Musings From Arledge: Fight On Forever

I apologize for the long absence. I was in trial for the better part of a month, and it just completely overtook my life. 

To those of who, when learning that I was in trial, publicly wished for an acquittal on the WeAreSC message boards, I’m not really sure what to say. On one hand, it’s not cool that you’d assume my involvement in trial was as a criminal defendant. You might be confusing me with Erik McKinney or one of the other WeAreSC staff members. On the other hand, I can appreciate the personal loyalty that led you to call for an acquittal without even knowing what I was charged with or whether I did. So thank you. I guess.

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The second signing day obviously occurred while I was gone. The February signing day used to be a huge event. Not so much anymore. And my perspective on USC’s class really hasn’t changed. The Trojans landed some very good players. Combine the incoming freshman class with the transfers, and USC’s roster will be better next year than it was this past year. It was disappointing that USC missed out on some of the big bodies that it wanted to land. And it’s always disappointing when USC loses a recruit to Oregon. (More on that in a minute. Surprise!) 

At the same time, the name of the game in recruiting is to land as many good players as you can. A great team is often made up of a handful of difference-makers with a bunch of other guys who are very solid and let you go two or three deep with quality. Missing on a couple of recruits – especially in the age of the transfer portal – does not kill your program. And USC landed some difference makers. I’m willing to bet a lot of money (just a figure of speech – don’t contact me with a proposal) that Zach Branch will be a monster over the coming three years. This kid has elite speed, elite change of direction, elite ball skills, and seems like a high-character kid. He will cause matchup problems with every defense USC faces. I’ve been saying this kid will be the best open-field weapon USC has had since Reggie Bush, and I believe it. But the right comparison might be Tyreek Hill. I think he’s that kind of talent.

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So on that Oregon topic, I feel you. Many USC fans speculate that these Southern California kids who choose Oregon must be doing it for a bag of cash. Maybe they are. I don’t know. Choosing Oregon football is a degrading and embarrassing act, and most people must be bribed to do degrading and embarrassing acts. But some people will do degrading things without being paid. So let’s not jump to any conclusions. 

Besides, maybe some of these guys were sold on the nation’s top-rated Antifa department or maybe they hope someday to command a sweat shop staffed with starving, 10-year-old Chinese kids, and they know a relationship with Uncle Phil is the best means of landing such an assignment. (Just be careful. Indy may be old but he’s not dead.) There are, in other words, reasons to choose Oregon other than just money. So let’s not start any rumors.   

I’ll say this: the So Cal guys that USC lost to Oregon are guys that USC wanted. The Trojans weren’t recruiting them by accident. But Rodrick Pleasant and Matayo Uiagalelei aren’t irreplaceable, either. They aren’t Zach Branch-level guys. I like Pleasant. I like Matayo as a tight end. But if Matayo actually plays defensive line instead of tight end, I’m not even convinced he was a miss. He’s not a five-star defensive lineman. He hasn’t shown anything on film that leads me to believe he’s close to as good as Elijah Hughes or Sam Greene. Maybe he’ll prove me wrong. Maybe three years from now somebody will quote this back to me and show how foolish I was. Maybe. But truly elite defensive linemen jump off the screen in high school. Did Matayo?

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So let’s talk for a minute about my video program, Musings from Arledge Solo Edition. In the coming weeks, we’re going to have some special guests to talk about the old days of Trojan football and what some of USC’s big-name former players are doing to help with one of the biggest problems facing the entire football world today: the damage the game does to the brain and the mind.

This week I will interview Rodney McNeill, a legendary high school recruit – easily what we would call a five-star in today’s recruiting language – who played tailback at USC in the early 70’s.  Rod is a long-time family friend and one of the very best people I know. We’ll talk about the old days, about how a serious injury derailed what most people at Troy expected would be a Heisman-winning career, some fun recruiting stories, and Rod’s perspective on the current state of USC football.  We’ll also talk about Rod’s brother Fred, who passed away a few years ago from the damage he received playing at UCLA and for many years with the Minnesota Vikings.

Also, I’ll be doing a series of interviews with former USC players associated with Fight on Forever, (https://fightonforever.org/) a charitable organization designed to help former USC players who are facing some struggles in their post-football lives, particularly those facing health issues, including mental health or substance abuse. Some of the biggest names in USC history are associated with Fight on Forever, including Marcus Allen, Ronnie Lott, Brad Budde, Carson Palmer, Shaun Cody, Tony Boselli, Anthony Munoz, Rodney Peete, Keyshawn Johnson, Matt Leinart, Sam Baker, Frostee Rucker and a whole bunch of others.  

See?  When I said some of the biggest names in USC football history, I wasn’t exaggerating.  That’s not even a complete list.  I actually left off some All-Americans because there are so many prominent Trojans backing this effort.  This is an impressive group of Trojans doing very important work.  

Former offensive lineman Brad Leggett, Jeremy Hogue, and Mike Lamb are carrying a lot of the day-to-day load, and I’ll have some or all of those guys on the show soon, along with a bunch of Trojan legends who are involved with this great organization.

These guys have seen first-hand tragedies with some of their teammates.  Too many have died too soon.  And the more we know about CTE, the more we know that repetitive brain injuries can destroy a person emotionally, mentally, and physically.  Many of you may have seen the stories about how the linebacking crew on Brad Leggett’s teams from the late 80’s was ravaged by early deaths, including two of my heroes when I was in high school, Junior Seau and Scott Ross.

Because of privacy concerns, we can’t talk in detail about many of the things they are doing to make a difference.  But I’ll give just one example.  A former USC defensive player, a name just about everybody reading this would recognize, was in very bad mental and emotional shape – so bad that he had attempted suicide, an attempt that was foiled only when his wife discovered him.  This player’s father reached out to Fight On Forever, and they used their resources, the resources from generous donors, and their own contacts to get him the help he so desperately needed.  That’s what Fight on Forever is all about, and that’s why I want to spend some real time with these guys in the coming weeks and months.  Yes, we will talk about USC football – their teams, this team, and their perspective on future teams under Lincoln Riley’s leadership.  But we’ll also talk about the critical work they’re doing and how USC fans can help these players who many of us grew up loving and rooting for each Saturday.  

www.fightonforever.org

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So Nick Saban wants Notre Dame’s Tommy Rees as his offensive coordinator? I didn’t see that coming. That move will force re-assessment by a lot of people, including Notre Dame fans, most of whom seemed not to be Tommy Rees fans.

Saban has reached a stature reserved for very few. As possibly the greatest head coach in college football history, he has the ability to change the narrative about a coach simply by offering him a job. Kiffin? Reclaimed. Sark? Reclaimed? Tommy Rees? Oh, I guess that guy is a really good coach. I never thought so before. 

There’s only one more reclamation project for Nick to take on, one more coach who Nick should establish as an offensive genius. Someday Nick Saban must give a vote of confidence in favor of the Gumbo Offense. He must hire Mr. Carthago himself. I know that guy currently has a job, but we know how that’s going to end. Come on, Nick. Do it. Blow our minds.

Speaking of the devil, our boy has been very active on Twitter of late. There’s no slowing down this train! 

Wanna bet?