Here is my column on Sam Darnold’s uncharacteristic practice performance, where he had three interceptions but did not get to speak to the media afterward.
“”He’s going to make his mistakes here in practice but he’ll look like Superman at the Coliseum,” wide receiver Michael Pittman said.
Meanwhile, quite a few readers asked me about the 2028 Olympics yesterday, so let me address a few issues: USC baseball would probably have to play elsewhere in the 2028 season because Dedeaux Field will become the swim stadium. It is also possible USC would need to play its first couple games on the road or maybe at the new Rams stadium because the Coliseum would need to revert back to its original state after hosting track and field and the Closing Ceremony.
And it’s likely USC would need to move its training camp (like in 1984) because Howard Jones Field and the campus would be impacted by the Olympics. Other than that, everything wll be great.
Obviously, a lot of Trojans are gonna be upset with Scott’s pointing out how Sam Darnold’s interception rate has increased over last fall. But this is actually one of Scott’s more thoughtful pieces. He not only explains the reasons for the interceptions (exhaustion, new receivers, defense ahead of offense in early fall), but he makes a case for allowing Sam the chance to address his off day in the post practice Q & A. I just happen to disagree with that suggestion. It’s easy to forget but Sam is still in the learning stages —-he hasn’t even played a full 12 game schedule yet. It’s not unreasonable for the coaching staff to want to protect him from venting his frustration after a sub par practice. Any statement he might have been tempted to make about the receivers not running their routes or having trouble with his own timing, would have been amplified out of proportion and not helpful to the team. Better he have a little time to digest things before he goes on the record. Don’t worry Scott —you’ll get your chance. [And, when it counts, Sam is gonna be just fine].
Good stuff, M.G. And it would seem that Darnold might be trying to extend himself by taking chances in practice, where it does not count. It is called practice for a reason, to try to experiment, and try to improve without worrying too much about the results at PRACTICE.
Thanks, John.
[By the way — mighty glad we didn’t lose you on August 28, 2010]!
Mooch is available now…maybe USC should hire him to handle communications.
And Hillary is available now to be a Poli Sci professor to teach students how to blow a fixed. election.
Stop it…it hurts!
Baseball can be played at a number of other venues – Dodger Stadium, Cal State: Long Beach, Dominguez Hills, Northridge, Los Angeles…LMU etc..
Like the idea of playing in the new Ram Stadium id=f only to ‘try it out’ as the skinny is the push to move the Pac-12 CG to that venue from Levi Strauss in Santa Clara.
Mike has it right about Darnhold’s sudden showing of being human – better to get a gut check right now before one is imposed by another foe in 4+ weeks time.
Maybe I’m missing something here, but if they are putting in an Olympic swimming pool and stadium on the site of Dedeaux Field, SC will have to play baseball somewhere else…forever, not just 2028.
Sam is fine. He has young wr. Who have to learn timing and how to run USC routes. You don’t teach them by throwing to where there at, you throw to where their supposed to be, so they can learn their routes and timing.
I don’t know what the 2028 football schedule will look like but maybe USC can play a neutral site game to open the season (like the Bama opener last year) and then another road game. Throw in an early season bye week after that Game 2 road game and SC could conceivably have their first home game deep into September. Should be enough time to convert the Coliseum back to football.
HH might not like the idea of starting the season with two road games but load up the end of the season with a bunch of home games and maybe another mid – season bye to get healthy and maybe SC can have a favorable schedule in 2028 with no conflict with the Olympics.