Open Forum

As a graduate of USC, I have put up with a lot of nonsense from the Song Girls this decade, but I never said anything until now. I did not really know who to complain to. I saw the decline of the squad due to political correctness, nepotism and self-interest. But this past year has been one embarrassing mess after another. Embarrassing pictures and members of the squad who would never have been able to have made the cut a decade earlier. With this latest issue of a first year Song Girl who already graduated from USC in May and has a body that is covered in tattoos and piercings, I have had enough. What could be done to replace the selection committee with people who can pick girls that have actual values and morals, that can represent the university proudly? No more lesbian pictures. No more penis beer bongs. No more all-body tattoos and absurdly huge breast implants. With all seriousness, who are these people accountable to and what does it take to get them fired? Do they not realize these trashy girls who have no values whatsoever that have been chosen to be Song Girls are adversely affecting the reputation of the university?

If the Oregon cheerleaders choose to go politically correct as the USC song girls went earlier this decade, would that not mean the terrorists have won?

Sports Illustrated has jumped on the bandwagon in covering Song Girlgate on a near-daily basis and on the same day that they covered the numerous recent Song Girl scandals and the latest torso-length tattoo scandal, they also covered "The Day Scott Wolf Met the Oregon Cheerleaders." Three separate mentions in one piece! Do you consider this to be critical mass?

http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2008/sioncampus/10/07/a-stanford-wisconsin-battle-of-the-bands-campus-clicks/index.html

Bigger scandal:

1) USC Song Girl photoshop cover-up.
2) USC Song Girl all-torso tattoo cover-up.
3) The soft serve ice cream machine at the Galen Center not working.

If the women in charge of the Song Girls claim that a tattoo is a personal choice and no big deal, then why did they tell that girl to wear a T-shirt during Swim with Mike so that no one would find out about her tattoos? Clearly it is an issue with them, otherwise that Song Girl would have been allowed to be seen in a bikini top like the rest of the girls. Is this not the very definition of hypocrisy and deception?

Pulitzer Prize for Song Girlgate or meeting the Oregon cheerleaders?

Could there possibly be any objective argument left denying that the Oregon cheerleaders do not embarrass the USC Song Girls of the past eight or so years in every conceivable way imaginable?

Scott:

Why is that one song girl with the tattoos, Sydnee Hines, allowed to be a first year squad member when she already graduated from SC back in May? Both the tattoos and her academic standing violate the song girls' own policies. Are the rumors true that it is not only for reasons of political correctness, but also because she is Lendale White's girlfriend and White is friends with Ryan Kalil, who happens to be the son-in-law of the song girls' coach; so her selection on the squad was done as a favor for the coach's daughter and son-in-law, despite numerous song girl policies being clearly violated with her inclusion on the squad?

When the Song Girls participated in Swim With Mike did any of them exhibit "Elite" speed?

When the Oregon cheerleaders were at the Coliseum were they given the evil and jealous eye by the USC Song Girls and their advisors?

Have you thought about replacing the header of your blog that currently has a cliched image of Tommy Trojan's head with the picture of you and the Oregon cheerleaders?

Scott, will you be covering the SG tryouts this Sunday? Are the press allowed and can you take photos? Will you be arranging a tailgate party for your readers who have created the group, Reform SGs Now? Will the Daily News buy a keg for our tailgate as payback to your loyal readers? Please cover the SG tryout in-depth with pictures of the candidates, interviews with the SGSC, and expose's of the corruption on display. Scott Wolf for the Pulitzer!

Given that 6 of the top 7 teams must play another top 6 or 7 team at least once and probably twice, what do you think the odds of SC making the NCG game are? Do you think SC would get the nod over an undefeated BYU team?

The soft-serve machine at the Galen! I forgot about that.

Gives us a grade on each of the "O" and "D" linemen. Has anyone of the linemen really surprised or disappointed you? Fight On!

We know you contend that you don't read the comments on your blog, but the fact is that the personal attacks towards you are on the rise. Do you feel these attacks are justified? (Can't wait for your witty answer).

Is the Fat Booster married to the Song Girl Advisor? I also think he broke the soft serve machine in the Galen Center....it was open too long.

You have investigated the Song Girls and have done a very good job of undercovering a lot. Has there been any scandals with the USC yell leaders or even the band?

With the senior linebackers all graduating and junior Mays certain to leave with Ellison at the safeties, who do you see taking their places next year?

I was surprise when DJ Shoemate was moved to fullback. Is he big enough to handle the blocking responsibilities of this position?

USC recruiting has slowed down compared to other teams like Notre Dame, Ohio State, and Florida. USC soft verbal Shaquelle Evans decommited recently and favors Notre Dame and Randall Carroll is uncertain. What is wrong with recruiting and when will recruits start commiting to the Trojans since USC will have many open spots next year like at every linebacker and safety position? Also do you know if 2008 recruit/signee Daniel Campbell, currently at a prep school is committed and part of this year's recruiting class.
Thanks for the blog.

Most experts and fans think USC is back as a top team after beating Oregon, despite trailing at home 10 to 3 in the game and looking confused on defense and commiting bad penalties on roughness and unsportsmanlike plays. USC still has some tough games left and faces underrated opponents like the Fighting Irish, Bruins, and Wildcats. USC is not playing like a top team the Sooners, and SEC teams are playing better. Do you think USC can fix some problems especially the turnovers margin and penalties that have caused them to play badly and play in the National Championship?

Has USC received any complaint or criticism about the writing on the eye black stickers, including "feel me," "pay day," and "I need $" (and potentially others)? If so, what has been USC's reaction? Have the coaches disallowed any writings on the stickers? Or are they blase' about it? Is it no big deal, or does it reflect poorly on USC (especially with the Bush & Mayo investigations)? What is the NCAA's reaction, if any? What are your thoughts about it? I know its a lot of related questions, but any info you can shed on the issue is greatly appreciated.

Scott, thanks for the forum.

http://wearesc.com/forums/archive/index.php/t-50925.html

http://www.trojanwire.com/football/the-joe-mcknight-video.php

There's been a lot of talk about the new rougher fans that the USC football team has attracted, who have no affiliation with the university and many of them are displaced Raider fans jumping on the Trojan bandwagon. So do you think this is being reflected by the lower class of Song Girls we have had this decade, who are devoid of all social values, covering themselves with tattoos, body piercings, breast implants, taking pictures with male genital bongs, and engaging in lesbianism? Do we now have prison-type Song Girls that reflect the rough Raider crowd rather than the old All-American types of the 1970s-1990s with squeaky-clean wholesome images that represented USC?

Did Tricia Pillsbury have a torso length tattoo?

The song girl with the massive tattoo across her rib cage has several other tattoos as well including one on her left wrist that is clearly visible when she is performing in her song girl uniform.

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3007/2861371214_8ee3faa7ca_o.jpg

Is the image of a tattooed up freak really appropriate to have as a song girl?

USC Song Girl policies state that no girl can be on the squad past the fall semester of her senior year, yet Sydnee joined the squad AFTER the fall semester of her senior year. Why?

Scott - What other blogs or college football writers do you like to read?

Scott, thanks for not censoring your readers.

My question is, there has been an explosion of salacious and lewd scandals regarding Song Girlgate. Why has the Daily Trojan been completely ignorant and neglible in their reporting of Song Girlgate and the daily scandals that have occurred? Numerous national media outlets have pciekd up on Song Girlgate, yet the university's own newspaper seem to be out of the loop and clueless with what's been going on. Is the influence of the athletic dept. and the Song Girl leadership so powerful and far-reaching that student journalists themselves are fearful of what could happen to them if they report on this national scandal has rocked and plagued the university? Why aren't they covering the tryouts? Why have they not tried to uncover other remaining scandals like the girls who have been selected but lack the units or aren't qualified? Why have they not questioned the leadership for the salacious and titillating photos of male-shaped beer bongs being so tackily displayed in these girls online profiles? I am shacked at the cluelessness and the lack of journalistic coverage especially with a scandal that has captured the anger and frustration of so many.

What's the status of Broderick Green? Haven't heard from him. With Havili questionalbe (although now he looks ready to go) will Green get some short yardage carries? The few times I've seen him, he's a load! Maybe he's red-shirting this year?

In the past when the USC Song Girls consisted of beautiful and dignified young ladies, they were often afraid of the Trojan football players who had spent time in jail for everything from armed robbery to sexual assault and battery. Now in the 2000s, do you think the USC football players are actually the ones afraid of the tough and rough tattooed up rogue Song Girls, who also happen to engage in relations with women?

USC Song Girl Sydnee, who has gained notoriety by having a body covered in tattoos and piercings, become a first year Song Girl as a 22 year old senior and graduated in May 2008. Around the time college students are 21 year old seniors, they have usually matured and are ready to move on with their lives. Since Song Girls are usually 18 or 19 years old when they begin and 20 to 21 years by the end, how inexplicable is it for a first year Song Girl to be 22 years old and already graduated from college? Why has she not moved on with her life and is only just now starting on the squad rather than moving on with her life to the next stage? Why is she allowed to so blatantly violate the Song Girls' eligibility requirements? What is the deal here?

Did you see if the Oregon cheerleaders had ribcage tattoos?

Were you at Swim With Mike earlier this year? If so, did you know the reason that song girl was wearing a T-shirt was to cover her tattoos?

With Matt Barkley coming in next year with Mustain, Crop, Sanchez, and Green at QB will, is USC recruiting another quarterback possibly one with speed to help the team in practice against running quarterbacks or just a regular quarterback since it looks like no one next season will want to be the scout team quarterback?

Are there any discussions among the powers that be to scrap the now-inappropriate all-white uniforms of the USC Song Girls to more-appropriate orange prison jumpsuits to reflect the women who have comprised the squads during this decade?

Is Song Girlgate the first story you have originated that has gone on to become a national issue?

Is the old adage that 'the officials could legitimately call holding on every play if they wanted to' really true?

HELLO MR. WOLF
I understand that inside on the defensive line, the starters are MOORE AND MOALA, but who, in what order, would rotate in next, would it be CASEY or TUPOU or SPICER? Relatedly, does that leave the starting defensive ends as GRIFFIN and WILLIAMS? Thank you, sir.

Scott, there for a while, Malik Jackson only had an offer from Fresno St., apparently for academic reasons, is my understanding, until he pulled up his grades, or greatly improved on his SAT's, or whatever. Does this mean that Fresno State and other schools have easier admission standards than the PAC 10 schools do, even considering 'special admits'? Thanks for putting your time in on the forums.

Just how hard is it to pick seven or eight attractive young women on a campus with 33,000 students with values to be song girls? This is not rocket science.

About 15 percent of the Trojan Marching Band are not students at USC. They are either enrolled at other colleges, are still in high school, and some are not students of any kind. So in light of the selection committee of the USC Song Girls going against their own requirements for who can and cannot be a Song Girl, are there any discussions to outsource the process to allow girls who are not even enrolled students at USC to be a part of the squad?

More hilarious joke:

A) Pete Carroll saying "The Pac-10 is ridiculously hard"
B) Anyone who ever thought Sanchez was a Heisman candidate

In my previous question about six questions above, I meant to say CLAY MATTHEWS rather than WILLIAMS. Guess I need to cut down on the drinks!

Scott, I know we play the other PAC 10 teams every year plus Notre Dame. That leaves room for two other intersectional, or non-conference games. In 2009, that would be OHIO STATE, and, I think, SAN JOSE ST.
If that's right, then, starting with 2010, could you give us the other two opponents for as far out as you can? I think BOSTON COLLEGE is in there, and maybe COLORADO STATE but not sure. Are these future opponent contracts fairly binding would be a related question, as I seem to remember RUTGERS backing out a while back. Thanks much.

After watching the game yesterday, it seems to me that one of our biggest problems, with the exception of Jeff Byers, is the young, relatively inexperienced offensive line, both when it comes to run blocking and pass protection.
Do you and/or the coaches expect to see a great deal of improvement in this area as the season goes along?
Is the potential there, or is it just a lack of talent?
Thanx for having the open forums.

The only two occasions when Mark Sanchez has played in hostile environments -- at Oregon in 2007 and at Oregon State in 2008 -- he collapsed and looked completely nervous and disoriented when the student bodies of those universities got on him with various chants of "rapist," "molester" and "felon" throughout the game.

There was also the infamous incident with the LA Times where he lied on the record about videotaped evidence against him, when he did not know how to answer the questions so he blatantly lied and demanded the interview end and abruptly walked away.

Now against Arizona State, he set a new USC record with four straight turnovers, including three interceptions, and rather than face the media after the game, he ran out as fast as he could. This was in stark contrast to John David Booty who after the Stanford loss in 2007 when he threw four interceptions, which were due to a broken finger on his throwing hand, stood there like a man and fielded one tough question from the media after another.

So if there is clearly a pattern of immaturity and lack of poise and ability to handle tough situations on the part of Sanchez, why is he allowed to continue? These have been issues and questions that have been raised about Sanchez since he came to USC and continue to plague him to this day. All these reporters are saying that they have never seen a player run off without answering their questions after a tough game, so why is he never held accountable for his actions? If he cannot handle poor situations that are his doing, why is he allowed to keep embarrassing the university in such an immature manner?

This does not count of as my question, but this is the only thread where you read the comments. Did you see KTLA (Channel 5)show called the 5th Quarter where they spotlighted USC/UCLA. You should of tv'd it. It was probably the funniest spotlight of USC ever. First, they interviewed Mark Sanchez (no complaints). Then they interviewed Pete Arbogast (YES!, FREAKING PETE ARBOGAST), he told us why he wears Hawaiian shirts and how he's lucky for USC and how he came up with HOW DO YOU DO?. Then ended the show with about an 8 minute feature of the Song Girls (about how prestigious and how much class they had.....HUH??). They interviewed one of the song leading directors, not Nelson, but the other one. They said how competitive it was. (...right). They must of said the words, classy and competitive 10 different times. I can't find a youtube link for you, but hopefully you can investigate or one of your readers has more info.