Tag: usc athletics

USC women’s basketball officially signs five-star guard

USC is jazzed up about Jazzy Davidson. The Trojans have now signed the No. 2 overall player in the Class of 2025. This is a home run.

On Wednesday, USC women’s basketball officially announced the signing of five-star guard Jazzy Davidson.

Hailing from Clackamas, Oregon, Davidson is the No. 2 overall player and the No. 1 guard in the class of 2025, per On3’s rankings. She committed to USC in September.

As a junior at Clackamas High School last year, Davidson was a semifinalist for the 2023-24 Naismith Trophy High School Girls Basketball Player of the Year award.

“Jazzy, in my opinion, is the jewel of this class,” USC head coach Lindsay Gottlieb said in a statement. “She is an elite level player in every aspect. She can score, create, defend—a true modern, pro-style player. She has a work ethic and competitiveness that will impact our program immediately. But from that first conversation I also knew that Jazzy the person was someone I wanted in our program. She is truly as humble and likeable as she is talented. We got a special one, and I couldn’t be more excited.”

Gottlieb’s 2024-2025 Trojans currently sit at 3-0 and are ranked No. 3 in the country.

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It’s still very early, but USC women’s basketball looks like a force to be reckoned with

If you were worried about USC women’s basketball after the Ole Miss game, these last two games at home have shown how potent the Trojans can become.

In case you didn’t hear, USC women’s basketball won Tuesday night.

Actually, won is a a massive understatement. USC women’s basketball completely and utterly dominated the lifeless corpse of Cal State Northridge, which had the misfortune of being the Women of Troy’s opponent.

USC led 30-6 after one quarter. At halftime, it was 60-13. Through three quarters, it was 97-20. When the final buzzer sounded, the Trojans had a historic 124-39 victory, and the visitors from Northridge could mercifully go home.

USC’s 124 points scored were a new program record. It was also the Trojans’ second consecutive victory by a margin of 55+ points.

Sure, those games came against Cal Poly and Cal State Northridge, but any time a team wins by 55 and then 85 points, it raises eyebrows.

It is still only three games into the season. The No. 3 Trojans still have nonconference showdowns with No. 6 Notre Dame and No. 2 UConn, plus a gauntlet of a Big Ten schedule, which features seven games against top-25 opponents.

But if early results are any indication, the Women of Troy are going to be a force to be reckoned with this season.

The ugly opener against Ole Miss was the floor for this team. It will play good defense even when it plays bad offense and can stay in games in which it commits turnovers and endures a rough slog at the offensive end. USC will be competitive even when it plays poorly. These last two games against Cal Poly and especially Northridge offer a glimpse of where this team’s ceiling can be. The defense is the constant, but we have seen the offense improve. Notably, Talia von Oelhoffen was finally able to score in double figures. Getting her going really raises this team’s ceiling and raises the bar for what this team can become.

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USC stars steal the spotlight on Sunday Night Football yet again

Amon-Ra St. Brown and Calen Bullock both made big plays in the most recent NFL Sunday Night Football game, boosting USC in front of a national audience.

During last week’s Sunday Night Football matchup between the Indianapolis Colts and the Minnesota Vikings, it was the USC Trojans on the field who stole the show. In this week’s prime-time showdown between the Detroit Lions and the Houston Texans, the outcome was the same, with two former USC stars showing out under the lights.

First, former USC All-American and current Texans safety Calen Bullock who stepped up by recording an interception. Just 10 games into his NFL career, Bullock already has four picks.

In an ironic twist, the quarterback throwing the pick was former Cal star Jared Goff. In three starts against the Trojans while in college, Goff went 0-3, including throwing a 46-yard pick six to Adoree’ Jackson in the 2015 Cal-USC football game.

However, Goff would bounce back from the interception, later throwing a nine-yard touchdown pass to former USC wide receiver Amon-Ra St. Brown. St. Brown has now scored a touchdown in seven consecutive road games, tied for the NFL’s sixth-longest streak since the league’s 1970 merger. St. Brown has the Lions in first place in the NFC and in great position to make the franchise’s first-ever Super Bowl appearance.

Detroit would go on to win the game 26-23 on a walk-off field goal.

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USC fans can pull a doubleheader in LA on November 23

It’s a blockbuster USC sports doubleheader on November 23. You can go to Galen Center for women’s hoops and then to Pasadena for football versus UCLA.

On Monday, the kickoff time was announced for the annual Crosstown Showdown rivalry game between USC and UCLA. On Saturday, November 23, the Trojans and Bruins will battle under the lights at the Rose Bowl. Kickoff of the Battle of Los Angeles is set for 7:30 p.m. Pacific Standard Time. The game will be televised on NBC. Earlier that afternoon, the USC women’s basketball team will play a marquee early season game when the Women of Troy host Notre Dame at the Galen Center. Tipoff is set for 1 p.m. Pacific, also on NBC.

For USC football and basketball fans in Los Angeles, this sets up a dream doubleheader scenario. Fans will be able to catch the basketball game in its entirety, then head over to the Rose Bowl for the football game. Even with LA traffic, there should still be plenty of time for tailgating prior to kickoff.

Even for those who will not be able to attend, it will still be incredibly convenient: NBC will televise both matchups nationally, so fans will not even need to change the channel.

For good measure, the peacock network will also televise Notre Dame football’s showdown with undefeated Army in between these two USC games. Hence, NBC’s schedule for Saturday, November 23 is (Pacific time):

1 p.m.: USC-Notre Dame women’s basketball

4 p.m.: Notre Dame football

7:30 p.m.: USC football versus UCLA

It sets up an exciting day in the spotlight for the Trojans and the Fighting Irish, leading up to their showdown on the football field the following week on Nov. 30.

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John Robinson’s finest USC moment didn’t come during a football game

John Robinson and Lynn Swann, two USC greats, are part of a special moment which defines Robinson’s love for USC. It’s a window into a coach’s heart.

On Monday, legendary USC football head coach John Robinson passed away at the age of 89. As a head coach, Robinson led the Trojans to four Rose Bowl victories, produced two Heisman Trophy winners, and coached USC to the 1978 national championship. However, his finest moment as USC’s head coach did not come during a football game.

Following a victory over Northwestern in the 1996 Rose Bowl, ABC’s Lynn Swann—a former USC wide receiver who would later serve as the Trojans’ athletic director—tried to interview Robinson. However, Robinson was not in the mood to answer questions. Instead, he exclaimed on multiple occasions, “Let’s go to the band! Let’s go to the band!”

That moment perfectly encapsulated the relationship between Robinson and the University of Southern California. After a huge victory, the first thing Robinson wanted to do was not to accept the trophy and answer questions, but to celebrate with the band and fans.

Robinson’s love for USC extended to not just the football team, but also the Trojan Marching Band, Song Girls, students, faculty, alumni, and fans. He truly was a member of the Trojan family, and embraced everything about it.

More than 17 years later, after the Trojans upset No. 4 Stanford and fans stormed the field, then-USC interim head coach Ed Orgeron echoed Robinson’s famous words, telling the jubilant crowd to “Go to the band!”

In a way, that moment perfectly encapsulates the mark Robinson left on this school and its football program. While the man had coached his last game at USC more than a decade prior, his impact on the university remained undeniable.

Robinson may have passed away on Monday, but as long as USC continues to Fight On, so too will his legacy.

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Former USC players react to John Robinson’s death

Marcus Allen, Ronnie Lott, Anthony Munoz, and the other great players John Robinson coached at USC reacted to the legendary coach’s death at age 89.

On Monday, legendary USC football head coach John Robinson passed away at the age of 89. Upon learning of the news, several of Robinson’s former USC players chimed in with their memories of the coach.

1981 Heisman Trophy Winner and Pro Football Hall of Famer Marcus Allen

“Words are inadequate for a person that has impacted your life in such a way; you can’t even describe it. The impact John had on his players, particularly myself, is so deep and profound. Knowing him was life-changing.

He was a great man and a great coach. I love him so much. He was one of the greatest teachers, motivators and psychologists of all-time. Everything we were on the field was a reflection of him.

John Robinson is one of the greatest Trojans ever. I always wanted to go to USC, and my time there was better than I could’ve ever imagined – and he made it special.

It’s a sad day, but it’s also a day of celebration of a great man.”

All-America Safety and Pro Football Hall of Famer Ronnie Lott

“Coach Robinson was one of the greatest college coaches ever, and his love for USC and his love for the game of football was second to none. I’ve always felt that while playing for him, he gave us the ability to feel like we were larger than life. And his commitment to making sure that we had more than just football in our lives was so superior. This is a sad day for all of the Trojans that played for him, but it’s a great day for God that He has one of the best coaches ever right by his side.”

All-America Quarterback Paul McDonald

“It’s a sad day for the Trojan Family, a legend is gone and he will be missed. I remember my first team meeting under Coach Robinson during training camp. He wrote our goals on the board: ‘Beat UCLA, Beat Notre Dame, Win the Rose Bowl, Win a National Championship.’ My initial reaction was, ‘Whoa, the bar is very high here!’

Coach Robinson was very demanding, but in a human way. He had great interpersonal skills, and he knew how to connect with people. He made you want to play hard for him and to run through walls. You cared for him because he cared so much for you.”

Pro Football Hall of Famer Anthony Muñoz

“When I think about John Robinson, I think about the impact he had on us, not only as football players but as individuals. I think about the things I learned at USC: how to prepare and how to compete. Those are things you need not just in football, but also in life. Those are true life lessons that were taught to us under John Robinson.”

All-America Wide Receiver Keyshawn Johnson

“Rip Coach!

If it wasn’t for you I wouldn’t have had the opportunity to live the Dream I’ve been living 🙏🏾

#FightOnForever”

Current USC Head Coach Lincoln Riley

“It’s a tough day. One of the greatest things at our university and our football program is honoring all of the greats that have come before – the coaches, the players and everyone that has made this place special. Days like this are especially tough, but we can remember all the memories and incredible accomplishments that Coach Robinson was a part of here at USC. From our entire football family, we want to offer his family condolences and let them know that we appreciate Coach, and he will forever be a huge part of USC football.”

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Former USC receiver makes NFL history, sets sights on bigger goals

Amon-Ra St. Brown continues to go above and beyond for the barrier-busting Detroit Lions, who have more milestones in front of them.

Another week, another piece of history made by a USC football alumnus in the NFL. Last Sunday, former USC wide receiver Amon-Ra St. Brown became the fastest player in Detroit Lions history to reach 4,000 career receiving yards. St. Brown hit the mark in just 57 games played.

St. Brown starred at USC from 2018-2020. His best statistical season came as a sophomore in 2019, when he had over 1,000 yards receiving. During the COVID-shortened 2020 campaign, St. Brown caught 41 passes for 478 yards and seven touchdowns—including the game-winner against UCLA—despite the Trojans playing just six games.

Despite his standout college career, however, St. Brown fell to the fourth round of the 2021 NFL draft, largely due to concerns over his size. Ever since, he has been making the teams that passed on him pay, quickly emerging as one of the best wide receivers in the league.

St. Brown has had over 900 yards receiving in each of his three full NFL seasons. Last year, he had his best campaign to date, catching 119 passes for 1,515 yards and ten touchdowns.

Now, St. Brown has a place in the Lions’ history book. For the same franchise that had Calvin Johnson for nearly a decade, that’s a pretty impressive mark to have.

St. Brown’s next — and biggest — goal: bringing the Detroit Lions their first-ever Super Bowl appearance. The Lions have the best record in the NFC and have a strong chance of hosting the NFC Championship Game, something which has never happened before.

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The big loser in USC football’s quarterback change? Eric Musselman

Eric Musselman and USC are 2-0, but the football team was still the big story of the week due to its QB change. It’s a reminder about what gets the headlines.

Monday night at USC basketball was supposed to be all about Eric Musselman. Coaching his first game in charge of the USC men’s basketball program, the “Muss Bus” impressed in his debut. The Trojans dominated UT Chattanooga in a wire-to-wire 77-51 victory. Unfortunately for Musselman, however, he only had the spotlight for barely an hour after the game ended. That was because around 10 p.m. local time on Monday night in Los Angeles, it was reported that the football team was making a change at quarterback, and turning to Jayden Maiava to start against Nebraska.

Suddenly, Musselman and the basketball team were pushed to the back page. With the attention of USC fans naturally turning toward the big football news, they quickly forgot about the impressive performance from Musselman’s team in a game they had just watched.

Oh, and to top it all off, there was an election the next day — that was kind of important.

Fortunately for Musselman, Monday was only the first game of a long season. He and his team will have plenty of other opportunities to play their way back into the spotlight. USC beat Idaho State on Thursday in a game which was not on national television. It’s just as well: USC didn’t play particularly well. Yet, the Trojans are 2-0 and are trying to build something special under Musselman.

For the time being, however, being pushed aside by football in the news cycle must have been at least a little bit frustrating for the new head coach.

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Former USC QB offers perspective on Trojans’ tough season

Former USC quarterback Max Browne talks about the process the Trojans need to follow in order to restore the toughness they have lost.

It is no secret that USC’s 2024 season under Lincoln Riley has not gone according to plan. After another frustrating loss on Saturday, the Trojans now sit at 4-5 and need to win two of their final three games just to make a bowl game.

It feels like a decade ago that USC won 11 games in Lincoln Riley’s 2022 debut season. Following the loss, former USC quarterback Max Browne argued that in hindsight, the 2022 success is largely responsible for USC’s 2024 failures.

“In hindsight, the 2022 season was the worst thing for USC,” Browne said in a tweet following the game.

“Gave the program the illusion the right foundation was being built in Year 1 reaching the Cotton Bowl. Instead, it was because of a super human QB and set an ‘all star’ transfer portal identity into the team.

“Most programs in Year 1 take their lumps, but use it to establish a foundation of grit, physicality, and toughness.

“If you don’t establish that mentality in Year 1, it’s extremely difficult to change course because if you all the sudden become a hardass in Year 2, you run the risk of losing your locker room as it comes across inauthentic.”

The “super human QB” that Browne is referring to is, of course, Caleb Williams. USC’s 2022 success was largely based around Williams being Superman on the football field and constantly bailing out his team. Because USC was winning with Williams’ heroics at the time, however, they failed to establish an identity of toughness and physicality.

Now, with Williams no longer around to erase USC’s mistakes, the team’s lack of toughness is being exposed. Despite being in the third year of the Lincoln Riley era, it feels like the Trojans are in the first year of a rebuild.

When you are paying your head coach as much as USC is paying Riley, that simply is not acceptable.

USC hires Julie Rousseau to chair Black Lives Matter Action Team

The USC Trojans have hired former LA Sparks and Pepperdine Waves head coach Julie Rousseau to chair the Black Lives Matter Action Team.

The USC Trojans have hired Dr. Julie Rousseau to be the chair of the athletic department’s new Black Lives Matter Action Team, according to a release on Twitter Tuesday morning.

“We are incredibly fortunate to have someone with Dr. Rousseau’s experience, compassion and ability to connect with people to lead this effort,” AD Mike Bohm wrote in a statement.

Rousseau is a native of Los Angeles who played college basketball at UC-Irvine in the early 1980’s. She moved her way up the coaching ranks after her playing career ended, eventually coaching the Los Angeles Sparks of the WNBA for parts of two seasons in 1997 and 1998. She was also an assistant at Stanford from 2000-2004 and the head coach of the Pepperdine Waves from 2004-2013.

“A native of Los Angeles with experiences as a student-athlete, college and professional coach, and educator, Julie is uniquely qualified to lead our USC athletics Black Lives Matter Action Team,” Bohm said in a statement. “Julie’s passion and vision, strong leadership skills and outstanding reputation, as well as her innovative academic background, make her a wonderful fit to guide this critically important initiative.”

The Black Lives Matter Action Team will work with student-athletes to “ensure that all voices are equally represented.”

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