OC Mike Bloomgren from Stanford is leaving to become HC at Rice.

Which puts them at a huge disadvantage compared to the top teams like Alabama Georgia and others who don't have to contend with either top coaches or injuries that can hamper their ability to make it into the playoffs...Colin questions SC going in November to freezing Indiana to play Notre Dame every other year while Notre Dame gets the benefit of coming out to Los Angeles which helps their recruiting... He added that with the type of scheduling SC imposes upon its football team by halfway through the season players are beaten up and this past year they didn't even benefit from a bye.

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The game:We got whacked here a few years ago by Stanford who is 3-0 in these games. And the PAC12 North (Dang Yankees!) has 6 straight wins over the South. The winner is usually the team that dictates he tempo. Stanford travels well IF the stadium is within 15 miles of the farm. Experts named USC the likely winner by 3-4 points but I saw that about 40% had Stanford winning it straight up. USC does always win the Battle of the Bands AND the Mascots straight up though. How can you not hate a team that professes their motto is "Intellectually Brutal", That’s an oxy-moron like "Progressive Resistance". USC won the toss (first miracle?) and ran a lot (63% of plays) showing their intention. They dominated most of the game, but it was offset by Stanford big plays, and a lot of penalties (8 total in first 20 minutes of game) that accounted for the streaky beginning of the game,.

Key play(s): At 24-21, after a bad punt by Budrovich from the SC end zone, Stanford soon moved close to the lead at the USC 3 in a first and goal. Stanford had a delay of game, a run loss of 3 - but a PF on USC to make it 1-G at the 5. Three runs of -1,4,and 1 placed it in a 4th-1 where Shaw sometimes "Brutally Stubborn" tried a 4th run in his "Mammoth package". But he obviously didn’t feed them enough peanuts, and it was a turnover. USC used a short run followed by 3 long passes to get to the ST 23, and the three straight Rojo runs for the TD to open up a 31-21 lead.

Offense: Coach Helton is now 27-9 (.750) overall, 21-5 (.808) in conference, 2-2 (.500) against Stanford, 9-9 (.500) against top 25 teams, USC had primarily run attempts (64% of the time) vs. pass 36% of the time. Coach Shaw was almost the same at 63% run and 37% pass. USC and Stanford averaged 4.1 and 4.0 yards per run play respectively and USC -13.5 yards per Reception to Stanford- 8.7 yards. A prime goal for both teams was to get big yardage on first downs. USC succeeded (4.9 yards per) and Stanford (1.1 yards per) did not. USC had 6 big plays (1 run, 5 passes) of 20 yards or more; Stanford had 5 (4 passes, 1 Run).

QB: Grade: A. Darnold hit 71% of his passes, for 19.1 yards per catch, no turnovers, and 1 running First Down. He was sacked once. Another solid performance. By now Coach Shaw must be counting completed Sam D passes while trying to fall sleep, or not. Sam seemed a little nervous with that happy feet thing, but ultimately came through. I get the vibe that he is coming back, but the Cotton Bowl game may ultimately make that decision.

Running Game: Grade: B. Rojo was pretty much the "I'm going to run, try and stop me" mode. He ran for 70% of the carries getting 140 yards (4.7 ypr, 2 TDs, 26 long, 6 FDs). Jones does not jitterbug at the line but finds athe first hole quickly and gores north-south. Carr has the majority of other carries and does Jittebug a bit in his first year. He carried for 6 times for 32 yards yards (5.3 ypr, 0 TDs, 10 long, 1 FD). But he also fumbled after that 10 yarder at the SC 42 right after the Stanford score in Q3.

Receiving Game:Grade: A-. USC is a better team than at beginning of the year with continued maturation of WR Tyler Vaughns and Michael Pittman. Pittman was the Offensive Player of the Game POG (7 rec- 146 yards-20.9 yards per catch, 1 TD, 54 long, 6 first downs). Steve Mitchell (2 rec- 66 yards-33 ypc, 49 long, 2 FDs) .Vaughns (3 rec- 26 yards-8.7 ypc, 1 TD, 49 long, 1 FD). Besides these they distributed 3 receptions to the TE with Imatorbhebhe (1-48 yards, 1 FD), Falo (1 rec- 15 yards-1 FD). Overall receptions were 13 to WRs, 1 to RB, 3 to TE. With the exception of Mitchell, all these guys are likely coming back.

Oline: Grade B+: OLer Voorhees went out early and Jordan Austin (corrected) was thrown into the pit. This unit has been fighting injury and youth all year and faced one of the toughest front fours in Stanford and renowned DT Harrison Phillips. The latter was in on 13 tackles but the guy who is up there in sacks and tackles for losses had 0.5 sacks and that 0,5 TFL only. The whole Stanford team got 1 sack and 3 TFL, and 3 QB hurries. A laudable job for the OL. Add in the fact that USC averaged 4.1 yards rushing and an even better 4.9 yards overall on first down kept USC in control for most of the game.

Defense: Grade B+. They held Stanford down to only 1 .1 yards average per first down. That was the plan. Love is not as explosive due to high ankle sprain, but has True Grit. And they put pressure on QB Costello et al. (2 sacks, 2 QBH and 5 TFL). Other than that one breakout run of 52 (and leading to an eventual SU TD), they held him to 3.5ypc on 21 carries. That 52 yard run BTW had a visible Holding that freed the spot through which Love ran, followed by a tackle by #73 as Love trotted through the vacated area. The worst play was that 45 yard catch by Whiteside who was sandwiched by 2 defenders, Jones and Tell. The pass was a little short and Tell ran by it. The Stanford receiver grabbed it (leading to a subsequent TD drive). USC should have knocked the ball or receiver down for a 10 yard penalty instead of 45 yard catch. USC also made a mistake on a near pick 6 which turned out to be a live and possible fumble pickup. Biggie and Harris made great Breakups as part of a good 7 BRU overall. Stanford was held to 0-2 in the most important 4th down conversions.

Special Teams: Grade: C- It looked like Stanford would have an advantage here and they showed it. Punting net ST 47-32 yards. KOR average: St 29 yards to USC 0. Ajene Harris scares me on punt returns. He fielded one at the USC 8 and decided to run with it heading back to run and got caught at the 3. On another he just did get away without a punt touching him at the 10. Yikes. USC did get a 24 yard FG that was the ultimate margin difference in the game, And USC got smart on KO having the receivers at the goal line and not receiving the ball to run it out. Take the 25 yards and reduce the chance for penalties (called about 1 of every 3 kickoff runbacks).

Miscellaneous-Well I guess this is the game where the supposed best refs in the PAC12 are invited and they did what the PAC12 refs do best-they called a ton of penalties. They need a refresher course in pass interference , twice calling offensive PI as a defensive PI. If the defenders body is in the path of the ball the receiver cannot body him out to get to the ball. He can go over him but not through him. One drive leading to a Stanford TD had 2 of those for a gift wrapped TD. Imatorbhebhe gets a facemask called on a straight arm and Love does not? And that fumble by Love as he was still scrambling to gain yards gets a quick whistle for forward progress? As the play by play guy called "Too many penalties for a conference championship!" People wonder why the PAC12 is looked down on? Start there.

And let's face it the playoff selection committee was determined to include Alabama. Questions and likely answers Ohio State and USC might hear by the committee. Does being a conference Champion mean anything? (Answer: Eh, not really -this year).. Does SOS matter? (Answer: Eh, not really -this year).Does Alabama have a permanent "Get out of Jail Free card"? (Answer: I refuse to answer on the grounds this might incriminate me). Let's hope that Clemson and Oklahoma rake the SEC teams and these scores are tattooed forever on the committee selectors foreheads.

Bottom line - USC's first P12 championship since 2008. Two wins vs. an opponent in one season is actually more likely than not. Forecast: The Cotton Bowl with Ohio State will be memorable like the PSU game last year. USC 45 OSU 42.

When will the season ticket holders hear from the ticket office with the option to purchase?

From USC:

Seven USC players—more than from any other school—were named to the first team of the 2017 All-Pac-12 Football Team announced today.

USC’s first teamers are quarterback Sam Darnold, tailback Ronald Jones II, defensive lineman Rasheem Green, outside linebacker Uchenna Nwosu, inside linebacker Cameron Smith, safety Marvell Tell III and wide receiver Michael Pittman Jr., who was chosen as a special teams player.

This is USC’s most first team honorees since 2011, when Troy also had 7. Darnold is the first Trojan quarterback on the first team since Mark Sanchez in 2008, Jones is just the second USC tailback named to the first team since 2005 (along with Javorius Allen in 2014) and Smith is Troy’s first inside linebacker on the first team since Rey Maualuga in 2008.

USC’s All-Pac-12 second team honorees are wide receiver Deontay Burnett, offensive tackle Toa Lobendahn, defensive lineman Christian Rector and safety Matt Lopes, who made it as a special teams player.

Trojan honorable mention selections are offensive guard Chris Brown, tailback Stephen Carr, defensive tackle Josh Fatu, safety Chris Hawkins, cornerback Iman Marshall, wide receiver Steven Mitchell Jr., tight end Tyler Petite, defensive tackle Brandon Pili and wide receiver Tyler Vaughns.

Offensive player of the Year: RB Bryce Love, Stanford

Defensive Player of the Year: DL Vita Vea, Washington

Freshman Offensive Co-Players of the Year: RB J.J. Taylor, Arizona; OL Walker Little, Stanford

Freshman Defensive Player of the Year: LB Colin Schooler, Arizona

Coach of the Year: David Shaw, Stanford

Here is the entire list of honorees.

By Jason Whitlock who said that UCLA is a great academic Institution and that USC is an athletic factory by comparison... What bothered me is that Colin Cowherd who's show he was on had no response to that statement despite his fondness for SC.

Just a heads up USC fans, Uchenna Nwosu and Chris Hawkins made PFF first team All-Pac-12.

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As Chris posted last night, USC is going to be a major contender for recent Notre Dame de-commitment Markese Stepp, who is a four-star RB out of Indianapolis. In fact there are some in the state of Indiana feeling USC may be the team to beat here. Stepp talks about why the Trojans have strength in his recruitment in the article below:

https://n.rivals.com/news/markese-stepp-sets-first-official-visits-after-notre-dame-de-commitment

It will be interesting to see how the Pac does. I suspect we will do quite well. I think Washington, and Stanford and Washington St. win. I like our chances against Ohio St. because we will be healthy and we won't have Pac 10 officials.

I really hope Oklahoma and Clemson destroy Alabama and Georgia.

JT Daniels, he has 4 or 5 targets that are on SC’s board and are teammates of JT.

Fight On JT

...in the last month or so:

• Isaiah Bolden, CB
• Arjei Henderson, 2019 5-star WR
• Braden Lenzy athlete
  
• Tre'Shaun Harrison
• Michael Ezeike, TE
• ...

Is this correct? Anybody else? Who would we want again?

Who stands to gain the most--Washington?

Have you heard anything? Thanks Alex

At Standford, At Texas, Friday v Washington St. By the time we get through these three games we will be riddled with injuries.

https://usc.rivals.com/news/joiner-is-still-considering-usc

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Is it JT coming early, some superstar in this class, or all bs????

Wouldnt be surprised if that happened

we are LOADED on offense next season....

Rojo is almost certainly gone.
Nico is for sure gone.
Sam and Deontay may or may not be gone.

BUT Even if they all leave....there is tons of experience, talent, and depth back in 2018.
Moreso than this season actually.

If Sam and Deontay come back we have a top level offense.
(If Rasheem and Cam come back the defense is in great shape as well.)

J/K. Here's the latest rumor:

https://www.seccountry.com/tennessee/tee-martin-vols-football-phillip-fulmer

Tennessee AD Phillip Fulmer has spoken with Tee Martin about coaching position

USC offensive coordinator Tee Martin has spoken with Tennessee AD Phillip Fulmer about a possible coaching role.
Getty Images file photo

Mike Griffith
@mikegriffith32
Posted 9 hours ago


KNOXVILLE, Tenn. — Tennessee athletic director Phillip Fulmer has spoken to Southern California offensive coordinator Tee Martin about a possible coaching position with the Vols in the past 24 hours, a source with direct knowledge of the conversation tells SEC Country.

The phone conversation “was very positive,” according to the source, but there were no deals reached between the men for a head coaching position nor an offensive coordinator position at the time of this report Tuesday afternoon.

Martin, 39, has enjoyed great success at USC. But whether his connection to the Vols, whom he quarterbacked to the 1998 national championship under Fulmer, is strong enough to pull him back to Knoxville is unclear. Martin has told those close to him he’s not in any rush to leave the Trojans staff, with the program having just won the Pac-12 championship under coach Clay Helton.

Martin has also said, however, he would entertain the notion of returning to Tennessee “under the right circumstances,” according to the source.

https://twitter.com/MikeGriffith32/status/938138458387820544
Mike Griffith

✔@MikeGriffith32

My thought is Tee Martin would need more than just an OC role or title to justify leaving USC for Tennessee --- Tee would be a home run hire, but Phillip Fulmer needs to find a way to make sure it would make sense for the USC OC.

12:10 PM - Dec 5, 2017

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Fulmer is believed to be leaning toward hiring a coach with a defensive background, with Auburn defensive coordinator Kevin Steele and Clemson defensive coordinator Brent Venables believed to be finalists.

RELATED: Tennessee coaching search has 3 leading candidates

Martin’s oldest son, Amari Rodgers, is a freshman wide receiver at Clemson. Martin is acquainted with Venables from Rodgers’ recruitment by the Tigers.

NFL teams have also expressed interest in Martin. A look at USC’s coaching tree provides ample evidence of the opportunities that could lie ahead for Martin. Pete Carroll, Lane Kiffin, Ed Orgeron and Steve Sarkisian are among the most notable former Trojans coaches to leave there and go on to other notable coaching positions in the college ranks and the NFL.

Fulmer has not put a timetable on hiring a coach, but a source close to the situation said the hire is expected to be made in the next 48 hours.

Tennessee is hosting recruits on official visits this weekend, and the early signing period begins Dec. 20.

Fight on!!!

what's the latest?