made him a multi-millionaire. As Allen often stated, he would have been bad at the Pop Warner level.
That’s a nice top 4. Too much beef for Cincy to stay with the other 3 unless they make for it with speed.
IOWA has sure been a big surprise. Man, are they ever solid. And they sure can come up with picks!
Kyle Whittingham comments on quarterback Cameron Rising: “He is an alpha dog. He’s a leader in every sense of the word. He does command the room and he’s the leader of the offense. Between him and Brit Covey, those were two captains elected on offense by their peers. He is exactly what you want in the quarterback when you talk about the ‘it’ factor and the field general that you want leading the troops…” on3.com I reprint this quote on Rising because it represents exactly everything that Kedon Slovis is not. Slovis is not a leader in any sense of the… Read more »
I cannot remember a QB at SC with Kedon’s laid back personality. Perhaps JT Daniels was a bit like him.
I was surprised at how Utah was able to pass on the Trojan D-backfield. Isn’t Fonte Williams the position coach? But the more physical team won last night. Who ultimately is more responsible for the state our defense is in today. Helton’s failure in recruiting the right players or Orlando’s (and his staff) game coaching-game planning? As for Whittingham’s attempt to call his QB Mr. Universe? Well you can excuse his delirium from removing a skeleton in the closet getting a victory last night. I see a 6 & 6 record developing here. And, I don’t believe the team would… Read more »
Jamaica, I view 2021 as my dream “administration” season. First, we got rid of The Cat. Second, we got rid of Donte as a replacement HC. Third, we got rid of the entire staff built around Clay by Bohn. A true trifecta. Bohn had created a true problem in his staffing of the Football Program. At the top, he had an incompetent. On the staff, he had an elite recruiter who had no experience as a HC but the desire to be one (Donte). My guess is if you were to ask Donte six weeks ago, he viewed himself as… Read more »
I’d take Rising in a heartbeat for my QB over Slovis, any day of the week.
But USC just got drilled in all facets of the game and the better team by far won.
The USC/ND game could get hilarious, if you’re an Irish fan. Since I’m not, I’ll have to find a different reason to laugh.
Kedon isn’t anywhere close to the scrambler last year. I have to believe 3-possible reasons why: He has a limiting injury that won’t heal up and he fears not making it worse, or he has been told not to scramble or his receivers are not as talented as last year and are better covered in limiting his passing completions. I am not sure he has reached the ceiling of his ability as this offense isn’t helping him much.
He is so deep in his own head that he has his own little world. Sad really.
From another Trojan:
“Those of us that had ‘lifetime’ benefits (for significant donations in the 80s and 90s) withdrawn unless we donated more know that the Trojan family we knew no longer exists.
“The elimination of the alumni clubs would have been heresy under former administrations.
“This just isn’t the university we knew.”
I think Folt’s largest mistake was immediately to eliminate any opposition to her presidency outside of academia by neutring the alumni who were in the $5,000 to $20,000 a year bucket. I do not think she grasped the impact that bringing Berkeley to SC would have. She should have worked with the alumni instead of declaring them “deplorables” and removing all power from them. I know I now throw all the SC material I get in the trash can unopened and delete all SC emails. I doubt I am the only one.
USC isn’t nearly as fantastic now as when I was fortunate enough to attend. I’m very grateful that I got to slide in from ’70-74. What a great university USC was back then. USC now just seems to have just dropped off the map. I’m sure Folt has those on another planet who feel she is leading USC just stupendously.
Bring back John Wayne’s on-campus statue. Nobody’s listening.
Unfortunately, those who live in that alternative universe are very popular and powerful in academia. She was removed from UNC for a reason. We are seeing why now. The issue is whether or not a majority of the BOTs inhabit the same alternative universe. If not, she will be gone shortly.
I was right behind you, Allen, 78-82, and feel the same good fortune as you
USC swimming and diving coach Jeremy Kipp put on administrative leave
Ryan Kartje (LA Times) — “USC swimming and diving coach Jeremy Kipp has been put on administrative leave amid concerns about abusive treatment of athletes within the swim program.
“An incident in April, which was first reported by the swimming website SwimSwam.com, sparked an investigation into Kipp’s behavior. The team was informed on Friday that Kipp would step away, just a week ahead of its first invitational of the 2021 season. Kipp can still appeal the decision…”
latimes.com
Here is something positive about the game last night.
Congrats to Carson and his family. Every time I hear him interviewed on Dan Patrick, and Colin Cowherd, which is weekly, he represents himself and the University with his knowledge, wit, and demeanor. Plus, he lets his Heisman sit on the bar in Dan Patrick’s show man cave. Who does that? All around good guy
I’ve never felt totally sorry for USC football before, but I do now.
Listening to these kids talk after the games is a sad experience. They must be getting numb from the experience of losing.
Losses to ND, ASU, UCLA, and BYU look likely to me. That’s another 5-7 season, like in 2018. The hits just keep on coming.
I do too. In years past, when there was a mid season firing, like Kiffin and Sark. I felt the promise, and hope of a better program with a good hire. The players still fought to win the remaining games, and in most cases gave maximum effort because, in my mind, they knew they represented the University, and didn’t want to embarrass it or themselves. Now, I don’t know whether to be more angry at the lack of skill being taught by this staff, and the previous, or angry that so many of today’s players want so much immediate gratification,… Read more »
Oh what a night. For what seemed like forever I only heard the Trojans lose another game after having my plans to watch the game evaporate on a frozen screen in the second quarter due to lousy Air B&B internet. And while scrambling to find the Trojans on a Serius XM app, and having my little sister text me about how crappy the refs were but I couldn’t see what she was talking about. I wished I hadn’t been talked into a strip to Big Bear…That was my night. I finally found Pete All-aghast explaining that the flea flicker is… Read more »
Bring back Helton!– Relax, just kidding…. But seriously, any replacement for Helton was going to be like changing captains on the sinking Titanic…….. The 1962 National Championship put SC on the map for me. And the 1964 last minute win against No. 1 Notre Dame, sold me on the Trojans. In “SC fraternity football” I was fair at throwing and catching a football, so I thought I might have a chance. I went out for 1966 Trojan Spring Practice, which I thought was a big deal. A couple of my “fondest” memories are Ron Drake, that skinny kid (who was… Read more »
On a lighter note, call me Captain Obvious, but is Keaontay Ingram’s mom a wine lover? He has a brother Kelvontay Dixon. Does he have any other siblings? Sharddonay or Kabbernay….
I love your post here GT. It’s got me laughing — and laughing about Trojan football is about the best I can do now. I read somewhere else where a Trojan fan described Kedon Slovis as an “Energy Vampire.” That brought about a chuckle too, even though Kedon may not deserve that special Trojan description. Things have gone from bad to worse. You know when your clean-cut, very experienced, supposed Heisman candidate QB is known by some fans as an “energy vampire”, you got some big issues on your team. I truly feel for these players having to answer even… Read more »
I hold absolutely no ill will towards Slovis and hope nobody else truly does. I feel sorry for what the coaching staff has done to him. He held so much promise. But I do find myself wondering if he could turn himself around somewhere else (think JT).
I think he could use a new start somewhere. But I also think he has flaws that won’t get fixed anywhere else.
Were I Slovis, I’d focus on my degree, my connections, and winning any game I could.
I don’t think he’s an NFL QB and if he is, he’ll be holding a clipboard on a bad team. But frankly, I don’t even think he can do that.
I take no joy in predicting this season. SC has not played one ranked team yet this season and has played 4 homes games. It is 3-3 and seemingly has secured 4th place in the Pac 12 South. SC is better than AZ (which has lost 17 in a row) and has routed CO (which will win only one league game – against AZ). I totally missed UCLA. It appears that UCLA will now be battling Utah for 2nd place. The Bruins have a brutal 3 game streak coming up (at WA, OR at home, then at Utah). It is… Read more »
If calculating ROI and probability, I would take a flyer on Deboer
He is my #1 candidate for the job. Is already in CA, has a wonderful HC resume at the lower divisions and is kicking tail at Fresno State, which he has moved into the #2 or #3 team on the West Coast (behind OR and perhaps ASU). It is possible that Fresno State may end up the #1 team as OR has lost Verdell and Fresno might be able to beat ASU. This SC team is not even a top 10 team on the West Coast.
Good luck finding a coaching job Clay Helton 😜
I hope the “The HeltonCurse” affects him as much as it has the Trojan Football Program…
Helton is Teflon, nothing seems to stick to him.
I look at Helton pretty differently. He seems perpetually covered in slime, as though everything has stuck to him, as it always has.
The best thing to ever happen to hapless Helton, is when Kiffin extracted him from a life of anonymity at Arkansas State
YET…..
SC needs to start at the top and get rid of Folt and Bohn. Their roots are not stepped in USC culture and tradition, and it’s very clear to me that both of them could care less. Folt has destroyed USC tradition and culture including dismantling, along with the Alumi Association, the successful local Alumni Club structure in favor of a Regional Model that is a total disaster and failure. Removing the John Wayne Exhibit was the last straw on Folt for me. Bohn seems like he’s trying to do something, but he’s got his hands tied. I only wish… Read more »
rlee, It is not only Folt; it is the Hollywood culture that permeates all of SC. It will be interesting to see who SC hires to clean up this mess. It is an interesting paradox. SC has the ability to dominate college football by having the best location for NIL income in the nation (think of how much money Reggie and Matt could have made if NILs were legal in their careers), and it is cursed to have a culture which most of us find at best repellent. SC made several disastrous hires: we have had two awful Presidents (Nikias… Read more »
My 50-year HS reunion was Covid-canceled last year, and again this year. Our class of ’70 was a really large and close one, so it’s a real bummer to miss out on seeing some of these childhood friends, especially since elderly maladies will start to creep in on my group. Hope you decide to make it to your law school reunion RJJ.
At this point, we are not only observing attempts by the current woeful administration to seduce a candidate as Savior for our beleaguered football program, however, to those observant it’s also a test on the Performance of the Administration, how well will they perform, do they care, how deep are their convictions to history, legacy and continuance of Trojan Fight On philosophy. Are those at the top only there to secure their sinecure? ….we’ll see.
I don’t see Folt and Bohn surviving unless USC football is fixed and set back on the path to excellence. Caruso will be fine regardless of what happens.
But has a USC president ever literally been taken down by a hopeless Trojan football program? I don’t think so.
Could it happen to Folt if USC messes up this upcoming football hire? I’m sure many think she can survive regardless of what happens to USC football. Maybe they are right about today’s USC. Maybe USC will never again be the leader of football in the west. Wouldn’t that be something?
I had not heard that Folt had “cancelled” the John Wayne Statue. What a commie bitch. I bet if you googled her history at UNC, you will see that cancelling historical statues is her forte.
Thanks for the reply TrojanRJJ. Congratulations on your 50th from SC Law. I tried to go for a joint MBA and JD back in 1977. The schools had a reciprocity type agreement where credits towards one degree would count for the other, thereby reducing the number of years to get both degrees if done separately. I got into the Graduate School of Business but not the Law School as my LSAT scores were too low, even though I had a 3.8 as an undergrad Business major at SC. I presented a case to the Admissions Committee that I had always… Read more »
In order to be rebuilt something has to be broken badly. USC is at the point of being badly broken, at the bottom, with nowhere to go but up. This season is over as far as meaning anything. It is time to let the starters sit and contemplate what they have accomplished, or not accomplished. Fans everywhere are longing for the right person to come in and create a NEW atmosphere with a work ethic, pride, endurance, and perhaps even put a chip on their shoulder. Bring back the swagger we all miss so much. In my memory I have… Read more »
Maybe USC can lure back Pete Carroll (sinking ship in Seattle)
Surely you jest.
Watching Pete trying to win NFL games without Russell Wilson will be a hoot!
The Seahawks may now be the NFL’s version of USC, if they aren’t careful.
We are truly a building project. My expectation for any new coach is not going to be a pac 12 championship next year. We are now in a full on “let’s rebuild this thing” territory.
Yes, Chris.
You see it, the CFB audience nationwide see it and so do every candidate SC could even imagine SEE IT !!!
Having SC on your resume is great….Till it’s Not.
Allen had mentioned Larry Smith and Logos don’t mean anything and I think he also said that traditions don’t either. People like Larry Smith should not be coaching at USC where tradition IS what we are all about. Wow, what the hell did I see last night? I truly believe that Donte is trying his best to wipe out the stain of the Helton culture. I really do. He is trying to make these kids accountable but we play in the Coliseum like a JV high school team that has little talent. I feel badly for players like Drake London… Read more »
Looking at some of the replays after the game, I really feel that USC’s defense lacks a lot more talent than I ever believed before. Boy, a lot of our starters are just mediocre ballers, I believe.
The real question is would they be this way if they had competent coaching from day 1?
It’ll be very interesting, and hopefully encouraging, to see what USC football looks like exactly one year from now.
But for now, we’re in a stiff holding period where I figure USC will just be fighting off getting humiliated, while all the while trying to find its next coach.
We’re all watching a crucial and amazing part of USC football history. Who the heck in the country will come and try to fix this total mess?
“We’re all watching a crucial and amazing part of USC football history. Who the heck in the country will come and try to fix this total mess?”
The answer to this question has multiple parts and it’s not all about money or job ranking.
“It definitely hurts. Three in the Coli, not a good feeling at all,” USC center Brett Neilon said. “And they all just kind of feeling like deja vu. Similar scores, similar in the loss…”
ocregister.com
Great to hear them say it hurts, maybe they should try playing like it does. There were a lot of players looking like they were going through the motions. Did the DB’s even break a sweat? Who’s team does Steele play for? How many times do we need to hear USC’s effort be described as lackluster.