Someone who sat in the stands told me the crowd was upset when Clay Helton went for it on fourth-and-2 from the USC 42 in the first quarter. Can you blame them?
“We really had nothing to lose,” Clay Helton said. “I wanted the kids to feel that.”
So what message did he convey to the “kids” when he punted down 17 points to Stanford in the fourth quarter? That losing by 17 is better than losing by 24?
That quote has been bugging me all morning. There are many reasons to go for it on fourth and many messages to send to the team by going for it on fourth, “we have nothing to lose” is not one of them, particularly for a team that should expect to win/compete in every game.
Agree completely. More broadly, Helton’s Stanford 4th down call is symptomatic that he should not be in the position of making these decisions.
If the football team survives, Haden will destroy the coliseum
I said that earlier in the week.. He will mess up the pressbox deal..
That was a lightweight call in the first quarter. It was obvious USC could move the ball 1 yard. It was early, and defense was very fresh and ready to run rampant. I saw the later calls with 4th and 7 as good ones, and kicking field goals as points on the board. No complaints here, but then I am not going to keep bringing up the Alabama or Stanford game as arguments, time to move on.
It is tough to argue with kicking on 4th and long.
I am a Giants fan, but always respected & liked to listen to Vin Scully. He was a man of integrity & class. Two attributes missing in so many of our sports media today. I watched the last half inning of the Giants/Dodgers game today just to hear Vin one more time. He did not disappoint and brought a tear to my eye. He will be missed & never replaced.
From a Dodgers fan to a Giants fan much appreciated and respect.
Another lifelong Giants fan who feels the same way, and did the same thing today. Scully is an American original and classic.
i think SF is a prettier city.
#gododgers
It was fun listening to him broadcasting a Dodger Giant game from Candlestick. The Willies and Marichal against Koufax and Drysdale. All Inneeded was a hot dog and a RCA and I was in heaven.
Face it. Gomer’s not good on the fly. But he was at least being honest, though I doubt he knew it.
He had way too much respect for STAN and UTAH. He feared those schools. USC barely even showed up against STAN and were intimidated. We had UTAH in the bag, but let it get away with an inexcusable 5 minute passing drive to end the game. Slant On!
You could tell last night that Gomer had no fear of ASU. That was because he’d seen their tape, we were at the Coli and he’d finally been told by Swann to quit messing around and start Darnold, a 100% improvement over Browne.
What’s ironic is that STAN just got completely humiliated by UW and UTAH lost a squeaker to USC door mat CAL, whom we’ve beaten 12 times in a row. Learning on the job – it’s a Trojan Tradition!
Gomer’s not too swift, but Wolf’s point is BS. Nothing to see here.
The point is, why not show more courage against STAN and UTAH? Gomer found different ways to get punked by both schools. Why go for it against lowly ASU and then tell everyone, “We had nothing to lose”?
That’s a weak comment you wouldn’t hear from better coaches. USC was aggressive against ASU. Played fearful against STAN and UTAH. It’s obvious to me, especially in view of what happened to STAN and UTAH after they got done with USC.
You just proved your own point. A comment you wouldn’t hear from better coaches. He’s not even close to that group of “better” coaches. It’s that saying we keep hearing….the USC gig shouldn’t be on the job training. Nice win, but we need a proven coach.
Sam I have agreed with you for years and still do, but my gut says be patient cuz nothing is going to change this year and maybe next.
Be careful Jack, some schmuck named fryer tuck (that rhymed unintentionally) said I am relegated to Bucket/Owns status because I called Helton Gomer. Apparently that was over the line. Lol!
We were barely setting up the canopy and grills and I hear 2 ft away from me Helton is getting fired even if he wins today. It was just a bystanders opinion, but an opinion worth the discussion. Helton will be tested against Colorado. Wake me when we beat a good team.
if you’re trying to convey confidence to the team then that should happen as a matter of course. They’ll get it if you’re truly exhibiting it and you didn’t need to contrive something like this. This was a shaky decision for me and I would hope we can find a better way to send that message. Play more people off the bench if you want to convey that message.
Gomer’s still on-the-job training, and will be for a while.
At least as long as he is still the coach.
STATE OF THE DAY (Not about the Trojans)
LSU’S Mr. Ed Orgeron and offensive coordinator Steve Ensminger beat Missouri 42-7 and SET AN SCHOOL RECORD for yards in an SEC game. 634.
Don’t want him as the SC coach, but good job Ed O!
We beat one of the worst ASU teams in years despite their current record
Hey, love our QB! Darnold for President. Without him, we’d be in deep.
I thought you beat U of A.
Pac12 fan is on a college football team?
That’s what he said.
TWEET OF THE DAY
USC Commit Hunter Echols-“You turn on the TV and see so many former USC football players in the NFL….that is why you go to USC✌”
He should of done his homework. Over the last four years UCLA has produced the most NFL draft choices in the PAC 12.
Bernie. Please remember that USC had 30 LESS SCHOLARSHIPS. That means 30 LESS 4⭐/5⭐ players. To add, I think the 40-21 loss to USC was pretty good homework.
True, but I keep hearing year after year from Dan Weber and recently Ryan Abraham that USC is the most talented team in the PAC 12, so there is that.
I’ve learned over the last year that Ryan Abraham is a huge Homer. He’s not always honest.
The fan boy sites can’t exist, period, without kowtowing to the programs. That’ll never change. Ryan spends most of his time I’m sure working on developing coverage that doesn’t upset anyone who can cut him off immed. As a result, it’s all softballs and excuses. (Oh, and by the way, we’re improving!)
Your right. No one should listen to talking heads. The thing about the sanctions is there are 10 walk-ons that are under scholarship. Normally USC don’t have any walk-ons on scholarships ( Clay Matthews the exception). Take those 10 and hand them out to recruits then u might have maybe one 5 star, 5 four star and the rest 3 star. Makes a difference in practice ( unless ur Allen Iverson).
I keep hearing, year after year from little gutty fans, that ucla will finally win its first Pac Football Conference title in almost 20 years.
At least you little gutties don’t even talk about winning the Rose Bowl anymore. It’s been over 30 years for you on that one. Hah, hah, hah.
USC players in NFL – 38
ucla – 24
Come on Sam…. Did you really go to the SANCTIONS excuse??!!
#Ithoughtyouwerebetterthenthat
Convenient of you to use the last 4 years
This stat was posted during the Texas A & M game. I was surprised by it.
Thats when their JC became relevant in their eyes.. Lol.. Nice try!
Lol!
LOL..Most bust!
Hey Bernard, despite all that talent, just what has UCLA accomplished in those four years, aside from beating USC three times? Conference title? Nope. Major bowl game? Nope. College football final four? Please. In the words of Paul Finebaum, “Let me know when UCLA wins a big game.”
Past 4 years??? PPLLLease, Bernie, go back to bed.
The lose definition of insanity is doing the same thing over and over expecting different results.
Following a couple of unsuccessful run plays we run again?
Insane. (Yes my doctorate came from Sunday morning quarterback school)
Helton just showed that he has no core belief in what he wants to be as a coach, he bowed to the pressure put on by the fans and media.
Punt @ Stanford, he quit
Punt @ Utah, he trusted his D
Punt last night he caved to outside pressure
No win, but Cody Kessler is getting good reviews. Was perfect on third downs til the third quarter.
Kessler can be a good NFL QB.
He made some impressive throws.
In prior weeks the Blogger criticized Helton FOR going for it on 4th down – make up your mind!
#FlipFlop