IMHO Sunday: USC holds its nose in the aftermath of the Pac-12’s demise
In my humble opinion, cardinal and gold thoughts on what I see, what I hear, and what I think from Los Angeles:
The aftermath: Closing eyes and holding its nose, the inclusion of Oregon and Washington into the Big Ten has got to be silently but absolutely nauseating for the USC Trojans, who thought they would be so unique and more appealing to football recruits than ever after having “previously” been one of two schools on the West Coast to be in the Big Ten Conference.
The aftermath – Part 2: The addition of the Ducks and Huskies to the Big Ten returns the West Coast recruiting playing field to business as usual. It’s not like the Trojans weren’t having their hands full already with the pesky Ducks, but Washington’s resurgence means recruiting will be more intense than ever both in Southern California and the West region. And we’re not even talking about Big Ten teams already having made their recruiting presence in SoCal and the Great Northwest. So much for “young man, do you want to play in the superpower Big Ten or the sinking Pac-12?”
The aftermath – Part 3: Well, thanks to the incredible incompetence and mismanagement by both the Pac-12 Conference home office and its hierarchy of member academic institutions, the basic aftermath of the Pac-12 is now complete with the 2023 goodbye tours of USC, UCLA now joined by Oregon, Washington, Utah, Colorado, Arizona State, and Arizona. And Lord help Stanford, Cal, Oregon State, and Washington, a foursome now entered into the Purgatory Conference of Champions at the moment.
The Stanford Cardinal are currently one of just four teams remaining in the Pac-12 for 2024.
(Photo above by Matthew Visinsky/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
The aftermath – Part 4: Despite the addition of Oregon and Washington into the Big Ten, Trojans fans, don’t fill up the barf bag just yet. The same dynamics that were at play when there was a strong Pac-12 still apply. USC remains the storied football program in the West, the Trojans football program has given all indications that with Lincoln Riley as its head coach remains a major player whose foundation remains in the heart of the fertile Southern California recruiting grounds, and a majority of local high school recruits are again strongly looking to stay home and play for the legendary Trojans.
The aftermath – Part 5: While the 2023 season was always going to be a real test for the Trojans to win the Pac-12 Conference title even with All-America QB Caleb Williams, it has now turned into one giant and motivating kumbaya swansong for the Men of Troy, Bruins, Ducks, Huskies, Buffaloes, Utes, Sun Devils, and Wildcats. And who knows what we’ll see in the near future with the Cardinal, Bears, Beavers, and Cougars?
The Washington Huskies will be joining USC, UCLA, and Oregon in the Big Ten come 2024.
(Photo above by Jesse Beals/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
The aftermath – Part 6: This I know, this season’s conference games with Washington and at Oregon for the Trojans suddenly have taken on greater regular season meaning with the knowledge that both the Huskies and Ducks will be looking to make a statement to recruits who will be sure to be watching the results of games with the cardinal and gold. To add more potential intensity, the memory of a 2023 Pac-12 title confrontation between the Trojans and either the Ducks or the Huskies could have a lasting effect on the recruiting class of 2024 and 2025. These will be statement games for all the parties involved.
The aftermath – Part 7: Somewhere in the world, former Pac-12 commissioner Larry Scott is counting all the money he made as the most incompetent and greedy commissioner in conference history. As for current commissioner George Kliavkoff, he, IMHO, is a combination of a fish out of water coming from the entertainment world with no real athletic administrative background, and a lack of understanding that college athletics are sharks in the water as illustrated by the gigantic blunder of losing USC and UCLA to the Big Ten.
Most agree that former Pac-12 commissioner Larry Scott helped destroy the Pac-12 as we knew it.
(Photo above by Jason O. Watson/Getty Images)
The aftermath– Part 8: While it is easy to put the blame on Scott and to a much lesser extent on Kliavkoff, I throw the Pac-12 demise on the academic presidents of the Pac-12, some who treat athletics as a necessary extra-curricular post-high school activity. IMHO, the Big Ten has a history of placing a high premium on both academics and athletics, and the SEC bluntly just tells it like it is by promoting “it just means more” in their propaganda.
Summation: The good news is that the Pac-12 is technically on beyond life support, yet longtime West Coast bitter rivalries (UCLA, Oregon, Washington) will continue in the Big Ten, and that’s still good for not only West Coast college football but nationally, as well. The bad news could be the return of night kickoff times (7:30 P.M. PT?) when two West Coast teams are involved, and the Big Ten will now have to consider dividing into two nine-team divisions after the 2023 season. The latest word is that divisions are not on the table, so stay tuned.
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The Lincoln Riley quotebook…
Trojans’ head football coach Lincoln Riley
(Photo above by Kirby Lee | USA TODAY Sports)
Regarding the movement implosion of the Pac-12 Conference and what effects that will have on his program, Trojans head coach Lincoln Riley told the media on Friday:
“We came here to win national championships. To win national championships, you’re competing against everybody. So, in my mind, nothing has changed. It doesn’t matter what conference you’re in. Most schools in the country are going to recruit in Southern California. There’s a lot of good players out here. Very confident in our brand. Very confident in our approach. Our goals are completely unaffected by anything today.”
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From the press box…
(Photo above by Keith Birmingham/MediaNews Group/Pasadena Star-News via Getty Images)
Nobody asked me…but: With the addition of Oregon and Washington, it seems to me that the Big Ten should go to 10 conference games with two non-conference games. In the Trojans case, obviously, Notre Dame would be one of the two non-conference games.
Nobody asked me…but: With the addition of Oregon and Washington, it seems to me that with now four Big Ten teams on the West Coast, there is a real possibility of 7:30 p.m. Pacific Time kickoffs could be a reality.
Nobody asked me…but: So, what must former Trojan’s athletic director Mike Bohn be thinking right about now given the admission of Washington and Oregon into the Big Ten? For that matter, what is USC president Carol Folt thinking right now, as well? Perhaps more importantly, what is Trojans’ head football coach Lincoln Riley thinking right now? No way Lincoln could have ever envisioned where we are today when he was signing his USC contract.
Former USC athletic director Mike Bohn helped take the Trojans into the Big Ten.
(Photo above by Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports)
Nobody asked me…but: I wonder what the USC athletic director candidates must be thinking about now.
Nobody asked me…but: So, what do you think the athletic directors at Stanford and Cal must be thinking or planning for their potential conference landing spot?
Nobody asked me…but: It’s hard for me to believe that Oregon really had second thoughts about joining the Big Ten until word leaked out that they were concerned about the advantages of being the big fish in a small Pac-12 Pond. To me, going to the Big Ten is a no-brainer even if the Ducks’ share of the financial pie is smaller than current Big Ten members. USC and UCLA, being original members of Big Ten expansion and as part of the TV deal, will receive the same financial equality as Ohio State, Michigan, Penn State, etc.
Did the Oregon Ducks really have to be persuaded to join the Big Ten conference in 2024?
(Photo above by Brian Murphy/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
Nobody asked me…but: I also feel bad for those souls that put in the time and energy for trying to make the Pac-12 Network a viable product. You deserved better, and this may be your farewell tour, too.
Nobody asked me…but: Naturally, the biggest winners of all this week are the television networks, which will now have access to the Seattle and Portland TV market.
Nobody asked me…but: I find it hard to believe that the Big Ten and the television entities aren’t all that motivated to get into the Bay Area market.
Will Cal find a new conference home or remain in a new Pac-12 in 2024?
(Photo above by Thearon W. Henderson/Getty Images)
Nobody asked me…but: Stranded Stanford and its overall sports program will land somewhere, but who the heck wants Cal? The Mountain West Conference? A diluted Pac-whatever?
Nobody asked me…but: I honestly feel bad for Oregon State and Washington State who are helpless and powerless in this realignment free-for-all. Will they end up being the premier names of a reconstituted Pac-12?
Nobody asked me…but: It wouldn’t shock me if current Trojans defensive back commit Dakoda Fields, class of 2024, de-committed, and announced for Oregon, especially now that the Ducks are in the Big Ten. The kid was torn between SC and Oregon when he committed to the Trojans, yet he made another visit to Eugene last weekend. Not good.
With the Oregon Ducks now part of the Big Ten, will that affect CB Dakoda Fields commitment to USC?
(Photo courtesy of Dakoda Fields/Instagram)
Nobody asked me…but: The most intriguing position in training camp is at rush end. Such a vital spot for Alex Grinch’s defense to be effective, and there is a long list of candidates for the starting position. The one candidate that could make a difference is Texas A&M transfer Anthony Lucas, who passes the eye test.
Nobody asked me…but: Speaking of passing the eye test, true freshman rush end candidate Braylon Shelby (6-5, 245) certainly passes the eyeball test.
Nobody asked me…but: Notre Dame has sent out a video announcing that they will wear their special occasion “green” jerseys when hosting Ohio State on Sept. 23. I thought that the green jerseys were normally reserved against the Trojans. If the Irish beat the Buckeyes wearing green, what are the chances ND will dress in green when they play the Trojans in South Bend on Oct. 14?
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The post-game show…
(Photo by Eliot J. Schechter/Getty Images)
Salute to Troy: Okay, the public is invited to this summer’s Salute to Troy on Friday evening, August. 18. Hosted on Allyson Felix Field at Loker Track Stadium, the event will include a meet and greet with players and coaching staff, player autographs, and appearances by the Spirit of Troy and Traveler. The cost to the public is $90 and $80 for those who are a member of the Trojan Athletic Fund.
Salute to Troy – Part 2: Least we forget, the annual Salute to Troy barbecue will commence at 5:30 p.m., and the program begins at 6:30 p.m. As of now, this is not considered a media event, which apparently means the public can attend but we can’t. Go figure.
Salute to Troy on Friday night, Aug. 18, on campus is open this year to the general public.
No Sun Devils Stadium: If you’re planning to attend the Trojans’ last game at Arizona State’s Sun Devil Stadium on Sept. 23 as a member of the Pac-12, it won’t exist. However, the facility will stay the same but has a name change. The new name is Mountain America Stadium. It’s a new 15-year naming rights deal whose sponsor is Mountain America Credit Union.
Are you watching: There are so many “Watch List” Awards that it’s hard to keep track of them all, but they are good for players. The latest Watch List Trojans are center Justin Dedich for the Wuerffel and Rimington Awards, which honors community service and the nation’s top center, respectively, and receiver Tahj Washington for the Paul Hornung Award, given annually to the most versatile player in major college football.
Caleb bobblehead night: A friendly reminder that this Thursday, Aug. 10, the Dodgers are honoring Caleb Williams with his own Dodgers bobblehead. L.A. hosts the Colorado Rockies at 7:10 p.m. and, yes, Caleb’s fingernails have nail art in various colors.
(Photo above courtesy of the Los Angeles Dodgers)
In memory: Former USC assistant coach Mike Giddings passed away last week. Not only was he a great football coach, but he was also one of the last surviving assistant coaches from the John McKay era.
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The Call-in Show…
Caller No. 1: Greg, do you think that the Trojans will have to change their recruiting strategy with Oregon and Washington being admitted into the Big Ten?
Caller No. 1, I am sure that some of the recent recruiting talking points will be readjusted, but overall, it will be recruiting business as usual from past seasons when the Pac-12 was healthy.
Caller No. 2, Greger, do you think that Stanford and Cal will move into the Big Ten?
Caller No. 2, with the Pac-12 having imploded, the television wars between Fox and ESPN will be such that Fox may see a kill shot for the Bay Area TV revenue. However, it wouldn’t shock me if Stanford and possibly Cal at some point join the other refugees from the Pac-12 into the Big Ten.
Does anybody want to invite Stanford or Cal into their conference to get the Bay Area TV market?
(Photo above By Justin Sullivan/Getty Images)
Caller No. 3: Where do you think Stanford and Cal end up in 2024?
Caller No. 3, if I was a betting man, I would venture to say the Mountain West Conference, but perhaps an outside shot at either the Big Ten or Big 12.
Caller No. 4: G-dog, do you normally attend Salute to Troy?
Caller No.4, I have in the past when the media was allowed to go, but the latest word is that this isn’t “a media event.” They might say we can go, but we can’t report on it, which would be odd if the general public and Traveler, the Trojans mascot, are allowed to attend, but the media remains banned.
Traveler will appear for fan photo opportunities at Salute to Troy on Friday night, Aug. 18.
(Photo above by Jayne Kamin-Oncea/Getty Images)
Caller No. 5: Gregorious, do you like Palm Springs?
Caller No. 5, do you like tanning in an oven? To me, Palm Springs is boring and doesn’t have the gambling and glitz of Las Vegas unless you like the nearby Morongo Casino and Resort.
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The Last Word…
In Tuesday’s edition of Inside the Trojans’ Huddle, panelists Erik McKinney, Chris Arledge, and Greg Katz gave their opinions, observations, and analysis on the state of the training camp and what questions need to be answered. In addition, the panel looked at team performance expectations, the schedule, the future of the Pac-12, and viewers’ questions and panel answers.
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