Tag: USC

5 Trojans who can up their NFL Draft stock in the Holiday Bowl

Here are five Trojans that can improve their 2020 draft stock in the Holiday Bowl against Iowa Austin Jackson (Jr.) LT Michael Pittman Jr. (Sr.) WR Jay Tufele (Redshirt So.) DE Christian Rector (Redshirt Sr.) DE Tyler Vaughns (Redshirt Jr.) WR

Here are five Trojans that can improve their 2020 draft stock in the Holiday Bowl against Iowa Austin Jackson (Jr.) LT Michael Pittman Jr. (Sr.) WR Jay Tufele (Redshirt So.) DE Christian Rector (Redshirt Sr.) DE Tyler Vaughns (Redshirt Jr.) WR

Wisconsin bowl memories: 2015 Holiday Bowl vs USC

Wisconsin versus USC in the 2015 Holiday Bowl

Wisconsin’s upcoming bowl game will be played in Southern California against a Pac-12 opponent. Why not look back at a Paul Chryst bowl game which enhanced Wisconsin’s stature and reputation while giving ballast to the current coach of the Badgers, who has only gotten better since his first year in Madison?

As the 2019 college football season winds to a close, Badgers Wire thought it would be fun to look back upon the 2015 Holiday Bowl and how the game affected both teams involved. The Badgers won their division and will return to the Rose Bowl for the first time in seven years. The USC Trojans, their opponent in the 2015 Holiday Bowl, are also ranked in the College Football Playoff rankings and, interestingly enough, will return to the Holiday Bowl this season against Iowa, one of the better bowl matchups among the 39 for 2019 and 2020. 

The Trojans made the choice to retain coach Clay Helton for the upcoming season, which has not been received well by the local fan base. Interestingly enough, Helton took over as USC’s head coach in the 2015 season, relieving Steve Sarkisian in October of that campaign. Helton coached USC to the Pac-12 Championship Game that season, losing to Christian McCaffrey and Stanford. When Helton faced Chryst in that 2015 Holiday Bowl, college football fans were looking at two head coaches whose futures seemed impossible to predict.

Wisconsin got the better end of the deal, not just in that Holiday Bowl, but in the ensuing four years. USC did win a Rose Bowl in January of 2017, but Wisconsin has been much more consistent and has two New Year’s Six bowl wins in that same period of time. 

Wisconsin just finished another superb regular season under Chryst. Whatever head coaching turmoil USC is facing, Wisconsin has no such issues. The former Badger who was born and raised in Madison did not do well at Pittsburgh, raising legitimate concerns about his head-coaching chops. Yet, his familiarity with Wisconsin football under Barry Alvarez created a hand-in-glove fit when continues to this day. Chryst has Badger blood flowing through his veins, but more than that, Chryst has ably translated his passion for UW football into quality results.

Through a connection, I reached out to a Badger fan, Lucas Rucks, who offered his assessment of the Chryst hire following Gary Andersen’s departure for Oregon State. 

“In a lot of ways it was the most perfect hire,” Rucks said. “We knew he could play ‘Barry ball’ and there was optimism that he could continue to build on in-state recruiting of linemen and then finding East Coast running backs. Maybe the Badgers will never have the Anderson gimmicks or spread offense, but just like that we were assured of consistent top-ten finishes and bowl appearances in a known system where they recruit three-star athletes and develop to compete against the best in the count.”

That’s what Chryst provided when he took over. He gave Wisconsin a confidence and swagger the Badgers took into the Holiday Bowl against USC. Chryst’s ability to put it all together allowed the Badgers to play a tough USC team to the very wire and then pull out the win. The name value of the opponent wasn’t lost on fans, either. Beating USC was no small thing. Fans took notice when Chryst stepped in and beat the Trojans in his first year. 

“Of course the brand recognition of USC wasn’t lost on us,” Rucks said. “The bright lights, the biggest stage, against a team that is truly elite. They have all of the resources and scandals and rich history. If it had been a mediocre team in the Kraft Fight Hunger bowl game it wouldn’t have been as big of a deal. But when a guy can step in and scheme against the Trojans in a big bowl, it is something special. As much as fans were nervous about the recruiting implications of losing [Andersen], it was equally huge that we were able to beat USC with the guy taking over.

“There’s almost no other team where this would have been as big. Wisconsin had recently beaten Auburn and Florida schools in bowl games past, so I honestly can’t name a team where this would have been a bigger deal for the university. With all that was going on and the recent success regarding national championships and Heisman trophies for USC, it was this win over USC that kept everything on track, and that’s only because it was a win over a program like USC.”

Todd Gurley congratulates former coach Mike Bobo on SC job

Los Angeles Rams running back Todd Gurley congratulates former coach Mike Bobo on new South Carolina offensive coordinator job

Will Muschamp and the South Carolina Gamecocks stole a good one right in front of Kirby Smart and the Dawgs.

As if beating Georgia in Athens wasn’t enough, Muschamp added insult to injury and hired Colorado State head coach and former UGA offensive coordinator and alumni, Mike Bobo.

Bobo spent 14 years on the Georgia coaching staff, 8 of those as the OC.  He played a major role in developing a lot of legendary offensive players at UGA.

One of those players, former Georgia running back Todd Gurley, sent a congrats to Bobo on the new position, even if he’s now a division rival.

Some people found this hire as a shock, as Smart and Bobo’s relationship has always been rock solid.  Bobo was the best man at Smart’s wedding believe it or not.

The South Carolina coaching staff now consists of a few too many Georgia alumni to be comfortable Muschamp and Bobo being two of them.

All Decade Top 25: Notre Dame Good, Not Great

From a national perspective however, what is the biggest win Notre Dame had the last ten seasons?
At Oklahoma in 2012?

As the decade wraps up we’ll have more and more discussion as to the best this, that and the other in regards to college football.

Here on Fighting Irish Wire I’m working with contributor Jeff Feyerer on a ton of lists in regards to the last day decade that we’re excited to soon share and discuss with everyone of our loyal readers.

In the meantime, I stumbled into this list tonight – the top 25 programs of the decade.

I was curious how Notre Dame would rank and I think Berry Werner at Touchdown Wire did a pretty fine job.

No. 16 Notre Dame (91-37)

There are a lot of wins but the losses feel like they always come in the tougher games on the schedule, which has a load of soft spots. Brian Kelly has done a nice job getting the team to bounce back from off-years.

I have trouble arguing much with the ranking. For those curious Werner put the Irish one spot ahead of Michigan and one spot behind Michigan State.

For those curious Alabama was one while Ohio State, Clemson and Oklahoma all checked in just behind.

Oklahoma State was a little curiously ranked ahead of Notre Dame at 13 but it’s easy to forget how good their start of the decade was. It’s also hard to get to upset about a team who has won 10+ games six times in the window being ranked above, especially since they haven’t missed a bowl game since 2005 but for those interested, they have won just one more Big XII Championship in that time than Notre Dame.

Notre Dame has played for one national championship (and gotten destroyed) and made one College Football Playoff in that time, which alone gets them easily in the top-25.

From a national perspective however, what is the biggest win Notre Dame had the last ten seasons?

At Oklahoma in 2012?

Taking Florida State to the wire in 2014 or Clemson to the gun in 2015? Heartbreaking thrillers sure, but still losses.

They’ve had a seat at the table but until they knock off one of these top-five or so teams the perception will remain.

The good news however is that if you were to simply do this same top 25 over the last three seasons how many teams would come ahead of Notre Dame?

Clemson, Ohio State, Alabama, LSU, Georgia, Oklahoma and who else?

It’s the looks of a very good program on the cusp of joining the elites but until that top-five or so matchup is won, you won’t see many chirping for the Irish to be seen in quite the same class.

Amway Coaches Poll: Notre Dame Holds Still

Stack resumes and you can easily make the case that Notre Dame is worthy of a top-10, perhaps top-seven spot.

The final regular season Amway Coaches Poll Powered by USA Today is out and if it offers any hint of how the College Playoff Committee will see things, they’ll fall exactly in line with what we thought they’d be last night.

Here is the latest Amway Coaches Poll Powered by USA Today:

1. LSU

2. Ohio State

3. Clemson

4. Oklahoma

5. Georgia

6. Oregon

7. Florida

8. Baylor

9. Alabama

10. Utah

11. Wisconsin

12. Penn State

13. Auburn

14. Notre Dame

15. Memphis

16. Minnesota

17. Michigan

18. Boise State

19. Iowa

20. Appalachian State

21. Navy

22. Cincinnati

23. USC

24. Air Force

25. Virginia

Stack resumes and you can easily make the case that Notre Dame is worthy of a top-10, perhaps top-seven spot.

However you could also make a case (not saying it’d be correct) that they could be a few slots lower as well.

More confidence is key to Rasheem Green’s recent surge

Seattle Seahawks defensive end Rasheem Green has come on as of late, and added confidence is a big reason why.

When the Seattle Seahawks drafted defensive end Rasheem Green in the third round of the 2018 draft out of USC, they knew he was a bit of a project.

After all, Green was one of the youngest draft-eligible prospects of all-time, getting selected two weeks before his 21st birthday – one of only 12 players to do so in history.

Green, understandably, didn’t see much action in his first NFL season. He appeared in 10 games and recorded nine combined tackles, including one sack.

However, coach Pete Carroll has long preached the importance of players taking the second-year leap – and Green’s recent performance is a perfect example of Carroll’s player development system functioning at 100 percent.

“We’re just really fired up that he’s been so physical and aggressive,” Carroll said on Friday. “He’s knocked two balls loose in the last couple of weeks. His confidence is soaring really, from where it’s been. His understanding of what’s going on, his style of play, he has really embraced. I think Clint [Hurtt] has done a great job with him of finding his game, and we’re trying to put him in a situation where he can be successful. I’m really excited to see him play again.”

Green has appeared in all 12 of Seattle’s games, starting five, and recorded 17 combined tackles, three sacks, one pass defended and three forced fumbles – including a crucial one against the Vikings on Monday Night Football.

Seattle’s defense took their time coming together this season, and Green’s emergence as a force up front has been a big part of their success. Seattle can utilize him on the inside and on the outside, and he has proven he has enough quicks and strength to impose his will on opposing offenses in both the running game and the passing game.

Still just 22, Green has a bright future ahead of him as an every down defensive lineman for this Seahawks team, and his performance down the stretch will be a big part of this team’s push for a first round bye in the playoffs.

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Notre Dame Football: A Twitter Check-In at USC

Let’s take a look at how USC fans reacted to their athletic director on twitter after news came down that Clay Helton was being kept as head football coach.

Last night we got word late from Bruce Feldman of Fox Sports/The Athletic that USC appeared to be keeping head coach Clay Helton.

Helton started strong with the Trojans, winning 27 of his first 37 contests.

He’s however fallen on hard-times, winning just 13 of his last 24 and entered this season very much on the hot seat after failing to go to a bowl game a season ago.

Official word did come down Wednesday afternoon that USC wasn’t in fact making a head coaching change at all and instead, Helton would remain in charge.

As you can probably guess, plenty of USC faithful were none too pleased.

Here’s what new USC Athletic Director Mike Bohn tweeted Wednesday afternoon.  Take a look and then we’ll check in on his mentions and see how USC fans are handling the news.

This should go over well – let’s check it out…

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USC announced Clay Helton will be returning and wow are Trojan fans irate

USC fans are furious over this decision.

USC’s new Athletic Director Mike Bohn made a simple announcement on Twitter on Wednesday afternoon, saying head football coach Clay Helton will be returning for the 2020 season.

And then Bohn immediately got destroyed by just about the entire USC fanbase, which was hoping for a change in the offseason.

Helton hasn’t had a terrible career at USC – he did lead them to Rose Bowl win in 2016 and had an 11-3 record in 2017. He then went 5-7 in 2018 and and 8-4 last year.

But that isn’t close to being good enough for the fans of the storied program who have been frustrated in recent years and really wanted a big name to come in and turn them back into national title contenders.

And boy did they let Bohn have it after he made this announcement:

That didn’t go over well:

Fans went off:

 

Notre Dame Football: Christmas Came Early Thanks to USC

What we know is that there won’t be anyone to confuse as a great head coach at Southern Cal in 2020 and that’s something any fan of Notre Dame or any Pac-12 school not named USC should be thrilled about.

Merry Christmas, Notre Dame fans!

It may only be the early hours of December 4 as I sit and type this but it might as well be three weeks from now because I’m not sure any Notre Dame fan will get a better present than the one that just arrived on their doorstep with a return address of Los Angeles, CA.

Clay Helton appears to be returning to USC next year.

This news comes just days after a Sports Illustrated report erroneously said Helton would be out of the job and that Urban Meyer was the number-one candidate USC’s administration had in mind to replace him.

I won’t lie, upon reading that article I got more than a bit uncomfortable as a lifelong Notre Dame fan as very few fits seem as puke-worthy perfect as Meyer would at USC.

It appears now that we can say that report was in fact, false.

Let me say that I don’t think Clay Helton is an awful coach.

He led the Trojans to a third-overall final ranking in 2016 after guiding them to a Rose Bowl win over Penn State and even after falling behind big at Notre Dame this season, his players fought until the end for him, pulling within three late.

He also was the only coach to beat Utah this regular season, a currently top-five and possibly headed to the CFP squad.

It’s not that I think he’s awful by any means – that status is reserved for the likes of Tyrone Willingham, Tim Beckman, and Mike Riley if you’re looking for Power Five examples.

I just don’t think Helton is anything special, whatsoever.

Since starting his USC career by winning 27 of his first 37 games, the Trojans have gone just 13-11 in his last 24.  There also appears to be some turbulence coming in terms of talent, or lack-there-of as USC currently ranks 67th in 2020 recruiting rankings per 247Sports.

Louisiana, as in the Louisiana and not LSU, North Texas, Western Michigan and Vanderbilt all rank immediately ahead of the Trojans according to those rankings.

Compared to the rest of the Pac-12, only Utah ranks lower at 107.  It is worth noting a lot can change between now and National Signing Day but it’s clearly not looking like this recruiting class will be anything stellar at USC.

Getting stars to USC hasn’t been the issue for Helton as he his classes were rated the following in recent years by 247Sports:

2019 – 20th
2018 – 4th
2017 – 4th
2016 – 10th
2015 – 2nd

He gets talent to Southern California but his teams have regressed with the more elite talent he brings in.  Sound like someone you used to know, Notre Dame fans?

From afar he seems to have a little Charlie Weis in him, although he seems a lot less insufferable than old Charlie was.

What we know is that there won’t be anyone to confuse as a great head coach at Southern Cal in 2020 and that’s something any fan of Notre Dame or any Pac-12 school not named USC should be thrilled about.

College Football Playoff: Instant Reaction to New Rankings

how in the world can you justify Penn State being eight spots higher?

The answer is that you can’t.

The College Football Playoff rankings came out Tuesday night with a couple of shocks but nothing major in terms of the top-four or where Notre Dame will likely end up because of where they wind up in these latest rankings.

If you haven’t seen the rankings yet, here they are:

Three fast thoughts on them:

Great news for the Big XII:

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