The Rumor Mill

There is a lot of buzz, always surrounding a loss, that USC is going to hire a big-name coach now. The rumor going around is Ravens coach John Harbaugh will be the next coach. I know USC has already reached out to NFL coaches so anything is possible. But right now this is speculation. And I mention it because fans want to know. If USC really wants a big name, Oklahoma coach Bob Stoops would probably be the best first choice.

195 thoughts on “The Rumor Mill

  1. Rumors are like a@@holes everybody has one and they all stink.
    Jim’s brother might be a big name, but I don’t know if he would do well in a college setting.
    The bleacher report is making a case for keeping Helton. The one and only point they make I agree with is that even in a horrible loss the team didn’t fold up the way Kiffin and Sark’s teams did.
    Either way the position coaches have got to go. The TV showed Wilcox talking on the phone to a D back after the back was terribly out of position and Wilcox just didn’t seem animated about the mistake.

  2. Dear Santa all I want for Christmas is one of these guys (1)Jon Gruden (2) Jimmy Johnson (3) John Harbaugh (4) Kirby Smart

      • He defintely was a drug addict. There was lots of vicodin missing from the saints medical cabinet, and there was only one suspect, payton. That would be a hard sell for usc fans, after the sarkisian thing.

  3. Let’s review:

    Carroll leaves the hiring Brain Surgeons, Desperate, to recapture the Carroll era hire Kiffin.

    Outcome: fired in a parking lot.

    Ogeron takes over

    Outcome: fired because he does not drink tea with his pinky out

    Sarkisian: Hired to recapture the Carroll era

    Outcome: Fired because he drinks Patron like iced tea.

    Are we seeing a pattern? Anyone? Anyone?

    From my viewpoint. Keep Helton for at least a year. Make staff modifications, and look for the right fit.

    Remember Carroll, at the beginning, was considered not the right guy. Give Helton one year. USC would do that to “their” canididate.

    This acting like that girl desperate to get married, is only making bad stupid decisions. Several times over.

        • No he is a good coach, but not at all ready for the HC job at USC. He should get hired by another school and learn some lessons. His biggest problem is he has worked for some real losers, now needs to work for some winners.

    • Hire two losers , so you can hire or is it rehire or rerehire a career assistant that seems to hang around every program just to become an interim … great idea hire this loser for another year then do this all over again.
      How about pull a OhioSt and Bama and open the bank vaults and hire a real coach … simple enough

  4. Either would be great, and with stoops or harbaugh at least they be discipline and good asst. Coaches would want to work for them.

  5. The buzz was actually before the loss that USC was going to hire a big name coach. If it’s Harbaugh then it’s very important that he gets a great OC. His offenses have been terrible and the year he won the Super Bowl he fired his OC mid season and promoted Jim Caldwell.

    • They tackle in the NFL , you would have thought the SC vs quack game was flag football as bad as those D’s looked yesterday.
      Harbaugh at SC would be MONEY !!!!

  6. USC would be crazy to go after Stoops, because he’s been at a power for many years, and really hasn’t produced too many championship type teams.

      • “But right now this is speculation. And I mention it because fans want to know……..” Its not like we want someone with knowledge or an ‘Inside USC’ connections! Just give us speculation.

    • I just can’t see bob stoops moving to LA. He has always caught me as a small town Midwestern guy!

          • He’d already discussed the reality of coaching in the Pac-12 with his brother Mike Stoops former AZ coach – Bob Stoops would be foolish to leave OK.

          • I do thinks stoops will leave oklahoma one day, but not for Los Angeles. However they are having a great season, and things in Norman are very positive right now. But wait till Oklahoma has another 8-5 season, and the negativity will ring off the hook again. I think stoops is under appreciated in Norman. So many people have called for his firing the last 4 or 5 years, and he has done such a great job at Oklahoma. Stoops’ problem is he isn’t very friendly with th ou fans. So many times people ask for his autograph, and he does everything he can to ignore them. Those people get their revenge whenever Oklahoma loses, and they call for his job. To make a long story short, I think there will be a bob stoops/Oklahoma divorce someday.

  7. There’s no doubt in my mind that John Harbaugh is a sure thing and the answer to USC’s problems.

    Attention Pat Haden…..
    Make this happen!

    • A huge statement needs to be made.Statement to the Alumni ,fans,players,media,CFB,Nation,recruits and heck everywhere between.
      Go after and get Gruden or Haubaugh. Stoops has done a good job at
      Ok.,however he’s good where he is. What you see is what you get,he’s not a big market guy,and at this point would not want the territory.
      Having a close friend who is still in Oklahoma football record books,says Stoops has lost part of his drive.He’s not a person who likes change,or to be questioned. He’s not our future.

      • Yep. It has to be a bigger name. Start at the top with Harbaugh and Gruden. You have to start at the top.

      • Wannstedt already a done deal for USC. He has the NFL and college experience the Trojans are looking for.

      • So Peter, in your scenario Guden quits his cupcake MNF gig and throws away millions in easy yearly salary, to come west and try to revive the moribund KU FB program and put up with the dysfunctional mess that surrounds KU?

        Only in a Wilbur Farrell movie.

        • Guden? There is that Cerritos College education rearing it’s ugly head again. You’re as bad as Wolf when it comes to misspelled words. Are you two apart of the same gene pool?

          • Actually a big name hire is owns worst nightmare. He is in denial on his road back to mediocrity

          • Well the last big name FB coach KU was really huge – Fireball Sark. When U-Dub finished shearing Paddy O’Haden had purdhased a sow’s ear disguised as a cauliflower.

            Good luck on the next huge KU FB coach search krap shoot. I’m betting KU rolls snake eyes.

          • Hey, it’s not my fault you cannot spell or add. Most third graders have mastered these skills.

          • According to Geo. Orwell, the spelling of a word is secondary to whether a reader perceives the misspelled word’s meaning.

  8. “But right now this is speculation. And I mention it because fans want to know.”

    Translation: queue up the trolls and page hits.

    • Watch LSU demonstrate what a school does that is serious about fixing things. Those old boys won’t mess around once they officially cut loose Miles after a three game skid. USC’s probably still trying to figure out if Helton can cut it. Duh.

  9. I am not saying Stoops is perfect or even the best choice. But he is 177 & 45 with 8’Big 12 Championships & one NC. Bowl record is only 8 & 8’though. But if you don’t think he has done enough the list of who would be better is pretty darn short. And if you don’t think he has done enough your expectations may be a tad high

    • Good point. But in my opinion we need to shoot for a more tough nosed coach who brings a physical game with him, and at the same time a proven winner. Stoops is really good, but to me he’s just under the realm of being a top tier college coach.

      • It sounds like you want Jim Mora but he isn’t about to jump on the sinking ship that is southern cal! But I heard this up and coming OC named Lane Kiffin that might be interested!

          • You talking about the basketball coach??!! puhahahahahahahah southern cal and andy enfield and the bball program?? and you are trying to talk about the UCLA program? You just worry about spelling your name right Mr. Albarado! Tell your cousin to get ready to punt a lot on saturday cause Cody Kessler isn’t going to do jack!

    • There are historically five top programs: OH St., AL, Notre Dame, USC and OK – as such what gain is there for USC or Stoops to make this happen?

      Better to hire a good NFL assistant than a guy who is on the downside of his career at OK –

      • Not sure I fully agree he is on downside of career, but may not be far from truth as well. He still has a god 10 years left; seasoned but not too old he is out of touch

        • Trojan5 Stoops is comfortable in OK and I can assure you the fan base feels equally towards him. I can’t conceive of his leaving Norman-OK and moving to the cauldron of USC’s expectations. If anything Stoop’s agent will be used as the ‘cut out’ for deniability and also get Boren to raise his salary.

          This is not a good fit for either party and a huge risk for Stoops and Haden and Haden isn’t into taking risks not after his personal rehabilitation project with Sarkisian imploded.

          I’m betting Haden is terrified to make this decision because if he blows it there is no upside to his reputation at >60 years of age.

          • Hi stinkie….man praise from Caesar is praise indeed…thanks for taking the time to read and comment opps I meant obsess….keep obsessing on all things USC and don’;t be late for the honor guard change at Wooden;s sarcophagus…tick tick tick…time is wasting stinker….phew you sure do stink

    • Didn’t he jump the shark after we blew the Sooners out for the BCS title in 2005? I thought he was due to retire.

  10. They need to give Nick Saban a call. I get the feeling that he is tired of being under the microscope at Alabama. There is nothing he can do at Bama where someone is not going to report on it. I think USC can be a breath of fresh air for him. More importantly, I think USC needs his style of coaching. There is a reason why he has had so many first round draft picks over the years. He coaches players up and they improve. That is something that has not been going on at USC.

    • The Saban to Texas rumors are out there again. Not likely to SC but, some people say it’s not crazy to see him at USC.

          • SAS, don’t pay any attention to this clown. After all, what else do you expect from a graduate of Cerritos College. Last night he was the one that said six of Dedeaux’s 11 baseball NCs shouldn’t count because they went through the losers bracket. Never mind that the Wooden/Gilbert combo only had to win four games to win a NC in basketball. He thinks he’s the Skip Bayless of this blog.

          • Even more amusing is the fact that the guy’s claim is a guess at best – I mean if he actually went through the entire 11 nc’s by Rod Deadeaux THAT is a life that has nothing but bile, anger and oh yeah his monkier ‘stinkie’ phew he does wear it – the cologne of the sewer – hydrogen sulfide…man what a stinker

          • Commie SUCC. “Deadeaux” (sic) won 10 Baseball NC’s.

            Slowly CS, from the left, and use your finger as a pointer – 1958, 1961, 1963, 1968, 1970 – 1974 (5) and 1978.

            Coach D won only 2 NC’s (1973 and 1978) from the WINNER’s bracket.

            Commie SUCC, you need an eyeopener.

          • No that’s not true you need to provide the link and oh yes quit stinking up the place man you really stink stinkie phew! What a stinker!

          • Your not supposed to feed a stray cat or it will never leave, and I already fed him. Plus he’s a Dodgers fan.

          • Still favor Mr. Black. Neither candidates have Mgr. experience. However sas, they’re perfect for a Gen Mgr who intends to manage w/o a uniform.

          • It is what it is. If there’s a bright side it’s that Roberts and Kapler might be able to gel more with the players since they are more younger in age. Maybe that’s what they need a more youthful, energetic coach.

          • Some starting pitching would help.
            And here me out here Steve. I think it’s time for Scoscia to move on from the Angels or vice versa, and I really think Scoscia could manage the Dodgers better than Matingly and would take Scoscia today (even though he grinds my gears).

          • It looks like it’s a done deal. He brings a World Series ring with him as a player and is fairly young as for managers go, this might appeal to the Dodgers players and they might buy into him.

          • Coach D won only 10 NC’s.

            And as usual 12, you’ve got it wrong. No surprise there.

            Coach D was a great Baseball Coach, but only two ( 1973 & 1978) of his NC’s were won from the winner’s bracket. Dem’s the facts.

            Quit whining 12, you’re a full race adolescent dunce; your pimples will eventually clear up.

          • Hey genius. Dedeaux was co-coach with Sam Berry in 1948, so he gets credit for that title. That’s 11. And 11+1=12, or did you flunk basic math at Cerritos C.C.? Make an appointment to get a cranium extraction procedure done.

          • Unfortunately, is given credit for that NC. BTW, KU lost a game to Holy Cross, As usual KU wins from the losers bracket.

            I think KU invented the Double Elimination Tournament, cause one and done was too hard.

          • You’re FoS. I guarantee you, Little Petey isn’t sharing his Super Win credit with an Asst. Coach.

            Coach D’s 1st Baseball NC team won it in 1958. Coach D was the HC then, not the first base coach or batboy.

          • Don’t be a bean counter, Owns.
            You’re better than that.
            I’m not really sure how though.

          • Little Petey….

            -played for 3 National Championships
            -Winning 2 National Championships
            -played for 2 Super Bowls
            -Winning 1 Super Bowl
            -Won 4 Rose Bowls
            -Won 1 Orange Bowl

            MY THUMB HURTS FROM ALL THE TYPING. Hahaa!

          • Surely you must be kidding. Enough of the pointless lawsuit act. We kicked everyone’s *ss and you know it. The Reggie Bush crap didn’t happen until after we won both titles. We beat every team on the field fare and square.

          • All I know is that you always stink when you post and as to your query – man you are a nasty smelly fool then again that’s what a diet of bile and envy produces – illogic nonsense and madness…phew….stop stnking stinker….

          • Here a rant, there a rant, everywhere a rant – rant. Commie SUCC you’re giving mania a bad name. Why not just stick to alcoholic oratory. How about some Pericles in original Greek.

          • Bartender, please pass a full open bottle of Vodka under Commie Succ’s nose so he feels better and put it on my tab.

  11. Well, if you feel you need to dive into the NFL ranks, then please pick Jack Del Rio. He can’t wait to come home, has the experience, and the loyalty.
    But what might happen if Helton remained the HC, and named a quality OC and DC, and he became the traffic director?
    Otherwise, Sean Payton please.
    If outside the box thoughts might count, Hue Jackson comes to mind.

  12. In other news, the Philadelphia Eagles got killed today! USC fans should be very happy about that.

      • You keep up with things don’t you stinkie? Barkley was traded last year to the AZ Cardinals – go out and make a new stink bomb in your underground sewer home phew!

        • Obviously I don’t keep up quite as well you do CS. Did you ever bum enough change for a 1/2 pint?

          So the answer to my question is NO. Thanks CS.

          • stinkie stinkie stinkie always making hydrogen sulfide…phew you sure do stink….man what’s with the yellow haze that follows you when you slither out….

            stinkie stinkie stinkie…phew…..man quit making all that smelly stuff….yu stink…and you’re not very bright just envious and obsessive man are you obsessive….

          • Oh man why’d you have to release your stink?! Phew – everytime you come here it always smells like your hole – ‘Stinktown’….take a bath huh stinker?

          • Yeah babe – Rodgers ain’t helping the packers but hey there the scrub sits week after week…get ready for John David Booty land

          • You don’t keep up? That’s the understatement of the year. Last night you came up with the stat that six of USC’s NC’s in baseball were won through the losers bracket. Were you on Wikipedia all night looking up that one?

          • Tell us 12, how many of the KU Baseball NC’s were won from the Losers Bracket?

          • Mr. 12, Coach D won 10 Baseball NC’s: 1958, 1961, 1963, 1968, 1970 – 1974 & 1978.

            The 1973 and 78 NC’s were the only years KU won all its district playoff games and the NCAA Tournament from the Winners Bracket.

            On the other hand Mr. Wooden had to first win the conf. and then go undefeated to win a BB NC.

            I don’t discount Coach D’s legacy, but in a double elimination playoff and Tournament an outstanding team can have a bad day, lose and rebound to win a playoff and NC.

            In BB, it’s one and done.

  13. I’ve heard Wannstedt is already a done deal for USC. College and NFL experience. Perfect hire.

  14. Coaching search up date Bucs 45 Eagles 17 and booed off the field …. you are wanted here Chip

  15. ESPN is reporting tat Les Miles and LSU are discussing his leaving. He has a $15 million buyout. USC definitely needs to take a look.

  16. Before I head to the mall to do some early Christmas shopping, I just want to let everyone know that the Big Bad SEC played four FCS schools yesterday. They went 3-1 and struggled to win two of those games in OT. Wolf would have a conniption fit if that happened to USC or anyone else in the Pac-12.

  17. What?!!! Stoops over Harbaugh??? That’s nuts!!! They’re just not in the same league of coaches, Scott. Harbaugh is one of the top NFL coaches who won a Super Bowl. The two aren’t even comparable, in my opinion.

    • Wolf said absolutely nothing about Stoops until very recently, and now he’s brought up Stoops two or three times. That actually makes me wonder if it might be for real. But it’s hard to picture that guy in Los Angeles.

    • Can Harbaugh recruit? Will Harbaugh dumb down his offense and defense play book for college athletes?

      • His name recruits, the school recruits, and I am sure he will have a staff that will excel at it.

        • Can he himself recruit.. He has to be able to close out if it comes between two different schools.. Some NFL Coaches do not want to deal with recruiting / Boosters / Fundraisers..
          Playbook is important.. Sr Kiffin would not dumb his defensive scheme, and it was too complicated for college students and players..

  18. Big game Bob was the coach when USC played Oklahoma in the Orange Bowl 2005. You remember, the stories going around about the Oklahoma players were begging USC to go easy. What a molder of men. I do not think throwing millions and a chauffeur driven limo will bring a National Championship to USC. Not rushing around like a chicken with its head cut off trying to find the hot new thing.

    Wolfey likes the idea of Big game Bob as he will have a lot of stupid stuff he can write about

  19. I’d go for Tom Herman. I’ve heard that he is a possible candidate and they might take a look at him. They need to drop that mentality and start thinking about going after him full force with the idea that he would be a hard guy to get because Houston isn’t going to give him up easily but if we can bag him then we need to do it. If there is really a better guy out there who really wants the job, then go for him. I wouldn’t even consider guys like Gruden and Fisher. I’d consider D’Antonio only if you couldn’t find someone better. The strength of Michigan State is their defense. That’s because of the great defensive coordinator that they have. Take him out of the equation and I’m not so sure that Michigan State would be that good. Besides, the way the rules committee is changing the rules, it favors the offense since fans love offense and they pay the bills and money rules. So, it makes sense to go after a great offensive coach and let him know that you want him to go after the best defensive coordinator that money can buy. I’d go after Tom Herman bigtime.

    • Still has one year in the saddle. Is Herman the flavor of the week? How about a PROVEN, qualified, professional HC for a change.

      • He’s proven himself somewhat this year. I’ll take a chance on Herman but he’s probably the only one that I will take a chance on.

    • No offense, but to say you wouldn’t even consider Gruden is like endorsing Pat Haden’s decision to hire Sark. Gruden is a long shot, but to pass up even the thought of even considering him is just crazy in my opinion. And I wouldn’t mind Dantonio getting hired if he’s willing to go on the road and recruit.

      • If he’s the only one available, I guess I’d take a chance on him but there should be plenty of better possibilities out there. SC is not on probation anymore. Should be a lot of people who are interested. Gruden was only a head coach for 10 years and he had sporatic success including a super bowl victory. I like his style of offense. It’s smashmouth football at the line of scrimmage and throw deep. You stretch the field from north to south rather than from east to west as Oregon does. But he has limited experience in college. Sometimes these pro coaches come into college and make their systems too complicated. The players aren’t playing fast because they are thinking too much. Sometimes it works…..it did with Jim Mora and Pete Carroll…..but we can’t afford to make a mistake this time around. We can’t afford to do what Nortre Dame did when they went from Bob Davies to Tyrone Willingham to Charly Weis and they wasted 13 years and a lot of money with guys who couldn’t take them where they wanted to go.

        • I agree with you on everything you say with Gruden. My thing is we have to aim high, like you said we can’t afford to make a mistake again, and hiring an up and comer like a Herman only increases the chances of another failed hire. We have to at least start at the top of the coaching food chain. Harbaugh is my top choice by far. After him I’d be more than ok with Dantonio, Sean Payton could be a good hire.

          • Harbaugh, I think, would be very open to the job even though he has said that he’s not interested. They all say that if you ask them in the middle of the year. What most people don’t know is that after UCLA fired Karl Dorrell and they were looking for a new head coach, Harbaugh was begging for that job. He interviewed a number of times for the job. It came down to Harbaugh versus Neuheisel. They picked Neuheisel because he was an alumni. One week later the Ravens called Harbaugh in for an interview for their vacant head coaching job. He impressed them so much that they hired him on the spot and the rest is history both for Harbaugh and Neuheisel. That’s another reason why we shouldn’t limit our search to SC alumni’s.

          • I remember that! When ucla was looking for a coach back in 2008, john hafbaugh’s name was mentioned. I don’t know what happened with that. It wouldn’t surprise me if he was not interested. Ucla football was financially bankrupt back then.

          • Yep. And a big rumor linked with Harbaugh and SC is that his wife really wants this to happen and she wants to live Los Angeles.

    • Michigan state defensive coordinator left last year to be the head coach at pitt. If D’antonio came the defensive staff would come with him and if the coordinator left another coach would stay and run the same system 4-3 cover 4.

        • haha, yeah, he’s going to leave a top 5 program for SC, now a consistent unranked team. Sure.

          • Most coaches would leave Michigan State to come to SC unless they have family there or some other reason. SC is one of the best college football coaching jobs in the country

          • Yes Jimbo, so great that KU will be employing its 6th HFBC in 3 years. Name the last KU HFBC who lived in So. Central LA.

          • Yes a not well coach team that still has a shot of going to pac 12 title. To most coaches that speaks of potential and quick turnaround.

      • I’m not sure that he actually signed it or not but that would not be a problem if he decided to go to SC. They didn’t offer him an extension. They offered him more money, He still is in the first year of his 5 year contract.

  20. Well hopefully we have and are moving fast on a coach. If LSU comes open and with about 12 other opening out there we need to act quickly.

    • They have one name on their minds… Jimbo Fisher. They are gonna go all in on Jimbo if they let Miles go.

  21. Stoops or harbaugh would be a great get. Hate to see sc loose, but at least the Oregon loss put the Helton being the head coach talk to rest.

  22. Ucla fans need to shut up about mora. What has mora won. He doesn’t even like to go on recruiting trips.

  23. Bob Stoops is 8-8 in bowl games, and has won 12 plus games 6 times in 17 years. Somewhat impressive, but not good enough for USC to have to “Back up the brinks truck” for…are you kidding me??!!!

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