Open Forum

Which offensive players will be first team All-Pac Ten? I say Sanchez and Byers only.

In your opinion, who has been USC's offensive MVP this season? I'd say D Williams. He's made a ton of big plays and is the go-to guy.

Scott,

Considering Sarkisian's recent interview with Washington I was wondering whether you believe that USC's offensive philosophy will ever change under Ceasar. That is, does it even matter who the offensive coordinator is?

Thanks!

If Steve Sarkisian gets a head coaching job and USC hires a new offensive coordinator, does that mean the quarterback position will be open to competition again in the spring as Sanchez will have no advantage in knowing the Sarkisian playbook and all the quarterbacks will be considered equal in terms of time in the new system? After all, Sarkisian always said experience in another system did not matter, so with a new offensive system, why should Sanchez be assured of the starting job in 2009 without a true competition that would be based on talent this time around rather than length of time in the system (which would no longer apply)?

How long to you give Kiffin in Tennessee before the Vol fans revolt like SC fans did ?

If USC happens to allow the Bruins to score on Saturday, will that force you to have to drop them on your AP ballot? Just trying to jump your poll, based on your rediculous history as a voter. LOL

So, Kiffin didn't get along with Chow, Moses or Davis, any other USC coaches that disliked Goat Boy Kiffen ? I guess it's good to be the son of your head coaches mentor, eh?

If Sarkisian leaves for a head coach position somewhere else, who are the candidates to become the offensive coordinator at USC?

Scott,

Do you get any royalties from the sales of this item from the USC Bookstore: http://www.uscbookstore.com/product_info.php?products_id=4648

So what really happened between Chow and the rest of the coaching staff? This question has been asked several times and you've never answered it.

When Steve Sarkisian was offered the Oakland Raider's job, he planned to take Lane Kiffin woith him to be his offensive coordinator. Then he withdrew and Kiffin took the job. If Sarkisian leaves for Wshington he would take people from USC football staff with him like some offensive coaches and defense coaches to be part of his staff.Also, I would to say that Syracuse and Daryl Gross could hire him too.Pretend also he does not coach the bowl game and possibly tries to bring USC recruits with him. Will him leaving and taking away part of the USC staff hurt the program's on the field like in the bowl game and next season, also would it hurt off the field too in recruiting? Thank you.

HI WOLFIE

That pix of the dog in the larger pix of the boys wrapping Tommy Trojan was George Tirebiter the Second. The original Tirebiter was run over by a car a few years earlier, as you probably know.
That pix of the SC-CAL game in 1951 was great. As you said, Cal. was ranked #1 at the time. The interesting thing is that the Bears led 14-0 at the half, but the Trojans won 21-14 behind Frank Gifford. The game was played at Strawberry Canyon, and the late BOB KELLY played the SC fight song in the background during his entire radio program that night--it was called THE PARADE OF SPORTS on old radio station KMPC. Seems like yesterday.

Anyway, my question is this: The Trojans have now beaten the Fighting Irish 7 straight times--Is that a record against them by any opponent? I think it probably is--I think the old record was 6, held by Michigan State and, of course, the Trojans. Thanks for the forums!

With the news breaking that Steve Sarkisian will be the next coach at Washington, any chance Pete hooks back up with his old buddy Walt Harris? The guy ran a pretty successful program at Pitt and got a raw deal at Stanford.

SW, I'm pumped up for this Open Forum, but more jacked up about Sark leaving to Washington. I'm sure there will be plenty of speculation over the next few weeks about the next OC. I would like to see PC hire an OC with a bright mind, fresh ideas, and the ability to exploit matchups with 5 star athletes. The first name that came to mind was Dirk Koetter. He knows the college game well and is familiar with the Pac 10. Do you think he could be a good fit? More importantly, do you think PC will hire someone who would demand a certain degree of autonomy or are those days over?

Scott, you said it appeared that Hazelton was in the coaches' doghouse all year long. It certainly appeared that way to me too. Besides the dads' letter, can you think of any other reason?
By the way, I think Sarks' blunt comment re Vidal was a disservice to the young man, and could serve no useful purpose for anyone. Not a question for you, but just my own comment that I thought you might possibly want to comment on.

Scott,

Do you think Pete Carroll is happy that Steve Sarksian left as he was when Norm Chow, and Lane Kiffin left and will it allow him to change the offense and game stragety?

Do you think that PC learned anything from the Oregon State 'trap game' loss that he can carry over into future seasons?

USC has had several high profile transfers over the past few years, most of whom seemingly disappear following their transfers. One player I thought for sure would transfer was Fred Davis, who, obviously, followed up his mediocre underclass years with a stellar senior season. Personal issues aside, would many of these transfers have been better off biding their time and remaining at USC?

Why doesn't coach carroll and for that matter other coaches, players, members of the media focus there criticism of the BCS more towards the University Presidents, conference commissioners, bowl committe members etc that are preventing a playoff from developing? I agree that the BCS is flawed but without a playoff it is the next best thing. Remember, without the BCS we never get Ohio St-Miami, USC vs. OU and Texas, Boise St-OU and so on. Could direct challenges from elite coaches to those in charge or the BCS and their defense of it (a playoff will keep the players out of class/ruin the regular season) make a difference?

Do you think all the recent transfers that came from out of state originally [e.g. Moody, Green, Hazelton] will have any impact at all on our out- of- state recruiting, particularly from the South and/or East? Thank you,sir.

If Obama can work with Clinton,maybe Mike Garrett could get Chow and Carroll to make up and get Chow to come back. We need another Heisman quarterback. Do you think hell will freeze over and this could happen?

How's Lil Romeo doing on the basketball team?

I know it has been made clear that PC is very loyal to those he surrounds himself with, but doesn't it say something about Lane Kiffin and Sark that it is so easy for them to leave, when schools like Texas and Oregon announce their soon-to-be headcoaches years in advance in order to keep them from jumping ship?

Will USC now consider hiring a special teams coach with one of the three spots empty due to Sarkisian leaving(he had three positions: assistant head coach, quartebacks coach, and offensive coordinator) since likly Morton or Smith will take to two roles? Also, is it is sad that two coaches( Kiffin and Sarkisian) who were assistants for Chow at USC and who coached his offense style have college head coaching jobs before him, what do you make of this, is this sad that aman who coached Heisman winners and championship teams cannot get a job?

Scott, you said last week that you voted Texas Tech higher than SC since they lost to a higher ranked team, even though they were blown out. With this reasoning, shouldn't Florida be lower ranked than SC and many other one loss teams since they lost to a lower ranked Mississippi (let alone losing at home)? Obviously these polls are subjective, but do you really think Tech would beat SC?

Re the WHO TO BLAME post, since PC is a 'hands on' coach, how often would you guess per game that PC calls the offensive play, or overrules KIFF/SARK and calls it? I hope that PC didn't call that 4th and 2 play against Texas, but he should have, or should have overruled KIFF--wonder why he didn't.

Scott, how much, if any, has the young offensive line improved as the season has gone along, in your opinion? Thanx.