USC Morning Buzz: It’s Time For The Friday Notes Column

USC's running back Ronald Jones II scores a touchdown before UCLA's Fabian Moreau (10) in a cross-town rivalry PAC-12 football game at the Rose Bowl Saturday, November 19, 2016, Pasadena, CA.   USC Trojans versus UCLA Bruins.Photo by Steve McCrank, Daily News/SCNGNot even Thanksgiving can stop the weekly notes column, where I make my game prediction and talk about how Ronald Jones’ slow start to the season kept USC from being an elite team this season. I also mention how the annual USC-Notre Dame luncheon at the Bonaventure Hotel that would normally take place today was canceled. Full column here.

22 thoughts on “USC Morning Buzz: It’s Time For The Friday Notes Column

  1. Honestly, without our Golden Boy Sam I would be feeling pretty nervous about this game because the Domers should be like hungry wolves right now, and they’ll try to swing at us as hard as they can. But with our stud QB, I don’t think we’ll be upset this year.

    • There were days we could never beat Notre Dame in a considerable stretch. Any wins against them are memorable to me.

    • The last time ND beat USC at the Coliseum when USC had their starting QB playing was pre-Pete Carroll. The losses were the first starts ever for Mustain & Wittek.

  2. Not one word about the offensive line play. Did they improve, creating holes for Rojo to run through? Did the flow of the game change with Darnold at QB? I give you one big reason Rojo got his mojo back, Time of Possession. USC has been able to wear down defenses because they cannot get off the field. It used to be our biggest problem, now that has reversed. USC rocks Saturday!!

  3. Ronald Jones slow start? Huh? Jones wasn’t starting until Justin Davis got hurt, and it was the offensive line that actually started, slow .

    • The offensive line needs to close out the regular season with their best game yet. I do not fell they played a whole game yet. They need to dominate from start to finish with no let downs in the middle of the game.
      Fight On

      • I agree. We would smash teams if our OLine would play a penalty free ball game. All of our penalties come from the those 5 players. Not so much Nico Falah. But if they play mistake free we should roll.

    • Wolf doesn’t actually watch the games, he gets the box score off the news wires and then writes about it.

      • With regard to Wolfies rediculous account of Rojo’s first 4 games, steveg, what in the world makes Wolfie tick ?

    • Once again, Fred demonstrates considerably more knowledge about college football than the blogger. He knows that the skill positions are seldom the deciding factor of a team’s success. The game is won or lost at the line. Darnold helps make up for some shaky o line play since he is so mobile in the pocket. A productive pass attack has opened up the run game. The blogger goes for the simplest explanation, which is a sign of lazy incompetence.

  4. The 1996 game that SW refers to was huge. It was a dream come true to have Holtz losing his last game against the Trojans.

    A very sad decision to cancel the lunch. This is what college football is all about -remarkable tradition, with guys playing their hearts out, no matter the team records, because it is Trojans vs. irish, and it always has been that way, going back to the days when they traveled across country by train.

  5. I wouldn’t blame Rojo for a “slow” start. I think Helton was in a rut using his seniors first and then look for best guy. Like many of the comments here I think USC improved after Helton started using the best ahead of the firsts.
    One hopes he has learned from his experience this year and improves next year.

  6. SC could finally be firing on all cylinders and lay a 50-0 on the Irish and get Kelly fired.

  7. Should be another great weekend to be a Trojan fan, and of course it will be filled with anxiety for the outcome of the Colorado v. Utah game! At least the boys finished strong, regardless, and whichever bowl game we end up in we will compete well in it. I went to last year’s game vs Wisconsin and it was hard to watch…this year should be decidedly better, and would love to see us redeem ourselves against Wisconsin in the Rosebowl this time!

  8. What does this blogger have against Colin Cowherd? Neither of them are terribly intelligent. But unlike the blogger, Cowherd seems to have watched USC play the last two months and acknowledged the improvement. Like most sports journalists, Cowherd is susceptible to hyperbole. But the blogger seems to have written all of his columns in September and taken the rest of the season off.

  9. Tom Kelley, the voice of USC (and always will be) loved this game. He was so great and just as Vin Scully describing the scenery, the setting, and the excitement. May Tom Coach McKay and Fertig along with all Trojans and Irish players and support enjoy the game together up in heaven.

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