USC has a new DC

[BigBalls]

Done deal. Official announcement from Heritage Hall incoming.

https://x.com/petethamel/status/2014747082523840823?s=46&t=ov1jWUSaVii3zfshZ_FmSQ

[Butkus51]

Fantastic news.  C. Patterson is one of the top Defensive minds in da country.  I’m hoping he fixes all our D problems.  Most of all have his boys play physical FB.  He has to create a tuff FB culture, like past USC FB championship teams.  I believe he will do that.

Hell, I want to celebrate with a couple rounds of Kentucky bourbon, but I’m taking antibiotics due to my oral surgery.  On Dr orders No drinking booze.  Dam it.  I will definitely  celebrate after my meds are completed.

Thanxs Bruddah Balls for da good news.  We can always depend on you for the most current, and up to date USC news.

PS.  I’m wondering if C. Patterson will like living in LA and Calif?  He is a Texas boy.  He should like it here, except for our heavy traffic.

[BobLinMN-3]

Well, I’ll have a couple for you; it’s the least I can do.

 

[Butkus51]

Bruddah BobLinMin, Mahalo.  I’m buying after 1-28-26.  Spock you later…  Cheers

[RWC]

Was Patterson first choice, and the one SC wanted?

I don’t know if you saw the article in the Times yesterday that went into the stops he’s made since the TCU days. He floated around Texas football programs as a consultant.
He worked as a defensive analyst on Sarkisian’s staff in Texas in 2022 and was offered a chance to return in 2023, but decided to take the year off.

He then accepted a role as a senior level strategic consultant on Baylor’s staff in 2024, only to leave just before the start of the season. Is any of this a reason for SC fans to be concerned about his dependability and sticking around?

 

[BigBalls]

This search was conducted with the some national interest type secrecy. Hell, more rumors leak out of the pentagon than from Heritage Hall.

The only other names I heard were inhouse promotions of Belk and Henny. Both lobbied hard for the job and current players went on twitter to endorse Henny. But it looks like Riley’s prior connection to Patterson and Patterson’s resume won the day.

I did not read the times Article but i’m familiar with his career and the concerns are valid. Even so, I like the hire. Riley with a competent defense could be what we need to reach our goals. Time will tell.

[Butkus51]

RWC, not an insider, but over the coarse of almost 4 weeks I believe from reading internet scoop these DC were ahead of C. Patterson.  I think when these coaches did not pan out, they started Rd 2 interviews and dat’s where C. Patterson came into the picture.  Bruddah Balls has more inside info.  Heck, even though C. Patterson was not the 1st Rd target, I love the hire.  He brings a wealth of knowledge and experience.  Now, let’s see if he can pick up coaching since he has been out 4 yrs…  Cheers

DC main targets, Rd 1.  Pete Kwiatowski, Al Golden, Jimmy Lake.

[BigBalls]

Yes, I neglected to mention Coach Pete K. I wonder if we will ever know what happened with that guy. He did interview. He sure seemed like a solid candidate but why has no one else hired him? Sark may have sank him with his comments about babysitting him , or maybe something happened at Texas that is still under wraps. I’m not sure if Lake or Golden were ever serious candidates. Thanks for reminding me of Coach Pete K. Let’s see where he lands, Stanford passed on him too.

 

 

 

 

[Butkus51]

Bruddah Balls, why did GM Bowden, his R staff and C.LR did not pursue and shop the 2026 TP hard.  I think dat was a huge mistake and disappointment; there were key positions dat needed to shore up (LB’s, Wr, OL, QB).  Heck, C.LR can’t rely on da incoming Fr class to produce.  So what happened or the scoop with a below average TP?

Indiana, LSU, Texas, Texas Tech, Texas AM, Ole Miss and even UCLA did well with the TP.  Shoot USC ranked at #52 = -20, +8.  I believe USC FU big time.

[BigBalls]

I agree with you, I love the freshman class but we needed some help from the TP. LB, Db, and probably a WR1. Remember that Bowden said USC was going to build with HS players and not the TP. I don’t know if the reason was money or more likely retention of this freshman group. Keeping this HS class together will become a big challenge next off season. This coming high school class will be much smaller, probably 18-20 players. I haven’t checked but how did Oregon do in the portal? They focused on keeping their top players and I think they did that.

[Butkus51]

So it was GM Bowden decision and policy for USC poor TP results.  And, I thought he was a smart GM, dang dis proves he is not a smart GM.  Look at the CFP teams the last 3 yrs, these teams shopped the TP hard.  C. Kiffin is one of the top HC’s who goes after the top TP players since he was at Ole Miss and he is doing it a LSU.  Look at C.LR when he came here he shopped the TP hard and got Top Players.  He almost got USC in the small CFP (4 teams) his 1st year due to TP players.  He got rid of about 25+ of C. Helton players and plugged da holes.

GM Bowden’s idea focusing only top HS players for roster management is a bad policy/idea.  Shoot, giving HS boys big money creates greed, and what is stopping them from moving on again, after their Fr season?  Nah, I like the C. Kiffin model of 50/50, HS/TP roster management.  Every year, he has a lot players enter the TP, but he regroups fast and get top replacements (plug da holes well).  I’m so disappointed with GM Bowden in his Very Poor, 2026 TP results.

The D needed at least 3 top LB’s, we got one decent LB and short by -2.  Needed to replace QB Longstreet with a good TP QB.  Why not go after Oregon’s Beavers?  Needed 1 to 2 senior type Wr’s to help out the young Wr’s.  Needed 2 good TE’s, so we got one, thus -1.  Needed at least 2 very good OL, got Nada -2.  Bad sheet, holes were not plugged and shored up.  Wipe Out!  No Shaka.

Next year, USC has a Brutal schedule.  I see 4-5 losses, and hope it’s only 4 losses = 8-4 regular season record.  If holes were filled with top TP players as stated, I would have been more optimistic and predict only 3 losses = 9-3 regular season record.

I pray dat QB Maiava stays healthy for 2026.  And, DC Patterson fix the broken D and turn his boys into a physical, attacking, well tackling D machine.  He must change the D culture from soft to hard hitting Monster, cause the last 2 DC’s failed big time… Cheers

Oh, Oregon did not do good either, ranked #29, -30, +14.  They have big holes on the D side, -7 DL vs +3, -3 QB’s vs +1.

PS.  And thanks for the scoop on GM Bowden’s roster management philosophy.  I Do Not like it one bit!

• This reply was modified 1 month ago by Butkus51.

[mandb]

Jimmy Lake was a terrific DB coach.

He was quite average as a DC though.

[Daystalker]

Sure.

[ATLBRUIN]

Any concerns that he hasn’t coached in 5 years?

[Java]

Yeah I’m not doing backflips here.

we all saw that the Rob Ryan retread sis nothing for us

 

anyone remember Monte Kiffin and how exciting that nfl hall of fame career was at usc?

 

how about. Old Clancy Pendergast ?  USC recruiting old has been coaches on defense is getting as bad as them hiring old football players to be the AD

[Butkus51]

Hell we will see soon if C. Patterson still has da energy for coaching anymore.  4 years is a long time being out of coaching.  But, things could work in a positive way.  C. Patterson could have pent up energy and enthusiasm in getting back into the thick of things & coach like a Mad Man…  Cheers

[Java]

One thing we can’t argue is that USC has become Texas Christian Tech

texas tech offense and tcu defense.  not sure how I feel about that

[Daystalker]

And it’s all hinging on a Muleshoe mind.

[Butkus51]

I like dat, USC = Texas Christian Tech.  Bravo and Shaka Bruddah Java.  Heck, no excuse DC Patterson, HC LR and OLC Hanson who are Texas boys should recruit & get top Texas players.  Dang, 70% roster filled with top Calif & Texas players suits me just fine…  Cheers.

• This reply was modified 1 month ago by Butkus51.

[Daystalker]

Eh, what could go wrong?

[Butkus51]

Bruddah Balls, what’s up LBC Rob Ryan?  Was he retained as LB coach?  I hope not, da guy did a poor good job in 2025.  What about new coach Mike Ekeler, he was a good LB coach.  Can he coach both positions ST and LB.  We need a competent LB coach and show Ryan da door…  Cheers

[Java]

Ryan is being kicked upstairs to be an analyst.  Nice way of not embarrassing him or firing him.

Eketer is taking sr and lb.  Considering they previously had position coaches each taking a part of the special teams. Like lo and pint coverage.  Or kicking or protection.   This smells similar.    Can’t say I’m thrilled.  Hope I am

I have some thoughts on Bowden and router building but I think his moves are consistent

btw the OT from Colorado who went portal   Seaton  is playing Oregon and lsu against each other for $4-5 million   For one season. Then he goes to the nfl.  Oregon has offered him $3 and kiffin is trying to find more at lsu.   Interestingly there is supposed to be a cap and all this $ is supposed to be legit nil not pay for play. So I’m curious who polices that

 

oh and ember this was college? Hahahaha we are going into the last week of January. That means these kids have missed four weeks of school. In a  16 weeks semester.   if you missed four weeks of school in a 16 semester in college how do you think you would do in your classes? And do you think these football players are smarter than you and I were back then? Nope guarantee you that

This is  a sham    Degrees are being handed out kids are not going to class and any teaching that may occur  is being done by tutus who come to players   when was the last time you heard “anyone“ ruled academically ineligible?   despite changing schools, practically every semester or a year  should be a bunch right?   why isn’t it happening? Because everyone’s participating in this sham  even so-called quality academic institutions

 

[Butkus51]

See and hear former USC QB, Sean Salisbury take on new DC Patterson.  I’m with SS all da way…  Cheers

 

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