O/NSO: It’s about time edition

On3 imageby:Greg Katz08/26/21

The Obvious: Time is now of the essence as the 2021 USC Trojans (photo above) are completing this week’s “Mock Game Week” in preparation for transitioning into next week’s actual game-week regimen for their season opener against the San Jose State Spartans on Saturday afternoon (2 p.m. PDT), Sept. 4, in the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum.

The Not So Obvious: As the No. 15 Trojans ease into next weeks in-season routine, defending Mountain West champs San Jose State Spartans will open their 2021 season this Saturday evening (7 p.m. PDT), hosting Southern Utah in a game that will be televised on the CBS Sports Network, the cable channel.

Defending Mountain West Champion San Jose State (photo above) will open its 2021 season on Saturday night by hosting Southern Utah, and Trojans fans can catch the action on the CBS Sport Network cable channel at 7 p.m. PDT (Photo by David J. Becker/Getty Images)

The Obvious: UCLA will be the only Pac-12 team playing this weekend when the Bruins host the Hawaii Warriors in the Rose Bowl on Saturday afternoon at 12:30 p.m. PDT on ESPN.

The Not So Obvious: In order to get more fans into the Rose Bowl and look more presentable on national television, UCLA is allowing all Bruin students free admission into the Rose Bowl. And the general message with this promotion is better to look good than to feel good.

Hawaii (photo above) will know what it feels like to be a Pac-12 team that travels to the East Coast for an Eastern Daylight Time kickoff. For Hawaii, the Pasadena 12:30 p.m. PDT kickoff time translates to 9:30 a.m. Hawaiian body time since the state of Hawaii is three hours behind Pacific Daylight Time. (Photo by mwcconnection.com)

The Obvious: The Trojans are selling a bargain “Tommy Pass” season ticket for $250 dollars for all seven home games, which is less than $35 dollars per game.

The Not So Obvious: UCLA is selling a discounted season pass called the “Blue Zone” for all seven games for just $169 dollars. That’s the good news. The bad news is that your seat is in the first nine rows of the Rose Bowl.

In a game being nationally televised by ESPN on Saturday afternoon, UCLA is so determined not to have a Rose Bowl lacking fans (photo above) in their home opener against Hawaii, they’re inviting Bruins students to attend their season opener for free. (Photo by John McGillen via USC Athletics)

The Obvious: Todd Orlando is the Trojans defensive coordinator.

The Not So Obvious: Asked about his young freshmen defenders, defensive end Korey Foreman and inside linebacker Raesjon Davis, Orlando said, “They have to play. They’re going to play. What kind of role on defense? It depends. Most of the time what you end up seeing is when you get into Game 6 or 7 those guys, once they get a couple games under their belt they really start to take off, so you have to play them early.”

The Trojans are expecting big things this season from true freshman defensive end Korey Foreman (photo above).

The Obvious: In 2024, the Trojans and LSU Tigers will clash in the Vegas Kickoff Classic, which will be played at Allegiant Stadium.

The Not So Obvious: The neutral-site game will take place over Labor Day weekend, airing on ABC or ESPN. Exact date and time will be determined later. On the surface of it, it’s the tantalizing Pac-12 vs the SEC. For the record, the Trojans and LSU have met only two times previously as the Trojans defeated the Tigers, 17-12, in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, in 1979 before LSU took revenge in Los Angeles, 23-3, in 1984.

In 2024, the Trojans will travel to Las Vegas to meet LSU in Allegiant Stadium (photo above).

The Obvious: The current coaches at USC and LSU are Clay Helton and Ed Orgeron, respectively.  

The Not So Obvious: The Vegas Kickoff Classic could get personal since LSU and USC have current head coaches that worked together at Troy and according to those in the know, there isn’t any lost love between them. Of course, there is no guarantee that either will be the head coach for their respective universities by 2024. LSU has little tolerance for coaches that don’t consistently win big while USC’s current head coach seems on the perpetual hot seat for not winning championships.   

If he’s still the head coach at LSU in 2024, former popular USC interim head coach and celebrated defensive line coach Ed Orgeron (photo above) will do battle with his LSU Tigers against the Trojans in Las Vegas at Allegiant Stadium.

The Obvious: True freshman quarterback Jaxson Dart has been named the Trojans’ No. 2 quarterback behind All-Pac-12 starter Kedon Slovis.

The Not So Obvious: On the decision to make Dart the No. 2 behind Slovis, head coach Clay Helton said, “Where Jaxson had a leg up was in live action. When the ball was put down in scrimmage-type atmospheres, he was a little more productive in those situations than Miller.”

Former 2020 Gatorade National Player of the Year Jaxson Dart (photo above) was named the No. 2 QB behind Kedon Slovis.

The Obvious: Honestly, the O/NSO like many others called this official Jaxson Dart announcement weeks ago.

The Not So Obvious: Personally, the O/NSO giggles when coaches try to ease the pain of a player who isn’t named a starter or comes in second in competition by using a phrase or term like “a little” as in a “little more productive.” Seriously, did you ever meet anybody that “was a little bit pregnant”? Either you are or you aren’t.

The Obvious: The L.A. County District Attorney’s office declined to file criminal charges against sophomore receiver Bru McCoy after he was arrested in July for alleged abuse of a woman and was temporarily removed from the Trojans football team.

The Not So Obvious: If history is any guide in these types of USC student-athlete situations, McCoy shouldn’t be jumping up and down in excitement and anticipation. Similar episodes never seem to have a positive outcome for the Trojan player involved. Just ask former Trojans’ placekicker Matt Boermeester, the Rose Bowl hero, who never returned to the team after serious allegations were made regarding his girlfriend. USC’s Office for Equity, Equal Opportunity, and Title IX is in charge of the McCoy case, and the young man’s future currently remains in limbo.

The future status of receiver Bru McCoy (photo above) remains uncertain even after the L.A. County District Attorney’s office declined to file criminal charges.

The Obvious: It appears that senior linebacker Jordan Iosefa’s career may have come to a conclusion, the result of a second MCL surgery.

The Not So Obvious: Once a starter and a USC team captain in 2019, it’s been a difficult two years for the native of Waipahu, Hawaii, and alum of legendary Saint Louis High School. Although Iosefa hasn’t officially taken a medical redshirt, which would end his USC career, Clay Helton said he did tell Jordan, “Man, I’d love to see you out there for a snap at the end of the year to come all the way back, but that’s going to be his choice.” So, there could still be a happy ending depending on Jordan’s choice.  

Senior linebacker Jordan Iosefa (photo above) has had a tough football career due to two MCL knee injuries.

The Obvious: Sophomore running back Darwin Barlow is an impressive transfer from TCU.

The Not So Obvious: Below is a fun graphic that gives a little insight into the Trojans’ new running back, who may find himself in the rotation if he can stay healthy.

The Obvious: George Kliakoff is the first-year commissioner of the Pac-12 Conference.

The Not So Obvious: To the surprise of nobody, the Pac-12 announced this week there was no need for Pac-12 expansion. Seriously, was a Texas Tech, Baylor, Oklahoma St., or Houston going to add to the strength or prestige of the Pac-12? As nauseating as it may sound, some naysayers are already proclaiming the conference already has its own version of Texas Tech football, and it’s called the USC offense.

First-year Pac-12 commissioner George Kliakoff (photo above) and the Pac-12 Conference announced this week the conference will not be expanding from its current number of schools, a move that was not unexpected.

The Obvious: And finally, one USC football tradition that has been sidelined through either lack of interest, attendance, or the ongoing pandemic is Salute to Troy, normally held on campus near the end of training camp.  

The Not So Obvious: Once a hard ticket to get, Salute to Troy was that sold out evening that brought together cardinal and gold fans, introduction of the current team and coaches, the Trojans Marching Band, The Song Girls, Traveler, 25 and 50-year reunions of past football teams, which were all accompanied by a wonderful BBQ all-you-can-eat dinner buffet. This is one tradition the O/NSO would love to see return.

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