81 thoughts on “USC Morning Buzz: If It’s Friday, It’s Time For Friday Notes Column

  1. The 20th of dec. can’t get here fast enough for me, we have a very good chance of landing the #1 rated tackle, guard and center in the country!!! We have also the chance at a top juco DT who’s visiting this weekend, along with a running back, that just decommitted from nd, 6’ 230lbs. And btw, we also have a good shot at the “other” #1 athlete in the country Tufunga. This to go along with the number 1 linebacker Gaoteote…it’s like an early Christmas…Fight On!

    • If you are close to being right I will be ecstatic. What do they have 23 scholies or am I wrong. I would love to see those 4-5 stars already committed to sign on the 20th. Any more would be a real present.

      • Hard to say, depends on who leaves early and who transfers…I expect transfers this year like all programs with highly ranked players who want more playing time.

    • Clay Helton has 9 wins vs. Teams ranked in the AP 25.
      I wanted a big name guy at the time (John Harbaugh), but there’s no denying he’s earned his title as USC Head Coach.

      • He also owns two of the worst beatings USC has taken.

        He knows he’s in trouble after his brother “left” for the dumpster fire that is Tennessee football, he better step up his staff or he’ll be back in the south ASAP.

      • Harbaugh may be on the market sooner rather than later. The Ravens seem to be stagnating a bit and wouldn’t be shocked if team decided to make a coaching change. I am not advocating for or against Harbaugh and have no idea if he would even consider college.

      • SAS, I’ve always enjoyed your posts, which is why I’ll say this: Be careful out here with that statement. You might take a beating. And finally a W in basketball last night!

        • Sam is respectful in his posts and his criticism of coaches and or the program come from his heart..not just negative drivel. He listens to both sides of a debate and will consider alternatives, nor does he post misinformation or bend the truth.

      • Buddy I agree, Clay is our HC. 18-0 at home.Not a single coach can best that 20-2…. I would like to see some coaching evaluations and possibly replacements OL,DB .Clancy always seems year to year to me.
        There’s no doubt Clay will need to evolve next year. But the sport is always evolving.
        Who do you see us landing this year OL.?
        I know the C is locked.

        • Clancy Pendergast is probably the luckiest DC in College Football, Helton put him high in the “Best DC’s” around when he passed on a lot of others . But he’s been a letdown.
          Average at Best. He allowed 7 straight Penn St. TD2, and his man Ronnie Bradford should be a package deal..Horrible…..Just embarrassing…

          But I think we’re gonna end with #1 OT Jackson Carman, OT Peneii Sewell who could be a starter at guard next

          • Huge flaws in the defensive scheme, that’s not a mystery. Buckeyes will exploit, unless by some miracle CP makes adjustments. Cannot leave the DBs out on an island as they did all season. Running QBs have been our Achilles heels, a la Vince Young. Hoping for the best, just have not seen anything by CP to suggest he can make game time/ shut down responses to subdue run-option offenses. Until that happens Trojans are vulnerable, hence the underdog role. Darnold will put up points, Buckeye secondary is suspect. Let’s play a complete game for 4 quarters and take it to The Ohio State University. Fight On.

      • It’s always what have you done for me lately..that said he will have a fond place in my memory should he manage another 11+ win season next year without Sam Darnold. The program is back on solid footing, players going to school and not to jail.

        • I honestly feel USC will be fine next season with Fink and/or Sears. They won’t have the poise Darnold had, but the team should ready for big things with all the people who are coming back/coming in.

          As a player Sam probably needs to stay, but nothing is guaranteed and this may be his only sure shot at a high mark in the draft.

          • As you know Sam, I’ve backed him and the staff as much as anyone, perhaps more. But at the end of the day, we’re Trojan fans. Helton is the coach, and so far has done well, maybe some might say very well. But the more you win the more people expect, and it’s worse now than ever before, for whatever reasons. The team is getting stronger, I especially love the young defensive line Helton is building, and with this years linebackers to go along with last years we’re on our way there..hell, we were #1 in sacks. But after two years people are still crying for change. Remember what we were all feeling like after the kif, ogeron, sark years? Not that long ago since we had FIVE coaching changes in three years?
            I will always remember him as the one who brought respect and winning back after that dark time.. and if he gets us to the next level, I’ll feel good about that too. Nice guys should finish first once in a while.

          • I think Helton will be playing for titles.
            If……He realizes that Pendergast has been overrated since the days when he was called the “Oregon Stopper” and sees that the two years his DB’s have all went either backwards or disappeared. I’m sure Swan is just waiting to for the season to complete and tell Helton a change is needed and a
            must .

          • Not having Darnold will light a fire under the rest of the team because they know they can’t depend on ONE person to carry them.

          • Great point. We’ll be fine. The talent that we’ve collected since Sark left is ready to explode.

    • RB Markese Stepp from Indianapolis is visiting this weekend with Jackson Carman. Lot of picks this week saying he’s going SC.

    • Come Feb.,when all is in we will have a LB class for the record books.
      As far as OL goes, center is a lock .we are in the final decision with a top OT,OG.However if we don’t land those two WHO else is good that could add to OL ?
      Do you see us signing 2 RB ? Final question, QB. If Sam declares, does Daniels try to come in this class?

      • Our biggest problem IMO is not bringing in enough superior OTs. We never do anymore.

        That’s been USC’s problem for several years even though we always have really high ranked classes. Recruiting rankings routinely overlook such important matters and instead they just paint by the numbers, ignoring team weaknesses and other subjective variables.

      • If Daniels wants to come it won’t matter. I think Fink is going to be the starter next year and Sears to follow unless he really turns it up in spring

      • Absolutely have the chance for a linebacker group of a decade!! Anyone not aquatinted with our linebacker commit Kana’i Mauga, take a second to check out his film on hudl, kid’s amazing, great motor, aggressive demeanor, decent size.

  2. I am not too worried about recruiting battles with Ucla. Chip Kelly might be high in the memory of adults, but he’s been gone long enough to be forgotten by HS kids in the area.
    Long memory on the band thing. If the mascot decided to take a shortcut through the band it deserved what it got. It is old school band etiquette to stay out of a formation.

    • I was at Stanford one year and a Stanford “fan” took one of the band members helmets and ran off behind my parents motor home. There were 6 band members back there ready to beat the sh** out of this guy and my dad calmed them down, the Stanford fan about wet himself when he was cornered, he gave the helmet back and apologized like a sniveling coward.

  3. There may not be an altercation in the Cotton Bowl this time, but I reckon there will be plenty of hitting going on in this game. In fact, we’ll see a very physical game in the trenches in this one because that’s where a win or loss will be largely decided on it.

    • We’re going to lose in the trenches but that doesn’t mean we’ll lose the war. Helton has a two recruiting classes but really one full year. Meyer has 5 full recruiting classes it’s a matter if our wr. will be able to get off the line scrimmage and separate from cb’s.

      • More important for our receivers is position than separation as we’re taller and longer outside, especially Pittman. Can our inside passing game open up the outside by keeping the safeties home to cover tight ends? Will their linebackers be able to cover Carr or Rojo? Can’t wait to see!

  4. The kid must be very very good to talk about giving him 55 right out of the chute. I am really excited about him coming.

    This second signing period has sure changed things, kind of carries the excitement of the season into the bowls, then it continues into February.

    • The word on him is that last year was by far the best year he had. He was roundly acknowledged as the best player on the best team in the country, by far. He was a sideline to sideline guy, with great range in coverage..this year his team was down and other teams were able to scheme against him. Consensus #1 across the country.
      Check out last years hudl film.

  5. Helton has earned a little more rope by winning the Pac12. My biggest problem with him is not playing the best players all the time. It’s cost us the last couple of years. His biggest challenge will come when Sam leaves.

  6. Lets not loose sight of the things that must be done and done in order:
    1) Beat Ohio
    2) Beat Ohio Badly
    3) Recruit heavily fill the ranks with winners
    4)Fill the ranks with Great Coaches
    5) Beat Ohio

  7. At what point might you enlighten us as to who could join Gaoteote as an early signer (and who are likely to be early enrollees)?

  8. Those tuba players are feisty…..Seriously, what is the point of putting in your column that the USC band fought with the Red Raider mascot? Who cares? And thanks for mentioning SC won the game 55-14 over Spike Dykes, father of new SMU coach Sonny….

  9. The myth of USC football is slowly fading away as in the days of PC, in the minds of today’s high School players. What have they seen recently to show USC & the PAC-12 conference is the place to be? The PAC-12 is considered the weakest of the Big 5 conferences. PAC-12 has played in the least number of playoffs. USC had the talent the last 2-years to win enough games to be in the playoff and didn’t because of coaching staff choices of who played & poor coaching. Conference championships are not the big goal anymore unless you qualify for the playoff. You think these kids today don’t know that? Your not even playing on a New Years’ day bowl game this year. These high school kids have short memories and could care less what USC football did 8-10 years ago. Only us old-timers remember those days of USC glory and the way those teams played.

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