New "Inside the Trojans' Huddle" Thursday (Dec. 15) edition : Cotton Bowl opt outs?, The hamstring, Visiting Dallas, Big Ten questions, Portal surprises, Lagway, And the best band and fight song
In Thursday’s “Inside the Trojans’ Huddle”, panelists Marc Kulkin, Chris Arledge, and Greg Katz discuss who might opt out of playing in the Cotton Bowl; Lincoln Riley making the right call on Caleb Williams’ hamstring; Cotton Bowl tourist recommendations; “Big Ten” USC questions; portal transfer surprises – both coming and going; a surprise returner in 2023; recruiting and 2024 quarterback D.J. Lagway; and outside of the USC Marching Band, who has the best college band and the best fight song?
The opening kickoff of the third quarter begins with just what USC football players might decide to forego the Cotton Bowl to get ready for the NFL draft or simply enter the transfer portal. Should wide receiver Jordan Addison return for his senior season? One panelist hopes that Addison will return in 2023. Then there’s the question if Caleb Williams will play in the Cotton Bowl due to that hamstring issue and what will be the right decision made by Lincoln Riley?
And for those attending the Cotton Bowl in the Dallas area, what is there to do during the upcoming New Year’s weekend leading up to the game? Two panelists highly suggest visiting a certain infamous site where a president was assassinated. One panel member gives tips on where the best tips to eat in the area and some additional historical sites to visit.
After the WeAreSC torch lighting ceremony that transitions the program from the third to the fourth quarter, ten questions were asked to the panel to give their responses. Among the “Yes or No” questions: Will RB Darwin Barlow return in 2023? Will inside linebacker Shane Lee return in 2023? Will OL Justin Dedich return next season? Will season ticket sales increase by 10,000 or more Will defensive lineman Matayo Uiagalelei of Bellflower St. John Bosco finally sign with the Trojans? Will Lincoln Riley give the okay to put the last names of USC players on the back of their game jerseys. And there are more questions that will cause to stop and think and that’s exactly what the panel does while not always agreeing.
In the fourth quarter, the panel looks at any potential transfer portal surprises, and which portal window – the current one that’s currently open through mid-January or the May 1-15 window that opens after spring ball – yield the best results. The status of Texas high School quarterback D.J. Lagway, class of 2024, is discussed and while Lagway recently committed to Florida before the announcement that Caleb Williams had won the Heisman, can Lagway be flipped?
In overtime, the panel is asked outside of the USC Trojans Marching Band and the fight song of “Fight On!”, who has the best marching band and the best fight song? Notre Dame? Michigan? Ohio State? Alabama? There is a consensus No.1, but one panel member says why he likes the discipline of the Ohio State band. One panelist says while he does not like the Ohio State band per say, he does like it when the Buckeyes band plays “Hang on Sloopy.”
