YAY Or NAY: The Off Season Is Almost Over

The Trojans would get booed coming out of the tunnel.

YAY. —

Every year USC fans like to float ideas and suggestions regarding their favorite football team. And every year for some reason, there are a handful of Trojan fans who want to see their favorite team dressed in black. This is what happens when the fans are restless trying to kill the time.

But I guess those same fans want to hear the Coliseum crowd boo their own team too. Because that’s what will happen if USC ran out of the tunnel dressed like Florida St.

The Trojans have two primary colors, Cardinal & Gold. And when they play on the road, those Cardinal jerseys get swapped out for the white ones.

One more time at least until the same question gets asked next year.

USC does not need an alternate uniform combination to market itself. Nor does the novelty idea help secure a recruit’s commitment.

If wearing black uniforms is the top priority for a football player, then go to Oregon where you’ll never have to wear the same uniform twice. You’ll also never win a national championship.

Alternate uniform combinations do one thing and only one thing. They’re sold to the fans and the schools make more money.

That’s it!

USC’s Mater Dei Pipeline is broken.

NAY. —

These have been a few of my favorite off-season recruiting gripes from the fans.

“USC lost the Elijah Brown recruitment to Stanford.”

–If you believe that, then you don’t follow recruiting as close as you think you do. The Trojans did not lose a battle for a recruit who wasn’t their highest priority, let alone need. And if you’re questioning Lincoln Riley’s ability to evaluate and develop the QB position, then you should probably have your own head examined. For everyone’s safety, and not just your own.

“The Trojans are going to lose another offensive lineman recruit to the Oregon Ducks.”

Look, I don’t want to sound too critical of the fans who are passionate about recruiting and love their Trojans. However, I also don’t like when a picture is painted with a broad brush.

One last time for the hearing-impaired, Brandon Baker wasn’t coming to USC; With or without Elijah Brown in tow. Baker is an Oregon Ducks legacy; his brother played there and for whatever reason, Baker showed zero interest in becoming a Trojan.

And the latest Trojan fans’ sigh heard around the world happened when “USC allowed Nick Saban to come into its backyard and steal a recruit.”

I’ll accept this argument from the fans. It’s valid. However, allow me to remind folks that Nick Saban is arguably one of college football’s greatest coaches and he knows how to develop defensive backs for the NFL.

Stop the presses! Zabien Brown’s “dream coach” to play for was Saban and not Donte Williams.

Pac-12 Media Day is one week away.

YAY. —

When that day arrives I will officially start the countdown clock to USC’s final season as a conference member.

On July 21st USC will be represented by Lincoln Riley, ESPY & Heisman Award Winner, Caleb Williams, and another player to be announced when they head to Las Vegas. The last time I was in Vegas USC lost a high-stakes game with the playoffs on the line.

Whoever the second player is, I already feel bad for him because of the attention Caleb and Lincoln will receive. And deservedly so. Then again, assuming the unknown player is a defensive player, he’s going to have to answer the more difficult questions.

Last year’s team captain and transfer Shane Lee shared the spotlight with another transfer and team captain called Superman, so I can see Riley bringing one of the new defensive transfers this year as well.

But is that fair?

I can also see Riley asking Calen Bullock, Eric Gentry, or Bryson Shaw just as much as I can see him bringing Bear Alexander or Mason Cobb to this year’s Media Day. At least the previous three defensive players were around last year and can more adequately answer the question, “will the USC defense be better in 2023?”

The Trojans have two more visits to Vegas lined up already; the 2023 Pac-12 Conference Championship game, and then they’ll kick off their 2024 season against LSU.

But they’ll be a member of the B1G Conference and that countdown clock is already running.

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