USC Trojans, the twilight years (2009-?)...

[Easton Pa ND Fan]

Starting with the current NCAA investigation, the USC program
is surely going to lose scholarships, if the NCAA proves to
have some spine. If the NCAA does not impose more than a slap
on the wrist, other teams will see it as a green light to al-
so implement grey area policy.

On the field, the loss of a qb who accounted for 95% of their
yardage has to hurt. 23% of their wide receiver yardage is
also gone. Are the players in place able to step up?

Coupled with the decline on offense, the losss of 8 defensive
starters who accounted for 61% of the 2008 game tackles is a
catastrophe. You might be able to make up some of the ground
on either side of the ball, but not both and not in one sea-
son.

Penn St., the Big Ten preseason favorite, is projected to be
stronger this year. Last year, the Trojans toyed with the
Lions, not likely this year.

Lastly, the USC lock on recruiting appears over. Florida
will wear the crown. Below is a five year look at the
quality of recruiting as measured by the average "stars" per
player. Florida and ND are listed in the 2nd and 3rd col-
umns for comparison...Tom

2010 - 3.63 - 3.81 - 3.46 (Prelim)
2009 - 3.89 - 3.94 - 3.44
2008 - 3.89 - 3.82 - 3.96 (ND high point, but high turnover)
2007 - 4.22 - 3.89 - 3.72 (Av. "stars" record, set by USC)
2006 - 3.96 - 3.89 - 3.46
2005 - 3.95 - 3.39 - 3.00

 

[WabashFalcon]

Excellent info brother. What would all of the defensive statistics be if Taylor Mays had skipped to the NFL last year? Without him, U$C would have been in some DEEP DEEP shit.

 

[phork]

I don't know man. As long as Petey McPete is there, they are going to be awesome. USC is seemingly 10 deep at every position. Each one of those players being starters on other not-so-rich teams.
Once Pete heads back to the NFL, and he will his ego will require it, then the true degradation will will arrive.

 

[Riddickulous]

USC will never win less than 10 games until either:

A) The Poodle retires
B) USC is busted with multiple NCAA violations

 

[GO IRISH!!!]

USC will never win less than 10 games until either:

A) The Poodle retires
B) USC is busted with multiple NCAA violations

I think those will go hand in hand. The question is which one will come first?

 

[Bubba]

I don't know man. As long as Petey McPete is there, they are going to be awesome. USC is seemingly 10 deep at every position. Each one of those players being starters on other not-so-rich teams.
Once Pete heads back to the NFL, and he will his ego will require it, then the true degradation will will arrive.

I know he has an ego, but I think he really enjoys the college game. I just don't see him going to the NFL again. I think it is more likely he would try to go to another college program and see if he can build another dynasty. But, I think it is even more likely he stays at USC until they mak him leave.

 

[Riddickulous]

USC will continue to dominate for another decade or so.

 

[Easton Pa ND Fan]

I think they are 3/4 of the way...

I think they are 3/4 of the way...

USC will continue to dominate for another decade or so.

through the winning cycle. I read somewhere and I heard Penn
St's Paterno say all teams, despite scheduling, recruiting and coaching, go through a natural cycle...Tom

 

[jason_h537]

Yeah you see it already. USC will continue to be a good program under Carroll but programs lose assistants that helped bulid the program to other schools and rival schools try to keep up and hire new coaches that challenge the team at the top. Nueheisel, Harbaugh, and even Sarkisian will start improve their teams and challege on the recruiting trail. Having to replace guys like Orgeron, Kiffen, and Chow also takes away from the program. USC will continue to be good and maybe even have a second run like they have had but it wont last forever. Who would have guessed Miami and Florida St would have fallen like they have?

 

[mick2]

usc will always be good but to repeat what jason said, the other coaches and teams in the pac 10 are catching up and will challenge for that conference. rose bowls wont come as easy as they used to for the condoms. also i think florida will seriously drop off after tebow leaves, texas as well after colt mccoy. fsu seems to be somewhere in the middle, and teams that are on the rise are ND, osu, miami, and alabama

 

[Riddickulous]

Notre Dame needs to get in the winning cycle.

 

[tankjeep]

screw usc!

 

[irishtrain]

U$C in the decline

U$C in the decline

Screw U$C, now I feel better