IMHO Sunday: Celebrating USC football fireworks
In my humble opinion, cardinal and gold thoughts on what I see, what I hear, and what I think from Los Angeles:
Fireworks: With the Fourth of July on Tuesday and the opening of the Trojans’ 2023 training camp arriving at the end of this month, it’s a reminder of the great football fireworks on the field that USC has provided its followers for many generations. Whether those gridiron fireworks on the field were on offense or defense, there were explosive highlight plays that will always be remembered from years past and passed down from generation to generation. Today’s IMHO Sunday begins our column with some of those memorable “fireworks” moments by those gridiron Trojans that created them and a special thank you to Notre Dame and UCLA for helping provide them.
Fireworks – Part 2: When it comes to explosive players in the history of USC football, there is little doubt that All-America tailback Reggie Bush is at the top of the discussion.
Fireworks – Part 3: Explosive plays and fireworks of the football kind were on full display when the Trojans carved out the heart of Notre Dame in the 2005 classic in South Bend.
Fireworks – Part 4: Speaking of Notre Dame, the was no bigger box of fireworks than the legendary 1974 “Comeback” over Notre Dame in the Coliseum that defied logic.
Fireworks – Part 5: You want a long-lasting firework for the ages? How about that famous late fourth-quarter pass in the 1969 USC/UCLA football games? Jimmy Jones to Sam Dickerson! And as an added bonus, how about that incredible “hit” by Wild Bunch defensive end Charlie Weaver on UCLA QB Dennis Dummit. Talk about legendary!
Fireworks – Part 6: Then there are the Adoree’ Jackson fireworks in 2016 against Notre Dame, which seems to be a reoccurring and constant antagonist.
Fireworks – Part 7: Was there anybody more explosive as a quarterback than the Trojans’ Sam Darnold? Ask Penn State in the 2017 Rose Bowl all about Darnold. Captain Comeback was the ultimate highlight film during his era.
Fireworks – Part 8: Okay, I hear ya; has there been a more explosive quarterback in the history of USC football than current QB Caleb Williams, the 2022 Heisman Trophy winner? We just gotta show his 2022 highlights, which is like unwrapping the largest fireworks box one could purchase.
Summation: It’s almost criminal, not to mention the thousands of highlights that would qualify as explosive or bell-ringing hits. For now, this small sample size will have to do. Happy Fourth, everyone!
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The Makai Saina quotebook…
EJ Holland/On3
On why he finally committed to USC for the class of 2024, offensive lineman Makai Saina (Arlington, Texas) said:
“I would say what sticks out the most for me with USC is how the coaches and all the staff care about your family. Like coach Riley, he hits my mom up like every other day, just checks in. And like, he knows what they talked about, he doesn’t forget anything. And my mom was a big part of my decision. So my mom being very happy with the coaches and everyone there, that really like put USC up for there up for me.”
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From the press box…
(Photo by Keith Birmingham/MediaNews Group/Pasadena Star-News via Getty Images)
Nobody asked me…but: It was certainly comforting after losing 4-star wide receiver Dre’lon Miller (Silsbee, TX) to Texas A&M on Thursday evening and then rebounding on Friday and Saturday by getting commitments from 3-star safety Braylon Conley (Humble, TX) and 3-star two-way lineman Devid Palepale (Landisville, PA). The Trojans are in the No. 5 spot in the On3 national rankings.
Nobody asked me…but: With the current USC recruiting class of 2024 battling with their soon-to-be Big Ten brothers, it would be logical to question why a local SoCal recruit that SC is pursuing would want or need to commit to another Big Ten school with Lincoln Riley’s program nationally relevant again, already in the top 5 in On3’s national recruiting rankings, and ranked No. 2 overall in the Big Ten rankings for class of 2024.
The Trojans are in a big recruiting battle with Ohio State and ND over local linebacker Kyngstonn Viliamu-Asa from local St. John Bosco.
Nobody asked me…but: He may be a 3-star for the moment, but I was completely impressed with the highlight film on newly committed offensive lineman Makai Saina from Arlington, Texas. His aggressiveness and play to the whistle, ability to pancake defenders, and get to the second and sometimes third level of the defense are outstanding. I’ve seen 4-star players in this year’s recruiting class that weren’t as good as Saina.
Nobody asked me…but: Don’t ask Penn State head coach James Franklin what he thinks of USC recruiting in the Midwest and Northeast. The Trojans have already zinged Franklin a couple of times recently in head-to-head recruiting competition with such prospects like DL Deyvid Palepale.
Penn State coach James Franklin has felt the presence of USC recruiting in the Northeast.
(Photo above by Greg Pickel/BWI)
Nobody asked me…but: And don’t ask Texas coach Steve Sarkisian what he thinks of USC recruiting his state of Texas. He, too, has already felt the power of USC recruiting under Lincoln Riley, having lost Texas talent to the Trojans like Brylon Conley and Makai Saina.
Nobody asked me…but: I can’t recently recall the USC fan base anymore focused on two local recruits coming to USC than the St. John Bosco pair of linebacker Kyngstonn Viliamu-Asa (still undecided after coming off last weekend’s recruiting visit to Ohio State) and safety Peyton Woodyard (still committed to Georgia).
The Trojans are still hopeful that Four-star safety Peyton Woodyard from St. John Bosco will join USC’s No. 5 recruiting class.
(Photo above by Jeremy Johnson/On3)
Nobody asked me…but: I am getting worn out just trying to follow our WerArerSC recruiting encyclopedia Scott Schrader moving around the country at high speed during this recent June recruiting month. He’s in Houston on Friday for the Braylon Conley announcement, and then he’s in Landisville, Pennsylvania, on July 1 for the Deyvid Palepale announcement. Whew!
Nobody asked me…but: Athlon Sports has their latest new preseason Top 25, and the Trojans are ranked 4th in the country behind Georgia, Michigan, and Alabama. Where’s Ohio State, you ask? No. 5 behind the Trojans.
The 2023 USC Trojans have been named preseason No. 4 in the country by Athlon Sports.
Nobody asked me…but: Phil Steele’s highly respected ’23 College Football Preview is available at Barnes and Nobles. The enormous 325-page book is overwhelming in its information about everything college football. As usual, the print is so small you need the Griffith Park Observatory telescope to read it. I suggest you get the digital version and enlarge the print unless you have the eyesight of an eagle.
Nobody asked me…but: Speaking of the Phil Steele preseason “book” now public at Barnes and Noble, the Trojans are ranked No. 7 behind (in order): Georgia, Clemson, Michigan, Alabama, Ohio State, and Penn State.
Led by 2022 Heisman Trophy winning quarterback Caleb Williams, the 2023 Trojans are ranked No. 7 in the country by Phil Steele.
Nobody asked me…but: Of the four Phil Steele All-America teams on offense, the Pac-12 has three of the quarterback positions: No. 1 Caleb Williams, No. 2 Michael Penix Jr. (Washington), and No. 4 Bo Nix (Oregon). FYI, No. 3 was Drake Maye (North Carolina).
Nobody asked me…but: The Trojans landed four Phil Steele magazine preseason All-Americans: First team includes QB Caleb Williams and safety Calen Bullock, the third team features WR Tahj Washington, and the fourth team reveals center Justin Dedich and punter Eddie Czaplicki.
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The post-game show…
(Photo by Eliot J. Schechter/Getty Images)
Forewarned: The USC ticket department has made public that the Coliseum home game against UCLA on Nov. 18 will not be sold as a single-game ticket. Your cheaper alternative is to purchase a mini-plan ticket, which includes all seven home games. The USC ticket department is not selling mini-plan tickets but is accepting deposits.
South Bend sellout: According to the official Notre Dame website, the USC/Notre Dame game on Saturday, Oct. 14, is a sellout. FYI, the official capacity for Notre Dame Stadium is 77,622. The other ND home sellout is against Ohio State on Sept. 23.
The USC/Notre Dame game on Oct. 14 in Notre Dame Stadium has been officially announced as a sellout.
(Photo above by Quinn Harris/Getty Images)
Eugene sellout: According to the Oregon Ducks’ ticket department, the USC game in Autzen Stadium on Nov. 11 is a sellout in terms of purchasing single-game tickets. If you’re desperate, you can always consider buying an Oregon Ducks football mini-plan, which includes USC.
Trojans reunion: The University of Houston will be a USC reunion of sorts as former Trojans All-America defensive lineman and former coach Kenechi Udeze and former USC portal transfer Latrell McCutchin have joined the Cougars’ football program. Udeze will be a defensive analyst, and defensive back McCutchin will try and crack the UH starting lineup if he can obtain a waiver since he has already transferred once from Oklahoma to USC. As an added note, McCutchin’s younger brother, Latraveon, is a freshman linebacker at Houston.
London calling: Congrats to former Trojans’ All-American receiver Drake London for finally getting his plaque on the USC Football Hall of Fame Walk. Well deserved.
House of Victory: Remember when the Trojans seemed completely disunified over what to do and how to handle the NIL challenge? Well, it seems that fear of a poor NIL collective has been eliminated from the equation. According to On3, the Trojans’ House of Victory is among the Top 7 collectives in the country, and USC athletics is now operating on the positive with its NIL platform running at a high level.
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The Call-in Show…
Caller No. 1: Greg, how long can Georgia and Alabama keep their dominance up?
Caller No. 1, as long as they keep winning and have the current head coaches, it’s not going to change unless they get beat and don’t make the playoffs.
Caller No. 2, Katz, how disappointed are you that the Trojans didn’t get a commitment from wide receiver Dre’lon Miller?
Caller No. 2, Disappointed, yes, but depressed, no. This one may not be over until he actually signs a letter of intent. I get why the kid wants or has to commit to A&M due to location, NIL, etc. However, the fact remains that A&M coach Jumbo Fisher has done a miserable job coaching there, and they seem stuck with his buyout. Some guys are just better assistant coaches than head coaches, and Fisher, IMHO, fits this old saying.
After a long recruiting battle, 4-star WR Dre’lon Miller from Silsbee, Texas, announced last Thursday night for Texas A&M.
(Photo above by Billy Embody – On3)
Caller No. 3: Sir, our recruiting class is making me proud. Is there anything about it that you wish was better?
Caller No. 3, while I am impressed so far – assuming all the commits actually sign a letter of intent – I still want to see a quality defensive lineman or two commit to this class of 2024.
Caller No. 4: Grego, I am really concerned about getting a ticket for the USC/Notre Dame game in South Bend. I really want to see it live.
Caller No. 4, don’t sweat it. Just pay the $300-plus for a ticket and go. Think of it as going to a rock concert of your favorite group. It will be well worth the money spent. Just don’t wait too long because it’s certainly not out of the realm of possibility that both teams will be undefeated – if ND can beat Ohio State earlier in South Bend – and highly ranked.
The Trojans travel to South Bend for an Oct. 14 game with Notre Dame in Notre Dame Stadium.
(Photo above by Robin Alam/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
Caller No. 5: GK, how will you spend Tuesday’s July 4th holiday?
Caller No. 5, I will be attending the Dodgers/Pirates game at Dodger Stadium, which will begin at 6:10 p.m. and followed by a special fireworks celebration.
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The Last Word…
In last Tuesday’s edition of Inside the Trojans’ Huddle, panelists Marc Kulkin, Chris Arledge, Erik McKinney, and Greg Katz gave their evaluation of the Taylor Tatum recruiting situation, analyzed the latest recruiting commitments, gave predictions for this past week’s anticipated commitment announcements, provided historical reflections on Big Ten programs Michigan State, Iowa, and Nebraska, and concluded with viewers’ questions and panel answers.
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