Tag: usc athletics

Former USC assistant offers perspective on Pete Carroll to the Raiders

Yogi Roth reacts to the Raiders hiring Pete Carroll and offers a look at what Las Vegas can expect to receive with its new hire.

Last week, the Las Vegas Raiders made headlines when they announced that Pete Carroll will serve as their next head coach. Carroll previously spent nine years as the head coach at USC and 14 with the Seattle Seahawks. He is one of three head coaches ever to win both a Super Bowl and a college football national championship.

Upon the hire being announced, former USC assistant-turned-analyst Yogi Roth, who served on Carroll’s staff at USC, shared his thoughts on Twitter.

Pete Carroll to [the Raiders] – he will bring a few things very few can.

– a detail/in depth philosophy.

– an approach founded in competition – an environment where people can be fully themselves

– a staff that will be challenged to develop their own style/vision/theme/philosophy

– a spirit that will capture everyone around him

– a level of daily, moment by moment competition that is unique

– a lens on the game that is bespoke.

– a desire to do it better than it has ever been done before.

Roth served on Carroll’s staff for several years during the late 2000s, working with USC quarterbacks. He eventually left coaching and went on to become a football analyst, first with Pac-12 Network as its lead television analyst for many years, and now with Big Ten Network.

Free throw shooting dooms USC in loss to UCLA

Andy Enfield-era free throw shooting problems for USC have continued into the Eric Musselman era. This was a crusher.

Any USC fan who watched the men’s basketball program during the Andy Enfield era knows the Trojans frequently struggled with free throw shooting in critical moments. On numerous occasions under Enfield, USC lost a game because it was unable to knock down free throws in crucial situations.

However, with a new head coach and an entirely revamped roster, surely the Trojans’ free throw woes would finally go away in 2024-2025, right?

As it turns out, the answer was no.

In Monday night’s Crosstown Showdown against UCLA, USC’s free throw problems of seasons past reappeared at the worst possible time. In the rivalry matchup against the Bruins, the Trojans shot just 57.9% from the line in an 82-76 home loss.

When the game was on the line late, the Trojans were at their worst. Over a seven-plus minute stretch late in the second half, USC went just 3 of 9 from the free throw line. Those six points wound up being the difference in the game.

The backbreaker came with the Trojans trailing 73-72 in the final two minutes. Saint Thomas drew a foul and went to the free throw line with a chance to tie the game or put USC ahead. However, he missed both shots, leaving the Trojans trailing by one. UCLA’s Sebastian Mack proceeded to hit a 3-pointer at the other end, which effectively served as the dagger.

For USC, it was a massive instance of what could have been. Had the Trojans shot better from the free throw line, they may have been able to pull out a massive rivalry victory. Instead, they suffered a heartbreaking loss to their crosstown foes on their home court.

USC alum will play in Super Bowl as a rookie

Christian Roland-Wallace will try to help the Chiefs make NFL history.

USC alum Juju Smith-Schuster is headed to Super Bowl LIX with the Kansas City Chiefs. We know that. However, he will not be the only Trojan suiting up in New Orleans. Former USC cornerback Christian Roland-Wallace, in his rookie season with the Chiefs, is also headed to the big game. In his first year in the league, Roland-Wallace will have a chance to win his first ring.

After four years at Arizona, Roland-Wallace transferred to USC for his final season of eligibility in 2023. In his lone season with the Trojans, he was USC’s top cornerback, recording 37 tackles, nine passes defended, and two interceptions.

Despite a standout college career, Roland-Wallace went unchosen in the 2024 NFL draft. However, he made Kansas City’s 53-man roster nonetheless, and has made significant contributions to the Chiefs’ secondary this year. Roland-Wallace finished the regular season with 34 tackles, a pass defended, and an interception. He also had a tackle in Kansas City’s divisional round win over the Houston Texans.

In the Super Bowl, Roland-Wallace and the Chiefs’ secondary will be matched up against a talented Eagle wide receiver room led by A.J. Brown and Devonta Smith. If they can keep Philadelphia’s passing game intact, the Chiefs will have a great shot to become the first ever team to win three consecutive Super Bowls.

USC comeback attempt falls short in Crosstown Showdown loss to UCLA

USC battled hard but was ultimately far too inconsistent against UCLA.

On Monday night, USC men’s basketball fell 82-76 to rival UCLA in the first Big Ten edition of the Crosstown Showdown.

After a back-and-forth first half, UCLA seemed to tack control of the game early in the second, going up by as much as 12. However, the Trojans did not give up, battling back and cutting the deficit to one with under two minutes left to play.

With 1:37 remaining, USC’s Saint Thomas went to the free throw line with the Trojans trailing 73-72 and a chance to give his team the lead. However, Thomas missed both shots, Sebastian Mack immediately hit a three on the other end, effectively putting the game out of reach for USC.

With the loss, the Trojans dropped to 12-8 overall and 4-5 in Big Ten play. UCLA, meanwhile, improved to 15-6 overall and 6-4 in conference.

Up next, USC welcomes No. 7 Michigan State to Galen Center on Saturday afternoon. The Trojans and Bruins will meet again on March 8 at Pauley Pavilion in the regular season finale for both teams.

What’s your deal? Pete Carroll and Jim Harbaugh will face each other again

Pete Carroll and Jim Harbaugh went at each other in the Pac-10. They went at each other in the NFC West. Now, the AFC West. Act three is here.

This past week, it was announced that Pete Carroll will return to coaching in 2025 with the Las Vegas Raiders. After serving as the head coach at USC for nine seasons and with the Seattle Seahawks for 14, Carroll has officially found his next stop. One thing that all three stops have had in common is a shared adversary. Who would that be, you ask? None other than Jim Harbaugh.

The rivalry between Carroll and Harbaugh goes back to the 2000s, when the former was at USC and the latter was at Stanford. In 2007, when Harbaugh was in his first season at Stanford and still relatively unknown nationally, the Cardinal came into the Coliseum as 41-point underdogs. Stanford stunned the Trojans 24-23, one of the biggest upsets in college football history.

After the Trojans got their revenge in 2008, the Cardinal once again won in the Coliseum in 2009, this time in a 55-21 blowout. Following the game, the two head coaches had a heated postgame exchange, where each proceeded to ask the other, “what’s your deal?”

When Carroll left USC for the Seahawks in 2010, he likely thought that he was free from Harbaugh. A year later, Harbaugh became the head coach of the San Francisco 49ers, ensuring that the two would face off twice every season.

The two coaches squared off in the NFC West for four seasons. Their most memorable meeting during that stretch came in the NFC Championship Game in January of 2014. With San Francisco trailing by six in the final minute, Seahawk linebacker Malcolm Smith—who played for Carroll at USC—intercepted a pass by 49ers quarterback Colin Kaepernick in the end zone, sending Seattle to the Super Bowl.

It has been more than a decade since the two coaches faced off, as Harbaugh left the 49ers to go coach Michigan—his alma mater—following the 2014 season. With Harbaugh now back in the NFL as head coach of the Los Angeles Chargers, however, the two are division rivals once again, this time in the AFC West.

When the Chargers and Raiders face off this fall, it will mark the renewal of the long rivalry between Carroll and Harbaugh. Let’s see what the deal is this time.

Penn State DC hire makes USC’s retention of D’Anton Lynn more impressive

Penn State just hired elite defensive coordinator Jim Knowles. USC was ready to keep D’Anton Lynn away from Happy Valley. The Trojans did something right.

Two weeks ago, USC made a big move by extending fast-rising defensive coordinator D’Anton Lynn. The move came amid interest in Lynn from Penn State, his alma mater, for its defensive coordinator position.

On Sunday, the Nittany Lions announced their new defensive coordinator, and it was a big name. Penn State was able to poach star DC Jim Knowles away from Big Ten foe Ohio State. Less than a week removed from winning a national championship with the Buckeyes, Knowles will now head to Happy Valley to work in the same role.

The Knowles hire only makes USC’s retention of Lynn look all the more impressive. Clearly, Penn State was willing to pay top dollar to pry a top candidate away from an established powerhouse. The fact that the Trojans were able to hold onto Lynn despite the Nittany Lions’ push further highlights USC’s strong investment in the football program.

As we wrote over the weekend, this also means there are no excuses for head coach Lincoln Riley. The athletic department has spent significant money to retain his highly touted defensive coordinator and hire general manager Chad Bowden away from rival Notre Dame. If the Trojans flop on the field yet again in 2025, Riley will have no one but himself to blame.

Juju Smith-Schuster heads to Super Bowl LIX with Chiefs

The Chiefs have good Juju on their side. As a result, they are going back to the Super Bowl.

The Kansas City Chiefs are heading to Super Bowl LIX. A notable USC football alum is going with them. For the second time in three years, Juju Smith-Schuster will play in the Super Bowl with Kansas City. On Sunday, the veteran wide receiver helped the Chiefs to a 32-29 win over the Buffalo Bills in the AFC Championship Game. As Chiefs Wire wrote after the game, Smith-Schuster “emerged as a critical option for the Chiefs with two catches for 60 yards, breaking through for impactful gains.”

After winning a ring with the Chiefs two years ago in Super Bowl LVII, Smith-Schuster will return to the big game with Kansas City this season. Just like two years ago, the Chiefs will face off against the Philadelphia Eagles with the title on the line.

In the February 2023 game, Smith-Schuster notably drew a controversial holding call on Eagle cornerback James Bradberry in the game’s final minutes. The call set up the Chiefs’ game-winning field goal, propelling them to a 38-35 win.

After GM hire, there are no more excuses for Lincoln Riley

USC has invested heavily in the football program. It’s put up or shut up time for Lincoln Riley.

Lincoln Riley is on notice. On Friday, USC made headlines when the Trojans hired general manager Chad Bowden away from rival Notre Dame.

The move represents a significant financial investment on the part of the Trojans. USC is reportedly paying Bowden more than $1 million to spurn South Bend for Los Angeles.

Bowden is not the only major investment USC’s athletic department has put into the football program of late. The Trojans recently gave defensive coordinator D’Anton Lynn a hefty extension to stick around amid interest from his alma mater, Penn State. They have also assembled a deep staff featuring defensive line coach Eric Henderson, new linebackers coach Rob Ryan, and new tight ends coach Chad Savage.

As Connor Morrissette of 247Sports put it, “USC is paying top dollar for its head football coach, defensive coordinator and general manager. Make no mistake, there is no lack of support.”

Without a doubt, this is a great thing for the USC football program. It also comes with expectations: Robust support from the administration also means there are no more excuses for head coach Lincoln Riley.

USC has given Riley all the resources he needs to build an elite program. Now, it falls on him to go out and do so. If the Trojans fail, it will be because of Riley, not a lack of support from the administration.

Given the significant financial investment that USC has put into the football program, the Trojans’ 15-11 record over the past two seasons is simply nowhere near good enough. It is completely fair for fans to expect much more from Riley’s Trojans given the resources at his disposal.

USC has invested heavily in the football program. Now, there are no more excuses left for Lincoln Riley. It’s put up or shut up time.

Kobe Johnson returns to Galen Center wearing blue

If Kobe Johnson had gone anywhere else, it wouldn’t have been an issue, but he transferred to UCLA. Monday night should be spicy.

For three years, Kobe Johnson was a USC basketball fan favorite at Galen Center. A two-time team captain, Johnson was a strong leader and constantly remained humble. While the likes of Drew Peterson, Boogie Ellis, Isaiah Collier, and Bronny James naturally drew most of the attention, Johnson was always content to let them have the spotlight and let his play on the court speak for itself. However, this past offseason, that all changed when Johnson decided to transfer from USC to crosstown rival UCLA. In a heartbeat, he went from a player USC fans loved to one of the Trojans’ biggest villains.

When the Trojans host the Bruins at Galen Center Monday night, it will mark Johnson’s return to Galen Center. He will do so wearing a color USC fans cannot stand: UCLA light blue.

In the transfer portal era, fans are generally understanding when players decide to look elsewhere. Had Johnson transferred to just about any other school in the country, USC fans would have thanked him for his time in Cardinal and Gold and wished him the best of luck.

But even in today’s new age, rivalries remain the heartbeat of college sports. While transferring to a different school is widely viewed as normal and acceptable, switching sides in a rivalry is where most fans draw the line.

So when Johnson hears his name introduced at Galen Center Monday night, don’t expect a particularly warm welcome from the Trojan Family.

Previewing USC-UCLA hoops with UCLA Wire’s Jake Hamilton

Trojans Wire talked to UCLA wire about Monday night’s big game in the Galen Center. USC is in must-win mode.

Monday night, when USC basketball hosts UCLA, marks the first men’s basketball Crosstown Showdown of the season. It will mark the beginning of a new era in the storied rivalry. For one thing, it will be the first matchup between the schools as members of the Big Ten Conference. In addition, it will mark the introduction to the rivalry for Eric Musselman, who is in his first season as the Trojans’ head coach.

Ahead of the matchup, I spoke to UCLA Wire’s Jake Hamilton to ask him a few questions about the Bruins.

Adam: How has UCLA fared in adjusting to the Big Ten thus far?

Jake: UCLA’s first season in the Big Ten has been up and down. The Bruins have a nasty habit of playing up to their competition and playing down to it. With big wins against Oregon, Wisconsin, and Iowa, UCLA showed what they can be at their best. On the other hand, in their losses to Michigan, Nebraska, Maryland, and Rutgers, the Bruins look disjointed and, in some ways, lost. This upcoming stretch of games (Washington, USC, Oregon, and Michigan State) should be telling as to whether or not the Bruins can contend in the super-sized Big Ten.

Adam: Kobe Johnson made headlines when he transferred from USC to UCLA this offseason. What has his impact been for the Bruins thus far?

Jake: Johnson has struggled to find a rhythm thus far with the Bruins, averaging only 7.8 points, 5.7 rebounds, and 3.2 assists. One of the culprits for Johnson’s minimal impact is the Bruins’ offense. UCLA has a lot of mouths to feed at the guard position between Skyy Clark, Dylan Andrews, and Sebastian Mack. The Bruins have a “committee” backcourt in many ways. In most cases, the Bruins feed the hot hand. Johnson is due for a breakout game in a UCLA uniform, perhaps against his former team. That said, the clock is ticking for the senior to make a statement on the Bruins.

Adam: Unlike in years past, UCLA’s roster is not filled with high-profile players. Who are some guys that USC fans should familiarize themselves with ahead of the game?

Jake: Sebastian Mack and Eric Dailey Jr.

When Mack gets minutes, he can score in bunches, scoring ten or more points in ten games for the Bruins this season. The sophomore guard is streaky as a scorer, something that could be huge in the Big Ten and NCAA Tournaments. The problem? Mack, in his somewhat limited role with the Bruins this season, is a volume shooter. And when Mack can’t make good on his three-point attempts, he can become a liability on offense. However, no team in the Big Ten should want to face the Bruins on a night when Mack is hot. That’s for sure.

Dailey Jr. is a reliable two-way player for the Bruins. He is a relatively consistent scorer and can routinely score in the double digits. Shooting over 50% from the field and over 33% from three, Dailey Jr. is a solid contributor for the Bruins and is leaned on heavily when they need a bucket. Unfortunately, Dailey Jr. often finds himself in foul trouble. Dailey Jr. has fouled out twice this season and committed four fouls in five of the Bruins’ eighteen games. For Dailey Jr. to have a pronounced impact this season, he will need to be more polished and avoid unnecessary fouls.

Adam: What is your prediction for the game?

Jake: Nearly every statistic is identical between the Bruins and the Trojans thus far this season. From points per game to field goal percentage to rebounds, the two Los Angeles programs are neck and neck. That said, UCLA’s defense will be the deciding factor. Allowing only 64.7 points per game to opponents, the Bruins should manage to slow down Desmond Claude and the Trojan offense. Having dug their way out of a four-game losing streak in the Big Ten, the surging Bruins will eke out a narrow win against the Trojans, 72-67.