Are you ready for 2012???

I am more than ready.  This season gives the promise of a truly special year, especially if the Trojans perform as they are capable of performing.

Coach Lane Kiffin returns a really talented and hungry team...a team that is finally free of penalties and more than capable of challenging for the national championship.

I can't wait for how defenses will try to cover Robert Woods, Marqise Lee, George Farmer and our tight ends on the same field at the same time.  That should be interesting.

In all honesty, SC's ultimate success will rest largely on the ability of the defense to stop the opponents often enough to give our offense the ball.  Defense wins titles, although SC's first unit is short on game time experience.  If the "D" comes around, watch out!!

Can't wait for this year to start.  It could be really special!!

ARe you ready for 2012???

A great honor for a great Trojan

The continuing saga of Bryshon Nellim... The unbelievable saga of Nellum continues with his election to carry the flag at the closing ceremonies. What a great honor! Bryshon will remember this moment for his entire life...and he certainly deserves it! Fight On, fellow Trojan.

A truly inspiring (Trojan) story for all...

When Trojan quartermiler Bryshon Nellum qualified for the London Olympics at 400 meters last week, it marked the full fruition of a truly inspirational story...one that would certainly make most Americans proud! I think it is a story for the ages. Nellum, if you recall, was the country's outstanding HS track and field athlete upon graduation from LB Poly in 2007. His Poly marks (20.5 and 45.4) were world class, and beyond the pale for HS athletes. He was already mentioned as one of the world's best...and he hadn't even started his USC career. Once at SC, his luck turned to worse than poor. He was shot several times (mistaken identity) leaving a party...then next year suffered a season ending injury. He endured several surgeries in an attempt to remove bullet fragments in both legs. His first semi-healthy year was 2011. This season, his first full healthy year since 2007, he came all the way back...winning the PAC-12 400m and then finished third in the Olympic finals for 400m. His time of 44.80 was a personal all-time best under pressure filled conditions...finish in the top three or go home. Aside from his spot on the Olympic 400 meter team...Bryshon (along with teammate Josh Mance) will both be members of the US Olympic 4x400 relay team. Nothing would be more appropriate than for Bryshon to medal at London. His courage and fortitude in the face of horrible circumstances are great examples of what it means to be a Trojan. I truly hope that every good break will come his way this summer...Fight On, Bryshon!

Really good spring, awaiting fall season...

The Trojans have enjoyed a great spring with a fourth NCAA men's tennis title and high national finishes in men's volleyball, women's golf and women's tennis. The track team should do reasonably well on the men's side this coming week at Drake Univ. Sports needing an infusion would include baseball and, of course, men's basketball. The latter needs so much help, personnel and coaching, that it is hard to know where to start. My guess is that Pat Haden will ride with K. O'Neill one more year, then he's toast. He'd better be, or there won't be any basketball fans by 2013. Recruiting for football is going very well...Coach Lane Kiffin is really showing how well he can recruit under the present NCAA limitations. Right now, he's on track to bring in one of the country's top classes. More to follow as we approach football season.

Spring sports looking very good...

Despite the dismal basketball campaign, SC's spring sports are doing exceptionally well. Among the very best in the country in a variety of areas.

If you look carefully, the following teams are all ranked within the top 10 in the country...

Men's tennis...three time defending NCAA champs. Currently ranked No. 1. Men's golf, men's swimming and men's volleyball also among the top 10. (Men's track will be there, but outdoor season is just beginning.)

Women's water polo is No. 2, women's swimming and track among the top 7. Women's golf and tennis also ranked in the top 10. We have an excellent chance to win somewhere between 1-4 NCAA titles this semester, if things work out. Fight On!!!

It's Oregon's turn now...

For all those PAC-12 rivals who have been not so privately gloating over SC's penalties from the NCAA, the chickens (DUCKS!) are finally coming home.

Oregon's got problems with the NCAA. Not just a single violation, but several. And, unlike SC's situation, those involving Oregon concern actions taken by both the head coach and his coaching staff.

We will see what the fraudulent NCAA does about this matter. Don't hold your breath, but if there is anything like even handed justice, Oregon should get severe penalties. On the other hand, both Ohio State and Auburn escaped virtually scott free. So we will see what we shall see...probably by this summer.

Good luck, Duck fans. You've been gloating about SC's misfortunte and now the truth is out...your feet are full of clay, not to mention other materials of a dubious nature.

Will entertain any comments from those visiting this site.

A lost season...hopefully not more

This year's basketball season is, mercifully, coming to a conclusion. Graduation, injuries, recruiting and just about everything else has combined to produce what, in my mind, is the poorest basketball team at SC in the last 50-60 years.

When a team cannot compete in what is the poorest PAC-12 conference in memory, you know things are bad, bad, and bad. This team simply cannot hit shots, any kind under any circumstances.

Help is on the way, but it will be very interesting to see whether AD Pat Haden will give Kevin O'Neill another season as coach. I personally think O'Neill will be back, but he better produce results...something on the order of 18-20 wins.

Trojan athletics excell in virtually all sport...the school cannot continue to field a totally subpar basketball program.

Happy New Year to all

To all those that visit this blog, Happy New Year and may you all enjoy good health and happiness.

The news that Matt Barkley and Tim McDonald will return for 2012 is great news for USC fans. Both should make their presence felt in a big way during the coming season. I'm really excited about what 2012 may be for the Trojans.

Recruiting wise, it appears that Lane Kiffin and staff are heading for a very talented class, albeit limited in numbers. I'm expecting this class to end up in the top 8-12 in the nation, and higher than that when your criteria is average rating, rather than number enrolled.

Fight On! Will be back at this spot once the final recruiting news is in.