Posted Yesterday at 01:16 AM1 day Los Angeles TimesCommentary: At sagging USC, Lincoln Riley should be on th...USC is no longer one of the top programs in college football, and Lincoln Riley is a big reason why the Trojans have remained mired in mediocrity.Article is a fun read as it uses the last 16 years of Trojan mediocrity to put things in perspective.And they don't mention the Ducks once. But we all know they are thinking of us.
Yesterday at 01:24 AM1 day Administrator "USC has basically become the other USC — a South Carolina-type program filled with big aspirations but average results.""Most folks think Riley is not on a hot seat because of the untenable cost of his buyout, reportedly in the neighborhood of $80 million.""Through 40 games, Riley is 26-14. Through 40 games, Clay Helton was 28-12 as a head coach." Mr. FishDuck
Yesterday at 01:31 AM1 day Author 6 minutes ago, Charles Fischer said:"Through 40 games, Riley is 26-14. Through 40 games, Clay Helton was 28-12 as a head coach."Where are the "Bring back Helton chants?"
Yesterday at 03:09 AM1 day One of the problems at USC is that a great many of their fans are mired in the distant past. They believe they are still a top 5 program. Now, they believe that a head coach that has totally flubbed everything over the past 4 years has a chance to take a squad full of retreads and mediocre talent to the playoffs. This USC team does not have one 5 star player on its starting 22. Yet they think they are loaded with championship talent.Nobody is standing up and demanding excellence. The admin keeps hiring duds without even checking their background.One small example of how it is.....Oregon stole their outstanding left guard Pregnon for this year......so they went out and hired a player that is nowhere near as good but passable to plug the hole because their OL recruiting has been bad.......and then they forgot to check if he is eligible. They waited til last week to ask. He filed suit last week to get a determination from the ncaa. Who dropped the ball......nobody seems to care or is blamed.It's over down there.Truth is Pete C was only hired because the first 2 candidates turned them down.....if not for that strike of lightening the last time they were good was way back in the 70's.What a mess.
Yesterday at 05:54 AM1 day Administrator 2 hours ago, fred flintstone said:So they went out and hired a player that is nowhere near as good as Pregnon, but passable to plug the hole because their OL recruiting has been bad.......and then they forgot to check if he is eligible. They waited til last week to ask, and he filed suit last week to get a determination from the NCAA.I have two reactions... Mr. FishDuck
16 hours ago16 hr Moderator 11 hours ago, fred flintstone said:Truth is Pete C was only hired because the first 2 candidates turned them downSounds like our Altman situation and that has turned out alright.
15 hours ago15 hr Moderator 14 hours ago, David Marsh said:But we all know they are thinking of us.Even better.
15 hours ago15 hr Moderator Thanks for the post, DM. There is nothing like getting whipped by a homeboy reporter. 😁Ole Miss and SC canceled a H+H series scheduled to be the Trojans' opening game of the 2025 season in LA. Why Troy canceled out on a team from a conference that Riley can occasionally defeat was surprising. USC will likely be 4-0, MO. State, Georgia State (the return of Feet of Clay), at Purdue, and Michigan State, headed into Week 5. In a CFB-loaded Week 5 that sees Forum Fanatics in Beaver (!) Stadium, SC trips to Illinois, that, if it wins on the road against Duke and Indiana, will also be 4-0. (It likely won't happen, but a loss to the Georgia State Fighting Heltons🙃 could see a firing not at the airport but in the Coli parking lot.)Weeks 6 through 10 are a bit more problematic for Riley and Company - Bye, Michigan, at Notre Dame (for the last time?), Bye, at Nebraska before a Week 11 visit from Northwestern, which could see many fans in the Coli disguised as empty seats. Weeks 12 through 14 see Troy closing in the Pacific time zone, with Iowa, at Oregon, and UCLA.The O/U for SC in 2025 is 7.5 wins. Will SC go 4-4 in its last 8 games and cover? I think it will be a struggle. I'd bet the Under if I had to; however, and despite the LA Times take, SC does have a Blue Chip Roster and will have a 'roster advantage' against every opponent but Michigan, Notre Dame, and OBD. I'm looking at 11/22/25 being a rowdy and fun night in Autzen Stadium. 😀
13 hours ago13 hr All, Not to lessen the proposed mirth with regard to Coach Helton, but Coach Helton is the Head Coach at Georgia Southern. I laughed about your "Feet of Clay" term - appropriate! Best regards and Go Ducks! KCDuck1
13 hours ago13 hr Moderator Lincoln, you're No. 1 on the list, buddy. IMO, Michigan, with its schedule in 2025, should not be on this list.Saturday BlitzThese 3 Big Ten teams will be the biggest disappointments...During the Summer months, hope springs for College Football programs as almost every fan base can talk themselves into the chance that they can go on a run for
12 hours ago12 hr USC has the same problem most programs do in major markets with pro sports, celebrities, nightclubs, and a million things to do everyday. Notice that Georgia Tech (Atlanta), Miami, UCLA(Los Angeles), Boston College, Rutgers(Jersey/New York) , Northwestern (Chicago), Temple (Philadelphia) Vanderbilt (Nashville) and just about every other program located in a major market just doesn't have the fan support.Eugene, Ann Arbor, Madison, Tuscaloosa, Baton Rouge, College Station, Auburn,Gainesville, Athens(Georgia), Knoxville, Happy Valley,Oxford(Ole Miss), Clemson, Lincoln, and Norman are great home environments. Texas(Austin), Ohio State(Columbus), and Washington(Seattle) are really the lone mid to major metro markets that have great college atmospheres. Miami used to have a somewhat good environment when they were playing at the Orange Bowl, but Dolphins stadium is huge and soulless. The Coliseum and Rose Bowl are great, but they are like ghost towns unless USC is in dynasty mode or it's the actual Rose Bowl game filled with fans from outside LA. I know the article really wasn't about home environments, but I truly think there is a lack of passion with the USC program unless they are undefeated. Duck fans rock out every week. The passion level is at another level.
12 hours ago12 hr 1 minute ago, GatOrlando said:USC has the same problem most programs do in major markets with pro sports, celebrities, nightclubs, and a million things to do everyday. Notice that Georgia Tech (Atlanta), Miami, UCLA(Los Angeles), Boston College, Rutgers(Jersey/New York) , Northwestern (Chicago), Temple (Philadelphia) Vanderbilt (Nashville) and just about every other program located in a major market just doesn't have the fan support.Eugene, Ann Arbor, Madison, Tuscaloosa, Baton Rouge, College Station, Auburn,Gainesville, Athens(Georgia), Knoxville, Happy Valley,Oxford(Ole Miss), Clemson, Lincoln, and Norman are great home environments. Texas(Austin), Ohio State(Columbus), and Washington(Seattle) are really the lone mid to major metro markets that have great college atmospheres.Miami used to have a somewhat good environment when they were playing at the Orange Bowl, but Dolphins stadium is huge and soulless. The Coliseum and Rose Bowl are great, but they are like ghost towns unless USC is in dynasty mode or it's the actual Rose Bowl game filled with fans from outside LA.I know the article really wasn't about home environments, but I truly think there is a lack of passion with the USC program unless they are undefeated. Duck fans rock out every week. The passion level is at another level.Not untrue, there really aren’t a lot of college powers in large metros in any sport, but USC has overcome this quite a few times. The right coach and administration could still kill it there. Very different than trying to bring someplace like Nebraska or Oklahoma back.Not going to lie, if I could be 20 with no expenses and making $500k+ a year, LA would be pretty appealing. I’d take that deal right now at 55 😂 Edited 12 hours ago12 hr by JabbaNoBargain
12 hours ago12 hr 1 minute ago, JabbaNoBargain said:Not untrue, there really aren’t a lot of college powers in large metros in any sport, but USC has overcome this quite a few times. The right coach and administration could still kill it there.Not going to lie, if I could be 20 with no expenses and making $500k+ a year LA would be pretty appealing.It's a great place if you have the $$$. I understand why pros gravitate there. I see the appeal for an 18 year old we with millions of NIL or collective money in their pockets. There are endless ways to enjoy being young and wealthy. Easy to get into trouble as well, which any of us at 18 could fall into despite our upbringing and being taught better.USC and Miami are always talked about by our great friends Cowherd and Finebaum. Cowherd loves those two while Finebaum hates them with a burning passion. I kind of wish they'd do a show together 😂.USC and Miami both have multiple titles, Heismans, huge branding, and no shortage of bag men and controversies. So there's always going to be the benefits of resources, but also the downfalls of distractions. It takes the right coach to juggle and walk the line. Neither have the right guy at the moment imo. Neither will ever have the home field advantage of an Oregon or Florida either.
9 hours ago9 hr Mediocre!This is not opinion. This is not hyperbole. This is fact.In the last 16 seasons USC has recorded double-digit victories five times.During that same time span, Alabama has recorded double-digit victories 15 times.The Oregon Ducks have recorded double-digit victories in 11 of the past 16 seasons! Edited 9 hours ago9 hr by PittDuck Spelling
9 hours ago9 hr Oregon Ducks have recorded double-digit victories in 11 of the past 16 seasons.If we had played a SEC type schedule, we would have at least 3 more double digit seasons.Pretty harsh put down on USuC when it's your hometown sports writer who carries national clout.Gotta love it!
6 hours ago6 hr Moderator 7 hours ago, Jon Joseph said:Lincoln, you're No. 1 on the list, buddy.Not to quibble, but Riley, and USC overall, 5 double digits victories in the last 16 years. To be a disappointment there has to be a belief that they will do better in 2025.
2 hours ago2 hr Author 12 hours ago, Jon Joseph said:Thanks for the post, DM. There is nothing like getting whipped by a homeboy reporter. 😁Ole Miss and SC canceled a H+H series scheduled to be the Trojans' opening game of the 2025 season in LA. Why Troy canceled out on a team from a conference that Riley can occasionally defeat was surprising.USC will likely be 4-0, MO. State, Georgia State (the return of Feet of Clay), at Purdue, and Michigan State, headed into Week 5. In a CFB-loaded Week 5 that sees Forum Fanatics in Beaver (!) Stadium, SC trips to Illinois, that, if it wins on the road against Duke and Indiana, will also be 4-0.(It likely won't happen, but a loss to the Georgia State Fighting Heltons🙃 could see a firing not at the airport but in the Coli parking lot.)Weeks 6 through 10 are a bit more problematic for Riley and Company - Bye, Michigan, at Notre Dame (for the last time?), Bye, at Nebraska before a Week 11 visit from Northwestern, which could see many fans in the Coli disguised as empty seats.Weeks 12 through 14 see Troy closing in the Pacific time zone, with Iowa, at Oregon, and UCLA.The O/U for SC in 2025 is 7.5 wins. Will SC go 4-4 in its last 8 games and cover? I think it will be a struggle. I'd bet the Under if I had to; however, and despite the LA Times take, SC does have a Blue Chip Roster and will have a 'roster advantage' against every opponent but Michigan, Notre Dame, and OBD.I'm looking at 11/22/25 being a rowdy and fun night in Autzen Stadium. 😀Big big shame that USC and Ole Miss don't play this year. Just think... Riley would have had the rare opportunity to get beat by two former USC head coaches if they played. Instead we'll just have to settle for the return of Clay Helton who is doing a decent job at GS. But Kiffin getting a shot to beat USC would have been sweet! Does he still have a former USC kid at QB too? Gahhh missed opportunity.
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