IMHO Sunday: Wallets of USC fans will contribute as a major factor in decision-making

In my humble opinion, cardinal and gold thoughts on what I see, what I hear, and what I think from Los Angeles.

The deciding factor: With the 2021 USC Trojans fall football training camp now underway and team spirits high, there is somewhat tempered public and media optimism regarding Charles Clay Helton’s sixth team as the head coach of the Men of Troy. However, there was nothing tempered or cautious when the Trojans were picked at Pac-12 Media Day to win the Pac-12 South Division although the Oregon Ducks were picked to win the conference.

The deciding factor – Part 2: Then there are the national preseason prognosticators, publications, and rankings of the 2021 Trojans, which runs the gamut from good, to okay, to potentially watching the same old Helton seasonal reruns. Missing, however, from all the preseason evaluations and summations are historical USC football team descriptive adjectives such as powerhouse, vaunted, juggernaut, dominating, intimidating, physical. Perhaps in time, those apropo terms of endearment will return in 2021.  

The deciding factor – Part 3: Looking ahead, besides winning the Pac-12 Conference and going to the College Football Playoffs (CFP), a major deciding factor for Gentleman Clay’s return following the upcoming season could very well rest in the financial – namely wallets – of the large and passionate USC fan base. For Helton to continue as coach and a future seventh season as the leader of one of college football’s true blueblood programs, it may very well come down to money and where that money is coming from. It may just come down to this: Do USC fans, who greatly help pay the freight, think they are getting their money’s worth with the recent football product put on the field? During and following the conclusion of the 2021 season may provide the answer.       

The deciding factor – Part 4: Yes, you can make the astute observation that Coach Helton’s future will be ultimately decided by athletic director Mike Bohn with the blessing of USC president Dr. Carol Folt, two lightening rod figures of the disgruntled Trojans’ fan base. Folt and Bohn and perhaps with input from the USC Board of Trustees will have the final say in making judgment to retain Helton or go in a new direction. It’s fair to say the dynamic duo of Folt and Bohn have historically thrown their complete and unabashed public support behind their football coach despite all the fans’ venom directed their and Helton’s way.

The deciding factor – Part 5: The reasons Folt and Bohn have kept Helton at the helm of the USC football luxury liner likely range from an expensive buy out of the coach’s contract, Helton’s easy going and non-confrontational personality, producing teams with mostly winning records, and/or football is not quite the University priority it once was. All are plausible explanations. No reason to go over for the umpteenth time all the past evidence that pointed to a necessary change of command.

The deciding factor – Part 6: Give Clay Helton credit, plenty of it. Just when you think the old ball coach is headed for the unemployment line, his team wins the 2020 Pac-12 South Division but then loses in the championship game to Oregon in the Coliseum. One step forward, one step backward. The coach has more lives than Thomasina the Cat. He is a walking lucky charm. The type of person you want buying your lottery ticket. So, what good fortune might the coach have in store for 2021?      

The deciding factor – Part 7: Given the aforementioned explanations why Gentleman Clay is heading into his sixth season with the Trojans, there is another factor – perhaps the biggest deciding component– that will decide Helton’s future fate: the USC football fan. Oh sure, a majority of Trojans fans have howled to high heaven their views of the current football situation through season ticket cancellations and fan site message board therapy, but they have not been able to express their feelings and passion in person since the 2019 season – long before the great pandemic closed the Coliseum turnstiles to the cardinal and gold faithful.

The deciding factor – Part 8: Last season due to COVID, there was no way of measuring the pulse of the Trojans’ fan base through Coliseum attendance. All folks saw of 2020 USC home games was on national television, and it played to 77,500 people disguised as empty Coliseum seats along with some fan cutouts accompanied by artificial crowd noise and piped in Trojans Marching Band music. It turned the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum into the Los Angeles Memorial Mausoleum, even for the Pac-12 title game against Oregon.  

The deciding factor – Part 9: All of which now brings us to the 2021 season, a schedule slate that will include seven USC home games with a Coliseum operating at full capacity (77,500). That being said, pay close attention this season to the number of live fans in the Coli and their responses to what they see. Not only will Dr. Folt and Mike Bohn be watching, but so will millions of television viewers across the country, which will beam out real time visuals and audio that will be measurable. Call it the “Clayometer.” They say a picture is worth a thousand words, and that may be an understate when you add sound to a three-hour cardinal and gold live football TV production.

The deciding factor – Part 10: As the 2021 season progresses, things will either get better or they will get worse inside the Coliseum – a numbers and atmosphere barometer. It will be that evaluation at the end of the season – the Coliseum fan attendance and reaction to what happens on the field and the game aftermath of media headlines and commentary – that will be analyzed by decision-makers Folt and Bohn.

The deciding factor – summation: As usual, it all gets down to money made and money lost and future USC football financial projections. Afterall, when you’re paying the current Trojans’ head coach close to $5 million dollars per season, money normally talks through a fan’s wallet and booster donations. If Trojans fans don’t see what they consider the level of 2021 football success they crave, it’s probable the USC athletic department’s bank account will again feel the brunt, something it can ill afford with continued declining season ticket sales, decreased athletic donations, and just plain apathy.    

From the press box…

Enshrined into the Hall: Legendary former Trojans’ All-America safety Troy Polamalu was enshrined on Saturday into the Pro Football Hall of Fame as a Pittsburgh Steeler in Canton, Ohio. Wearing his new HOF jacket and seeing his bust that will reside inside the historic building, Troy addressed an adoring large turnout of fans, which included current USC wide receivers coach Keary Colbert and Troy’s uncle, Kennedy Polamalu, a former USC fullback and assistant coach. WeAreSC, too, salutes one of the greatest of all-time – pro and college – who adds to a long list of cardinal and gold superstars that have entered the PFHOF.

Enshrined into the Hall – Part 2: With the addition of Troy Polamalu, the list of other former USC football legends already in the Pro Football Hall of Fame include RB Marcus Allen; E Red Badgro; B Frank Gifford; DB Ronnie Lott, OG/OT/C Bruce Matthews; OT Anthony Munoz; LB Junior Seau; RB O.J. Simpson; WR Lynn Swann; DB Willie Wood; and OT Ron Yary. Former Trojans assistant coaches in the PFHOF include owner Al Davis, coach Joe Gibbs, and C Mel Hein.

FYI: San Jose State, which will be the Trojans first game of 2021, will open their season against Southern Utah on Saturday, Aug. 28, before meeting the Troy on Sept. 4 at the Coliseum (2 p.m. PT). The last time the Men of Troy played the Spartans was (drum roll) 2009.

FYI – Part 2: Since its inception in 2012, San Jose State University quarterback Nick Starkel is the first and only Spartan eligible to be nominated for the Earl Campbell Tyler Rose Award. Starkel finished his first San Jose State season leading the Spartans to a Mountain West championship, the school’s first conference football title since 1991. He also became the first known first-year player in a San Jose State uniform to be named a season team captain and completed 64.2 percent of his passes for 2,174 yards and 17 touchdowns in eight games.

NIL question: In a recent season ticket advertisement email, it featured a photo of Trojans’ All-Pac-12 junior quarterback Kedon Slovis. Under the new NIL rules, does Kedon get paid for having his likeness in the advertisement? Just asking.

The roundtable: In a recent ESPN roundtable that included favorite rivalries, writer Adam Rittenberg wrote, “I love the USC-Notre Dame rivalry, in part because it lacks the typical connections of others around college football. Other than being private schools packed with college football tradition, namely Heisman Trophy winners and national championship teams, the schools have little in common.

The roundtable – Part 2: Rittenberg added, “I was always amazed when recruits would choose between Notre Dame and USC, given the differences. I love how matchups are either midseason in South Bend, or around Thanksgiving in Los Angeles. The 2005 game at Notre Dame will always be one of the best games I’ve covered. You’ll have a hard time finding two better helmets in the sport, either.”

The Tahj Mahal: Although he is a portal transfer from Memphis, has had a limited number of practices, and has not secured a starting position, sophomore wide receiver Tahj Washington is listed on the Biletnikoff Award (top receivers) Watch List. With Bru McCoy out due to an off-the-field issue, it opens the door for Washington to have an extra bounce in his step.

The Tahj Mahal – Part 2: After Friday’s opening afternoon of practice, Clay Helton was very excited about Tahj Washington. The coach said, “Really smooth receiver. Great body control. Great transitional skill. Some of his transitional skills remind me of Marqise Lee, in and out of breaks. He’s a guy that learns conceptually. You saw him at a bunch of different positions today – right, left, inside. He’s a guy who we’ll use all over the place and the thing I think he’s going to bring to the table — he has true top-end speed. He can take the top off a defense in a hurry.”  

Bottoms up: From the desk of AD Mike Bohn, “Beginning this season, we will be expanding in-stadium beer and wine sales to all patrons, thus making these amenities available to fans throughout the venue and not only in the premium spaces. Fans 21 years and older will be able to purchase up to two alcoholic beverages per transaction, with sales ending at the end of the third quarter.” Okay, money was lost from last season’s empty Coliseum and declining season ticket revenue makes a good reason to bring back the fire water in moderation. No doubt, fans that partake will be happy with the news regardless of the reason for it, so let it flow, let it flow, let it flow.

Bottoms up – Part 2: Bohn added, “We continue to prioritize the creation of a safe on-campus environment for Trojan fans to celebrate and gather on game days. As such, we will be increasing our programmed space, including the Student Zone, which opened in 2019, and the Trojan Family Game Day Experience. This fan- and family-friendly zone – with live games and an array of food and beverages (non-alcoholic drinks, beer, and wine) – will expand to the entirety of Alumni Park, giving fans more space to enjoy campus festivities without having to bring their own tailgate gear.” Okay, sounds like a theme park expansion. Disney would be proud.

Bottoms up – Part 3: Bohn also announced: “Access to campus will open six hours prior to kickoff for tailgate and game day activities and all on-campus tailgates will require a permit. For more information about on-campus game day activities, or to apply for a permit, please visit gameday.usc.edu.” Better keep checking those yet-to-be announced kickoff times, especially if it’s a 9 a.m. kickoff for national television. Nothing like a little tailgating beginning at 3 a.m. in anticipation of seeing the sun rise. You’ve heard of the Notre Dame and Bay Area Weekender? How about a new tradition: The USC Sunriser?

Bottoms up – Part 4: On Friday, USC released its on-campus six Tailgate “Tiers” and the costs. For low Tier 1, which allows 2-18 people, the fee is $20. For high Tier 6, which accommodates 101 people or more, the fee is $45. There is a $10 late fee for those that don’t get their reservation in prior to three weeks of the selected home date.

Kicking some bass: You’re a former all-conference linebacker, a big hitter for one of John McKay’s national championship teams, former All-America honorable mention, and a popular WeAreSC “Defensively Speaking” columnist, so what do you do to get ready for the 2021 USC football season? Well, our Kevin Bruce, he of the aforementioned accolades, went to Alaska recently to do some bass fishing or as Kevin might put it, “I went up north to kick some bass!”

The post-game show…

Tailgate charge: As previously mentioned, more than a few folks are miffed at the new order that you can buy a Coliseum tailgate seasonal pass for $496.00. One longtime USC fan with season tickets said that maybe the $496 charge takes the place of each season ticket non-renewal.

Tailgate charge – Part 2: According to the new tailgate memo, “This year, the State has imposed changes to tailgating in certain lots around the Coliseum. This means that you can no longer tailgate out of your car or adjacent to your car if you have a parking pass in that lot. You must purchase a season tailgate parking pass for that lot if you wish to tailgate in that lot. We will do our best to meet tailgating demand, however, if a requested tailgating space is not able to be provided, a standard parking pass will be allocated.”  

Tailgate charge – Part 3: Those Coliseum parking and tailgate areas affected include the South Lawn (tailgating space only), Green Lot 6 (both tailgating and non-tailgating spaces available), Green Lot Preferred (Lot 6 Preferred – no tailgating spaces, parking only) and Blue Structure (Museum Rooftop – no tailgating spaces; parking only).

The photo maps above show the recent update on USC football parking and tailgating allocations.

Ready, begin: The first day of academic classes at USC is Monday, Aug. 23.

Mr. Good Guy: I am sure you’re all aware of the watch list regarding the Good Works Team (top community service) Award. You’ll be tickled to know that Trojans’ backup quarterback Mo Hasan, who is out for the season with an injury, is on the GWTA Watch List.

The legacy: Trojans’ sophomore corner Jordan Tollner is the grandson of former Trojans’ head football coach Ted Tollner. Jordan attended local Santa Margarita Catholic, which also produced former Trojans Heisman Trophy winning quarterback Carson Palmer.

The old routine: For the first time since 2009, the Trojans will play all their regular season games on Saturdays.  

The reunion: A reminder that USC’s Homecoming Game will feature Arizona in the Coli on Saturday, Oct. 30. Kickoff time to be determined.

The graduate: The Trojans currently have 31 players who graduated at least a semester early from high school and enrolled in college that spring.

The old man: Former Trojans quarterback Matt Barkley has signed a $1.1 million dollar one-year contract with the Tennessee Titans to battle for the second string job behind starter Ryan Tannehill. Barkley has made a pretty penny being a sometimes starter and mostly backup quarterback in the NFL. Hard to believe that this September the Golden Boy from powerhouse Santa Ana (Calif.) Mater Dei High will turn 31-years-old.

The call-in show…

Caller No. 1: Greg, do you see anything different from this season’s opening of training camp as compared to previous Clay Helton seasons?

Caller No. 1, as we’ve seen already, I think practices should continue to run smoothly, and the players are excited for the opportunity to make another run at a good season and a chance to get back to the Pac-12 title game, especially since that title game will be played in Las Vegas at the Raiders’ stadium. Perhaps the only downer in the first couple of practice days was the absence of outside linebacker Drake Jackson until next week due to health protocols. In addition, there are new NCAA rules governing practice as it pertains to wearing full pads, drills, and the number of scrimmages.

Caller No. 2: Coach, how do you think the situation with wide receiver Bru McCoy will play out.

Caller No. 2, personally, I would not be shocked if McCoy was out of the program never to return. I base that on previous incidents at USC involving athletes, especially with former placekicker Matt Boermeester and his alleged personal conduct issues. The kicker never returned to the team.  

Caller No. 3: Mr. Katz, are you at all concerned now about the depth at wide receiver?

Caller No. 3, no, if there is a position group that could take a hit like that, it would be the depth at wide receiver. Would it have been better for the Trojans had the alleged McCoy episode not taken place? Of course, but there are plenty of candidates ready to step up.   

Caller No. 4: Grego, is there an area of the team that you will be focusing on during the season?  

Caller No. 4, obviously, eyes will be focused on the offensive line and its ability to protect the quarterback and run the ball efficiently. And then there is concern with the defense to stop the run and apply pressure to the quarterback. Coach Helton commented on opening day that he likes his defensive line talent. That being said, I think team discipline is a major point of emphasis for me. When I say discipline, I am referring to penalties and game management organization.   

Caller No. 5: Katman, in the past, what has been your routine coming and going for Coliseum home games?

Caller No. 5, a timely question. For night games, I try to get to the Coliseum at least two hours before kickoff and listen to the USC radio pregame show or listen to 60s music on Sirius radio to relax on the freeway up. With night games, I don’t return home for about three hours after the game, which means I don’t get home until 2:30 a.m. I normally listen to sports talk radio to catch up with other college games that have been played to stay awake. Days games are generally the same routine, but if a game is played early enough (12:30 p.m.), I sometimes stop off at the Katella Deli near the Los Alamitos Racetrack for dinner, which I enjoy.

The last word: If you could have one thing to take home from the Coliseum and put it inside or outside your house, what would it be?