USC Morning Buzz: Lynn Swann Offers Show Of Support To Clay Helton

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USC Trojans head coach Clay Helton holds the PAC-12 throphy with his team after beating the Stanford Cardinal at Levi's Stadium on Friday, Dec. 1, 2017, in Santa Clara, Calif. (Jim Gensheimer/Bay Area News Group)

USC provided another inconsistent performance in the Pac-12 title game but athletic director Lynn Swann offered some thoughts on the program after the game.

“I want to follow the model of the Pittsburgh Steelers,” Swann said. “They’ve had three coaches since the 1960’s.”

But what about USC’s much-maligned assistant coaches?

“I don’t call plays or hire assistant coaches,” Swann said.

Wolf: USC athletic director Lynn Swann gives Clay Helton show of support

 

353 thoughts on “USC Morning Buzz: Lynn Swann Offers Show Of Support To Clay Helton”

  1. …many teams in NFL dont change coaches because they ride a hot career of a QB…think of the Steelers and Bradshaw or Pats and Brady…you cant do that in college- you actually need to coach…does anyone think that SC will have a .500 record next year -2018 -without Darnold with a very tough schedule…I am a HUGE SC fan but in the last game of the year I watched a guy try and return a punt from the 7 yard line…WTF…this has been going on the WHOLE SEASON- with JUST THE PUNT TEAM…how difficult is that to tell a kid not to catch a punt inside 10 yd line…this has been the rule the last ten million years–WHY do these SC kids keep making this mistake EVERY SINGLE GAME….what am I missing…

    • team is poorly coached … period
      Gomer is a simpleton that survived due to a once in 2 decade qb and a conference that had 6 coaches fired in past 2 years.

      It’s going to get even uglier without Sam … very ugly

        • These guys are going to bitch all off season and into next season. I think they are related to Wolf.

          • Some are too heavily invested in their opinions, and can’t or won’t even take a moment to realize it’s been 10 yrs since we won the conference title and we finally have a sense of stability in the program. Helton recruits well, and so far he’s beaten all the top coaches he’s faced, save for Leach.
            The fact Swann treats his coaches like adults and doesn’t interfere, is inconceivable to them even after 20+ wins..
            Helton may last or be may not, but this team’s championship will be written in the book forever.
            Fight On!

          • The 3 point loss, Friday night in Pullman, is going to haunt us. If we win that game we’re in the discussion for a playoff spot.

          • We lost 3 o-linemen and we’ considered out but Bama cries about losing two players on defense and everyone is making excuses for them. System seems rigged.

          • How stinky is that 3 point loss in Pullman now? Friday night game on the road against a team that was on it’s 5 home game to open the season? Larry Scott’s clueless and reeks of bias.

          • Only the blind or clueless would think that Larry is helping the conference in anyway. Both contending teams, Washington and SC, were scheduled road games on a short week and lost. He deserves to be fired for that alone let alone the loss of revenue from the tv contract. Awful.

          • 10 teams can say that … learn to cover receivers at Wazzu and don’t get drubbed by 40 vs 3 loss ND
            Ya playoff … really want that ???

          • Very true. When you think about it, Helton has done a great job stabilizing the program and the kids love the guy. The last 2 recruiting classes have been awesome. I don’t think Clay is not the problem. Hopefully he will make some personnel changes in the off season and get Sam and the other juniors (Rojo, Cam Smith, Burnett) to come back for one more year. Yes, the team causes too many penalties, and the play calling is sloppy at times, but the program is back. SC is where it should be. Like I said before, we are about 1 year out from become a national contender.

            FIGHT ON!

          • Rojo has to go. Running backs have a very short shelf life and he needs to get what he can out of the nfl.. Cam probably comes back depending on financial situation as his metrics don’t overly impress..Burnett could go either way, although he’s been injured quite a bit this season causing him to be a bit inconsistent..Sam does what he’ll want to do!
            Recruiting is what matters most at this point, and Clay has been impressive in filling his linemen so far..and linebacker class looking very good so far.

            Just keep winning!

          • His family background and personal history was quite interesting in that B/R article. He deserves anything he can get.

          • IMO, he’s been the best RB in the country over the second half of the season

            Thanks for reminding about the article, yet to give it a read

          • Only two players have more consecutive 100+ yd games, not Bryce love nor Shaquan Barkley can match that.

          • An early commit from Sam to come back will have recruits lining up to come play for a chance at a CFP. Much like this year’s ‘out of state’ class, Carr, etc …

          • Gomer will be remembered for 2 things … Bamer Massacre and ND debacle
            Darnold for Rose Bowl win and overcoming bad coaching

          • Being happy and being satisfied and all ways hungry are all different. I am very happy we got the win. But we had a lot of problems in the game that need to be worked out from coaching to excuation from the players. Real Trojans are happy but never satisfied and always want one better….FIGHT ON

          • higher standards … Seen enough USC football to know better. Same people that knew Kiffy and Suck were frauds and Gomer is way over his head.
            Going to get ugly without Sam

          • People here defend and respect him, so I’ll give him the benefit of the doubt. His posts don’t seem nearly as derisive as the others you mentioned. And he has history here.

            That said it doesn’t mean I agree with him.

          • That’s what gets missed in these blogs,the players.For the last 2 years all what 90+ guys get little credit.A few Sam,and had full of others get pub,yet we loose sight of all the guys that come out day after day.
            CONGRATS TO EACH AND EVERY ONE FOR TWO EXCELLENT SEASONS. !!!

          • No were not. That’s why I say we start the praise now and show how greatly we appreciate all the work and dedication they make.because when that last Fight on is played, it’s a long long 9 months til first coin toss.

          • How about a big shout-out to #42. The tackle he made at the goal line was the defensive play of the year. If Stanford scores we may not be talking about a New Years bowl game

          • I replayed that in slomo 5 times.He is and has been so great to watch. I can’t remember a player with as many pass deflections, an art.

          • He’s been a true warrior and a player that will be deeply missed. I wish him luck and hope he has a successful NFL career

          • I’m not Goatboy nor Tebow, but if it makes you happier to think that I am, so be it

          • I’m not sure if that is a positive or a negative post. Hmmmm. I’ll give you an up-vote for that post.

        • I love college FB.Have since my first transistor radio.What I disliked about this year, extreme hype. Sam and team were hyped beyond reason.
          Hated it. The only way they could have lived up to the hype would have been 13-0,win every game by 30 .
          Sam would not only have won Heismans but also lead country in field goals and quotes to espn.
          Sam really should return, he’s not ready for NFL. He should follow A. Lucks lead.

          • I kept thinking about the Barkley, Woods, Lee tour and how the offense was going to be like a video game…and I think the camp tour hurt the team more than anyone will admit. Sam was basically gone for a month of summer workouts with his receivers…

            College football is the bomb!! Pac12 Champions! Fight On!

          • One thing to remember Matt Barkley gave us 47 games. Sam has really only played 23.
            Pretty amazing when one thinks about it.

          • That’s right, gosh the future he has.
            Heard a discussion about next year’s D.Plenty of talent, yet we loose 3 captains the question is who will be the leadership .

          • Losing Darnold is all that matters … at Texas at Stanford at Tate without Sam
            Swannie don’t even think about extending Gomers contract

          • This is where our paths move in different directions. My faith in the kids is boundless regardless of who steers them..to me it’s about the team

          • Only had to show up vs a team that got drubbed by an OK Miami team and Stanford … and learn to cover a receiver vs Wazzu

          • They sure hired our throw aways, kif, sark, ogeron, stupid hillbilly troll..STOP drinking the profits away.. your momma/sister needs shoes…HAHAHAHAHA

          • Not so goat boy, kitten was there long enough to win 3 sec championships, and sark left on his own. Btw, hows saban done without them? Not as good.

          • The sEc is way overated. Most of the teams are .500 wins and loss teams. U have maybe three teams that are any good and their herald hero is nothing but another honker looking in the playoff. That conference should never get a whiff of the playoff due to playing division 2 teams every game and that they only play 8 conference games compared to the PAC 12 playing 9 conference games.

          • SEC is part of the corruption in the NCAA. Money from espn, non-conference cupcakes before rival games. They do get some big hosses on the LOS, but they don’t play an entire season with their soft scheduling

          • I beg to differ but over half of that SEC is in free fall – MO, FL, So. Car., KY, MS St., AR, Vanderbilt, TN and MS.

        • The has no idea…..he trolls the blog looking for attention. His family has disowned him, the dog even hides from him….sad, but true.

    • Ahweenie Harris is a legend in his own mind. I don’t think anybody can coach stupid out of him, but appears he doesn’t know basic football. His best stunt is celebrating. I think he wants to be a hero every play.
      Besides the punt “return” he went for the interception instead of batting the ball away in the end zone. He knocked a lateral down and danced up the field as if he’d saved the day instead of chasing the ball for a fumble recovery.
      And finally he knocked the ball out of the hands of a teammate into the hands of Stanford player to allow Stanford to keep possession on a goal line stand. (A play I thought might give the Cardinal another set of downs because it was a momentary change of possession.)

      • I can’t stand how the DBs celebrate over NOTHING! It’s really embarrassing because I feel guys Nwosu, Cam Smith, Green, are working hard and get a bad rep from the pathetic DBs and their pre-mature celebrations. DB coach has to go, Helton needs to give em tough love.

  2. I have to say that even though his team imploded a bit tonight, Shaw was a class act by giving Clay a huge bear hug at mid-field. Love to see that.

        • If Sam has won every game how come he won’t be invited to NYC. I mean if he has had such an outstanding season as the QB of USC he should at least be a Heisman finalist and likely winner shouldn’t he?

          • Agree 100%. Problem is SD did not have the stats to back up the hype. I’m happy he’s our QB, but much of the Helton hate for “inconsistent play” can be traced directly back to the inconsistent play of SD. His turnovers, especially the fumbles, were extremely problematic for putting teams away.

        • Did you notice it was Sam who was in there on fourth down wearing a #42 jersey? The commentators were fooled also. They thought it was Nwosu.

          • 42 run for a key 4th down conversion , complete 2 3rd and long passes from own end zone … Over come good awful coaching
            42 was on the field for all those 7 straight Penn St TDs … U know another game Sam won

        • I thought I saw rojo and Carr run for many a mileage on those drives. I just might be correct

      • Have to admit, it’s true. Clay and his misfit band of coordinators and coaches beat the smart guys with their Virtual Reality headsets in their backyards. That 4th down stop will go down in history. Epic stuff.

        • Identical to that epic stand against Aaron Rodgers and Cal at the Coliseum back in 2004 – 1st and goal and then 4 and out except last night’s epic stand gave Stanford 6 shots

    • Shaw is a good coach and man. His blood line runs with USC. His uncle Nate Shaw played and coached at USC. So he knows that USC is the team to beat and which he respects. At the first game this season he gave a bunch of sc former players handshakes and hugs. He played against them and are friends

  3. Wolfie is Mr. doom and gloom Nostradamus. He really is good at predicting the scores. He predicted 31-30. The final score was 31-28. That’s pretty good. But could you please say something good about this team. Good grief….you would think that team was 3-10 listening to you.

  4. How can you not possibly offer show of support to the coach who is 11-2 in the season and just won the conference? With the bowl game win, this team possibly will finish the season in top 5. But how can you replace Darnold next year if he decides to leave for the NFL? Wow, that won’t be so easy to do, will it?

    • Darnold doesn’t look NFL ready to me. He could be great with a year of college ball. The NFL will chew him up if goes now and has to start somewhere (Cleveland).

      • He’s more than great enough for the NFL as he is right now, As a reference, was Tom Brady any more ready for the NFL when he was barely drafted in the 7th round?

        • Brady was out of eligibility so your point is moot. Several people have said Sam needs another year and they’re right. Too many turnovers this year and too much miscommunication with WRs.

          • I’ve heard more than several people who believe that Darnold actually has a legit chance to be the #1 pick in the upcoming NFL draft. Guess you haven’t heard from everybody.

          • They could rebuild the team around him, of course. You remember the case of Carson Palmer with Bengals, don’t you?

          • Cleveland has tried to rebuild every season since 1949. I know you have an opinion on him going, but I think he needs another season playing the game.

          • Being the #1 pick doesn’t mean you’re ready to play in the NFL.. they draft guys #1 on what they might become rather than what they are now

          • If you are talking about the “experts” and believing them, I have a bridge for sale. They are talking heads and idiots at the same time.

        • A player can go to all the clinics, have personal QB coaches, and watch films forever, but what creates a good QB is the games themselves. We have seen improvement in Sam in some areas and another season will help him even more. He has two seasons now to reflect on and improve from. One more season at USC for Sam.

          • If you were Sam and were given a choice of getting paid millions of dollars to go to the NFL or stay in college and risk a career ending injury for free what would you choose?

          • Troy…it usually works this way. Darnold will have an insurance policy against injury.

            If a QB flames out after his 1st few years in the NFL then his career is over and millions can dry up real fast.

            The key to any success is long term. Look at what happened to Tommy Maddox who left after his redshirt sophomore year and was still picked in the 1st round. He might have wished he stayed one more year. He didn’t get the training and development necessary sitting behind John Elway at that time.

            Some NFL rookie QB’s are thrown into the fire and flame out. Look at what has happened to all the Clevland Browns QB’s.

          • Not sure what you mean by Goff. The Rams previously had a good rushing attack which always helps a QB and early success doesn’t guarantee long term success. Didn’t Mark Sanchez have a pretty good rookie year?

          • Well…I would say adjust so far…

            It’s hard to know where this will lead. Goff experienced many rough goings while at Cal and always bounced back and his team improved each year I believe. This is something NFL scouts pointed out. Early success doesn’t equate to long term success in the NFL. Look at what happened to Jim Everett.

            Darnold has had two successful seasons after redshirting his frosh year. Is he ready? Was Mariotta ready after this redshirt sophomore year? He came back though for his redshirt junior year…right? Same for Luck. Did they blow millions of dollars by returning to college?

          • old old argument. Again, not everyone is that enchanted with the money believe it or not. It is attractive but some guys enjoy what life is offering them in the present. Sam is loving college life, will have a degree or two, and is probably going to go, but who would want to to go Cleveland. What about a heisman next year, NC. Would those millions multiply? A lot to consider. I would tell my son to do what makes him happy and follow his passion. Right now Sam has been uncommitted to make anything public and rightly so. Let him enjoy life. At this rate nobody is watching the nfl anyway. lol

          • If you were a pre=med student and you were accepted to Case Western Reserve University for 4 years and weren;t accepted anywhere else you wouldn’t go?

          • Troy…anybody who thinks Matt Barkley would have been a top 10 pick after his junior year is just plain delusional. The issues that came up after this senior year were the same issues that existed always.

            In reality Matt Barkley is a short 6’2 and more like 6’1. He has short arms also but decent hand size and not very mobile.

            Issues with Darnold will come up also from the stand point of lack of experience. Doesn’t have a proto type NFL arm. Takes off and runs too soon at times when the pocket is collapsing.

            Every QB has their strengths and weaknesses. Rosen’s will be not enough pocket presence and durability and gets sack too often and not mobile enough. Not tough enough. His teams did not win.

            Some may also point to Tommy Maddox and redshirt sophomores related to Darnold. Sticking it out another year means a lot.

          • “‘Doesn’t have a proto type NFL arm”

            Dude, if you find it appropriate to post garbage like this at least know what you’re talking about.

            One of Sam’s great traits is his elusiveness in the pocket. More studying and less posting

          • Dude wake up. Elusiveness in the pocket and scrambling out and throwing on the run at the college level is a lot different than simply side stepping and avoiding a rush and staying in the pocket in the NFL.

            Darnold has done a lot of good things it’s just that is there enough to go off of. The NFL isn’t too high on taking sophomore QB’s even ones who redshirted.

          • ” Elusiveness in the pocket and scrambling out and throwing on the run at the college level is a lot different than simply side stepping and avoiding a rush and staying in the pocket in the NFL.”

            I guess Aaron Rodgers is a f**king idiot. Mark Sanchez was the 5th overall pick in the 2009 draft, with only 16 college starts. Sanchez and Ben Roethlisberger as the only two quarterbacks in NFL history to reach the conference championship in their first two seasons in the NFL

            Dude wake up.

          • What are you talking about bringing up Aaron Rodgers. He left after his true junior year. He was drafted to back up Brett Favre initially. Rogers backed up Favre for 3 years.

            You bring up Sanchez who also left after his true junior year..correct? And where is he now? He flamed out pretty fast after early success and being thrown out there into the fire.

            The bottom line is this. More often than not when a QB or any player has decided to return for one more year…the outcome is usually positive not negative. There are plenty of players who decided to come out early and they simply ruined their careers.

            It’s the old saying…good things come to those who wait or show patience. Patience is a virtue.

            You try and rush things and more often than not it doesn’t pay off or work.

          • It’s too dumbed down as it is coming from you. Why don’t you try upgrading your intelligence. Probably too much to ask. LOL

          • Barkley got thrown into the frying pan by PC and he was not ready and it wrecked him. Not that he had that much talent anyway, but he was a gamer, like Kessler was.

          • Do you remember the victory at The Shoe. He got the job done, maybe with a little help from a teamate, Joe McKnight……RIP

        • He looked better than Sam in a lot of areas. Sam has tons of talent and seems almost indestructable but has some rough edeges. How many seasons did Gott play in college?

          • Really? Goff was so impressive in high school he received scholarship offers from Boise State, Fresno State, and Washington State. He played 3 seasons at Cal. He started as a true freshman and went 0-9 against SC, Stanford and the lowly ruins.

    • In college ball you don’t replace a player, you retool and work with what you have and watch to see who steps up to create the new team each year. Every year someone says how do you replace a certain player, and every year there is new cream rising to the top. What if USC has a great line next year and only needs an adequate QB, because Carr is setting records on the ground. You don’t duplicate, you recreate every season in college football.

  5. The inconsistencies: Poor officiating that the broadcasters commented on, Ajeen Harris had a horrible game, Darnold/receivers off target some in first half, procedure penalties and a late hit.
    Otherwise solid play, Defense came up big when it needed, good balanced offense, great play calling, huge game for Pittman, Darnold clutch throw in the end zone and to close out the game, fun game to watch. Stanford gave it their all, SC wore them down in the 4th. 11-2, Pacific 12 Champs! Up next a big bowl game between 2 top 10 teams! Great to be a Trojan! Fight On Baby!

      • There wasn’t any offensive pass interference on furds receivers?? Sure looked like it.

      • I believe they blew the whistle which killed the play. One call that went our way for a change. Great officiating.

      • No, forward progress stopped and whistle blew. Unlike the fumble by Love before Stanfords 1st TD. Loved Todd Blackledge’s introduction to PAC 12 officiating. He was confused trying to explain some of the penalties.

    • Looked like Edoga learned his lesson, not one penalty last night. Overall the O line played pretty well. #66 for Stanford was a handful for any line to deal with.

    • I don’t understand how the PAC 12 does not do something about their officiating. They are known as the most flag happy conference in the country without considering how many calls they butcher. Their replay officials are much better either.

      • I once sat across the aisle from a Pac12 official on a 3 hour flight back to OC. I berated him the entire flight. I challenged him to watch the other conferences and try to understand how to incorporate non-calls and let the kids play. The problem is that these officials have a hard On to be sure the game is played perfectly and throw flags. I told him that he and his crew were absolute jokes and have ruined the reputation of the Pac12. He didn’t argue back, as he knew I was right.

  6. Same story, different day. If not for Sam, blah, blah, blah… Sam is great, but that is not why we win. We win because our defense came up huge twice in the 4th quarter on incredibly short fields. One after a turnover, and again after offense does nothing and our punter shanks one from the end zone. If not for our defense we lose.

    • In the end I agree the thing that won that game for USC was the outstanding (db excluded) defense to bottle up Love and shut down the Stanford run game pretty well. Even the db’s made a few good plays. Biggie was unusually good.

      • This was a hard fought game. The game was poorly handled by officials. Usc had elements of their inconsistent play, but on most part both teams came and played.Give Stanford credit. KJ made some big throws to guys who were covered. The guys just happened to have 6″ on us.
        In the end Helton out coached Shaw twice this year

  7. Unfortunately here Swann May have inadvertently shown the world that he has no balls. He’s the AD and should be able to see the weaknesses at DB and Special Teams clearly since it damn near cost them the game. Multiple TEs putting on a clinic in college football is unheard of? Glad they got the play calling right which I think Clay has a major hand in that now after the WSU debacle. The most telling of Swanns lack of nards is that he willingly failed to blast the CFB Playoff committee for not mentioning SC once as being in the hunt with 2 losses while multiple teams with the same are being automatically advertised? SC lost to 2 current top 20 teams that have been ranked as such all year on short rest and no bye, and also on an away field. The losses were early and they strategically never moved again in the rankings even though SC keep winning games?
    At worst they should ahead of PSU who lost twice of late and had really beaten no one. Also possibly ahead of OSU who had been blown out by an unranked team and lost embarrassingly at home. Both were able to jump SC so it’s clear as day to see the agenda going on again whether it’s a POC or BCS computer.

    • Perhaps Swann is a little wiser than you, he has been around this kind of thing most of his life. I think Swann has balls, he is just more particular than you of where he exposes them. Don’t think for a moment he is another Haden.

    • Stanford runs formations with multiple te sets. That is Pendergast recognizing the formation and countering. He did have multiple db’s in for that instead of going heavy when Stanford was in running formation. Their te’s are very tall compared to our db’s. The problem I had was I didn’t see any hands up to knock down the ball from the db’s

  8. Saved again by Mr Clutch Sam Darnold .. Making big plays on busted 3rd down plays ( unlike most qbs under duress Sam keeps his head up looking downfield ).
    Also saved by another dumb 4th down call by Shaw ……it’s called a bootleg Dave, especially vs a undisciplined D and since it worked with ease 2x prior.
    Gomer is gone after next year debacle without Sam … Then Swannie can find his Noll

    • You know goat boy, what I don’t get is you’re always throwing shade. Sometimes it’s not about the differences but about what should bring us together. We just won our first championship in a decade, and you can’t feel good about it? Is it never about the kids? If or when you’re right, there’ll plenty of time to crow..

    • Are you ever going to enjoy the win? Relax, you will have all offseason to complain about how horrible the HC is and what you would do to fix it.

      • None of these guys ever have any suggestions on how to fix anything. They just like to complain.

    • He did call a pass on that play, but Costello audibled to a run because of the defense he saw. Didn’t think the backside end would make a superstar play like that

  9. First of all, congrats to Coach Helton and staff. I was predicting that David Shaw would out coach us, leading to a possible ‘Furd win. Thankfully that didn’t happen. I did see our DB’s nearly play USC into a defeat.

    For what it’s worth, info I received this week from a relative who is on a first name basis with Swann and Nikias confirms that Nikias has absolute confidence in Swann in football matters and this includes recommending or making changes to the staff. Swann is not Nikias’ puppet. We need to let the rest of the season play out, people. Just sayin’. FTFO

    • You would think Nikias would get out of Swann’s way in athletics. Not only is he alumni, all american, all pro, hall of fame, but an excellent professional athlete. He knows more than Nikias and I am very happy to read your comment. I do believe Swann is a good judge of talent and knows what it takes to be a success on and off the field.

    • I sure hope you are right about Swann. Nickias does not know his butt from a hot rock with regards to athletics. Time will tell but I am sure Swann gets “it” at this point. Go Trojans, beat Georgia!

  10. Fight on!!! Great win, this Trojan team came ready to play, now we wait for the decision, from Sam Donald, will he stay or go!!!

        • Fink looked good in limited action. If he starts next year, the unlv game will be a good warm up for him. Stanford is after that. Sc will have played Stanford 3 times in one year and I never get tired of saying, Scalp the injuns

      • Don’t count out Sears. It maybe 2019 before he’s ready but he a faster version of Darnold. He will be very impressive. Just wait and see.

        • Get real. Darnold is Darnold and nobody has his personal instincts and abilities. Sears will be Sears and that is okay if he can deliver.

          • You obviously don’t follow OC high school football and have never seen the two play at San Clemente. You shouldn’t speak when your ignorant about the subject.

          • You obviously don’t follow HS football in OC. With your ignorant comment, you haven’t seen Sears or Darnold at San Clemente.

  11. Well golly gomer we beat a team coming off a short week when we had 2 weeks. Please put the crack pipe down. Trojans are still flawed beyond belief…. Dumb,dumb.dumb. players all over the place on D… Still cannot cover a skilled receiver. Many on the D more interested in clowning for the camera than making or following up plays …. that lateral in the 2nd half being shining example. The Dancing bear is a monster… Owusu is a complete stud…. JJ & Iman are DumbA$$ess of the first order … Rojo is awesome so is Pitts … the O line had some nice finish… Clancy needs to go …. hopefully the bowl game see improvement on the idiotic penalties… Sam please stay…

    • Players need coaching on D and special teams. Cannot cover receivers..over and over they do not follow the ball or are out jumped. Tackling better in the last game.

      Need big FB, QB weighs more than runners.

  12. Since you haven’t quoted one name source, I’m not sure about the toxic atmosphere you describe, SW. I do know what bad coaching looks like, having lived through Tollner, Smith, Robinson II, Hackett and Sarkisian. Can I say Hackett again? Three years off a veritable NCAA death penalty, SC is 21-5 over two seasons and has a chance to finish in the top 5 for a second straight year. The team isn’t playing at the 2002-2008 level … and the coaching isn’t perfect … but I’d love to see what would happen if the honorable Coach Helton got a look from Florida State. Give your crusade a rest … at least until early next season.

    • Clay Helton got a look from Florida St.? Were the Seminloes looking to fill their waterboy position?

      LOL!

  13. Lynn Swann Offers Show Of Support To Clay Helton

    Of course he did, Lynn Swann is Max Nikias “Yes Man”.

    • Hey hillbilly! What time should I tune into that bammy game game today?? Oh, btw, did saban ever find those timeouts?

      • How many timeouts did Saban need when he gave Helton that 52-6 beat down?

        BWA HA HA HA HA HA!

        Classic…Pudly just got beat down again!

        • Hey little baby don’t you cry
          Nicky’s gonna sing you a lullaby…

          Nothin like a drunk hillbilly in the mornin…drinkin cause his team ain’t playin…HAHAHAHAHAHAHA

  14. The Trojan players had to improvise on the fly from all those busted plays derived from all that bad play calling to save Clay Helton’s job.

  15. Clay Helton and Tee Martin were forced into playing Pitman by Pitman’s father. Their initial assessment of Pitman was that he should be riding the bench…shows how much they know.

  16. USC vs Alabama in the Fiesta Bowl. LMFAO!

    Clay Helton will get exposed as second rate again if that’s the match up. Where will the support for Helton be then after he receives another beatdown against a quality opponent?

    • If we play bammy, will little nicky be there to coach? Or is he still out looking for those damn timeouts. Stupid hillbilly troll.

        • Ancient history hillbilly. He doesn’t have our ex coaches to coach him up does he? Ahh poor little hillbilly just remembering that bammy doesn’t play today..when was the last time little nicky won a game that mattered? Oops forgot, he lost to clemson too! The same clemson who couldn’t beat Syracuse!!! Hahahahahah

    • It won’t happen. SC will not play an also ran like Bama. They will play a conference contender

  17. Gabby threw a crotch block on Pudly and is still giving Helton his post game rub down. LOL!

    • And you giving little nicky a rub off?
      Hey if we play bammy again, will little nicky have to rehire our ex coaches? Golly hillbilly, no ex coaches on staff, bet he don’t travel west of the ole mississippi.

      • How many time outs did Saban need to use in that 52-6 dismantling of Clay Helton’s pathetic playbook?

        BWA HA HA HA HA HA HA!

        • He used kiffin and sark you stupid hillbilly, oh yeah all that moonshine caused a little short term memory loss.. nicky saban doesn’t like to play a team without a couple their ex coaches on his staff, might have to think for himself…HAHAHAHAHAHAHA

  18. Hey we won and for that reason the players and coaches deserve a stroke. Is it our best I hope not. Coaches cannot be satisfied with the win if they are then they need to go. Winning is great but the next win is better. Stay hungry Trojans. Always want one more and be willing to put the work in to get it. Fight On

  19. When the Sunshine Pumpers were humping Kiffin and Sarkisian’s leg the rest of us knew and were right about those two clowns not being worth a damn and it would only be a matter of time before they were exposed as being second rate and having rode Norm Chow’s coattails into head coaching positions they never deserved.

    Same way we are right about the Sunshine Pumpers riding Helton’s crotch and Clay Helton not having what it takes to return the Trojans football program back to national prominence and their rightful place among the elite in college football.

  20. Pudly was all in pronouncing Kiffin and Sarkisian as the saviors of the Trojans football program.

    Same way he’s doing with Clay Helton…Pudly is 0 for 3.

    LMFAO!

    • Poor poor miserable me… oh how will I ever eat again? The hillbilly is telling y’all lies again..poor guy can’t figure out how this team wins…so he does like most of the ignorant people around.. launches personal attacks and lies.

      Poor little hillbilly troll !

    • 21-5, eat that, when is saban playin today? Huh you backwater hillbilly troll, saban hasn’t won a big game since he lost the kif. HAHAHAHAHAHAHA EAT THAT TOO!!

  22. Fact…Clay Helton and Tee Martin will get exposed in whatever bowl game the Trojans are invited to.

    The inept incompetent Trojans coaching staff will be embarrassed, I’m not putting the inevitable loss on the Trojans players.

  23. Pudly can’t do basic math, Clay Helton had 4 losses in his first season alone as head coach.

    BWA HA HA HA HA HA!

  24. Lynn Swann was given his marching orders to support Clay Helton, that’s what makes Lynn Swann the pathetic “Yes Man” he’s paid to be.

  25. Michael Pitman’s supposed injury was news to him and his father. Pitman’s father had to straighten out Clay Helton and Tee Martin from telling those lies.

  26. LOL!!! USC has “inconsistently” made their way to 11-2 and they are the 1st Pac-12 South team to win the conference championship.

    I guess all the other Pac-12 teams were way more inconsistent though.

    USC should be proud of their accomplishments. Not too far back from sanctions and the poor hirings of Kiffin and Sark and already Pac-12 Champs.

    Meanwhile over in BruinLand…yet another coaching change after telling these Bruin bozos that what Mora was doing was wrong but yet they argue endlessly argue against me that playing true frosh is the right thing to do and switching to inexperienced OC’s like Polamalu is the right thing to do. Switching to a more power offense wholesale and completely scrapping the Nzone system was the right thing to do in 2016. It’s amazing dummies like 88Straight even exist.

  27. USC Trojan football players should be extremely proud of the way they have overcome Clay Helton’s terrible coaching all season long.

    Fight On!

  29. Pudly is a little upset this morning after having been kicked off Helton’s crotch by Gabby last night after the game.

    Poor Pudly, get in the weight room and maybe next season you can give Gabby what for.

    LOL!

    • Hey that goat doesn’t have tests and it ain’t milk you getting out of it!!
      Hillbilly troll, what time is florida playing today? Hmmm
      Bammy? Hmmm

      Poor little hillbilly, little nicky has the week off, bet you his locker room doors need attention, better get over there and start polishing their knobs…HAHAHAHAHAHAHA

  30. Clay Helton better pray the CFP committee shows mercy on him and his staff by matching the Trojans up against a Big 10 opponent, any other team from any other conference is going to expose Clay Helton’s incompetence once again.

    • Funny how your game is changed, a week ago you were saying they’d school us, another week and then what! Your forgetting what your sayin you hillbilly, moonshine is affecting your memory again. Was that your mom or sister you were with the other day? Oops, forgot they’re the same person.

  31. BAM!……..Swann just gave you a massive crotch kick, plus two middle fingers……..OUCH!!!!!!
    We know you won’t sleep good at night until the entire coaching staff is ran out of town, that ain’t gonna happen……deal with it

    Join the toilet-crew, it might help take your mind off the situation.

  32. I would venture to say T Martin gets an offer from someone he will be gone, especially if it is UT. He sounds like he is ready to move on.

      • Or at least a staff position. If he wants to become a HC he needs to move on and get seasoned more.

      • It was said by some that he actually undercut the hiring of a number of the candidates starting with schiano. Terrible situation. It was just a few yrs back they tried to tar and feather phil just to get him out of the football program. Dysfunctional mess.

        • Fulmer was the advisor to the college president and she listened to everything he told her.

  33. When I retire I’m going to get a job tuning Scott’s piano. It only has one note and he doesn’t care if it’s in tune with the real world.

  34. USC has more top 40 wins, better sos, better sor, and never lost to an unranked team. Can Ohio State say that?

  35. I’m just going to take my homer hat off for a second. Helton and Shaw are class acts and our conference is better for it. You guys have an adult in charge and you should be thankful. Looking forward to some epic games against you guys with our new coaching staff.

    • Helton certainly seems like a decent man with solid character. I would just like it if he were a better coach leading a team with less penalties, and stronger fundamentals.

  36. The fighting kiffin winning their championship game 27-0 at the half?
    Gotta give it to him, not only did he turn down the Tennessee job, he trolled them while doing it.. still immature.

        • Forget all the baggage that’s attached to the guy. From a football standpoint, he’s one of the best offense coordinator out there. He’s a very polarizing guy but he knows his s***

    • The Kiffer can’t help himself and thank God. At least he’s not a cookie-cutter coach, like all the rest of ’em, half of whom can’t coach worth a lick.

      He somehow managed to put FAU (not sure I even heard of it before Lane got there) on the map big-time. Dude can name his price and school before long.

      Good for The Kiffer! Keep on being yourself and ignoring the masses who are best at knowing nothing more than what they want for breakfast.

      • I hope he has the chance to payback espn for the way they treated him..they treated him like crud.
        He certainly is a character, the antithesis of the likes of Meyer or saban for sure

        • The Kiffer was never afraid to slap around Saban with his words and he still does it in a humorous way. The guy has no fear I’m telling you.

          The truth is, he’s too good for TENN right now. He would have been great at both UF and A&M but I think he’s waiting for the end of 2018, when he’ll probably sign a K worth 80M or so.

          • Funniest thing is there’s so much truth in what he says about little nicky and he knows it kills saban that he can’t go back at him without elevating kif to some cult status.

          • The Kiffer left Tuscaloosa and suddenly Saban’s on the outside looking in as a PO contender. Pretty funny!

          • Nobody treated him worse than wolf, but bad enough that if given a chance, I think he’ll throw shade on a couple of them

  39. Lynn Swann should have had a buyout clause put in his A.D. contract in case he ever wanted to stop riding Max Nikias crotch and become a man who can think for himself.

  40. Since Helton just beat the best P12 coach twice in one season, is now the P12 champion and has the formidable USC Trojans headed to the Fiesta after the greatest Rose Bowl win I have ever seen. He deserves some runway, at least in public.

    Swann is smart enough to know this but frequently gives advice to Helton, who has put it to good use. That’s called a good working relationship. USC is sitting pretty now. Swann can say whatever he wants, but if Helton doesn’t continue winning, a la the Pittsburgh Steelers, he’ll be gone like all coaches. No news here – just another big-time USC victory!

    Ya baby! P12 champs. Back in the saddle once we got fully rostered and after officially replacing STAN as the best program in the west, where USC rightfully belongs.

    Oh, and good luck to OLE MISS. You’re gonna need it, even though you’re only losing a measly, chump change 13 rides. Shea Patterson is looking good for either MICH or UF.

    • Exactly, just win baby, as a former SC assistant coached used to say!!
      Helton isn’t stupid, he knows like everywhere else if he doesn’t win he’s gone. It’s the business.
      But today we’re PAC12 CHAMPIONS!

      • Feels good, doesn’t it? Very happy for our terrific players who were obviously so ecstatic after beating STAN again, this time in dramatic fashion.

        The road in the west always goes through USC. The NCAA tried to kill us, and the P12 conf didn’t do us any favors and deserted us, but we showed ’em they couldn’t keep a legendary program down.

        USC’s the only real football giant in the P12, both short and long term. It’s always good to king!

        Bye bye little gutty Trolls! Try opening your big mouths now, morons. Hah, hah, hah.

        • Abso-f’n-lutely! And what I’ve always envied about you Jack is how you always manage to say things in such a low keyed and understated manner. Never degrading others from across town who might be less fortunate.. F’ Yeah!

          • I have to say, I have a fair amount of bruin friends who are all very normal and nothing like the bruin trash we encounter over here.

            These idiotic Trolls always deserve a beating around here and I’ll be happy to give it to ’em. It’s not like it’s difficult. Even now, their main claim to fame is a coach who has never won a game for them. That is so bruin!

          • So succinct, yet it says so much. Not losing is better than playing, they live for the off-season.

  41. Hilariously funny, he photoshopped the head of the Korean leader onto his pic in a Tennessee shirt

  42. And now for the Post Game Injury Report:

    Gabby suffered lock jaw while giving Clay Helton his weekly post game physical.

    LMFAO!

  43. Right On Lynn, anyone calling for coach’s head is a bonehead. If people can’t see something is going on outside our program they’re delusional. Scheduling your top tier teams to play Friday night games like the local jv club is idiotic, and no bye week? F LARRY SCOTT AND ESPN

    • espn has a vested interest in the success of the sec and their network as well as the acc. Keep that in mind when you overhear their discussion of who should play in the playoffs..

      • Yeah we should all direct our attention to getting Larry (I am going to negotiate a TWELVE YEAR NON AMENDABLE TV contract and our best teams will play on short notice and we’ll figure out game times as we go each week!) Scott fired! I mean how is this J-As$ still the head of the best conference in America? Well, we all know it was[the best] and this guy has single handedly destroyed all that was special and beautiful about the conference.

  44. When Lynn Swann gives Clay Helton a contract extension, then that will be a sign of support, anything less then that, is nothing but words

    • What a victory by USC, huh! I can’t remember a season when we had so many remarkable, exciting wins. This year’s team has put the ’69 Wild Bunch to shame IMO.

      This is definitely a glass-half-full team and Helton deserves some real credit for that, regardless of what one thinks of his coaching skills.

        • I think we all do. Step at a time. Swann is a calculating manager, style-wise. And Helton is more calculating than his demeanor would suggest. He lulls some people to sleep with his way, which can be annoying in the face of how his team looks sometimes. But he wins like crazy and often in spectacular fashion. It’s not all Darnold. USC’s got a lot of heroes today. Our goal line stand was absolutely awesome. Fight On!

      • Kif throws a bitchslap on little nicky during interview after win today!!
        After 3 sec championships, these kids deserve to feel it.. poor bammy couldn’t do it this year without the kif.

  45. Wow…..close to 300 replies……….. anyone seen more?. The Trojan Nation is out in full force. It’s a good day to be a USC fan.

    I’m sitting here enjoying a good cup of coffee abusing the doubters

  46. So I’ve been trying to put the season in perspective, and I’ve come to realize that we are victims of some realistic, and some unrealistic expectations, based on the promise of how last year ended. This team has been consistently inconsistent. Offense showing big play potential and great running game in spurts, then sputtering with poor execution or play calling. Same with defense, run stuffing and big play potential, then constantly allowing teams to answer long touchdown drives with touchdown drives most often following blown coverages and stupid penalties. But you know what, that’s young men and college football and that’s why I love it so much. I have unconditional love for the university, always. Congrats to the players and coaches, and especially coach Helton . The team could have easily gone in the tank after the blowout loss to Notre Dame , but he held it all together, and did a good job, along with the other coaches, of not losing the team and getting them to respond. There is much room for improvement, but if I’m going to criticize throughout the year like I did, I have to congratulate him now on a hard fought 11-2 season that other programs in turmoil throughout the country would love to have. Thank you and fight on!

  47. Great feeling winning Pac 12 and going to major Bowl game! Gonna carry that feeling all winter long! Man, strangest 12-2 (after Fiesta Bowl victory!) season I have ever witnessed! Beating Stan-floored should boost recruiting and sets a nice tone going forward! One glaring negative that has to be remedied is asst. coaches need to be upgraded, with Tee Martin play calling not being ready for “prime time”! Trojan asst coaches should be absolutely TOP-SHELF and without going into detail, we aren’t at that level! Swann knows this and will remedy situation! Being in the mix for National Championships is who we are, and with this momentum we now have…..FIGHT ON TROJAN NATION! Oh, and Sam…..”College are the best years of your life-don’t leave early and miss out”!!!

  48. Yes SC was inconsistent, but more importantly they WON!! 11-2 in your 2nd year as HC and having won the Rose Bowl over a great Penn St team and winning the Pac 12 championship with a chance to beat a very tough OSU team in the Cotton Bowl, I’ll take that resume.
    I’d hate to see what a whiner Scott Wolf is at home. If he’s married and his wife cooks a filet mignon, he’ll complain how undercooked it is I’m sure.

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