#fighton — Public Fediverse posts

USC Sunday Buzz:

How about the end of that Western Michigan-Michigan game?

Whatever happened, I don’t think the Big Ten did a great job providing an explanation with regard to the clock and how it was synced to the NBC clock. NBC rules analyst Terry McAulay sure thought something was amiss and has not commented on his social media account since the game.

• A word about USC’s attendance: For the first time since 2001, the announced attendance has been below 54,000 for two straught home games. And next up is Louisiana with an 8 p.m. start. Not appealing.
• Two different USC fans have reached out to say a video was shown at the Coliseum on Friday night that featured NFL players who were No. 1 draft picks. The video omitted O.J. Simpson.
• Did anyone else think Cal coach Tosh Lupoi might be over his head watching his debut against UCLA? And I realize one game is not a career. But they definitely lost a winnable game.

My USC-Fresno State Analysis: The Good And The Bad (Yes, Bad)

First, let’s start off with a delusional take from Robert Griffin III.

https://twitter.com/RGIII/status/2096088428270240141?s=20

Last night was a stark reminder how bad this guy is. You declare USC a title contender after beating Fresno State? Fresno State?!?!?

OK, let’s get to the game. The biggest positive was Gary Patterson got overall improvement from Week 1 to Week 2. That’s not something that happened often with D’Anton Lynn.

Patterson’s got a philosophy and is a teacher. That is a reason for optimism.

Now I will say there were plenty of open wide receivers but Fresno State had a quarterback completely incapable of getting them the ball and an offense completely baffled by any blitz. Let’s see how the secondary does against Dante Moore.

With Jide Abasiri and Luke Wafle, Patterson has two disruptors on the defensive line. Opponents will need to game plan for them. I don’t see anything close to that at linebacker or in the porous secondary.

• Now for the offense: I have three main complaints that will go unnoticed by the fanboy media.

1.) The running game. It just looks different from last season and not in a good way. There hasn’t been a breakaway threat in the first two games. You can’t break any long runs against San Jose State or Fresno State? That’s disappointing. And now they are fumbling.

2.) The offensive line. Everyone else told you it was great that all five starters returned. I did not. USC got stuffed twice when it needed a yard. Against Fresno State. At home. They are not moving the pile against bad teams. What happens against Oregon?

3.) Coach Charles Nelson Riley. What is this clown doing having Jayden Maiava run a QB keeper with a 30-0 lead? Maiava got banged up on the play and never returned.

The play also highlighted (AGAIN) Riley’s poor decision making inside the red zone. It happened last week too when USC came up short inside the 10-yard line. Look folks, these things can be plastered over vs. the Tomato Cans that Riley loves to play but USC has some marquee teams on the schedule.

The problem with playing these teams is you can suppose USC is dominating in certain areas but you don’t really know until it plays a real team.

My USC-Fresno State Analysis: The Good And The Bad (Yes, Bad)

First, let’s start off with a delusional take from Robert Griffin III.

https://twitter.com/RGIII/status/2096088428270240141?s=20

Last night was a stark reminder how bad this guy is. You declare USC a title contender after beating Fresno State? Fresno State?!?!?

OK, let’s get to the game. The biggest positive was Gary Patterson got overall improvement from Week 1 to Week 2. That’s not something that happened often with D’Anton Lynn.

Patterson’s got a philosophy and is a teacher. That is a reason for optimism.

Now I will say there were plenty of open wide receivers but Fresno State had a quarterback completely incapable of getting them the ball and an offense completely baffled by any blitz. Let’s see how the secondary does against Dante Moore.

With Jide Abasiri and Luke Wafle, Patterson has two disruptors on the defensive line. Opponents will need to game plan for them. I don’t see anything close to that at linebacker or in the porous secondary.

• Now for the offense: I have three main complaints that will go unnoticed by the fanboy media.

1.) The running game. It just looks different from last season and not in a good way. There hasn’t been a breakaway threat in the first two games. You can’t break any long runs against San Jose State or Fresno State? That’s disappointing. And now they are fumbling.

2.) The offensive line. Everyone else told you it was great that all five starters returned. I did not. USC got stuffed twice when it needed a yard. Against Fresno State. At home. They are not moving the pile against bad teams. What happens against Oregon?

3.) Coach Charles Nelson Riley. What is this clown doing having Jayden Maiava run a QB keeper with a 30-0 lead? Maiava got banged up on the play and never returned.

The play also highlighted (AGAIN) Riley’s poor decision making inside the red zone. It happened last week too when USC came up short inside the 10-yard line. Look folks, these things can be plastered over vs. the Tomato Cans that Riley loves to play but USC has some marquee teams on the schedule.

The problem with playing these teams is you can suppose USC is dominating in certain areas but you don’t really know until it plays a real team.

My USC-Fresno State Analysis: The Good And The Bad (Yes, Bad)

First, let’s start off with a delusional take from Robert Griffin III.

https://twitter.com/RGIII/status/2096088428270240141?s=20

Last night was a stark reminder how bad this guy is. You declare USC a title contender after beating Fresno State? Fresno State?!?!?

OK, let’s get to the game. The biggest positive was Gary Patterson got overall improvement from Week 1 to Week 2. That’s not something that happened often with D’Anton Lynn.

Patterson’s got a philosophy and is a teacher. That is a reason for optimism.

Now I will say there were plenty of open wide receivers but Fresno State had a quarterback completely incapable of getting them the ball and an offense completely baffled by any blitz. Let’s see how the secondary does against Dante Moore.

With Jide Abasiri and Luke Wafle, Patterson has two disruptors on the defensive line. Opponents will need to game plan for them. I don’t see anything close to that at linebacker or in the porous secondary.

• Now for the offense: I have three main complaints that will go unnoticed by the fanboy media.

1.) The running game. It just looks different from last season and not in a good way. There hasn’t been a breakaway threat in the first two games. You can’t break any long runs against San Jose State or Fresno State? That’s disappointing. And now they are fumbling.

2.) The offensive line. Everyone else told you it was great that all five starters returned. I did not. USC got stuffed twice when it needed a yard. Against Fresno State. At home. They are not moving the pile against bad teams. What happens against Oregon?

3.) Coach Charles Nelson Riley. What is this clown doing having Jayden Maiava run a QB keeper with a 30-0 lead? Maiava got banged up on the play and never returned.

The play also highlighted (AGAIN) Riley’s poor decision making inside the red zone. It happened last week too when USC came up short inside the 10-yard line. Look folks, these things can be plastered over vs. the Tomato Cans that Riley loves to play but USC has some marquee teams on the schedule.

The problem with playing these teams is you can suppose USC is dominating in certain areas but you don’t really know until it plays a real team.

My USC-Fresno State Analysis: The Good And The Bad (Yes, Bad)

First, let’s start off with a delusional take from Robert Griffin III.

https://twitter.com/RGIII/status/2096088428270240141?s=20

Last night was a stark reminder how bad this guy is. You declare USC a title contender after beating Fresno State? Fresno State?!?!?

OK, let’s get to the game. The biggest positive was Gary Patterson got overall improvement from Week 1 to Week 2. That’s not something that happened often with D’Anton Lynn.

Patterson’s got a philosophy and is a teacher. That is a reason for optimism.

Now I will say there were plenty of open wide receivers but Fresno State had a quarterback completely incapable of getting them the ball and an offense completely baffled by any blitz. Let’s see how the secondary does against Dante Moore.

With Jide Abasiri and Luke Wafle, Patterson has two disruptors on the defensive line. Opponents will need to game plan for them. I don’t see anything close to that at linebacker or in the porous secondary.

• Now for the offense: I have three main complaints that will go unnoticed by the fanboy media.

1.) The running game. It just looks different from last season and not in a good way. There hasn’t been a breakaway threat in the first two games. You can’t break any long runs against San Jose State or Fresno State? That’s disappointing. And now they are fumbling.

2.) The offensive line. Everyone else told you it was great that all five starters returned. I did not. USC got stuffed twice when it needed a yard. Against Fresno State. At home. They are not moving the pile against bad teams. What happens against Oregon?

3.) Coach Charles Nelson Riley. What is this clown doing having Jayden Maiava run a QB keeper with a 30-0 lead? Maiava got banged up on the play and never returned.

The play also highlighted (AGAIN) Riley’s poor decision making inside the red zone. It happened last week too when USC came up short inside the 10-yard line. Look folks, these things can be plastered over vs. the Tomato Cans that Riley loves to play but USC has some marquee teams on the schedule.

The problem with playing these teams is you can suppose USC is dominating in certain areas but you don’t really know until it plays a real team.

My USC-Fresno State Analysis: The Good And The Bad (Yes, Bad)

First, let’s start off with a delusional take from Robert Griffin III.

https://twitter.com/RGIII/status/2096088428270240141?s=20

Last night was a stark reminder how bad this guy is. You declare USC a title contender after beating Fresno State? Fresno State?!?!?

OK, let’s get to the game. The biggest positive was Gary Patterson got overall improvement from Week 1 to Week 2. That’s not something that happened often with D’Anton Lynn.

Patterson’s got a philosophy and is a teacher. That is a reason for optimism.

Now I will say there were plenty of open wide receivers but Fresno State had a quarterback completely incapable of getting them the ball and an offense completely baffled by any blitz. Let’s see how the secondary does against Dante Moore.

With Jide Abasiri and Luke Wafle, Patterson has two disruptors on the defensive line. Opponents will need to game plan for them. I don’t see anything close to that at linebacker or in the porous secondary.

• Now for the offense: I have three main complaints that will go unnoticed by the fanboy media.

1.) The running game. It just looks different from last season and not in a good way. There hasn’t been a breakaway threat in the first two games. You can’t break any long runs against San Jose State or Fresno State? That’s disappointing. And now they are fumbling.

2.) The offensive line. Everyone else told you it was great that all five starters returned. I did not. USC got stuffed twice when it needed a yard. Against Fresno State. At home. They are not moving the pile against bad teams. What happens against Oregon?

3.) Coach Charles Nelson Riley. What is this clown doing having Jayden Maiava run a QB keeper with a 30-0 lead? Maiava got banged up on the play and never returned.

The play also highlighted (AGAIN) Riley’s poor decision making inside the red zone. It happened last week too when USC came up short inside the 10-yard line. Look folks, these things can be plastered over vs. the Tomato Cans that Riley loves to play but USC has some marquee teams on the schedule.

The problem with playing these teams is you can suppose USC is dominating in certain areas but you don’t really know until it plays a real team.

Strange Attendance At The Coliseum

OK, we have something fishy going on with USC attendance figures.

USC announced Friday night the crowd for the Fresno State game was 53,014. The announced attendance for the San Jose State game was 51,144.

The problem is there were way more people at last night’s game than the previous week. So last week was a gross exaggeration or this week was vast underreporting.

Now it’s pretty common for schools to announce tickets distributed or sold and not actual attendance.

But Fresno State brought more fans than San Jose State and I have a hard believing San Jose was ever a hotter ticket given the 12 p.m. kickoff and weather conditions. Also, the crowd in the photos below looks to me like a lot more than 53,000 tickets were sold or distributed.

Strange Attendance At The Coliseum

OK, we have something fishy going on with USC attendance figures.

USC announced Friday night the crowd for the Fresno State game was 53,014. The announced attendance for the San Jose State game was 51,144.

The problem is there were way more people at last night’s game than the previous week. So last week was a gross exaggeration or this week was vast underreporting.

Now it’s pretty common for schools to announce tickets distributed or sold and not actual attendance.

But Fresno State brought more fans than San Jose State and I have a hard believing San Jose was ever a hotter ticket given the 12 p.m. kickoff and weather conditions. Also, the crowd in the photos below looks to me like a lot more than 53,000 tickets were sold or distributed.

Strange Attendance At The Coliseum

OK, we have something fishy going on with USC attendance figures.

USC announced Friday night the crowd for the Fresno State game was 53,014. The announced attendance for the San Jose State game was 51,144.

The problem is there were way more people at last night’s game than the previous week. So last week was a gross exaggeration or this week was vast underreporting.

Now it’s pretty common for schools to announce tickets distributed or sold and not actual attendance.

But Fresno State brought more fans than San Jose State and I have a hard believing San Jose was ever a hotter ticket given the 12 p.m. kickoff and weather conditions. Also, the crowd in the photos below looks to me like a lot more than 53,000 tickets were sold or distributed.

Strange Attendance At The Coliseum

OK, we have something fishy going on with USC attendance figures.

USC announced Friday night the crowd for the Fresno State game was 53,014. The announced attendance for the San Jose State game was 51,144.

The problem is there were way more people at last night’s game than the previous week. So last week was a gross exaggeration or this week was vast underreporting.

Now it’s pretty common for schools to announce tickets distributed or sold and not actual attendance.

But Fresno State brought more fans than San Jose State and I have a hard believing San Jose was ever a hotter ticket given the 12 p.m. kickoff and weather conditions. Also, the crowd in the photos below looks to me like a lot more than 53,000 tickets were sold or distributed.

Strange Attendance At The Coliseum

OK, we have something fishy going on with USC attendance figures.

USC announced Friday night the crowd for the Fresno State game was 53,014. The announced attendance for the San Jose State game was 51,144.

The problem is there were way more people at last night’s game than the previous week. So last week was a gross exaggeration or this week was vast underreporting.

Now it’s pretty common for schools to announce tickets distributed or sold and not actual attendance.

But Fresno State brought more fans than San Jose State and I have a hard believing San Jose was ever a hotter ticket given the 12 p.m. kickoff and weather conditions. Also, the crowd in the photos below looks to me like a lot more than 53,000 tickets were sold or distributed.

USC-Fresno State Live Blog

Lincoln Riley said Jahkeem Stewart might return this week. Well, he is still wearing a boot and will not play tonight.

USC-Fresno State Live Blog

Lincoln Riley said Jahkeem Stewart might return this week. Well, he is still wearing a boot and will not play tonight.

USC-Fresno State Live Blog

Lincoln Riley said Jahkeem Stewart might return this week. Well, he is still wearing a boot and will not play tonight.

USC-Fresno State Live Blog

Lincoln Riley said Jahkeem Stewart might return this week. Well, he is still wearing a boot and will not play tonight.

USC-Fresno State Live Blog

Lincoln Riley said Jahkeem Stewart might return this week. Well, he is still wearing a boot and will not play tonight.

Pick The USC-Fresno State Score

With the early kickoff last week, I didn’t have a post to pick the score so we can start today.

Will this be a routine blowout or will USC make it closer than expected like last week?

Pick The USC-Fresno State Score

With the early kickoff last week, I didn’t have a post to pick the score so we can start today.

Will this be a routine blowout or will USC make it closer than expected like last week?

Pick The USC-Fresno State Score

With the early kickoff last week, I didn’t have a post to pick the score so we can start today.

Will this be a routine blowout or will USC make it closer than expected like last week?

Pick The USC-Fresno State Score

With the early kickoff last week, I didn’t have a post to pick the score so we can start today.

Will this be a routine blowout or will USC make it closer than expected like last week?

Pick The USC-Fresno State Score

With the early kickoff last week, I didn’t have a post to pick the score so we can start today.

Will this be a routine blowout or will USC make it closer than expected like last week?

If It’s Friday, It’s Time For A USC Notes Column

The big USC Associates booster group pre-game picnic on campus drew less than 400 people at the San Jose State game. Usually, the smallest crowd of the season for the picnic is between 800-900.

• A Saturday noon kickoff in boiling heat and a Friday night kickoff in Week 2. Is this the most fan unfriendly start to a USC season? Not to mention the opponents.

• USC women’s volleyball opened the season with an impressive sweep of No. 12-ranked Arizona State but has since lost to No. 13-ranked Creighton and No. 9-ranked Texas. Unlike Lincoln Riley, these Trojans play a tough non-conference schedule.

• Presley Kiffin, the daughter of Lane Kiffin, is not listed on the current USC women’s volleyball roster.

• Fresno State features two former USC players — defensive lineman Deijon Laffitte and offensive lineman Gino Quinones.

Believe it or not, this is Quinones’ eighth season of college football. His USC recruiting class including Drake London, Drake Jackson and Kedon Slovis. London is about to begin his fifth year in the NFL.

You know who the special teams coach is at Fresno State? The infamous John Baxter, who had two stints at USC. And then there is Fresno State coach Matt Entz, who was linebackers coach at USC.

• Ezra Frech, a Paralympian high jumper and long jumper who was on the USC track team in 2025, is one of the guest dancers on the new season of “Dancing With The Stars.”

• And now for some history:

USC-FRESNO STATE 2005

Will any USC-Fresno State game ever top this?

Even though Fresno State was ranked No. 16, this game was considered another routine victory.

But Fresno State led 21-13 at halftime. USC then looked like it put the game away with 21 straight points to start the second half for a 34-21 advantage. Fresno State then came back and led 42-41 with nine minutes left.

But this was perhaps the greatest individual performance in NCAA history as Reggie Bush accounted for 513 all-purpose yards, rushing for 294. USC won, 50-42.

“That game went 15 rounds,” Fresno State coach Pat Hill said. “That was a 15-rounder. It wasn’t a TKO in the first round.”

The craziest aspect was the impact of the game on Fresno State, which nearly record its biggest win ever. Instead the Bulldogs lost nine of the their next 10 games.

USC-FRESNO STATE 1992

If the 2005 game was a near-disaster, the 1992 Freedom Bowl was a disaster.

USC took a 7-0 lead before Fresno State scored 24 straight points before a robust crowd (50,xxx) at Anaheim Stadium.

“Names and logos don’t mean anything,” USC coach Larry Smith said. “You don’t beat someone just because of your name and logo.”

Three days later, Smith was fired.

PICTURES OF THE WEEK

Barbara Bouchet

Sharon Tate with young model named Tom Selleck.

If It’s Friday, It’s Time For A USC Notes Column

The big USC Associates booster group pre-game picnic on campus drew less than 400 people at the San Jose State game. Usually, the smallest crowd of the season for the picnic is between 800-900.

• A Saturday noon kickoff in boiling heat and a Friday night kickoff in Week 2. Is this the most fan unfriendly start to a USC season? Not to mention the opponents.

• USC women’s volleyball opened the season with an impressive sweep of No. 12-ranked Arizona State but has since lost to No. 13-ranked Creighton and No. 9-ranked Texas. Unlike Lincoln Riley, these Trojans play a tough non-conference schedule.

• Presley Kiffin, the daughter of Lane Kiffin, is not listed on the current USC women’s volleyball roster.

• Fresno State features two former USC players — defensive lineman Deijon Laffitte and offensive lineman Gino Quinones.

Believe it or not, this is Quinones’ eighth season of college football. His USC recruiting class including Drake London, Drake Jackson and Kedon Slovis. London is about to begin his fifth year in the NFL.

You know who the special teams coach is at Fresno State? The infamous John Baxter, who had two stints at USC. And then there is Fresno State coach Matt Entz, who was linebackers coach at USC.

• Ezra Frech, a Paralympian high jumper and long jumper who was on the USC track team in 2025, is one of the guest dancers on the new season of “Dancing With The Stars.”

• And now for some history:

USC-FRESNO STATE 2005

Will any USC-Fresno State game ever top this?

Even though Fresno State was ranked No. 16, this game was considered another routine victory.

But Fresno State led 21-13 at halftime. USC then looked like it put the game away with 21 straight points to start the second half for a 34-21 advantage. Fresno State then came back and led 42-41 with nine minutes left.

But this was perhaps the greatest individual performance in NCAA history as Reggie Bush accounted for 513 all-purpose yards, rushing for 294. USC won, 50-42.

“That game went 15 rounds,” Fresno State coach Pat Hill said. “That was a 15-rounder. It wasn’t a TKO in the first round.”

The craziest aspect was the impact of the game on Fresno State, which nearly record its biggest win ever. Instead the Bulldogs lost nine of the their next 10 games.

USC-FRESNO STATE 1992

If the 2005 game was a near-disaster, the 1992 Freedom Bowl was a disaster.

USC took a 7-0 lead before Fresno State scored 24 straight points before a robust crowd (50,xxx) at Anaheim Stadium.

“Names and logos don’t mean anything,” USC coach Larry Smith said. “You don’t beat someone just because of your name and logo.”

Three days later, Smith was fired.

PICTURES OF THE WEEK

Barbara Bouchet

Sharon Tate with young model named Tom Selleck.

If It’s Friday, It’s Time For A USC Notes Column

The big USC Associates booster group pre-game picnic on campus drew less than 400 people at the San Jose State game. Usually, the smallest crowd of the season for the picnic is between 800-900.

• A Saturday noon kickoff in boiling heat and a Friday night kickoff in Week 2. Is this the most fan unfriendly start to a USC season? Not to mention the opponents.

• USC women’s volleyball opened the season with an impressive sweep of No. 12-ranked Arizona State but has since lost to No. 13-ranked Creighton and No. 9-ranked Texas. Unlike Lincoln Riley, these Trojans play a tough non-conference schedule.

• Presley Kiffin, the daughter of Lane Kiffin, is not listed on the current USC women’s volleyball roster.

• Fresno State features two former USC players — defensive lineman Deijon Laffitte and offensive lineman Gino Quinones.

Believe it or not, this is Quinones’ eighth season of college football. His USC recruiting class including Drake London, Drake Jackson and Kedon Slovis. London is about to begin his fifth year in the NFL.

You know who the special teams coach is at Fresno State? The infamous John Baxter, who had two stints at USC. And then there is Fresno State coach Matt Entz, who was linebackers coach at USC.

• Ezra Frech, a Paralympian high jumper and long jumper who was on the USC track team in 2025, is one of the guest dancers on the new season of “Dancing With The Stars.”

• And now for some history:

USC-FRESNO STATE 2005

Will any USC-Fresno State game ever top this?

Even though Fresno State was ranked No. 16, this game was considered another routine victory.

But Fresno State led 21-13 at halftime. USC then looked like it put the game away with 21 straight points to start the second half for a 34-21 advantage. Fresno State then came back and led 42-41 with nine minutes left.

But this was perhaps the greatest individual performance in NCAA history as Reggie Bush accounted for 513 all-purpose yards, rushing for 294. USC won, 50-42.

“That game went 15 rounds,” Fresno State coach Pat Hill said. “That was a 15-rounder. It wasn’t a TKO in the first round.”

The craziest aspect was the impact of the game on Fresno State, which nearly record its biggest win ever. Instead the Bulldogs lost nine of the their next 10 games.

USC-FRESNO STATE 1992

If the 2005 game was a near-disaster, the 1992 Freedom Bowl was a disaster.

USC took a 7-0 lead before Fresno State scored 24 straight points before a robust crowd (50,xxx) at Anaheim Stadium.

“Names and logos don’t mean anything,” USC coach Larry Smith said. “You don’t beat someone just because of your name and logo.”

Three days later, Smith was fired.

PICTURES OF THE WEEK

Barbara Bouchet

Sharon Tate with young model named Tom Selleck.

If It’s Friday, It’s Time For A USC Notes Column

The big USC Associates booster group pre-game picnic on campus drew less than 400 people at the San Jose State game. Usually, the smallest crowd of the season for the picnic is between 800-900.

• A Saturday noon kickoff in boiling heat and a Friday night kickoff in Week 2. Is this the most fan unfriendly start to a USC season? Not to mention the opponents.

• USC women’s volleyball opened the season with an impressive sweep of No. 12-ranked Arizona State but has since lost to No. 13-ranked Creighton and No. 9-ranked Texas. Unlike Lincoln Riley, these Trojans play a tough non-conference schedule.

• Presley Kiffin, the daughter of Lane Kiffin, is not listed on the current USC women’s volleyball roster.

• Fresno State features two former USC players — defensive lineman Deijon Laffitte and offensive lineman Gino Quinones.

Believe it or not, this is Quinones’ eighth season of college football. His USC recruiting class including Drake London, Drake Jackson and Kedon Slovis. London is about to begin his fifth year in the NFL.

You know who the special teams coach is at Fresno State? The infamous John Baxter, who had two stints at USC. And then there is Fresno State coach Matt Entz, who was linebackers coach at USC.

• Ezra Frech, a Paralympian high jumper and long jumper who was on the USC track team in 2025, is one of the guest dancers on the new season of “Dancing With The Stars.”

• And now for some history:

USC-FRESNO STATE 2005

Will any USC-Fresno State game ever top this?

Even though Fresno State was ranked No. 16, this game was considered another routine victory.

But Fresno State led 21-13 at halftime. USC then looked like it put the game away with 21 straight points to start the second half for a 34-21 advantage. Fresno State then came back and led 42-41 with nine minutes left.

But this was perhaps the greatest individual performance in NCAA history as Reggie Bush accounted for 513 all-purpose yards, rushing for 294. USC won, 50-42.

“That game went 15 rounds,” Fresno State coach Pat Hill said. “That was a 15-rounder. It wasn’t a TKO in the first round.”

The craziest aspect was the impact of the game on Fresno State, which nearly record its biggest win ever. Instead the Bulldogs lost nine of the their next 10 games.

USC-FRESNO STATE 1992

If the 2005 game was a near-disaster, the 1992 Freedom Bowl was a disaster.

USC took a 7-0 lead before Fresno State scored 24 straight points before a robust crowd (50,xxx) at Anaheim Stadium.

“Names and logos don’t mean anything,” USC coach Larry Smith said. “You don’t beat someone just because of your name and logo.”

Three days later, Smith was fired.

PICTURES OF THE WEEK

Barbara Bouchet

Sharon Tate with young model named Tom Selleck.

USC Morning Buzz: A “Reality” Check For The Boss

I’m disappointed USC did not have Gary Patterson available to speak to the media this week. He’s the one guy worth talking to, especially since Lincoln Riley was so clear about the defense playing well the first three quarters and falling apart in the fourth.

“I know he’s pissed right now about the fourth quarter, as you can imagine, because the guy’s standards are so high,” Riley said about Patterson.

• Does anyone ever check what Lincoln Riley says for accuracy?

“Reality is that during my years here, attendance has gone up every year,” Riley said this week

Well, let’s check out that statement:

USC in 2024: 71,571 fans per game
USC in 2025: 67,783 fans per game

Does that look like USC’s attendance has gone up? So why did Riley say it? Because he’s always spinning..

• USC’s new depth chart includes defensive end Braylan Shelby, defensive tackle Jahkeem Stewart and safety Kendarius Reddick, which means they should be available to play vs. Fresno State.

USC-San Jose State Report Card

QUARTERBACK

Jayden Maiava’s stats looked better than he did but part of that was the vanilla offense. He also didn’t look like a senior on a couple plays (the key 13-yard sack, the failed 4th down near the goal line).

Grade: B-

RUNNING BACKS

Two tailbacks who each flashed during games last season plodded through the line with zero breakaway threat. And you know what? The running backs coach ripped them for their performance. So there’s your confirmation.

Grade: C

WIDE RECEIVERS

News flash: Trent Mosley is good. Really? Who knew the California state player of the year who led Santa Margarita to the state title would deliver? The other freshmen all look game prepared and we didn’t even see Boobie Feaster yet. I will admit that I thought Mark Bowman had more pop as a receiver than he showed.

Grade: B+

OFFENSIVE LINE

Unlike the fan boys, I think we need more sample size than one game against a bang-average opponent to judge the line. USC averaged 4.1 yards per carry. San Jose State averaged 4.3. Who thought that would happen before the game?

Grade: C+

DEFENSIVE LINE

Jide Abasiri was a standout and Luke Wafle showed why he was a five-star prospect. The rest of the group did not wow me, however, mainly because of the outrageous hype they got in the offseason. Maybe that’s unfair. but they were portrayed as unstoppable.

Grade: B

LINEBACKERS

The unit wasn’t better than expected and wasn’t worse. But I’m not sure you can fail to meet modest expectations when the opponent is San Jose State. Like the offensive line, let’s wait and but it remains a concern.

Grade: C

DEFENSIVE BACKS

Who can they cover at this point? And I’m not just talking about the fourth quarter. USC had the audacity to want to play Notre Dame in Week 0. Can you imagine what that would look like? Notre Dame’s passing game against the gang that couldn’t cover anyone?

Grade: D+

SPECIAL TEAMS

Trent Mosley will be a dangerous returner. The kickers were serviceable. The only setback was too many men on the field penalty on the punt.

Grade: B–

COACHING

The playcalling inside the red zone looked suspiciously familiar. More troubling was the ease with which posr-game excuses arose from a victory over a lame opponent. It’s the true freshmen’s fault! Yeah, they make mistakes. It happens. But who was the coach unnecessarily putting them all on a pedestal before the first game?

Grade: D+

The Same People Who Overhyped Freshmen Now Say To Relax

USC had the No. 1-ranked recruiting class, no questions asked.

The problem is there is a cottage industry of media/fans who overhype everything at USC, especially the recruiting class. They have done this for months . . . and months.

So is it a surprise that some of the fans that naively listen to these people are then frustrated when the freshmen struggled in the fourth quarter?

It’s like a slap in the face because they never hear anything but how perfect everything is and they cannot comprehend growing pains.

And then the fanboys have to come back by saying, hey relax, they are freshmen. Yes. We know. But you overhyped them for at least a year!

USC Notes: Fresno State Names QB

USC is finally selling single-game tickets to the Oregon game starting today. Prior to today, you had to buy a package with tickets for the Oregon game plus two other games.

• Fresno State has named Jayden Mandal the starting quarterback. He has never started a game and appeared in six games in 2024. He did not play last season because he was injured.

• I can’t imagine USC officials are thrilled that Paul Finebaum criticized them today.

https://twitter.com/awfulannouncing/status/2094450061132312789?s=20

Morning Buzz: USC Goes Viral For The Wrong Reasons

USC has an uncanny ability to create problems for itself. With so few games played on Saturday, a lot of attention focused on the USC game, which turned out to be another black eye for an athletic dept. that cannot stay out of its way.

The sparse crowd at the San Jose State game continued to go viral on Sunday with even the Athletic wading into the situation.

It’s led to fans all over the country criticizing USC after the terrible optics of a pretty empty Coliseum for the season-opener.

Personally, I think anyone who went to the game in these conditions was crazy. But that doesn’t absolve USC of creating an own goal.

It rashly refused to play Notre Dame in November, which created an opening in the schedule. Jen Cohen said USC would play at least one Power 4 team in the nonconference but instead scheduled San Jose State.

Even worse, USC wanted the game in Week 0 and then agreed to an insane 12 p.m. kickoff for NBC. Was anyone thinking when this agreement was made? They sure weren’t thinking about the fans.

In the midst of a heatwave, did USC arrange for temporary shade or hydration stations inside the stadium (not outside)?

• Critics also pointed out USC drew 84,325 for the San Jose State game in 2009. But that was a different era, most notably because Pete Carroll was the coach.

For the past five years, I have repeatedly pointed out Lincoln Riley refuses to meet with fans. Pete Carrol was opposite. He met with anyone.

Why does it matter? Because Riley has no base of support with the USC fans. If the Trojans are not great, then the fans don’t have much reason to be invested in the program. Riley never gives them one.

Game Day! Here’s My Complete Take On USC And Season Prediction

OK, here’s what I have to say about USC in 2026. I spoke to Ryan Holt on The Rational Hour podcast and gave him my views of the team, weak spots, strengths and my season prediction. I also spoke to him about the importance of No. 55 and gave him my thoughts on today’s game.

You can listen to the podcast here.

USC Notes: Lincoln Riley Figuring Out How To Be Successful

USC apparently suffered multiple injuries in training camp that are just coming to light.

The depth chart was already missing several key players: WR Terrell Anderson, DE Braylan Shelby and OT Elijah Vaikona.

Today, Lincoln Riley said backup safeties Marquis Gallegos and Kendarius Reddick are out for the San Jose State game. It’s the reason true freshman Madden Riordan is backing up both safety spots on Saturday.

And wide receiver Tanook Hines will be a game-time decision on whether he plays.

Now this doesn’t really matter if it a one-game injury or even three-games given the schedule. The question is who else is hurt? We don’t know because Riley doesn’t say.

• Riley on how he improved as a coach:

“Probably my overall understanding of how USC works and then with that the longer I’ve been here you get a stronger feel for what it takes to be successful here.”

He is in his fifth season at USC and just now getting a feel for what it takes to be successful?

He is at USC!!!

What needs to be figured out? What if he were at Oregon State? Would he need 20 years to figure things out? The guy makes excuses like no one else.

I bet he didn’t mention this during his job interview with Mike Bohn.

USC Sunday Buzz: If You Push Aside Tradition, Then You Need To Win

The Salute to Troy kickoff dinner was Friday night at USC.

And for the fifth straight year, Lincoln Riley did not emcee the event. Since at least the mid-1990’s, the USC coach has been the emcee of the dinner. John Robinson used to enjoy it and every coach after him also did it (including Pete Carroll and infamously, Steve Sarkisian).

But the point is they did it. Clay Helton did it, even when the crowd probably didn’t want to hear him. Riley? Well, he’s too important to do it. At least one year, he had his director of operations, Clark Stroud, do it, which didn’t go over well.

The crowd seemed down this year. Why? Maybe the heat? But maybe also because USC fans want more, even with the excitement from the recruiting class and the constant glazing of the team by the fanboy media. It’s going to take some actual winning to get bigger crowds.

USC Notes: Former Quarterbacks Have Sons Teaming Up

Last night’s Santa Margarita football game featured QB Fletch Palmer throwing a TD pass to WR Grant Van Raaphorst.

Palmer is the son of Santa Margarita coach and ex-USC QB Carson Palmer. Van Raaphorst was the son of former USC QB Mike Van Raaphorst.

Carson Palmer and Mike Van Raaphorst were teammates at USC.

• Some sad news: Ralph Allman, who was a huge supporter of USC athletics, passed away earlier this week. Allman was a member of the Board of Trustees in the 1990’s and served as President of the General Alumni Association. He was also a major supporter of the USC dental school and taught there part-time in addition to his private practice.

If you went to a USC basketball game at the Sports Arena or Galen Center, he was fixture sitting courtside and loyal booster.

USC Saturday Buzz: A Five-Star Injury

Sophomore defensive tackle Jahkeem Stewart is apparently on crutches with a foot injury and expected to be out 3-4 weeks.

Remember, Stewart underwent surgery last November for a stress fracture in his foot that bothered him throughout last season.

The question now is whether this is going to be a recurring injury and something to be concerned about even after he returns. He was fighting for a starting job during training camp. That doesn’t matter. What matters is that he gets healthy and the situation with his foot gets resolved.

USC Sunday Buzz: Here Comes A Fourth-Star For Recruit

Now that QB Trey Wright has committed to USC, what is the over/under on when he gets awarded a fourth star by the recruting services?

• Now how does this make sense? The Galen Center will host the WBC Middleweight World Title fight between Lester Martinez and Luka Plantić. The three-fight card is supposedly starting around 1 p.m.

USC plays San Jose State at noon the same day. So now parking will be even more difficult for the fans who don’t have parking passes.

• USC men’s basketball will play at Cal on Nov. 11. Not exactly a marquee game but at least it’s an old Pac-12 rival.

USC Morning Buzz: A Training Camp Highlight Or Lowlight?

USC scrimmaged yesterday and a highlight was this long TD play by freshman wide receiver Boobie Feaster.

Even USC wanted the public to see a glimpse of Feaster’s explosiveness and put rhe clip on social media..

But here is something else to consider: Who was on the defense? Among the players chasing Feaster were Taylor Johnson, Jadyn Ramos, Joshua Holland, Talanoa Ili, Trestin Castro, Isaiah Rubin and Brandon Lockhart.

Most of these guys are first-or-second year players. That explains a lot.. It’s not the first-team defense. I’m providing some context because nobody else will.

Here’s the other thing: What does Gary Patterson think of the play?

https://twitter.com/uscfb/status/2087710067328180260?s=20

USC Needs To Up Its Shirt Game

School is about to start but the USC Bookstore has some uninspiring shirts for sale. Not exactly upping its game for the fall.

USC Morning Buzz: Can You Make A Case For The Offensive Line?

I’ve gone against the grain and identified the offensive line as an area of concern throughout the offseason.

Many listed it as a strength and one reason was the return of all five starters.

With Tobias Raymond switching to center, one option is that Hayden Treter will start at left guard. So now we have an inexperienced center and a left guard who did not start a game until the Alamo Bowl last season. In fact, he was mostly used on special teams last year.

And right tackle is also not secured as Justin Tauanuu and Elijah Vikona are battling at the spot.

The good news for USC is a pathetic first three games (San Jose State, Fresno State, Louisiana) that are glorified exhibition games. So that will give the offensive linemen time to get experience if necessary.

But there will be questions about how good they are, especially when Oregon and Co. show up on the schedule. I would argue that any concerns I had in the spring and even more amplified today.

• The Lakers were sold to Josh Kushner and Bob Iger for more than $12 billion. Of course, Iger is the husband of Willow Bay, who is the dean of the USC Annenberg School of Communication and Journalism.

Notes: Here’s A Power 4 Opponent With Openings To Play USC

Now that USC has spurned Texas Tech, and it has no Power 4 nonconference games until 2030, it’s worth pointing out that the Trojans and Notre Dame currently have openings on their schedules in 2028 and 2029.

The openings are early in the season, which meets Lincoln Riley’s strict rules of engagement. Notre Dame has games available for September 2nd, 2028 and September 8th, 2029.

Let’s see if common sense prevails. It usually does not.

• Here are the odds at Bet MGM for some teams to win the national championship:

8/1—Oregon

35/1—USC
80/1—Utah

80/1—BYU

150/1—ASU

150/1—Washington

250/1—Boise St

400/1—Arizona

500/1—Colorado

USC Morning Buzz: Another Tradition Under Risk

The new football building is open for business and the official grand opening was yesterday.

It’s wild how some of the fanboy media are acting like they are part of the team when describing the sparking facility. Does it benefit the media? Do they play in the games?

One concern from yesterday. The Heisman Trophies of past USC winners are on display in the new building after being in the Heritage Hall lobby for more than 40 years.

Why does it matter? Because if the new building is not open to the public, USC fans will no longer be able to see the Heismans.

Now maybe the new building will allow public access but consider the McKay Center, where football previously resided, has been off limits to the public since 2012. And I cannot imagine Lincoln Riley wants any part of allowing fans into his inner sanctum.

Hopefully, I’m wrong. Otherwise, the fans will no longer be able to see the Heisman Trophies. Some people hate it when I stick up for the fans, whether it’s ticket prices, continuing the Notre Dame rivalry or being able to view the Heismans.

But the fans are really the backbone of USC football so they should be considered.

USC Notes: The Big Day Arrived!

The new football building has its grand opening ceremony today. USC has closed the street in front of the building from 7 a.m.-9 p.m.

Fourteen hours? For what? So that no donors are inconvenienced when they get chaffeured in a golf cart to the ceremony?

Fortunately for the students, fall classes have not started yet. But summer classses are still in session.

• USC and Wichita State will play a basketball game at South Lake Tahoe on Nov. 8 per Jon Rothstein. So, Eric Musselman isn’t going to upgrade the schedule, apparently.

• Season-ticket holders got this loud-and-clear message this week. Your tickets have arrived! Now get ready for San Jose State!

USC Sunday Buzz: Transaction Time

Lincoln Riley held his press conference yesterday in the new football building. But USC is not allowing any visual documentation of the inside of the building yet, so it was probably the first press conference in years that didn’t include video from local media.

• Josh Goossen-Brown, the director of player development for USC baseball, has been hired as an assistant coach at Santa Clara.
• Former USC wide receiver Jay Fair is seeking a fifth-year of eligibility following Friday’s legal ruling that made all Class of 2022 athletes’ eligible. Whether USC is interested remains to be seen.
• Former USC women’s basketball player Rayah Marshall has signed a 7-day contract with the Connecticut Sun.

Morning Buzz: Lincoln Riley Measures The Standard For USC

Here was a quote from Lincoln Riley yesterday that wasn’t earth-shattering but still telling.

“The standard is championships every year… it’s USC,” Riley said.

What Riley said it’s true. It’s also similar to what he said at his introductory press conference in 2021.

But maybe Riley should spend more time explaining why he hasn’t upheld the standard? What’s he done wrong the past four years? How much is his fault? Does he take any accountability? In the past four years, it’s not really his style to take blame for his wrongdoings.

By the way, what’s his signature accomplishment so far at USC? Destroying the nation’s greatest intersectional rivalry. Congrats to Mr. Muleshoe!

• Remember last weekend, when I said USC officials refused to confirm when training camp opened? They finally said it will open Friday (July 31). Not July 30 as some around here erroneously insisted.

USC Pitcher Grant Govel Returns For Junior Season

USC pitcher Grant Govel has decided to return for his junior season after being drafted in the 16th round by the Pittsburgh Pirates.

I didn’t expect Govel to turn pro but if he had, USC would have been in a dire position. As it is, the Trojans have still suffered severe losses in the transfer portal and still might not be good next season.

With his return, at least USC knows it has its No. 1 pitcher and can count on him every Friday night during the season. Govel was 10-3 last season with a 2.87 ERA.

USC Morning Buzz: Was It Really Worth Alienating A Booster?

Did USC really need to alienate booster Brian Kennedy to the point of Kennedy filing a lawsuit?

Let’s review: For more than 25 years, USC has had two football practice fields. Howard Jones Field and Brian Kennedy Field.

After the construction of the new football building and expansion, it still has two football fields. One is still called Howard Jones Field. So why isn’t the other one still called Brian Kennedy Field?

Did USC want to charge Kennedy twice for the same practice field? Or does it think it could find another donor to pay for his name on the field?

The athletics project — including the new Dedeaux Field — still needs to raise another $25 million for completion. No one is banging the door down for their name on a football field. Or the baseball stadium clubhouse or dugout (which are for sale).

So why alienate a booster who already paid and would probably keep donating, if you treat him right?

I can say this: Kennedy had USC written in his will. I highly doubt that remains the case given the rancor caused by all of this.

Since the death of Wayne Hughes, USC doesn’t really have a super booster any more. So it doesn’t make sense to alienate one.

• USC held its Beach Blanket Bingo in Hermosa Beach yesterday. Did you go? You know who I didn’t see there? Lincoln Riley.

To paraphrase Claude Rains in Casablanca, “I’m shocked! Shocked to find that Lincoln Riley was not there.”

Fresno State Readies For USC

Fresno State coach Matt Entz, who used to be an assistant at USC, spoke today about playing the Trojans on Sept. 4.

“Playing USC is probably like playing the Avengers, they’re pretty talented. they’re pretty gifted,” Entz said.

“Where can we create mini victories within a game? That can help us stay close and keep it tight. Being a complemetary team can help us in a game like this.”

At first I thought Entz was referring to the old L.A. Avengers of the Arena Football League but that’s me.

I did find his comment about playing complementary football interesting. He saw how Lincoln Riley coaches first-hand a couple seasons ago.

Riley has gotten a little better at playing complementary football but I’m eagerly waiting to see how Gary Patterson handles that during the season.

Sunday Buzz: World Cup Gaffes Of The Day

It’s a great World Cup final when John Strong of Fox thinks Matt Damon is Brad Pitt.

https://twitter.com/TheOnlyCritic/status/2078924990372589639?s=20

And over on the BBC, Guy Mowbray is having just as rough a day.

https://twitter.com/big_business_/status/2078927420007109076?s=20

If It’s Friday, It’s Time For A USC Notes Column

USC football is having a “Beach Day” on Tuesday in Hermosa Beach from 8-10 a.m. between 9th and 10th street. The players will work out, play dodgeball, sign autographs and pose for photos.

• LeBron James spoke at the Time magazine 100 gala last night after the magazine named him athlete of the century and took a moment to thank USC.

“Obviously, if it wasn’t for the coaching staff and the medical team, everybody at USC being there in a timely fashion, we would possibly be sitting here without our son.”

• And now for some history:

• Below is a great photo of a March, 1952 spring practice that showed the depth of USC’s backfield. From left, Al “Hoagy” Carmichael, Jim Sears and Addison Hawthorne under the watch of Frank Gifford (far right), who two months earlier was the 11th pick in the NFL Draft by the New York Giants.

• It always fascinates me how people can pretty much dedicate their lives to someplace like USC and then within a short time, they are forgotten.

Here is an example: Charlie Graves was USC gymnastics coach and a P.E. professor from 1928-57. He won a national title in 1938 and is in the USA Gymastics Hall of Fame.

• Johnny Carson hosted the first noon rally of the football season at Bovard Auditorium the day before USC hosted Pitt at the Coliseum on Sept. 25, 1954. At the time, no one knew Carson would go on to become America’s best-known late-night talk show host with his 30-year reign on The Tonight Show (1962-92).

Carson was a writer-performer for CBS when he hosted the rally.

• When the recently retired USC track coach Dean Cromwell celebrated his 75th birthday in 1954, the Football Writers of Los Angeles had a birthday cake for Cromwell at their luncheon. The only problem was they forgot to invite Cromwell.

• Has USC ever not had an attendance problem with basketball?

In 1954-1955, the average attendance was 1,642. The previous year, when USC won its conference title, it averaged 3,173 per game.

But those figures were attributed to the fact USC games were played at unsuitable venues like the Shrine Auditorium, Olympic Auditorium and Pan-Pacific Auditorium.

Here’s what an alumni publication wrote in 1956:

“Within the next year — perhaps in time for the 1956-1957 basketball season — the new 17,000-seat Coliseum arena will be completed. Both public and student interest in basketball should soar, particularly with the arena being situated right next door to the Trojan campus. Let us hope so.”

The Sports Arena was completed in 1959. Once it became unfashionable, the theory was attendance problems would be solved once USC built an on-campus arena (the Galen Center). See how history repeats itself!

• Maybe things would be different if the “Howard Jones Memoral Fieldhouse” had ever been built. It would seat 10,000 and cost $1,000,000 and the athletic dept. tried to raise the money in 1947.

The fieldhouse was to be located where the George Lucas School of Cinematic Arts and McKay Center currently reside. But only $38,000 was raised and the rendering below is all that got produced.

• On a lighter note, do you remember in 1991 when Traveler bumped a Stanford Dollie cheerleader during the USC-Stanford game at the Coliseum?

Traveler was running down the then-existing track and his shoulder hit Debbie Bain, who was performing a dance move, knocking her to the ground in the third quarter. Bain was not injured and rejoined the Dollies in the fourth quarter.

A member of the Trojan Knights responsible for clearing the track said there were at least three other incidents that night where Traveler almost hit someone.

“I would like to see (Traveler) slowed down a bit,” said Scott Seidenverg, who was a Trojan Knight.

The best quote came from Richard Saukko, who owned Traveler and dressed as Tommy Trojan for decades.

“The girl was told to be off the track and she insisted on still kicking,” Saukko said.

PICTURES OF THE WEEK

Ingrid Boulting

Astrid Heeren

USC Morning Buzz: A Bullish Season Prediction

Like Joel Klatt and a host of others, J.D. Pickell tends to be a USC homer.

Here he predicts USC goes 10-2 this season.

The only losses are to Oregon and Ohio State. So he’s bullish on USC.

But let’s review his record of opinions on USC.

https://twitter.com/jdpickell/status/2077561514135781820?s=20

Here he is downplaying the disappointing 2023 season (which was followed by a worse 2024), by the way. But he will never remind you of this.

https://twitter.com/jdpickell/status/1726693979226517961?s=20