Open Forum

Now that the issue of the Song Girls having been ugly throughout the 2000s has been picked up by several other media sources, including national sports blogs, some of which refer to this blog, do you think that if we keep pushing the issue of bringing back pretty Song Girls between now and the October tryouts, this will get bigger and bigger until the selection committee will have to succumb to the public pressure in order to avoid embarrassment and scrutiny? Could this tidal wave be stopped? Could the possibility that the people's voice is being heard result in the return of beautiful Song Girls? Or is this just all wishful thinking?

Is it safe to say that the reason the USC Song Girls have such a prestigious reputation throughout the country is based on an outdated perception people have from the past and not the reality of what they have been recently?

The Flag Girls have always been known for being rather on the "plus size." So is it a coincidence that with a former Flag Girl now serving as the advisor to the Song Girls, the Song Girls have also become somewhat more on the "plus size" these past few years?

Have you thought about just dropping all mention of football on this blog and sticking to the only thing we all care about, the retro Song Girls and Oregon cheerleaders? Let's be honest, after you posted the picture of the Oregon cheerleaders and the retro picture of Tricia Pillsbury, who even cares about football anymore? Give us more of what we want -- beautiful cheerleaders past and present! Just no pictures of the Song Girls from the 2000s.

Are you aware that the coach of the Song Girls, Lori Nelson, is not an alumna of USC and is actually a college dropout? What kind of message is that sending to the current Song Girls to have someone who is not even a college graduate heading a college organization?

Have you heard anything about the Pac-10 introducing a cheerleader exchange program? Any chance that we can have a permanent exchange agreement with Oregon?

Isn't it hilarious how the Song Girls website is celebrating their 40th anniversary, "1968-2008," when in fact, they started in 1967? It's even written on their own website that they started in 1967, yet they can't even get their official anniversary right? Who's running this joke of an operation there? Can't the women in charge of the Song Girls get anything right these days?

Do the fraternities consider subjecting their pledges to a pep rally featuring the current Song Girl squad to be hazing? Has this practice been banned due to its cruel nature?

When Oregon plays SC at the Coliseum this year, do you know if they will be bringing their cheerleaders with them?

Scott, is Demar DeRozan a definite for the basketball team? I see he's signed a LOI but I've read he's rethinking things given Mayo's issues. What's the word? Thanks.

Also, given all the ruckus about the Song Girls, why not contact/hear from the horses mouth?

SC's own website invites questions/emails:

Advisor: Dr. Justine Gilman (jgilman@usc.edu)
Coach: Lori Nelson (lorinels@usc.edu)

"What makes these young women so remarkable? The Song Girls hold themselves to a higher standard than that of many other squads. They work constantly to ensure that their choreography is innovative and exciting, with the expectation that every performance is better than the last. The members strive to maintain the image of the squad in their personal lives as well; they are well known and recognized anywhere they go, especially on campus and in the USC community. The Song Girls are highly committed and practice five days a week in addition to performances at sporting and other events. The squad works closely with the Trojan Marching Band. Each week during football season, the Song Girls must learn and perfect new choreography for different half-time routines to the music played by the USC Band.

The road to becoming a USC Song Girl is long and difficult. Each member has had extensive dance training in jazz and ballet. Many have been dancing since childhood, and most were song leaders or cheerleaders in high school. Unlike other college cheer teams, the Song Girls are primarily a dance squad. The emphasis is on personality and presence, while the actual cheering is left to the USC Spirit Leaders.

Being a Song Girl is a wonderful experience. It provides a unique opportunity to become a part of the heritage of the University. The world famous Song Girls are instilled with a sense of pride and confidence and gain valuable knowledge about how to work as a team. The friendships they make are an invaluable part of the college experience. These women will always look back upon their years as Song Girls with a remarkable sense of pride, accomplishment and love.

by Whitney Nelson
USC Song Girl 2000-2003"

Do you think we can get Tricia Pillsbury to head up a campaign to get the two women in charge of the Song Girls fired for gross mismanagement and nepotism? Would she be interested in heading the new selection committee?

What have you heard about the rumors going around that the current ugly Song Girls will be banished from the Coliseum and replaced by images on the jumbotron of the beautiful 1970s-1990s Song Girls?

Do you think Lindley Bothwell is rolling over in his grave over what the current coach and advisor of the Song Girls have done to the squad?

Any chance of posting a picture every day of the Oregon cheerleaders?

In your last set of answers you left the impression that you are not totally convinced that Mark Sanchez will be the starter this upcoming season.

I was hoping you could go into more detail about your theories about the QB situation (is Sanchez' spot secure? Why do you think he was named the starter so early? Will they be quick to pull him if he doesn't produce? etc.) and how you believe it will play out this season.

Do you think that the reason the Song Girl squad has increased to 14 girls this year is because they are trying to distract by numbers? That with the erosion of quality, it can somehow be compensated by quantity? Is this not a HORRIBLE strategy that they have employed? I mean what's the point of going from 12 to 14 if the 12 couldn't cut it to begin with? The glory days had about 7 or 8 members but each girl was beautiful and thin. Now we get 14 very pedestrian girls.

The search for the lost Song Girls of yore continues...

Scott,

Specifically, how good is Ohio St. this upcoming season? I know this is somewhat of a dumb question since they're ALWAYS good, but I honestly haven't heard much buzz about them as of late. Any specifics to look out for in the matchup with them the second week of the season?

Whenever you post those great pictures of the Song Girls from the halcyon days that are long since past, could you also add some streaming audio of Bruce Springsteen's "Glory Day" to further add to the aura and memories?

SW, I feel bad for not addressing the real topic "how can Mitch Mustain return the Song Girls back to their glory". SW, on with the real question, do you think that the memory of the Stanford game (and Hair-ball's big mouth) are weighing heavily on PC, and that he may send a "seek & destroy message to boys on 11/15/08? As always, good job. Fight On!

Whenever you post those great pictures of the Song Girls from the halcyon days that are long since past, could you also add some streaming audio of Bruce Springsteen's "Glory Days" to further add to the aura and memories?

Scott have you looked at the Spirt Squad? As you probably know they were created to replace the yell leaders. However, the girls on the spirt squad are much better looking than the song girls.

Should USC clean up their athletic department and fire Mike Garrett. People forget before Carroll came here that USC sports was in a recession, baseball and soccer still are.Now we have Bush and Mayo scandel to tarnish the school and the Song Girl issue. What are the odds USC cleans up the athletic department.

I have never responded to a blog before, but this constant talk of the "song girls" makes me sick. I am a SC football fan (note the words "football") and I could care less if we have the prettiest song girls. I am only interested in our football team and their success on the field. It is sickening to read the mean spirited, childish things that are being said about these beautiful young women. I think some of you guys need to take a good long look in the mirror and/or grow up a little. These women are someones daughter and sister and I think they are all very lovely young ladies, which means we all have our own opinion of what is and isn't attractive (one man's trash is another man's treasure). I personally am sick of the blond, blue eyed, big boob thing anyway and welcome some diversity. I personally think that just putting on your song girl gear makes you instantly attractive. I sure would not turn any of this years squad away and as an SC football fan I am proud to have them cheering on our boys. So who cares who has the hottest song girls, that and a dollar will get you a bus ride. I care about us having a good football team and a great year on the field. I hope from now on I can go to this site, which other than the song girl tripe is very informative. The song girl stuff is getting old, though... let it go. Please, let's move on and show some support. If you are going to judge, then judge them by their energy, and dance ability and spirit... tangible things to judge a song girl on. It's not a beauty contest and you guy's and this foolishness needs to end so we can get back to some legitimate football and SC sports questions.

Does Patrick Turner and Rasheed Wallace see the same barber?

For a girl fortunate enough to be able to wear the white sweater, she better be able to uphold the legacy built before her. If she doesn't understand this legacy of representing the university through her beauty, then clearly she's ignorant and clueless.

Again, I don't understand it when someone wears tight sweaters and short skirts only to act indignant for being judged by her looks.

This is in actuality a very simple problem. Just choose attractive and thin girls and we'll all be happy. We can't continue this sham and embarassment.

SCfootball man I have already tried your wasting your time...might as well join in.

Scott, did one of the 1986 songirls ever break a nail? Did anyone save said nail? where is it now?

How many times did tricia pillsbury shout "GO USC!" during the 1985 game vs. Oregon st.?

Do the song girls have cable or satellite tv in their apartments?

which color toenail polish do the song girls prefer? has any of them ever had athletes foot? was any of said athletes foot ever said and if so, where is it now?

Scott do the song girls prefer blue or black ink?

what is their favortie kind of underarm deoderant?

And finally, as I just can't get enough of the song girls...how many times did tricial pillsbury go to the hair salon during the 1986 season??

I can't wait to find out....

I would take a 42 year old Tricia Pillbury over some the gals on our squad today. Any truth to the rumor that Hue Jackson is on the Song Girl selection committee?

What's the latest on the Reggie Bush investigation? With this dragging out so long, has it affected recruiting?

MRSAM:
What [CONVINCING INDISPUTABLE] arguments do you have to justify firing Mr. Mike Garrett? List them>put-up or shut-up...
Thank you

For the Ohio State game, is USC predicted to win, but I think it will be tough. USC has a lot of talent but they will have a new quarterback, starters on offensive line, young defense starters . Also we lost Fred Davis our best receiver. People are forgetting that Ohio State is returning a majority of their team with number 1 recruit Pryor and other propsects that they not have before. So what are the chances USC beats Ohio State. Also will this lose hurt USC vaining invinciblitly from the Bush and Leinart years.

rickyirvins it's good to see I'm not alone. I am more concerned about ohio st. than the pillsbury dough boy or whoever this pillsbury is. No offense to her, but it's like looking in a high school yearbook for the hot cheerleader (that by the way, would not date ANY of you). She had her time, let these girls have their time and let's get back to the football questions. Also, this ridiculous Mitch Mustain stuff? What is that about? Sanchez has game experience, you almost have to go with him. He's paid his dues and it's time to see what he can do. If he fails (which I hope he doesn't) then Mitch will get his shot and would definitely be in the running to start next year, but I trust this coaching staff and they see way more than I do, so let's stop being monday (or sunday in this case) morning quarterbacks. I'm more concerned about our runningbacks. I think S. Johnson is gonna have a big year. He made alot of big runs last year and was the lone back to do so. Other than the play against Illinois Mcknight hasn't proven anything to me. I was expecting more. Hopefully he will erase my doubts this year with some big plays. Fight on.

At this year's Homecoming, there is a Song Girls reunion, so any chance you can get an update and interview with Tricia Pillsbury, including her views on what went wrong with the Song Girls during this past decade and how they are soiling her good name and legacy?

Re Torin Harris, our latest cb commit, did any of our coaches work him out, or see him in a camp, before they offered? Thanx as always for the opportunity to ask questions.
I was sick for the weekend forum, really sick, dying actually, so if you want to be a really great guy and give me a make-up question, it would be---------if we offer a guy now, and by Nov. he hasn't accepted, and is having a really bad year, are we free to withdraw the offer? Thanx again, even if you only answer one.

Have you considered doing an in-depth investigative article on the selection process of the Song Girls, much like Celeste Fremon did a few years back? You can expose the process, the nepotism, the self-interest, the characters involved, and ask the people in charge of the Song Girls, quite bluntly, "Do you honestly believe that the Song Girls during this past decade have been at the same level as those that came the previous three decades?"

You're a journalist, Scott, the ball is in your court. The Celeste Fremon article raised a lot of questions when it exposed many questionable practices by those in charge of the Song Girls, including how old men could pay them to have dinner with a Song Girl, their views on physical appearances and ethnicity, and what really went into the selection of the squad. It's been 17 years since that article so isn't it time you wrote one in 2008, now that we are in the midst of decade-long darkness when it comes to the Song Girls?

When you pejoratively refer to the 'South Bay' aren't you really just referring to Manhattan Beach (and possibly Hermosa Beach)? Places like the Shade Hotel and most of the bars on Pier Ave. justifiably give the area a bad rap, but shouldn't Redondo Beach get a little more credit as a decent place? Have some fish tacos at Riviera and you'll be a believer too.

When you pejoratively refer to the 'South Bay' aren't you really just referring to Manhattan Beach (and possibly Hermosa Beach)? Places like the Shade Hotel and most of the bars on Pier Ave. justifiably give the area a bad rap, but shouldn't Redondo Beach get a little more credit as a decent place? Have some fish tacos at Riviera and you'll be a believer too.

http://www.usc.edu/student-affairs/private/docs/stuaffairs_orgchart.pdf

Scott, it appears from the linked USC Student Affairs organizational chart, which is publicly available, that the Song Girls are under the Student Affairs umbrella. As you have previously mentioned, the position for IM-Director is currently open. So, if I read the chart correctly, the supervisory position to that one is held by Don Ludwig, the Spirit and Traditions Executive Director, who reports to Denzil Suite, AVP of Student Affairs - dsuite@usc.edu. With Denzil Suite's awesome name, I am assuming that he is a good guy. Do you know if Coach Nelson is reporting to Suite or Ludwig while the IM-Rec Director position is open, do you know anything about the backgrounds of Suite or Ludwig, and do you know if they are very hands-on with the Song Girls' system? Or, are Coach Nelson and Coordinator Gilman treated as more of an autonomous unit with little to no administrative oversight? Thanks Scott. The Song Girls are the face of USC and there simply is no more important subject to true Trojan fans right now than SG-gate! At least until fb practice starts in August.

HI SCOTT

I already got the answer to my TORIN HARRIS question-----thanx---------so that just leaves me with the withdrawing the offer query. A good friend gave me the link for info on Torin.

It's amazing that every year about 11 or so odd spoiled rotten well-endowed promiscuous sluts in tight turtleneck sweaters have a well oiled public relations machine behind them provided by the University that they whore for to cover up their harlot ways. The bosomy,beer-bong sucking Song Girl Sarah Carmona of the infamous 2003-2004 squad(known for each having the best and biggest tits in Song Girl history) certainly proves the embarrassment and shame they bring upon themselves. Sarah Carmona was notorious around campus when she wore her personal super-tight Song Girl sweater for jiggling her big Song Girl boobs at all the guys, then getting annoyed when they reacted.She was a bitch and a cunt but she did have great, big succulent tits when she wore that sweater!