going forward...with hopes high

Seven games down and a bye week coming up. The win over Cal was, by far, SC's most impressive outing in 2010.

Hopefully our injured get healthy. With Horton, Baxter etc back for the Oregon game things could get interesting. Extra time for practice means a chance to get timing more fine tuned.

I look for an outstanding Trojan effort against a very good Oregon team. Good, but not unbeatable. I welcome my Trojan brothers' comments. Fight On!!

Challenges ahead...

Sorry for the absence over the past several weeks. This coming season may be one of the most challenging in SC's history. What with the sanctions and scholarship reductions, coach Lane Kiffin and staff will be severely tested to right the ship and produce a banner year. IMO, just judging from the talent on hand, 2010 could have the makings of a very successful season.

The key areas as the year approaches will be the OL, DL and linebackers. Personally, I look for Ed Orgeron and the staff to produce a hungry, focused team. With any good fortune on the injury side, I believe SC is capable of winning 10-11 games. The media types seem to be writing SC off. This may come back to haunt them, big time.

I'd love to hear your comments.

The season is progressing nicely...

With the Texas Relays over, the 2010 track season is beginning to take shape...and the the shape looks impressive.

Bryshon Nellum is back and starting to be the outstanding 400m runner we know him to be. With Hughes, Walker and Wyatt...the sky is almost the limit. The hurdles look strong, Blake Shaw is really improving and even the 4x100 appears headed for under 40.0.

In the field, Trey Henderson (HT) and Aaron Dan (DT) look poised for sensational seasons. Aven Wright (HSJ) and Brandon Estrada (PV) should be major threats at the PAC-10.

While I'm not predicting a PAC-10 win over Oregon, things are definitely looking UP!!

Promising track season underway...

Two meets in the books and things are already looking really good, if early marks are any indication.

The return of Bryshon Nellum is crucial...and he's back and rounding into form. This young sprinter may well become the greatest quarter-miler in Trojan history...and that's saying a big mouthful.

The early season marks, overall, are very promising. Trey Henderson is becoming a force in the hammer...already at over 219ft. Brandon Estrada has cleared 18' in the PV and Aaron Dan has improved to over 198' in the DT. All exceptional early efforts.

On the track, Blake Shaw is coming on in the 1500m (first under 4:00.0 in the mile), Oscar Spurlock has hit 13.83 in the 110 HH and Hughes, Wyatt etc are quickly rounding into the top 400m runners we expected. Wyatt, particular, will be a national force in the 400IH.

All in all, things are looking up. This could be a banner track season.

2010 track season looks very promising

If we are fortunate enough to escape serious injuries, the coming outdoor track season appears to be one with exceptional possibilities. Truly, Coach Ron Allice's team appears capable of contending for both the PAC-10 and NCAA titles.

SC has some major talents who will be big point scorers in 2010...Ahmad Rashad in the sprints, Joey Hughes and Bryshon Nellum in the 200 and 400m, Duane Walker and Reggie Wyatt in the 400IH, Oscar Spurlock in the 110 HH, Manjula W. in the HJ, Brandon Estrada in the PV, and both relays. The real key is the return of Nellum, a world class athlete coming out of LB Poly in 2008.

I'm really excited about the 2010 season. It should be a very good one for Trojan track and field.

New era starts with a bang...

The hiring of Lane Kiffin as Trojan HC sure as hell sent shock waves throughout the college FB world. There are an enormous number of angles to this story, but here are the positives (from my perspective) for the Trojans:

1. Kiffin knows the west coast, knows the university, and knows how to recruit.
2. He brings Ed Orgeron with him. Coach "O" is one of the premier recruiters in the country. Things are looking up here.
3. There is a good liklihood we get Norm Chow back as offensive co-ordinator. If so, that's a major plus.

Kiffin has an almost impossible act to follow...I really don't believe anyone will duplicate what Pete Carroll did from 2002-2008. If Kiffin can come even close to Pete's overall effort at SC, then the PAC-10's glee at Carroll's departure will be short lived. We shall see.

Apparent end to an era...

As of 10:30 PM Jan. 8, it appears that Pete Carroll is about to take the HC job with the Seattle Seahawks. I believe I join the majority of loyal Trojan fans who feel a deep sense of loss if Carroll leaves. What he has achieved during the past eight seasons (not counting the first year, 2001) is virtually unmatched in modern day college FB.

As a 70-year-old, who has watched SC football since 1948...this one is really tough to swallow. Sure, SC will continue to play football...and most likely, we will continue to be successful. How successful remains to be seen.

I hope I am wrong, but, IMHO, we are very unlikely to see Pete's record matched any time soon. Maybe never during the remainder of our lives.
What the man has achieved is truly unworldly...

Hopefully this will turn out to be a bad dream...but I doubt it. Fight On!!!

2010 track season looks promising...

I don't know what my fellow Trojans think, but I'm excited about the 2010 track prospects for major success. SC's men's team should be really strong, especially if Bryshon Nellum returns healthy. SC looks strong in the springs, 400m, hurdles, high jump, pole vault and hammer. Of particular interest is the possibility that the 4x400 relay team could be a national title contender...consider Nellum, Reggie Wyatt, Walker and Hughes and you could be looking at around 3:02.00...personally I can't wait for the outdoor season. On the other side, the women's team is also potentially a contender for the PAC-10 title.