USC Morning Buzz: Coaching Roulette, 1972 Edition

USC.1972.BACKFIELD

Time for our next edition of coaching roulette, where we highlight a USC coaching staff of the past. Why? Because it is fashionable for USC coaches (like Lane Kiffin, etc.) to say they hired the best staff in America (which they did not). And who will become a head coach one day like some of the assistants below?

Let’s check with 1972: There was Ray George, who was an actual member of the Thundering Herd teams of 1937-39 and one of the greatest linemen in USC history. He played on the 1938 team that upset top-ranked Notre Dame and previously unbeaten and unscored-upon Duke in the 1939 Rose Bowl. He later became the head coach at Texas A&M and beat coaching legends Bud Wilkinson (Oklahoma), Red Sanders (UCLA) and Bear Bryant (Kentucky).

Then there was wide receivers coach Wayne Fontes, who was the Detroit Lions head coach from 1988-96. He is the only Lions coach to lead the team to the NFC championship game (1991) and he drafted Hall of Fame tailback Barry Sanders over some objections.

Offensive coordinator John Robinson succeeded John McKay at USC, where he won a national title, and also coached the Los Angeles Rams, where he reached two NFC title games.

Willie Brown was a former star player and Adoree Jackson before Adoree Jackson. Craig Fertig became the head coach at Oregon State (1976-79). Dave Levy was just inducted into the USC Hall of Fame and can stand next to anyone in coaching acumen. Marv Goux is Mr. USC, the most inspirational assistant coach or coach in school history.

Don Lindsey later became USC’s defensive coordinator under Robinson and worked as an assistant for Bear Bryant, Frank Broyles, Lou Holtz, Bill Curry and Jim Sweeney among others. And don’t forget Nick Holt, oh wait he was hired in 2001.

Photo caption: Offensive lineman Allan Graf (61), quarterback Mike Rae, fullback Sam Cunningham (39) and tailback Anthony Davis (28).

35 thoughts on “USC Morning Buzz: Coaching Roulette, 1972 Edition

  1. Scott, why are you trying to coin this idiotic term, Coaching Roulette? …isn’t it more fashionable to call it a Coaching Tree? Or does that only apply to assistant coaches who go on to become head coaches?

    • The blogger is a do!t… the roulette analogy would make some sense if he wasn’t was going in chronological order. Who knows, maybe he’s playing with a loaded wheel…

      • Golly_Nerd calling someone else a “dolt”… Hey Golly_Nerd I heard Shatner reupped his restraining order against you. Tough luck this weekend!

      • Whenever I hear or read the word Roulette, my mind almost always flashes on that memorable scene in The Deer Hunter…..

  2. Florida tight end Daniel Imatorbhebhe is looking to transfer after just one semester at the school according to Scout’s Bob Redman.

    With brother Josh’s recent commitment to the Trojans, could a second Imatorbhebhe be headed to USC?

    • Apparently USC offered Daniel before he originally accepted the Florida offer. I’d give 3-1 odds he comes to USC.

      • I wonder how long it will take Wolf to post this info about Imatorbhebhe, since most of us had it a few hours ago..Perhaps he is busy coming up with another version of “Coaching Roulette” that great Wolf idea that none of us care about…

    • Unless Daniel Imatorbhebhe makes a physical transformation, he won’t be lining up at the TE position, because he’s smaller then some of the wide receivers on the Trojans roster.

      • Obviously, players changing positions from HS to college isn’t unusual, and this would likely fall into that category, unless, as you stated, he experiences a healthy growth spurt….

        • By “healthy growth spurt” Garry Bleauz means “Paging Dr. Ting”.

          • Most people don’t pick a football blog as the place to come out of the closet, Garry Bleauz.

  3. John Robinson was the classiest coach we’ve had. Handled himself admirably in the Garrett firing and always carried himself well when dealing with other coaches. He was a true ambassador for us.

    • Yeah, left the school on probation and got Tollner the job over Levy, what a guy !

    • Yeah same guy who fenagled behind the scenes to get himself hired as Larry Smith’s stock fell when it was obvious the Rams were looking to make a change.

  4. If USC wins this upcoming season, then the fact that you need top name assistants to win, will soon become a myth.

    • Good point…..and who were Urban Meyer’s assistants last year?……they certainly don’t roll off the tongue very easily….

      • One of Urban Meyers assistants was named the Head Coach of the University of Houston in during the off season. Athletic Directors know who is who in the coaching community, unlike the average fan.

        • I can’t deny that, since that’s what AD’s get paid to do, but there are an awful lot of retreads, not only in college, but the NFL… the good old boys network is alive and well, it seems……

  5. Try this : Hire Coach O as Head Coach the day after 2015 UCLA Game. Coach O brings Ted Tedford in as Offensive Coordinator. Tedford brings in the two finest OL coaches in college, an outstanding Receivers coach and Running Back coach. Here’s the big one: Coach O hires ex-Trojan DeWayne Walker to Coordinate the Defense. Coach Walker hires all of his Linebacker, Secondary, and DL Coaches. Beginning in 2017, USC plays in 8 consecutive BCS playoff games, winning 5 NCAA National Championships, becoming the most successful College Football Program in the history of the sport. Coach O lets his staff coach, at the same time recruits as only Coach O can. Coach Sark assigned to be Head Recruiting Coordinator. OBTW, Mike Holmgren hired to replace Patrick Haden as USC Athletic Director. Would this be a Final Solution for Trojan Football ?

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