What the hell has happened to my USC Trojans?
It’s October 8, 2023. The USC Trojans are 6–0, heading to a “showdown,” a collision course matchup next weekend in the greatest intersectional rivalry in college athletics (until USC plays Michigan annually) in South Bend, Indiana with Notre Dame.
Yet, I’m not sure if it feels like this squad is 6–0 right now in Southern California.
Hell, I live in Northern Virginia and on this cool, crisp, fall Sunday, it doesn’t feel like the USC Trojans are 6–0.
I’ve lived through a lot of these types of games. In my life, I’ve written too much about this program without being paid and because of that, I try to not be overly emotional and invested much. I just watch to watch.
USC is 6–0 but it feels like 4–2. If you ask a certain section of the fanbase, they’ll say they feel like the 2023 version of this squad is 3–3 or 2–4. I won’t go that far, but I can see their perspective.
“Pressure is a privilege.” — Billie Jean King
The young men in that uniform who represent the university, the fanbase, their families, etc, are folding under pressure, which is unfortunately what a lot of individuals want to see.
From my perspective, football hasn’t become fun for anyone on this roster the last few weeks. Again, I’m not in the program like that, but there’s an issue. Something is… off.
Last weekend at Colorado, USC was putting the smackdown on them boys. Another humbling was occurring for the bandwagon fans of the Colorado Buffaloes and I was going a little too crazy in a Chicago hotel room watching the fellas show who they were for a minute. Then, in predictable fashion, they showed us that maybe it’s not okay after being up 27 in the third quarter.
See, when you play with your food too much, somebody will come along and eat it. My grandparents always told me,“Sometimes, doing the simple things is more efficient than being fancy.”
Lincoln Riley, maybe you take that quote to heart.
Now, now. I’m not one of these fans who want him fired nor do I listen to a fanbase in the middle of the country in a state I fly over to get to California who just beat their rival off some Steve Sarkisian BS.
But what I do now is that coaching is off. The team is off. This offensive juggernaut has looked woefully pathetic in 6 quarters. There’s not connectivity on the defensive unit.
Yes, even though the defense bailed out this squad, they look lost most times.
The superstar quarterback, baby black Jesus, looked like he’d rather be in the NFL until his brilliance, wizardly and talent won out, bailing out Riley (and that’s actually the first time I think he’s done that at USC).
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The special teams unit… do not get my started on that embarrassment display at the end of the game. Like damn, at least get the kick off lol.
Arizona played Washington tough at home and probably should have beat them. So salute to them. They building something down there and last night, they were the better squad.
But… USC isn’t supposed to look this sloppy in the middle of the season. It was not Clay Helton bad. But it was Lane Kiffin 2010 vibes when he had a limited roster.
I said last weekend to my significant other that nobody in LA should be truly excited about how bad that second half went last week. It looks like there was a carryover performance from them this week, and that’s discomforting to see.
Maybe it’s my fault.
Maybe it’s our fault as fans.
Maybe we’re the reason why this team is not having fun anymore.
Maybe we’ve applied an extreme amount of pressure to give us ultimate bragging rights to win a dying conference.
Maybe it’s our fault because we’re STARVING for a playoff appearance in a system that’s rigged anyway.
I’m not sure what’s happening, but I am sad to see these young men collapse like this on the national stage without actually collapsing (yet).
The longer it goes, the harder it gets. — The 2023 USC Trojans Football Team Motto
It’s not supposed to be this hard for these guys.
They look soft. They look bored. They look like they’re tuning out their coaching. Maybe Riley is going to the NFL (which is okay if he wants to get a payday before not coaching anymore). But at least look inspired for us. At some point, there needs to be a call to Jesus moment. A moment where everyone looks in the mirror.
Riley. Grinch. Williams. Bullock. Cobb. Dedich. It starts with them.
The season isn’t over yet, but it’s beginning to feel like this season which was supposed to be magical, won’t have it’s Hollywood ending.
It’s still “Fight On” over this way. Don’t get this shit twisted. If I didn’t truly care, I wouldn’t have wasted a hour writing this about this program.
But it’s a concerned Fight On. A “What the hell has happened” type of Fight On. Let’s hope these young athletes can have fun again on NBC on primetime.
Fight On.
Beat those jokers in South Bend.
