IMHO Sunday: It’s all about the patch
In my humble opinion, cardinal and gold thoughts on what I see, what I hear, and what I think from Los Angeles:
The patch: Whether it was a planned strategy, a directive from the new conference, or a simple look-what-we-have-here, there is a lot of buzz deriving from a rather simple change by the team seamstress in charge of uniform logos and symbols. You know what I am talking about or at least I think you do. It’s all about the patch.
The patch – Part 2: What patch, you say? Well, have you been on a recent vacation from USC football news? Although USC’s official transition into the Big Ten is just a little over a year away, the current standard campus visit photo shoot now includes home and away jerseys that no longer showcase the Pac-12 logo on the upper front right breast but instead display the logo of the Big Ten Conference.
Class of 2024 Trojans CB commit Marcelles Williams wears a USC visiting jersey with the Big Ten logo.
The patch – Part 3: While the highly anticipated 2023 season is about two months away, there continues to be increasing signs of the Trojans’ transition from the Pac-12 to the Big Ten. Not all that long ago, there was the ballyhooed release of the 2024-25 Big Ten football schedules, which included both USC and UCLA. The Trojans excitedly learned of the teams and locations for the two-year cycle of conference games although the exact sequencing of games was not released. It was, however, a huge reminder of what is on the horizon. To be honest, it actually was a large dose of Big Ten reality, and it certainly got the adrenaline pumping.
A detailed view of a Big Ten logo is seen on a podium microphone during the Big Ten Football Media Days in Chicago.
(Photo above by Robin Alam/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
The patch – Part 4: The release of the 2024-25 schedules was such a big deal that the Big Ten Network considered worthy of special event status, thus and preempting regularly scheduled programming. It was like the release of the Oscar nominations. The eyes of College football and those looking ahead to the expanded CFP 12-team playoff format in 2024 wanted to see how this new schedule might affect the field in the future.
The patch – Part 5: The release of the Big Ten 2024-25 schedules with USC and UCLA got the exact euphoric reaction that the Big Ten intended and the Pac-12 dreaded, which alerted Southern Californians that the Trojans and Bruins were now in the midst of transitioning from Pac-12 country to Big Ten country. It will still take some time to get used to the idea that SoCal is Big Ten country, but it’s coming and approaching with a great deal of anticipation and excitement. That actually might be an understatement as the months roll on and depending on the outcome of the Trojans’ 2023 season.
Class of 2024 linebacker recruit Tyanthony Smith is wearing a USC home jersey with the logo of the Pac-12.
The patch – Part 6: Although the new Big Ten patch on the Trojans’ jersey fronts has gotten the attention of the class of 2024 and beyond blue-chippers, it probably didn’t register to recruits quite as much as the high-velocity release of the Big Ten schedule release. However, the public appearance of the “patch” did fascinate the public and was the talk of the town. No doubt, the display of the patch without much public fanfare did get a reaction for the upcoming future.
The patch – Part 7: IMHO, literally comparing the Pac-12 logo to the Big Ten logo in just pure design for a uniform is a win for the Pac-12. To me, the Pac-12 logo just plain looks better. However, it wouldn’t shock me if in this process to a 16-team conference, the Big Ten doesn’t eventually roll out a new and more striking Big Ten logo.
The patch – Part 8: While the Big Ten logo lacks aesthetic beauty, it certainly doesn’t diminish its intended purpose, and that is to flex its continuing power as a national brand. There’s no question, IMHO, that the class of 2024 recruits and those in subsequent years will focus on the Big Ten logo. How do we know? Because recruits have already said so publicly. In terms of recruiting, the Big Ten is already here and not in the future because the class of 2024 will enter as freshmen into the Big Ten Conference.
Class of 2024 USC recruits WR Dre’lon Miller (left) and LB Tyanthony Miller (right) sporting Big Ten logos on their Trojans’ jerseys.
Summation: The Pac-12 might not like the logo change during this class of 2024 recruiting cycle, but the Trojans are without question treating the future like it’s here because it is. It’s only a question of time before the USC Bookstore starts selling those Big Ten patches to the Trojans’ student body and the general public, which also means T-shirts and other Big Ten wearing apparel won’t be all that far behind.
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The Tyanthony Smith quotebook…
Tyanthony Smith
(Justin Wells/Inside Texas)
Class of 2024 linebacker Tyanthony Smith from Jasper, Texas, on his USC recruiting trip that included his grandmother:
“One of the biggest highlights was really just getting to see California again, this time with my grandmother. She had a smile on her face, a big smile, and she kinda loved it. She loved the feeling. So, when a parent loves the school that you interested in, then you know that, that means something. You know you’re not making a mistake…. a bad mistake. You’re not making a mistake at all.”
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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: It would “appear” that Oklahoma has pulled even or surpassed the Trojans for the services of East Texas running back Taylor Tatum, the nation’s No. 1 running back, who seemed to be very close to committing to the Trojans until his recent official recruiting visit to the Sooners. It’s again a stark reminder that nothing in recruiting is set in stone until that recruit sends in his letter of intent. This recruiting war could last into the regular season, but then again, it’s recruiting where anything goes.
It’s being reported that Taylor Tatum likes USC for football and Oklahoma for baseball and baseball is his first love.
(Photo above by EJ Holland/On3)
Nobody asked me…but: I am certainly impressed with where the Trojans are in sculpturing the recruiting class of 2024, but I was thinking I’d be more impressed with commitments from some additional 4-star offensive and defensive linemen. Then low and behold, the Trojans get a commitment from Clearwater (FL) center Jason Zandamela (6-3, 286) who was considered a lean to Florida State, which places him alongside a budding O-line class that already includes 4-star tackle Manasse Itete (Modesto, Calif.) and 3-star Hayden Treter (Englewood, CO) and there is some impressive momentum going on.
Nobody asked me…but: With an offensive line class that includes the aforementioned commits, if the Trojans can get Santa Ana (Calif.) Mater Dei lineman DeAndre Carter to commit, they would be in excellent position for the future heading into the Big Ten.
The Trojans are pushing hard for class of 2024 4-star offensive lineman DeAndre Carter from Mater Dei High in Santa Ana, Calif.
(Photo above by Image via On3/Chad Simmons)
Nobody asked me…but: Somebody forgot to tell Oklahoma that running back Taylor Tatum (Longview, Texas) was all but going to USC. However, the Sooners made a favorable impression last weekend, and the fact it’s closer to home may have made this an unexpected recruiting battle between the Trojans and the Sooners, and wouldn’t Oklahoma fans want to stick it to Lincoln Riley?
Nobody asked me…but: So, this apparent recruiting battle for Taylor Tatum is real, which means it’s also a battle of recruiters: Kiel McDonald (USC) and DeMarco Murray (Oklahoma). My how time flies because I remember first seeing DeMarco Murray as a Las Vegas Bishop Gorman High running back who would participate in Pete Carroll’s USC Rising Stars Camps. However, Murray eventually signed with the Sooners and then went on to a successful NFL career and now is a formidable recruiter for OU.
USC running backs coach Kiel McDonald is working hard to bring RB Taylor Tatum to Troy and is being challenged by Oklahoma.
(Photo above by Erik McKinney/WeAreSC)
Nobody asked me…but: The potential of Taylor Tatum committing to Oklahoma could present a difficult situation for the Trojans running back plans. It was assumed that another Trojans’ running back target, Texan Nathaniel Palmer, committed to TCU after believing Tatum was going to Troy. Is it possible that the Trojans could lose both Tatum and Palmer when it appeared they could have had Palmer if they hadn’t waited on Tatum? It was Tatum who reportedly asked the Trojans coaches to wait until he made his final recruiting trip so as not to lose his spot on the USC recruiting train.
Nobody asked me…but: The commitment by 4-star St. John Bosco safety Marcelles Williams could prove to be a recruiting dominoes effect in the recruiting of other SJB defensive recruits. It should be fascinating to watch the outcome of other big-time Bosco recruits such as LB Kyngstonn Viliamu-Asa and S Peyton Woodyard. Not exactly breaking news but something to definitely monitor.
Four-star CB commit Marcelles Williams is recruiting SJB teammates Peyton Woodyard and Kyngstonn Viliamu-Asa to join him at USC. (Photo above by Joseph Hastings/On3)
Nobody asked me…but: How many silent commits do the Trojans have that want to wait to make their college decision public at one of the post-season prep all-star games?
Nobody asked me…but: You know the Trojans’ recruiting is going exceedingly well when Alabama’s legendary coach Nick Saban starts singling out USC as one of the major NIL problems. That’s a two-part ploy by the coach to get his boosters to throw in more NIL money and to warn that USC is making an impact in Southeast recruiting.
Even Alabama coach Nick Saban is speaking publicly that he is concerned about USC in the Southeast and the NIL.
(Photo above by Rich von Biberstein/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
Nobody asked me…but: Hard to believe that here we are nearing the end of June and still no publicly announced date and time for Salute to Troy, although the rumor is Friday, August 18th. The Trojans Football Alumni website says to check back later on the date for Salute to Troy. Is the lack of any announcement concerning Salute to Troy collateral damage from the lack of having an athletic director?
Nobody asked me…but: Still in TV contract limbo, is the Pac-12 drowning and the end is near? ESPN’s Paul Finebaum believes so, and says there is a strong possibility that the conference will fall apart altogether by 2026.
ESPN’s Paul Finebaum believes that we may be seeing the last days of the Pac-12 Conference.
(Photo above by Ken Ruinard | The Greenville News via Imagn Content Services, LLC)
Nobody asked me…but: College Football Playoff (CFP) Executive Director Bill Hancock announced last week that he will step down when his contract expires on February 1, 2025. Please, Bill, step down sooner. This guy is the same guy that once said that college football didn’t need a playoff, then as the voice of the old BCS made public that college football needed a playoff and four teams were just fine, and now says, after the CFP field is expanding to 12 teams, he’s retiring…after the 2025 season.
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The post-game show…
(Photo by Eliot J. Schechter/Getty Images)
A relative newcomer: Committed class of 2024 center Jason Zandamela from Clearwater, Florida, is more than meets the eye. It should be noted that Jason, a former rugby player originally from Mozambique, will play in the prestigious All-America Bowl in San Antonio before enrolling in the spring at USC.
The Nissan House: Trojans’ returning 2022 Heisman Trophy-winning quarterback Caleb Williams will appear in this fall’s Nissan Heisman House ads. Caleb is set to appear with former Heisman winners Tim Tebow and Baker Mayfield. The ads are similar to those Heisman House ads last season with former Alabama QB Bryce Young. Caleb should be a star and recruiting tool for the Trojans in the 2023 Nissan House ads.
The quarterback club: Last Monday, a number of legendary USC quarterbacks met in Newport Beach at the Hotel VEA for an event to raise money for one of the Trojans’ collectives, House of Victory, an alumni-backed nonprofit collective. The gathering, called the “QB U”, had tables going for $20,000 and individual seats for $2,500. Proceeds went to the support of USC student-athlete NIL opportunities.
QB U: About the only missing quarterback at Monday night’s House of Victory “QB U” fundraiser was former Heisman Trophy winner Matt Leinart, who had a scheduling conflict and appeared on video. The absence of Leinart hardly put a damper on things as several past and current VIP QBs were in attendance like Carson Palmer, Rodney Peete, Mark Sanchez, Matt Barkley, John David Booty, Paul McDonald, Gordon Adams, Cody Kessler, Max Browne, and, of course, Caleb Williams.
How many of these 13 former USC quarterbacks can you recognize and name?
Answer (L-R) Rodney Peete, Paul McDonald, Gordon Adams, Carson Palmer, John David Booty, Matt Barkley, Cody Kessler, Max Browne, Miller Moss, Jake Jensen, Malachi Nelson, Mark Sanchez, and Caleb Williams.
(Photo above courtesy of House of Victory)
Strike up the band: As if any fundraiser could be successful without an appearance from members of the Trojans Marching Band, there they were to serenade the masses with the songs that have been played for decades to raise the excitement on the spirit barometer. The good news is that nobody at the House of Victory gathering had to ask, “Where’s the band?”
House of Victory – Part 2: In July, the HOV will introduce another fundraiser with plans underway for the Big Man Luncheon at The Pacific Club in Newport Beach, California. Expected to attend are 2023 Trojans linemen Justin Dedich, Jonah Monheim, Bear Alexander, Anthony Lucas, Jamil Muhammad, Kyon Barrs, Elijah Paige, Emmanuel Pregnon, Jack Sullivan, Mason Murphy, Michael Tarquin, and Jarrett Kingston. Tickets are $10,000 a table and individual tickets cost $1,500. All proceeds go towards NIL opportunities for athletes.
The bobblehead: On Thursday, Aug. 10, the Dodgers will honor Caleb Williams with a bobblehead night when the Dodgers host the Colorado Rockies at 7:10 p.m. PT. Now, as a Dodgers season ticket holder, I’ve waited a long time (wink) for a Caleb Williams bobblehead doll (see below) to put next to all by other Dodgers bobbleheads. On second thought, why aren’t the Trojans having a Caleb bobblehead day at one of their seven home games?
USC All-America quarterback and 2022 Heisman Trophy winner Caleb Williams is getting a Dodgers bobblehead night on Aug. 10.
Hall of Fame: The USC Athletic Hall of Fame that has not had any new additions since 2018. However, when the Trojans play at Cal on Saturday, Oct. 28, the Bears will announce their 2023 Hall of Fame Induction Class. This year’s eight inductees will be honored during halftime.
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The Call-in Show…
Caller No. 1: G-dog, based on the fact that the Pac-12 still hasn’t secured a future TV deal, did SC get out of the conference in the nick of time?
Caller No. 1, obviously if both USC and UCLA had remained in the conference, a TV package would have been much more accessible. However, the way things are playing out, there is definitely no regret by either USC and UCLA to move to the Big Ten.
Caller No. 2, Grego, should we expect that if there suddenly is a quality offensive lineman in the portal and available to the program, would Lincoln Riley jump on it?
Caller No. 2, I think that Riley has made it quite clear he and his staff are always looking to improve the team, and that would go for any offensive lineman who could help.
If the Trojans could add to its core of offensive lineman like 2024 commit Manasse Itete out of Central California, they certainly would.
(Photo above by Chad Simmons/On3)
Caller No. 3: Mr. Katz, will the Trojans first three Coliseum games be sellouts?
Caller No. 3, the reality is that San Jose State and Nevada are not exactly tickets in demand. Although the first Pac-12 Conference game follows SJS and Nevada, Stanford doesn’t have a great following, or a great team, and the game will kick off at 7:30 p.m. PT. Something tells me the Stanford game attendance will probably be 70,000 at tops. As for the other two games mentioned, they’re both being played during the hottest part of the afternoon, but I could see 65,000 to maybe 70,000 for SJS and Nevada, respectively.
Caller No. 4: Katzman, Are you concerned that Caleb Williams, who seems to have hit the social scene like crazy in the off-season, will be able to remain focused on winning a national title?
Caller No. 4, only time will tell, but there are no indications at the moment that Caleb is unable to balance being the best player in the country and still participating in all the events he either promotes or participates.
Caleb Williams attended the F1 Grand Prix of Monaco at Circuit de Monaco in Monte-Carlo, Monaco in May.
(Photo above by Marc Piasecki/WireImage)
Caller No. 5: Coacher, last week I loved your Father’s Day column. You mentioned your son is in a successful band. I believed it’s called “Cheekface.” Do they have any videos out so I could listen to them?
Caller No. 5, your wish is my command. While Cheekface is performing this week in London, here’s the latest video about a man and his “drone.” It’s actually very entertaining and has a great hook. The song is called “Popular 2.”
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The last word…
In last Tuesday’s edition of Inside the Trojans’ Huddle, panelists Marc Kulkin, Chris Arledge, and Greg Katz gave their perspectives on the recently announced new Football Performance Center; gave thoughts and predictions on last weekend’s huge recruiting extravaganza; recalled historical football reflections regarding Ohio State, Michigan, and Penn State; and answered viewers’ questions.
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