Fight On for old SC, Fight On to Victory!

[LA Ute]

L.A. Times:

USC Coach Lane Kiffin has been reprimanded and fined $10,000 for critical comments about officiating and Trojans safety T.J. McDonald has been suspended for a half for making a late hit in last week’s triple-overtime loss to Stanford, the Pacific 12 Conference announced Monday night.

Kiffin criticized game officials after the game and again Sunday for failing to give the Trojans an opportunity to kick a potential game-winning field goal at the end of regulation. The Trojans lost, 56-48.

“The Pac-12 has specific rules that prohibit our coaches from making public comments about officiating, and this prohibition specifically includes comments that create doubts about the credibility of the Conference’s officiating program,” Pac-12 Commissioner Larry Scott said in a statement. “The Conference expects each Pac-12 coach to adhere to our standards of conduct and to conduct himself or herself in a manner which will reflect credit on the institution and the Conference.”

Kiffin had said that he spoke with an unnamed Pac-12 official by phone from the locker room and told the person, "I was basically lied to."

[il Padrino Ute]

Is Lane Kiffin trying to claim that he was treated unfairly? The guy who is a known cheater? Really?

Kiffin knows more about football than I do, but if he were to ask me advice on coaching a game, I would tell him to make sure that his team has more points than the other team before the game is over. Not the same amount of points because that doesn't ensure a win. Only more points will get the win. Then he wouldn't have to rely on a ref to allow his team to kick a game winning FG.

[TripletDaddy]

Is Lane Kiffin trying to claim that he was treated unfairly? The guy who is a known cheater? Really?

Kiffin knows more about football than I do, but if he were to ask me advice on coaching a game, I would tell him to make sure that his team has more points than the other team before the game is over. Not the same amount of points because that doesn't ensure a win. Only more points will get the win. Then he wouldn't have to rely on a ref to allow his team to kick a game winning FG.

Why would he ask for your advice on coaching a football game?

[il Padrino Ute]

Why would he ask for your advice on coaching a football game?

He wouldn't. I was just stating a hypothetical that most likely would never happen. But you know that. Like me, you just like to be argumentative for the sake of being argumentative.

[UtahJazzFan88]

He shouldn't be complaining when that screen play was completely retarded to begin with, the receiver (was it Woods?) should have just fell too.

[LA Ute]

He wouldn't. I was just stating a hypothetical that most likely would never happen. But you know that. Like me, you just like to be argumentative for the sake of being argumentative.

Wait...how long has this been going on? Why wasn't I informed?

[il Padrino Ute]

Wait...how long has this been going on? Why wasn't I informed?

Since the days of cougarguard.

[USUC]

Sark says he would take Barkley over Luck. Looks like Matt isn't taking the bait.

http://espn.go.com/los-angeles/ncf/story/_/id/7204999/washington-huskies-coach-steve-sarkisian-says-pick-matt-barkley-andrew-luck

[BoylenOver]

Dillon Baxter will transfer at the end of the semester.

[TripletDaddy]

Dillon Baxter will transfer at the end of the semester.

Im more concerned with Robert Woods not playing this Saturday. He sat out another practice this week.

[USUC]

Barkley has been playing lights out. What is the sense of his status after this year? I can't imagine his NFL stock will be any higher after this season. Has there been any talk of him coming back for another year? If he is gone, who is next at the helm?

[USCoug]

Barkley has dropped a hint or two that he might be staying but I think this is more wishful thinking than anything else. His family is pretty well off though so I doubt he's in a rush to go for the money. He also doesn't seem like the guy that would run off early. I dunno we'll wait and see.

I always said in the beginning how much I love seeing him as the qb right now, he's just a solid player. He's a great qb and a great leader for the team. My ultimate fantasy is to see him as well as a few others (like kalil) come back for one more year. Not only would they be a favorite to win the pac, but they have a realistic shot at the national title game as well.

[TripletDaddy]

Barkley has been playing lights out. What is the sense of his status after this year? I can't imagine his NFL stock will be any higher after this season. Has there been any talk of him coming back for another year? If he is gone, who is next at the helm?

Yes, there has been talk of his return next season. Unfortunately, the talk isn't coming from him...yet.

If he comes back, SC is back in the mix for a title...or at least in the conversation, I should say. Also, he would immediately be a Heisman favorite, or, again, at least a serious consideration. His line, his receivers, his RB would all have more experience.

In short, it would be great for SC if he came back. But clearly his NFL stock is rising sharply. In fact, if he shows really well next week against fucla, don't be surprised if he gets an invite to NYC this season (not saying he would win, mind you, but Carson won in a 2 loss season and his win against Oregon in Eugene was the win that put everyone on notice).

If Barkley leaves, then time for Scroggins. Or Kessler. Or Wittek. Problem is that they are all very green. Jesse Scroggins would be SCs first real venture into the read option QB territory, as he can run, scramble, and pass....maybe a poor mans Masoli in his prime. Kessler and Wittek are traditional pro style QBs.

[TripletDaddy]

Barkley has dropped a hint or two that he might be staying but I think this is more wishful thinking than anything else. His family is pretty well off though so I doubt he's in a rush to go for the money. He also doesn't seem like the guy that would run off early. I dunno we'll wait and see.

I always said in the beginning how much I love seeing him as the qb right now, he's just a solid player. He's a great qb and a great leader for the team. My ultimate fantasy is to see him as well as a few others (like kalil) come back for one more year. Not only would they be a favorite to win the pac, but they have a realistic shot at the national title game as well.

I've noticed Barkley leading the band in Conquest lately after every win, road or home. Not the actions of someone that is coming back.

[USUC]

Yes, there has been talk of his return next season. Unfortunately, the talk isn't coming from him...yet.

If he comes back, SC is back in the mix for a title...or at least in the conversation, I should say. Also, he would immediately be a Heisman favorite, or, again, at least a serious consideration. His line, his receivers, his RB would all have more experience.

In short, it would be great for SC if he came back. But clearly his NFL stock is rising sharply. In fact, if he shows really well next week against fucla, don't be surprised if he gets an invite to NYC this season (not saying he would win, mind you, but Carson won in a 2 loss season and his win against Oregon in Eugene was the win that put everyone on notice).

If Barkley leaves, then time for Scroggins. Or Kessler. Or Wittek. Problem is that they are all very green. Jesse Scroggins would be SCs first real venture into the read option QB territory, as he can run, scramble, and pass....maybe a poor mans Masoli in his prime. Kessler and Wittek are traditional pro style QBs.

Which one of these guys has been getting garbage time experience? A read option QB at USC? That would be a trip to see.