Scott, a couple questions for you:

1) What is the perception of ASU now that Erickson is in? Does he have the personnel to throw a roadblock at USC or Cal this season?

2) Any thoughts on the move to ESPN, specifically the addition of some Thursday night games? Tom Hansen seems like such a stodgy traditionalist that the change is a major one.

3) What will it take for McKnight, Green or Tyler to seize the starting job or a majority of carries in summer and fall camp?

Thanks.

Thanks for the open forum call Scott.

That's a good Q by Dan. Do you think it will take long for Mcknight/Green to take a starting spot? I mean, CJ, Moody and Washington didn't shut the lights out last year even when healthy.

I saw PC on "Best damn sports show period" last week and he seemed to be a little upset about what Harbaugh said. Of course I don't blame him, it was a real stupid thing to say and obviously was some kind of "move" to "get into USC's head". Maybe Harbaugh got hit in the head a few too many times at UM. Anyway, do you think PC has any grudge?

Why is Chris Barrett listed at DE sometimes and DT sometimes? what exactly is wrong with him?

Will Jamere Holland play this year?

I think Mike Morgan is a great player. Will he get some PT? Will he be starting in '08 at SLB? How is he doing?

Have you heard anything about how well the QB is doing at Nebraska who was at ASU? Should we be scared of that game?

So if we are sticking with the 4-3, who will start next year? Griffen and Moore? The year after? Michael Reardon?

What's wrong with Josh Tatum? How is Will Harris doing?

Scott, what was the reason for the fall from grace of Nick Howell? He was flying hight for awhile in sping practice.

1. Given the most updated depth chart - Turner/Hazelton listed as starters - With the new reduced time between plays being enacted this season, do you think that with the depth of talent that SC has, we may use some wholesale substitutions on offense (i.e. 2 or 3 new WR's) coming in and out between plays. Having a quick rotation of receivers like lines in hockey would really wear down a defensive secondary with players like David Ausberry, Travon Patterson, Jamere Holland. Have you heard anything on this topic (new rules and any changes they may make to take advantage of them) from the staff?

2. It looks like we are still thin at FB. How quickly do you think Jordan Campbell can learn the position (especially the blocking and passing aspects)?

3. Given that we now have Coach Morton, do you think that with all the RB's we have we look to add-in more plays like they ran at New Orleans? (2 RBs - no FB, but one power back and the fast back to handle more breakaway types of plays) Do you think there may be other variations of these types of packages that we may be able to use? Do you feel that the loss of all the FB's dramatically impacted the offensive strategy? Impacted the lack of many 'big plays'?

4. We often talk about the stack at RB. Given that 3 of the key players in the queue are going to be true freshman and the amount of learning it takes to effectively learn all the responsibilities of the position (pass routes and blocking assignments) do you feel it is realistic that these guys may contribute early on?

5. From what you saw last season, what are your thougths on why Stafon Johnson did not see the field during games last year? What would your personal RB depth chart be (barring injuries) if the season started today?

6. What do you think the impact of the new reduced time between plays will take on defensive schemes? Do you see more substitutions? How many more plays per game are thought to be gained from this change? (NOTE: We lost about 12 plays per game last year with the rule change, I figure we will recapture these plays with the new rules and add-in a few more - the total change may be 18+ plays per game). With more balls to go around, does this benefit SC to create more opportunity for the wealth of talent on the fall roster?

7. Who is your pre-season #1 today?

8. Do you think that SC will have a high production running game this season?

Switching sports
1. Do you think that Gabe Pruitt will be drafted? Do you think he comes back for the 07-08 campaign?

2. What are your feelings on OJ Mayo and his ability to contribute to the 'team'? versus OJ Mayo and his ability to display the talents of OJ Mayo?

3. In the past NCAA tournament, when Taj Gibson sat/fouled out, the team was definitely impacted - defensively and rebounding. Do you think that players like Wilkenson and Cromwell will be able to be more active in this role in the new season? How can we improve in this area?

4. Any chance that Nick Young doesn't sign with an agent? Realistically, can his NBA draft stock rise any higher with one more year of play under his belt?

Thanks for all your time and feedback.

Scott, is anyone going to tell Yaylor Mays to wrap his amrs around the ball carrier? he relies on knocking them to the ground. It's getting old and it is going to cost us.

Scott, will this finally be the year that we see Luthur Brown more on the field rather than on the sidelines. Is Garret Green done playing QB/S/QB/S/S/QB/S. Are the corners really solidified with T.Thomas/S.Wright and C.Harris/K.Thomas/V.Joseph. Keep the forums going on SW, they really work well.

Scott,

Do you think the Sark/Morton regime on offense will be more creative & effective than the Sarkiffian offense from the last 2 years? Do you think Sark's O. this year will be more reminiscent of Chow's offense? In certain ways, could Sark be even better than Chow? (that's obviously a tall order given N.C.'s experience)

What are the plans for honoring Mario Danelo? (patch on helmet?)

What are you hearing on Dayne Crist's up coming college choice announcement? USC got a shot?

Will we any Aaron Corp into the game to run sort of like Tebow did for UF?

Are the incoming freshman looking good for acceptance? No enrollment issues?

Is UCLA negative recruting against USC, especially in the City of LA? Are they using Stafon as an example?

Scott,
How can I score a date with one of the song girls?

Scott,
Is there any word around trojan nation about what other position Gallippo will be able to fill in order to get on the field in any way possible next season? I remember a blog of yours one time saying that a possible position could be long snapper, but come on, we didn't recruit him to long snap.

Scott, is there any difference between the spit end and flanker position? Does one or the other usually line up on the strong or weak side? Are there certain skill sets that you look for in one versus the other?

Scott

Any idea why UCLA sucks so badly?

Trojan JP brought up a good subject. Scout.com released their top 100 for 2008 and not many of the top 20 players had interest in USC. Just Kalil.

Are they worried about recruiting for next year?

Hey Scott,
How dumb does pom pom Pete feel for letting Dewayne Walker go instead of making him the DC? 13-9

Hey Scott,
Do you think USC will beat UCLA in any sport this year? I heard UCLA swept your piss poor baseball team in South Central over the weekend. 13-9

USC1966,

There are a number of players who are interested in USC from the Top 25. Kalil and Shoemate are the only one committed at this time. It is still really early in the recruiting process and many of the top recruits won't commit to a school until the end of the year. I don't think too many people at SC are worried about recruiting at this point.

I was hoping you could tell us how serious E. Moody's injury is and if he'll ever have the agility that he was known for back in HS.

Also, is Desmond Reed considered a pro-prospect or has his injuries ended that dream?

Thanks Scott.

Scott,
What information can you provide on Josh Tatum? and Josh Pinkard?

Ok gotcha thanks CalPoly. You obviously have more info than I do.

Haven't looked at 2008 much yet..thanks for the tip.

:o))

Scott-
From all reports, the kid Crist from is suppose to announce where he is going to go between ND, LSU, and SC. While we are open to all, Mustain will be here, Lsu has atleast 3 ahead of him and ND just got Clausen. What is the news and will this get answered before thursday

Scott,
What have you heard about Reggie Bush and the ongoing NCAA investigation? Is it still possible that RB might lose the Heisman and how would a worst-case scenario impact the football program?

According to the Daily Trojan....UCLA is dominating.

UCLA has dominated USC in the Gauntlet
By: Kyle Jahner
Posted: 4/17/07
USC surrendered a late lead Sunday to give UCLA a sweep in baseball over the weekend. Then again, we shouldn't be surprised. It's been that kind of year against the crosstown rival.

(Those with a weak stomach and a firm hatred of UCLA may not want to read further.)

This year's Lexus Gauntlet has been a worse beatdown than Chuck Liddell vs. Andy Dick. (Tell me you wouldn't pay to see that.) The baseball triumph gives UCLA a 57.5-22.5 lead, clinching a westward journey for the 150-pound traveling trophy.

The Bruins have figuratively taken the industrial-sized medieval armored glove out of its case in Heritage Hall and rapped Tommy Trojan across the face.

(I warned you.)

With all the success over the last three years, particularly within the football program, I guess this year's senior class was due for this sort of shellacking. The University of Spoiled Children had referred more to athletic prowess than our socioeconomic status.

Since my freshman year, USC has won seven national championships, including two in football. Two of the three Lexus Gauntlets have gone to Troy. And with the exception of UCLA's golden goose - men's basketball - you would be hard pressed to find a sport UCLA has utterly dominated USC.

And even in basketball, UCLA has not exactly owned the Trojans of late. USC has hung tough, winning two of the last six heading into this year, and losing another by three. Sure beats the 39-18 average score USC won by in football during the recently deceased seven-game winning streak (Rest In Peace).

But this year has been a disaster for USC in the rivalry. Only women's basketball, men and women's tennis, and men's water polo have come up Cardinal so far, and both tennis matchups could end up split after rematches. The other seven sports decided have been tarnished by whatever shade of blue is in.

(Seriously, baby or royal? Gold or yellow? Is black in play? I honestly don't know.)

That gauntlet score has been evened at two for graduating seniors, and at three overall since the competition's inception. And if tying is like kissing your sister, then tying UCLA is like kissing a lit stove.

I blame Pete Carroll. He spoiled us with dominance in the most prominent (and lets face it, most important) sport. Trojans feel as though they own the Bruins. Not in the metaphoric sense. We feel like we have the deeds to their souls locked away at Heritage Hall along with the championship trophies and Heismans.

USC baseball, with double the national titles of any other school, came two runs short of a trip to the College World Series in 2004, adding to the supremacy. UCLA hasn't gotten to the Super-Regionals since 2000. And with USC basketball on the rise, most USC fans probably figured we were on the road to just taking that too.

But this year, Trojans have been wielding a very dull sword while hunting Bruin. Most notably, the football catastrophe at the Rose Bowl last December, with UCLA winning with just 13 points against a team that hadn't failed to score 20 in its last 63 outings.

Although not the first, it was the most telling sign of an apocalyptic year for the Trojans against Westwood High. Arron Afflalo gave the second at the Galen Center when USC seemed poised to snipe one from UCLA in their sport. Another basketball loss and three baseball losses later, USC men alone have lost eight of nine games against UCLA. The women haven't done much better.

It's as if left was right. Day was night. Imus was classy. The world doesn't make sense anymore with UCLA owning the key to the city. My freshman year, USC utterly dominated UCLA. New to the rivalry, I thought it typical and almost unfair.

Although I am still grateful to be on this side of the line, it turns out UCLA has proven to be a worthy adversary on the field. This year, they've been a vastly superior one. Guess we should appreciate those moments on top as more than an inevitable outcome. Could have fooled me a few years ago.

Fortunately, since the trophy's inception, neither school has held the trophy for two year's running. Dominance one year generally means a boomerang-effect the next. It's as if teams take these loses personally. Go figure. So next year could easily see the tug-of-war continue.

But for now, Trojans saunter along and sulk, grabbing for the Prozac and avoiding eye contact with those in UCLA garb as our minds grasp hopelessly for sports that USC still controls.

At least until the football team slays the Bruins by 50 next year.

Nice to see another Bruin staying up all night long and writing a novel to post on a USC Football Blog. Time well spent Michael.

FYI - This is a USC Football Blog...and this thread is an open forum to post questions for Scott regarding USC’s post-spring FOOTBALL practice.

Thanks for the Lexis Gauntlet update and giving us your life story, but if you have a question for Scott about USC FOOTBALL practice...post it, if not, go to Brian Dohn’s Blog or seriously consider finding a hobby!

It's pointless JJH4USC. None of the Bruin fans that post here actually care about UCLA sports. They only care about USC. None of them read/post on Dohn's blog as much as they do here. Why,where would they find the time between reading this blog and crafting quasi-clever responses to USC stories? They're plenty busy.

I don't think there's a single other team in college sports that clearly measures it success only by their wins in rivalry games. ...Jealousy is a bitch. Makes it that much sweeter when they lose.

That's actually a story in the Daily Trojan... Michael just posted it here.

Thanks USCNY for clearing it up...when Michael said "According to the Daily Trojan" I had no idea.

Good point Tyler. Michael not only posts on a USC Football Blog...he also reads the Daily Trojan in his free time! That's pretty sad!

1) I didn't write the above. It's an article copied from the TROJAN DAILY.

2) I do like to keep up on what is going on with SC actually and only post if someone says something stupid about UCLA, at which point I like to set the record straight, and what better source than the Trojan Daily

1) This is a USC Football Blog...and this thread is an open forum to post questions for Scott regarding USC’s post-spring Football practice.

Well, Michael, if you're going to quote the Daily Trojen, you might as well get it right. It's called the Daily Trojan, not the Trojan Daily. But maybe I should start one...