Open Forum

54 year old Cindy McCain versus any of the USC Song Girls from this decade in a beauty contest. Who wins?

You said that Sarah Carmona apologized to former Song Girls for her salacious pictures that have appeared on the internet, but what exactly was the point of that apology? Was she apologizing to the former Song Girls who were also in those pictures? I am not sure what exactly the purpose would be to apologize to former Song Girls but not issue a formal apology to the current squad for damaging their reputation. Any details regarding the apology and the purpose of it would be appreciated.

Now that football season has started, why do the middle aged overweight internet trolls still whine about cheerleaders?

Could you give a factual rationale for dropping USC a spot in your ranking from last week to this week?

USC looked sharp and won on the road against an admittedly average FBS team in UVA. UGA, Florida and tOSU also looked sharp but won on their home fields against FCS schools.

Unless you're suggesting that Youngstown State, Hawaii and Georgia Southern were all better challenges at home than UVA was on the road there's no rational explanation.

Why did USC schedule a game versus San Jose State for next season? Do you know of any other schools that USC wanted to schedule?

How long do you expect Norm Chow and Dwayne Walker to be at FUCLA? I remember reading that FUCLA wouldn't normally be able to afford Norm Chow, but they can this year because the Titans are still paying him $1 million per (year) so the finances work out. Assuming he's not offered a head coaching job somewhere (schools would be crazy not to) can FUCLA still afford him after the Titans are done paying him? And you would have to think that Dwayne Walker would be offered up by someone.

Do redshirting players travel to away games? And how about at this time of the year when a player hasn't been designated a redshirt yet?

How did Mustain end up on the field? Where they unhappy with Corp? I thought he did a great job handing the ball to the RB. He threw that cute little 2 yard pass. Wasn't it in their best interest to give the #2 QB as much reps as possible? Or is this a sign that Corp is really on equal footing as Mustain?

Are there any requirements which state that USC Song Girls have to have certain values or morals in order to be a part of the squad and represent the university? Is that even a consideration when trying out? Is it irrelevant?

What is Nick Perry's status?

Anyone in the Athletic Dept. have any comments on Malaluga taking 2 Vicodin before the game?

Will Luthur Brown ever be healthy enough to live up to the expectations he had coming out of HS???

How do you drop SC in the polls after an impressive road victory? Do you try so hard to seem unbiased that you go the other way?

If you don't like the questions asked here will you once again make up a question yourself and answer it, pretending that it was asked by a fan?

Hey Scott:

In response to my question last week, you predicted an 11-2 record this year for USC (which necessarily includes a bowl game). It wasn't clear whether you thought both of those losses would be in the regular season, or whether you thought USC would go 11-1 in the regular season, only to lose in a bowl game.

So, my follow-up question for this week is: Which two teams do you think will beat USC this season? If possible, I would also like to hear your reasons why you think the two teams will beat USC.

As always, thanks for the open forum.

Can you provide any information about rugby replacing football at USC for two years in the 1920's? How were the Song Girls then and did those teams have the equivalent of a Rose Bowl to aspire to?

Is practice ever open to the public during the season? I wonder with a high-profile opponent like Ohio State, would this be an advantage to opponent?

OSU showed two plays this past week using Pryor and the pistol formation with two RBs. How much do you think we're going to see this used on Sept 13 and do you think our defense will be able to handle it?

Now that the game stat was changed to a TD pass, does this make Mustain the first quarterback ever to throw a TD for us and against us?

Scott, what is the expectation for Marc Tyler this year? Any chance he will crack the tailback rotation and get some substantive carries?

Have you made up with the Fat Booster? Now who's the nerd look alike for Pete that puts his face on the 50 yd ln with his knee knocker shorts? Come on.

Hi Scott I like your blog.Thank you. You said about a past question in a previous answer entry you would answer my question in the bye week, here it is:

There are no commits for the football recruiting classes for the past weeks, when and who will be the next commits for USC?

Here is this week's open forum question,

With UCLA suprising upset win on Monday in front 60 recruits like USC commits Moore, Pressely and other top players hurting USC recruiting, and what recruits are invited by USC for the Ohio State game? I know Martinez is.

Hi when are football practices, can you please give a schedule or estimate of time so fans know what time it is? Also I was wondering can you tell us some tips of attending USC home football games like how early to come, which gates to use, and other important information? Thank you.

Has the coach or advisor of the USC Song Girls contacted Sarah Carmona to discuss her infamous situation?

If you had the trojans best interest in mind, who would you have rather seen leave for oakland after the 2006 season, sark or lane?
Also, how much credit should be given to sark for his work with the offense or is it fair to say he has benefited from inheriting coach chows system and loads of 5 star recruits each year?
As a head coach, would sark be best fit to start at a mid-major (unlike orgeron) or could you see him turning around a pac-10 or other bcs school within say 3 years. Thank you

HI SCOTT

Re the ELMER WILLHOITE article, I was at the game, and remember it as Elmer taking a LATERAL some 62 yards all the way to the Bruin end zone--The Bruins screamed that it was a forward lateral--I saw it as an almost parallel lateral, going back one inch--heh heh. Can anyone check? And also, it was 62 yards, not 72 yards as the article said. I'm old, but have I completely lost it? No answer necessary there. Thanx for the forums.

For those who didn't read the article, it was referred to as a 72 yard pass interception return, and the article drew two comments--I just want to set things straight for ol' Elmer---I knew him well.

AAAAAAAAAAUUGH---- I just remembered IT WAS JIMMY SEARS WHO CAUGHT THAT LATERAL---------I AM LOSING IT---------BUT NOT COMPLETELY YET.

SCOTT-----PLEASE SCRATCH ALL OF THE ABOVE---THANX.

I just saw the picture of the 2008 cheerleader squad. Do you think this is the worst squad in school history? Here's the link:

http://sait.usc.edu/recsports/spirit/song/thesquad/2008squad03.jpg

What USC draftees and free agents made the final NFL rosters?

It's been reported that USC commits Randall Carroll, Kevin Graf, Morrell Presley and Matt Barkley were alll at the UCLA/Tenn. game.

Are these all strong commits or should the Trojans be worried about losing them to UCLA or another school?

The Song Girls will soon have their debut this year at the Coliseum embodying all that is corrupt and nepotistic. How far is the squad truly from making changes to make the squad more fair and more reminiscent of the old Glory Days Song Girls? The athletic dept. seem to be just as intent on keeping the way things are which is infuriating as the sidelines have been an embarrassment, as well as their off-the-field antics.

Wolf, I am begging you.

When will you stop wasting space on the songleader crap? Football started bucko, no need for fluff and filler any more... can we talk x's and o's? Puhleez?

When Norm Chow was the offensive coordinator, much was made in the media about how simple the offensive system was. Under Sark (and Kiffin) we hear how complex it is and how long it takes to learn it from the QB perspective. (Sanchez 3 yrs...Mustain 2 and counting etc.) What makes the system under Sark so complex? It seems its the same system, just maybe called a little differently.

Recently, a number of former USC Song Girls tried out for the Laker Girls and the Clipper Spirit without much luck. In fact, one recent Song Girl -- whose name I will withhold so as not to embarrass her -- was cut during Laker Girls tryouts, then tried out for the Clipper Spirit a few weeks later and was, once again, cut. Does this not prove how far the Song Girls have fallen, when they once went from having quite a few former members in the 1980s and 1990s as Laker Girls -- including Dolly Zachary Rouse -- and other NBA and NFL cheer squads to not even being able to compete with girls from other schools when there is a level playing field?

There have been a number of former Trojan Dance Force members -- and also UCLA and even Cal State Long Beach girls -- who ended up as Laker Girls and members of other NBA and NFL cheer squads these past few years, but there has been a complete lack of successful Song Girls who have been able to make the cut on NBA dance teams throughout the country.

Former Dance Force members, as well as other USC coeds, have routinely made NBA cheer squads while former Song Girls have consistently been cut during the same tryouts. If this is not definitive proof that the best girls on campus are not chosen as Song Girls, what more proof is required?

Did you see that Busted Coverage will be attending the USC-Ohio State game?

http://www.bustedcoverage.com/?p=6963

Why do you think that Chow took the ucla job-------to get back at PC or to keep his name in the public eye or???
Thanx for the forums.

Of the current Trojan players, who are the most friendliest and the most unfriendliest to you?

There are many stories throughout the internet today (Sports Illustrated, With Leather and, of course, Busted Coverage, to name just a few) about how the USC Song Girls can be hired by anyone for $150 per Song Girl. Doesn't $150 seem like a very low amount? Is that because it's based on the quality of the product these days and it would be considered offensive to ask for more?

There are many stories throughout the internet today (Sports Illustrated, With Leather and, of course, Busted Coverage, to name just a few) about how the USC Song Girls can be hired by anyone for $150 per Song Girl. Doesn't $150 seem like a very low amount? Is that because it's based on the quality of the product these days and it would be considered offensive to ask for more?

Scott,

I had an interesting conversation with a person connected to the program while at the Virginia game. This person, who has insight into the team that only a few (probably you included) have, made no effort to hide their displeasure/disgust with the conduct of Everson Griffin both on and off the field, in the classroom, with teammates, etc. Said its a growing concern among the coaches and it's a problem that will rear its head publicly at some point. Can you shed some light on this and does this have anything to do with the Clay Matthews' switch to end? Thanks.

FL

There are many stories throughout the internet today (Sports Illustrated, With Leather and, of course, Busted Coverage, to name just a few) about how the USC Song Girls can be hired by anyone for $150 per Song Girl. Doesn't $150 seem like a very low amount? Is that because it's based on the quality of the product these days and it would be considered offensive to ask for more?

Have you ever considered writing a book on the Norm Chow USC years?

I'm sure you could wrap it up with nice epilogue about the return of the prodigal son to Los Angeles.