IMHO Sunday: Finally arriving at training camp
In my humble opinion, cardinal and gold thoughts on what I see, what I hear, and what I think from Los Angeles:
Finally arriving: With the 2023 USC Trojans the overwhelming official Pac-12 media pick to win the Pac-12 Conference in their final season as a conference member, the off-season is just a few days away from going into hibernation with training camp beginning early next Friday morning at 6:30 a.m. – finally.
Finally arriving: – Part 2: Don’t know about you, but let’s get this season started and find out if Lincoln Riley’s men can live up to the national hype. Take your pick, it’s either hard or easy to believe that the Trojans have not won a Pac-12 title since 2017. This season will present the best and last shot to get the job done before moving to the Big Ten in 2024.
Finally arriving: – Part 3: Judging the comments by Pac-12 football coaches at Friday’s media extravaganza in Las Vegas, winning the conference will be perhaps the most competitive race in the last 20 years, thanks to an array of returning quarterback standouts. USC’s Caleb Williams, Washington’s Michael Penix Jr., Utah’s Cameron Rising, and Arizona’s Jayden de Laura in Las Vegas reinforced the notion that weekly shootouts during conference play would likely be the order of the day.
In a 2023 season of great Pac-12 quarterbacks, returning Heisman Trophy winner Caleb Williams is the best of the best.
(Photo above by Brad Penner | USA TODAY Sports)
Finally arriving: – Part 4: So, like the swallows traditionally returning on cue to San Juan Capistrano each March, you know it’s USC football training camp time when the hot weather returns to Southern California.
Finally arriving: – Part 5: Although practices are expected to be remained closed to the public with limited media access, the reality is that information does get out, and when it’s all said and done, the only thing that really matters is winning the Pac-12 and advancing to the CFP post-season. It’s just that simple, isn’t it?
Finally arriving: – Part 6: When people talk about the Trojans’ second-half schedule being far more dramatic and perilous than the first half, all you need to know is looking at the Pac-12 preseason media poll, the overwhelming favorite Trojans pursuers – No. 2 Washington, No. 3 Utah, and No. 4 Oregon – are all part of the second half of the Trojans’ schedule.
Washington head coach Kalen Deboer and his Huskies are No 2 in the preseason Pac-12 poll.
(Photo above by Steph Chambers/Getty Images)
Finally arriving: – Part 7: For the record, UCLA, which concludes the regular season schedule for the Trojans, is pre-ranked sixth in the media poll and adds to the second-half schedule challenges. Listening to UCLA head coach Chip Kelly at media day, you get the impression that he is very pleased with his team, and gave major props to quarterback Ethan Garbers, who most believe will give way to true freshman Dante Moore, the 5-star recruit from Detroit, Michigan.
Finally arriving: – Part 8: The Trojans catch a first-half conference schedule break when the Cardinal and Gold opens conference play with Stanford, which is picked last in the media poll, in the Coli. However, at media day, Cardinal first-year head coach Troy Taylor certainly didn’t sound like he was coaching a last-place team. He said he is bonding his team’s culture with “love and gratitude.” He’ll need it.
Finally arriving: – Part 9: Speaking of the 2023 schedule, all you need to know regarding the weak first half of the schedule is that in the first six games, the Trojans, according to the conference media poll, play after two non-conference games Stanford (12th), at ASU (10th), at Colorado (11th), and Arizona (8th). Then again at media day, Arizona head coach Jedd Fisch made his team sound like this was the best Wildcats team of the last 30 years.
Arizona coach Jedd Fisch says this is his best Wildcats team.
(Photo above by Christian Petersen/Getty Images)
Finally arriving: – Part 10: As for those Trojans’ first two non-conference games, according to the Mountain West Conference media poll, San Jose State was picked fifth, while Nevada was selected 11th in the 12-team conference. For the record, Boise State was picked to win the MWC ahead of Air Force.
Summation: So basically, Trojans fans can sit back and enjoy the first half of the Trojans’ schedule without much fear of an upset. Obviously, the first-half schedule then morphs from a Dr. Henry “first-half” Jekyll into a Mr. Edward “second-half” Hyde.
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The Caleb Williams quotebook…
USC All-America and Heisman quarterback Caleb Williams at Pac-12 media day in Las Vegas
(Photo above by Scott Schrader/WeAreSC)
Trojans’ 2022 Heisman Trophy-winning quarterback Caleb Williams told ESPN at Pac-12 Football Media Day that he is very motivated for 2023 and explained why:
“I’m very determined. I haven’t been in the College Football Playoff in my two years of playing. … It’s been tough. It bothers me because I play for championships. I don’t play for anything else. So not being able to have the chance and being so close frustrates me. This year it’s going to be a good one.”
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From the press box…
(Photo by Keith Birmingham/MediaNews Group/Pasadena Star-News via Getty Images)
Nobody asked me…but: You have to give Pac-12 commissioner George Kliavkoff credit for his opening Pac-12 Football Media Day remarks. By the time he was done advancing Pac-12 football for 2023, you’d think the conference had surpassed both the SEC and Big Ten. He called Pac-12 football for 2023 the “best it has been in two decades.”
Nobody asked me…but: I have to give big props to the Pac-12 for returning the format of the Pac-12 football media day to a “normal” media day, interviews, and questions from a podium and stage without a lot of a TV sideshow. If you were watching on a media source, you were seeing basically what you would be seeing if you were sitting there in person.
USC head coach Lincoln Riley at 2023 Pac-12 Media Day
(Photo above by Scott Schrader/WeAreSC)
Nobody asked me…but: Losing state of Georgia 5-star receiver Mike Matthews to Tennessee and state of Texas 4-star running back Taylor Tatum to Oklahoma is far from devastating. They were luxuries to USC position groups whose shelves are already stocked with impressive talent.
Nobody asked me…but: We find out at some point Sunday where 4-star linebacker Kingstonn Viliamu-Asa (Bellflower, Ca./St. John Bosco) will commit. Whether it’s USC, Notre Dame, or Ohio State, remember again this is still just an oral commit.
Nobody asked me…but: Some in the media are picking Washington to win the Pac-12. The Huskies come down to L.A. to play in what could be the biggest Pac-12 game to date on Saturday, Nov.12, which is also Troy’s Homecoming Game. It will also be a homecoming for former Trojans starting linebacker Ralen Goforth who transferred to UW after last season.
Former Trojans linebacker Ralen Goforth will line up against the Trojans this season as a member of the Washington Huskies.
Nobody asked me…but: Like many, I was disappointed that Colorado head coach Deion Sanders was not at Pac-12 Media Day in Las Vegas due to a medical procedure. Prime Time was replaced by Colorado defensive coordinator Charlie Kelly. No Deion probably meant a ratings drop for interested media and spectators.
USC quarterback Caleb Williams (#13) and linebacker Mason Cobb (No. 13) represented the Trojans at Pac-12 Media Day in Las Vegas.(Courtesy of Caleb Williams Twitter)
Nobody asked me…but: I don’t think it’s a question of whether the Trojans’ defensive line or the defense, in general, is better going into the 2023 season, but how much better.
Nobody asked me…but: I was chided at the time I predicted it some time ago, but Trojan Raleek Brown, who is no longer listed as a running back but a wide receiver, appears to have been phased out as a running back, and one wonders if he will accept his new receiver role long term going forward.
Former running back Raleek Brown is now listed as a wide receiver on the 2023 roster.
Nobody asked me…but: It would be in the best interest for the Trojans if backup quarterback Miller Moss got more playing time in the first half of the schedule as an insurance policy in preparation for the back half of the schedule when Caleb Williams will be even more aggressively challenged by better defensive lines.
Nobody asked me…but: I can’t wait to see what transfer running back MarShawn Lloyd can do with an extended number of carries.
Nobody asked me…but: As we are experiencing at this point in the summer, the heat of late summer could have as much to do with limiting high attendance for USC’s first couple of games at the Coliseum.
During the long, hot Southern California summer and through September, locals flock to the beach.
(Photo above by Mario Tama/Getty Images)
Nobody asked me…but: Will there be any more anticipation for USC fans than when true freshman Zachariah Branch gets his hands on the ball in open space?
Nobody asked me…but: As excited as I am to watch receiver Zachariah Branch explode on the college football scene, I am equally excited to see the impact of true freshman linebacker Tackett Curtis, who has star written all over him.
Nobody asked me…but: I miss the days when the Trojans Football Media Guide came out in printed form. Don’t get me wrong, I download it like everybody else, but it’s nice to have it on the table for easy access.
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The post-game show…
(Photo by Eliot J. Schechter/Getty Images)
Media cover boys: You can get a free digital copy of the 2023 USC Football Media Guide by going to usctrojans.com and clicking on football.
Media cover boys: On the cover of the 2023 media guide are QB Caleb Williams; WR Tahj Washington; OL Jonah Monheim; LBs Shane Lee, Eric Gentry, Mason Cobb and Shane Lee; RB Austin Jones; OL Justin Dedich; S Calen Bullock; and S Bryson Shaw.
Trojans linebacker Mason Cobb
(Photo above by © BRYAN TERRY/THE OKLAHOMAN / USA TODAY NETWORK)
Media guide addition: I’ve been suggesting for decades that the Trojans have photos of the incoming true freshmen even if they didn’t participate in spring ball. Pop the corks, the 2023 media guide has the entire team photo mugs in color as well as the incoming freshmen. Hallelujah!!!!
Media guide girth: If you are curious, in digital form the 2023 USC Football Media Guide is 313 pages.
Mardi Gras: According to Athlon Sports latest bowl-game predictions, they see the Trojans playing Georgia in one of the semi-final CFP post-season games. It’s the Sugar Bowl for the Trojans, and that would be fun to celebrate New Year’s Eve on Bourbon Street in New Orleans with the game being played on New Year’s Day. The matchup would appear to be No. 1 seed Georgia and No. 4 USC.
Athlon Sports is predicting the Trojans will meet Georgia in the Sugar Bowl as one of the CFP playoff games on New Years Day.
(Photo above by Mandatory Credit: Dale Zanine-USA TODAY Sports)
The alternative: If the Trojans aren’t the No. 4 seed in the CFP final rankings and are ranked higher, it is probable that USC would be placed in the Rose Bowl, which would be the best of all worlds.
Timing: What are the chances that the Trojans will have their new athletic director named before the start of the 2023 football season? Don’t hold your breath.
Title game: 2023 Pac-12 Championship Football Game presale tickets for the title game in Las Vegas is available…if you got the special email. The title game is on Friday, Dec. 1, and there are, of course, expectations that the Trojans will be one of the participants. Last season’s championship at Allegiant Stadium was sold out.
Allegiant Stadium in Las Vegas, home to the 2023 Pac-12 Championship Game.
Recruiting note: Much-traveled defensive lineman T.A. Cunningham, who once played at local Los Alamitos High after having moved from Georgia and then left Los Al to move to Miami, committed on Saturday to Penn State. Cunningham was once a blip on the Trojans’ recruiting radar.
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The Call-in Show…
Caller No. 1: Mr. Greg, I enjoy your WeAreSC Travel Guide. I plan to attend the USC/Oregon game. Any idea where I should stay? I am flying into Portland.
Caller No. 1, I checked almost all the hotels in Eugene, and they are booked and very expensive. I booked both plane flight and hotel in the Eugene area. I don’t like the drive to Eugene or to Corvallis if I can help it. The problem with these games is that you don’t know when kickoff time will be. If it’s a late-night kickoff (7:30 p.m. PT) and you’re staying in Portland, that’s a long drive back late at night. And BTW, the WeAreSC Travel Guide will return the week of the San Jose State game.
Caller No. 2, Grego, I noticed that Erik, Scott, and Marc were all in Las Vegas to cover media day. Why didn’t you go?
Caller No. 2, I felt that those three would do a great job and going to Las Vegas for one day when I could watch it on the Pac-10 Networks would give me what I needed to know for what I do. However, what I do miss about going to media day is a lot of the off-the-record tidbits, info that can’t be printed. Of course, I always enjoyed the “media gift” from the conference. In the old days before media guides were online, I would collect every Pac-12 school’s media guide for reference for the season. In today’s media guide world, few have a hard copy other than a big press release with preseason notes.
WeAreSC’s Scott Schrader, Erik McKinney, and Marc Kulkin during a break with Lincoln Riley at Pac-12 Media day.
Caller No. 3: Mr. Katz, do you plan on attending Salute to Troy in mid-August?
Caller No. 3, I always enjoyed Salute to Troy. Unfortunately, the media in recent years has not been invited to attend. Hopefully, that will change this time around. I really enjoyed the ambiance, food, and the introduction of the team.
Caller No. 4: G-man, if you weren’t writing for WeAreSC, which USC website would you read?
Caller No. 4, good question. I think most of the competing sites do a good job. In fact, I read many of the free articles from other sites because I like reading a good USC football story and seeing the focus of the other sites. It’s not that I am not aware of what is going on, but some of the other columns I truthfully enjoy reading.
WeAreSC.com
Caller No. 5: Gregory, where do you shop for clothes?
Caller No. 5, I like shopping for clothes like pulling weeds in my small backyard. In other words, I don’t. Most of my wearing apparel is sports-related, and during the holidays or birthdays, those close to me know what they should buy me. At this point in my life, my dressing up is probably different than the mainstream. Give me a good USC shirt and some nice Nike sweatpants, and I am good to go. Thank goodness a tie and coat are no longer the expectations in a press box.
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The Last Word…
In Tuesday’s edition of Inside the Trojans’ Huddle, panelists Marc Kulkin, Erik McKinney, and Greg Katz gave their opinions and analysis of the offensive position groups leading into next week’s opening of training camp; more historical Big Ten program reflections; candidates speculation for USC’s new athletic director; favorite Coliseum memories of both USC and non-USC events, and viewers’ questions and panel answers.
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