Open Forum

Wolfie, I estimate that we will have approximately 80 scholarship players when this class enrolls. Does that seem right, and do we normally have around 5 scholarships available? I suspect that we normally prefer to carry 82 - 84 scholarship players, with only a couple open for dry powder. Which would mean that this 2008 class was not intentionally smaller; rather, PC lost out on getting a couple more big-time LB and DB recruits that we really wanted this year....Brown, Telemacque, Harris, Johnson, Hill, Robinson, Beal, Lynn, etc. Thus, rather than lower standards, he is saving those scholarships for next season, and our 2008 team will have an abnormally low # of scholarship players. Thoughts please?

Scott,

In your answers section last week you said that Mitch Mustain was not the most decorated player we have ever had enroll, then who else would it be? Sure, we've had other players who have won one or two national player of the year awards but as far as I know, Mustain is the only player that we, or anyone else, has had who was a unanimous national player of the year, meaning that he won every single national player of the year award. So if it's not Mustain, who else would be more decorated?

Which school is Allen Bradford going to transfer to: UCLA, Washington, Oregon, Florida State, or UNLV?

Would you agree that without Joe McKnight and the running game, USC would have lost the Arizona game this past season?

Is the Virginia game being moved to Sept 1st and if so why the hold-up in making it official?

I want to touch upon your views on the QB competition. I agree with you that if Quarterback A and Quarterback B are completely equal in talent, then Quarterback A should start if he has more experience.

But in 2003, how come Matt Cassel went from being Quarterback No. 2 for the previous two seasons to being overtaken by Matt Leinart who was behind him? Wasn't it because Leinart beat Cassel out on the field by simply being better?

Also, isn't it obvious that Booty was simply far better than Sanchez (regardless of experience) in 2006 and the gap between the two actually increased in 2007? It wasn't even close. How often are quarterbacks really even equal in talent? Aren't there significant differences in talent, abilities and style?

Why are there all these news stories that SC's recruiting class was so weak? Sure there were no QBs signed, but if Mustain were factored in, wouldn't this class qualify for Top 5 or possibly even No. 1 status?

This is a follow up from our last questions session. You said you don't expect Rojo to be on the same par as a D.Jarret or a M.Williams. So does that mean he's not living up to the hype? I mean I thought he was this huge recruit that Michigan missed out on. Any chance he'll be moved to CB if he doesnt turn out to be a big time WR?

With SC racking up the early commits for 2009 does that mean scholarship offers were made? Can SC withdraw obligations to early commits if any have sub-par senior seasons? Thanks Scott.

I see where Pete has admitted that he now has to get commitments earlier, in kid's high school junior year. Are there any NCAA rules that place limitations on when a college can contact a high school kid for recruitment purposes i.e. sophomore year is too early?

How would you compare the work ethic and attitudes of Steve Smith and Dwayne Jarrett while at USC and do you believe they are now showing through in their NFL careers?

Thanks

While watching the pre-game shows and the Super Bowl, I couldn't help but notice how many SC players were playing or involved during the Super Bowl and the shows surrounding it. Besides Marcus Allen and the guys we typically see roaming the sidelines on a frequent basis, do any active Trojans that currently play/or coach in the NFL come around at all to visit with SC's current team and players? I remember meeting Willie McGinest while he was with the Patriots and I couldn't help but just soak up the stuff he was talking to us about. You couldn't help it since he was wearing one of his Super Bowl rings.

After Havilli, who do we have at FB? Is Pete planning on converting some of the bigger bodied tailbacks? Seems to be a shallow position that didn't get any deeper on signing day.

Is Travis Draper still on the team?

There is a video interview on Pete Carroll's blog where he looks back on the 2007 season and while he still takes blame for the Stanford loss, he now says that in hindsight he still would not have played Sanchez after finding out Booty had broken his finger on his throwing hand but would have kept Booty in and changed the offensive plays to handoffs rather than having Booty throw the ball. Do you think this is now the truthful version behind the Stanford debacle after all the other theories have been played out and the stories have changed so many times? And would this have been the best strategy to pull out a win under such circumstances?

Do you know where I can locate any of USC's playbooks? I have hired every ex-Trojan that I could get my hands-on (even though Bruin legend Ken Norton Jr. turned me down!) but it would be so much easier for me to copy exactly what the King, Pete Carroll, is doing across town over there by Heritage Hall, if I just had one or two of their playbooks. Oh, and just so you know, I pitched the idea of changing our school colors to Cardinal and Gold to the Booster Group that I spoke to the other day, but even though they were receptive to the idea, they turned thumbs-down on that concept - seems none of them had enough money in their bank accounts to replace all those worn-out pukey blue sweaters they west to the Rose Bowl.

Thank you for your help.

Sincerely,
Coach Slick Rick "Skippy" New Weasel

P.S. Please give my apologies to all the USC faithful for my slip of the tongue the other day at Pauley Pavilion - I am sorry I called them all "assholes" on the public address system. Hopefully, Pete won't remind his guys about this next season when they play us - we already are going to get our rear ends whomped on so bad as it is, I am fearful that I gave USC more so-called "bulletin board" material that will accidentally fire up them Trojans.

P.S.S. You have a great law school over there. By getting my law degree at USC, I was able to weasel out of that mess with the NCAA and U-Dub over that whole illegal betting mess a few years ago.

SW, how about giving us your break down of each of the recruits. Fight On!

Can you explain why some schools (Miami 33 commits) have 30 plus commits ? and does this not just inflate the math when it comes to class ranking??

And whats going on in south bend? Is charlie spiking the punch for new recruits??

These recruiting "ratings" don't make sense. Rivals has Miami rated fourth, with eight "3-stars", and eight "2-stars". Scout has Craft, of UCLA, rated a "5-star"...Rivals has him a "3-star". Quantity rules! My question is: What are the rules regarding the number of scholarships you can offer each year?

How did the program like playing on Thanksgiving Night last year and was there any thought by ABC/ESPN to have the Trojans play in the "Pilgrim Classic" on an annual basis? I noticed the Trojans do play a THU night game this year. What is the story with that and is there any nationally televised college game on Turkey Day for 2008?

Have you heard anything about Chris Gallippo's rehab? Do the coaches think that he will be able to play this year?

OK, scott...this is a long question, but it's not the same ol' Mustain questions, so maybe you'll read it all and then answer.

i've been getting into it with an alum of a public institution...the topic? costs for the ath departments.

my contention is that ath depts at public schools have it much easier. Let me explain my reasoning:

let's assume that room and board at both 'SC and the pub are about $14K per year...just for sake of argument...put that figure aside.

if i attend USC, my parents give $18K a semester to 'SC. if i take 3 engineering classes and one history class, the school give $13.5K to the engineering school and $4.5K to LAS.

at UCLA, my parents give (use semesters for sake of argument) $6K a semester and in the example of above, the school gives $4.5K to the engineering school and $1.5 to LAS.

pretty straightforward...but, now to the scholies...

in the scenarios described above, the ath dept replaces my parents...so, the ath dept has to come up with $18K per semester ($36K per year) at 'SC.

while the ath dept at UCLA has to ONLY come up with $12K per year at UCLA.

so, the total expenditures for 'SC are $14K plus $36K or $50K per student athlete at 'SC

while at UCLA, the total expenditures are $14K plus $12K or $26K per student athlete

aside from travel, meals, etc., is this accurate? i presume that the state subsidizes the general population's education, so why not the athlete's education?

if so, don't schools like 'SC/Stanford have to put up more for their athletes than the pubs?

Thanks.

Fight On!

In the scenario where Mustain wins the quarterback job, will Sanchez transfer to another school? Any idea of where he would transfer to? Or is it simply too late in the game for him to transfer and will he just sit out the rest of his time on the pine?

Whatever became of Big John Drake? If Petros Papadakis, Brandon Hancock and that kicker-what's-his-face on the radio can find media work in Los Angeles, there has to be a warm seat for BJD's big ole' butt somewhere.

I'd be pretty shocked Scott if he doesn't qualify on your list of top five most quotable O-linemen, he was a manchild on the mic.

HI WOLFIE:

You said in the mid-week open forum last week that there was a silent commit who, if he came thru, would be vital to our success---so my question, now that everything is finished, is, who was he??

Thanx in advance, Scott, and great postings on your part on signing day!

Scott, sorry for a second question, but it's urgent and of interest to everybody---did UONA sign his LOI yet? Much much thanx.

Awhile back you mentioned that the TV networks were "encouraging" USC and Virginia to move their game to Labor Day. Has any decision been taken? Is such a change likely?

Do you think USC will have to give Tim Floyd some sort of extension before the end of the season so they don't lose him to LSU in the offseason?

Just where does Mitch Mustain currently stand in regards to a bicycle? Is he riding one? Is he using another form of transportation? Are there security measures that prevent you from disclosing this information?

In your February 8 Blind Item of the Day you mention a USC recruit contacted another Pac-10 school showing interest. What is the NCAA rule about athletes contacting schools, if any?

WOLFIE--Cancel my UONA query-------he signed.

Now, who was the idiot recruit that contacted another school------you know we all hate it when you post like that.

scenario question scott:

After this year cary harris and J pinkard will graduate...S. wright decides to go to the NFL and K. thomas shoulder is injured again...who plays CB?

tj bryant and traveler?