Taylor Mays, a three year starter at safety for the Trojans, and wide reciever Damian Williams, who transferred from Arkansas, voiced their disappointment with their former coach after yesterday’s NFL draft.

Mays, an incredibly gifted athlete whose instincts for the position of safety has been questioned by several draft “gurus,” said he felt that he was given bad advice by Carroll, his former coach with the Trojans.

According to an article by LA Times.com, Mays said he was assured by Carroll that all the things he was concerned about, back peddling, tackling, etc., were “fine” when he asked Carroll if he needed improvement in those areas.

Now Mays feels Carroll was dishonest about those things after Carroll and the Seahawks drafted safety Earl Thomas of Texas, the position that Taylor Mays plays.

According to the article, Mays told Bay Area reporters that, “I felt he told me the complete opposite of the actions that he took, which was definitely alarming,”

Further, Mays said, “Some things that he told me I needed to do as a football player, versus the actions that he took and who he took as a safety. I understand it’s a business, but with it being a business, you just need to be honest and that’s all I was asking for.”

Is this a case of a spurned former player feeling betrayed by the only head coach he knew in college?

Sure, but there is more to it than that.

Taylor Mays was presumed to be a top ten NFL pick in 2009 if he came out as a junior.

Instead, Mays shocked everyone by returning to USC for his senior year, saying he felt he had more room to grow as a player and he believed that Pete Carroll was the perfect coach to help him reach his potential.

For his trouble, Mays has seen his draft stock plummet and it has resulted in this former supposed top ten pick falling all the way to the 49th pick.

Should Mays feel betrayed?

Damn right he should.

Taylor Mays, from a physical standpoint, is better than either Thomas or Eric Berry, the fabulous safety from Tennessee who was drafted number five overall by the Kansas City Chiefs.

He is bigger and faster than either of them although, apparently, he doesn’t possess the “ball hawking” skills that Carroll said he found so attractive in Earl Thomas.

But doesn’t that come down to coaching? Sure, instincts also play a part but for crying out loud, Pete Carroll had four years to work with this kid.

When Taylor Mays came back for his senior season, he felt he would be a better player for his trouble.

Instead, Mays has found himself being picked on the second day of the draft.

Where was Pete Carroll when Mays was making his decision to come back to the Trojans?

He was chirping in his star safeties ear, telling him that he made a good decision.

In hindsight, it was a horrible decision and one that Taylor Mays would never make again.

Meanwhile, Damien Williams has his own issues with his former coach.

Williams, a very productive “possession” wide receiver who also was an effective punt returner, saw Pete Carroll pass him over for another possession receiver from…Notre Dame, for God’s sake.

Instead of turning to Damien Williams, Pete Carroll tabbed Golden Tate with his late second round pick.

Williams was taken midway through the third round by the Tennessee Titans.

In an article in the Orange County Register’s online edition, Damien Williams said he was “hurt” when Carroll passed him over for Tate.

Of course, Pete Carroll has no obligation to pick any of his former players.

Instead, Carroll, along with his Seahawk front office management team, should only have the betterment of the Seahawks as his primary consideration.

Having said that, both Taylor Mays and Damien Williams should feel betrayed by Pete Carroll.

Mays saw his draft stock plummet when he came back to the Trojans and Damien Williams watched his former coach pass him over for basically the same kind of receiver in Golden Tate.

Emotions are not often dictated by logic and regardless of whether Mays or Williams are successful in the NFL, the bitter taste of the 2010 NFL draft will linger in both of these Trojans mouths for a long time.

For their sake, hopefully they will wash away that unpleasantness by making Pete Carroll rue the day he passed them over.

And that should give both of these former Trojans a taste of sweet revenge that will last long after their NFL careers are over.

Just when you think that the ‘ol gambler learned his lesson from his failed UCLA “The football monopoly in L.A. is officially over” advertisement gaffe, he goes and sticks his foot in his mouth again.

ESPN reports that while speaking to Dan Patrick on his radio show, Neuheisel said the following when he was asked about why Pete Carroll left the Trojans to return to the NFL:

“In my heart of hearts, I think he got tired of trying to defend these different kind of offenses,” Neuheisel told Patrick. “Oregon had their way with Pete’s defense…I think he got tired of having the quarterback be a factor in the running game.”

I don’t think anyone would argue that by Trojan standards, last year was a disappointment.

9-4, by any objective Trojan standard, just doesn’t cut the mustard.

On the other hand, if UCLA somehow manages that same 9-4 record this year, I’m sure Neuheisel will be doing backflips into Norm Chow’s loving arms.

And that is why Neuheisel should just learn to keep his mouth shut.

Pete Carroll earned his NFL riches by leading the Trojans back from mediocrity and returning the men of Troy to national prominence only one year removed from a 6-6 record in his first season.

The 2002 Trojans, led by eventual Heisman trophy winner Carson Palmer, finished 11-2 and began an NCAA record of seven top-four finishes.

Rick Neuheisel?

His UCLA Bruins finished 7-6 in his second year, breaking .500 by beating mighty Temple in something called the “EagleBank Bowl.”

This followed his inaugral season where the Bruins finished 4-8.

Of course, Neuheisel should be cut some slack for that first year.

After all, Neuheisel had been away from the game for some time after leaving both the Colorado and Washington programs in shambles.

But I digress.

The point is that is that Neuheisel would best serve himself and his Bruins by focusing on his task at hand, which is to do what Pete Carroll did for the Trojans and return UCLA into something besides an “also ran” in the Pac-10.

It must put a smile on Pete Carroll’s face to know that he is still in Neuheisel’s head, while Carroll is hundreds of miles away in the Pacific Northwest.

As for Carroll, it would be a surprise if slick Rick has even crossed his mind.

For Neuheisel to speculate that Carroll left because he couldn’t figure out how to defend a spread offense with a running quarterback is laughable on many levels, not the least of which is that Carroll would leave just because he lost a couple of games in blowout fashion.

If anything, Carroll probably regrets that he won’t get another shot at Oregon and Stanford.

Which brings up another question.

If Neuheisel was so sure that running quarterback would be effective against USC, why didn’t he install some form of a wildcat offense prior to his annual loss against the Trojans in 2009?

It’s not like Neuheisel had anything to lose after all, his offense could only muster seven points against a Trojan defense that, according to Neuheisel, was so bad that it chased Carroll off to Seattle.

Do yourself a favor, Rick.

The next time you come up with a silly theory for…well…anything, keep quiet.

And people think Lane Kiffin says crazy things…

Before the shock of Pete Carroll leaving the Trojans had worn off, the elation of a Lane Kiffin hiring, at least for most USC football fans, set in.

To be sure, in the annals of Trojan football, the shoes of Pete Carroll will be difficult to fill.

But what about the footsteps of Carroll?

Will Kiffin follow his former mentor in most, if not all, facets of Carroll’s coaching style?

Of course, some will tell you the real story is that Carroll followed in Monte Kiffin’s footsteps, who happens to be Lane’s dad.

And Carroll himself would probably agree with that assertion but that is beside the point.

Now that Lane Kiffin has taken over as the lead sled dog at USC, what can we expect in the way of changes from the way Carroll ran the program?

While there will be changes, in fact some have already occurred, it should come as no surprise that by and large, the Trojans will retain the same look and style of their former coach.

As most Trojan fans know, Lane Kiffin was Carroll’s offensive coordinator during the salad days of USC football from 2005 to 2006, so don’t expect much change in that area.

And it is common knowledge that Carroll learned his defensive strategy from Monte Kiffin.

Carroll started as a graduate assistant under Monte Kiffin’s tutelage at Arkansas while Lou Holtz was head coach in 1977.

Carroll then served as defensive coordinator under the elder Kiffin at North Carolina State from 1980-82.

It was those stints where Pete Carroll learned the “Cover 2” defense, which he will employ in Seattle.

This is the same defense that the Trojans will run for Lane Kiffin, in addition to other standard sets. However, this is not to say that things will remain exactly the same in how Lane and Monte Kiffin approach things in terms of personnel.

In fact, just this week a major shakeup in the linebacking corps was revealed.

Devon Kennard, who started as a defensive end as a freshman and then was moved to the “Sam” or outside linebacker position at the end of the season, will now be tried at middle linebacker.

What this says about the status of last year’s starting middle linebacker, Chris Galippo, remains to be seen, but suffice it to say when Lane Kiffin said all jobs would be “open” for spring practice, he wasn’t kidding.

How about the finer points in coaching philosophy?

Will Lane Kiffin show a thirst for going for it on 4th-and-2 like Carroll did?

Almost certainly he will. He did it at Tennessee and there is no indication that this will change at USC.

What about the fervor of USC practices? Will there be a continuation of Carroll’s “tell the truth Mondays, competition Tuesdays,” and so forth?

Expect that this will also continue, although coach Kiffin might dress those days up with different names.

What about Lane Kiffin and the media? Will he be as “embraceable” as Carroll was? Probably not. But then again, who is?

Lane Kiffin is comfortable with the media, perhaps more so than most coaches, but for the media, there is only one Pete Carroll, which should gladden the hearts of those beat writers up in the Pacific Northwest.

And what about that ogre at Stanford? Will Lane Kiffin continue the feud with Jim Harbaugh that was just now starting to get really nasty?

Probably not.

At least not until Harbaugh steps on Kiffin’s foot. Then it’s game on baby.

Kiffin has already shown he won’t back down from anyone and this will continue if Harbaugh has the temerity to cross Kiffin’s path.

It can also be expected that Lane Kiffin will not harness his offense in a lopsided game if it will benefit the Trojans.

For Lane Kiffin, like Pete Carroll, it is all about getting better every week and competing to be the best you can be.

It should also be expected that Lane Kiffin will also continue with Carroll’s philanthropic activities, although perhaps not right away.

Lane Kiffin cares about this community and this was evident in his stint as offensive coordinator for Carroll.

In the final analysis, much of what Carroll leaves behind here in the southland will be continued by Lane Kiffin.

One thing that won’t continue with Lane Kiffin is the yearly concerns that he will leave the Trojan’s for NFL riches.

For Trojan fans, the only thing as certain as death and taxes would be the yearly speculation as to whether or not Pete would leave the Trojans for his unfinished business at the next level.

Every year the question would be posed to Carroll and every year he would say something nice like, “no, this is my dream job.”

For Lane Kiffin, this really is his dream job and Trojan fans should have no reason to doubt him.

Kiffin’s stint in the NFL left a bad taste in his mouth and when he says he is better suited to the college game, USC fans should believe him.

And if Coach Kiffin approaches the success of Carroll, then Trojan fans won’t have to play the annual “will he stay or will he go” game.

That, in and of itself, should make fans of the Trojans very happy.

Matt Darr, Scout.com’s No. 1 high school kicker, from Frontier High School in Bakersfield, CA, had given Pete Carroll his verbal commitment early on and eagerly awaited the signing day, expecting fully to become a Trojan.

Then Pete Carroll left the Trojans for the Seattle Seahawks, and everything changed.

Just before the signing date, rumors swirled that Darr was no longer considering the Trojans because when Carroll left, so did the Trojans special teams coach, Brian Schneider.

The rumors were true.

On the day when high school players could sign with their new colleges, Darr penned his name on the bottom line with Fresno State.

USC was left with who they had, which wasn’t bad because Jordan Congdon did a pretty good job in 2009.

Now let’s fast forward to Mar. 3, 2010.

RIP.com, the official USC web site, reports that Lane Kiffin has hired John Baxter, the longtime Fresno State special teams coach away from the Fresno State Bulldogs.

Yep, the very same Fresno State that Matt Darr had jilted the Trojans for when he left because USC’s special teams coach departed when Pete Carroll did.

Ironic, eh?

Wait, the road still turns.

Today, it was reported that USC’s kicker, Jordan Congdon, a devoutly religious young man, will leave USC to attend Princeton’s Theological Seminary.

Now, USC is looking for a new kicker and Fresno State is looking for a new special teams coach.

Funny how things work out…

Funny, that is, until a missed kick costs either program a game they should have won.

How this turns out is still a story ending that remains to be written.

With the recruiting season winding down and Trojan verbal commits dropping like flies, it is imperative that Mike Garrett, the USC athletic director, act rapidly and with conviction.

Hiring a big name head coach is only part of the equation for the Trojans.

Just as important is maintaining continuity between the existing staff, the new regime and the recruits who are still in the fold.

Robert Woods, the all-everything wide receiver from Serra high has recently gone on record as saying he intends to stay a Trojan. Same with Anthony Brown.

Meanwhile, Kyle Prater from Illinois is just one of many that will start looking elsewhere.

Whatever the Trojans hope to salvage from this recruiting class must be dealt with now.

This is not to say that this years recruiting class should be sole motivation in a rapid hire.

But it is a factor and one that should be considered as Garrett moves forward in the process.

Of course, making the right hire for the long run is the predominant factor in Garrett’s decision.

As prominent names such as Mike Riley and Chris Peterson are bandied about, there is one other name that should be considered front and center as well. Perhaps not for the head coaching position right now, but with assurances in the future that he will be favorably considered.

That name is Ken Norton.

In addition to being a fine defensive mind, the man is a hell of a recruiter.

Ken Norton has been in on almost every Trojan recruit and if anyone can salvage this recruiting class, it is Norton.

Ken Norton is at least ready to become an assistant head coach and defensive coordinator. To make that part of the new head coaches deal shouldn’t be much, if any, obstacle.

For Norton himself, it would let him know that he is wanted and needed.

If the new Trojan head coach is of an advanced age, Norton can be groomed for the position in the future.

More importantly, Ken Norton can serve as a bridge between the Carroll era and the new regime.

The retention of Ken Norton should be focused on just as much as this search for a new head coach.

Are you listening Mike Garrett?

Over the last nine years, Pete Carroll has turned in a sterling 96-19 record for the Trojans along with one BCS championship and two AP titles.

Along the way, Carroll has returned the Trojans to national prominence with his fiery, enthusistic style.

That style allowed him to lure prep talent from all across the country to come play for the Trojans.

It also allowed Pete Carroll to become an icon in Los Angeles where his prowess as a football coach walked hand-in-hand with his altruistic side that motivated him to create a charitable foundation, “A Better LA,” which focused on the problems of the inner city.

For everything that Carroll accomplished on the football field…and on the streets of Los Angeles, we in the southland thank him.

Pete Carroll returned a moribund program with tons of tradition but no leadership, to one of the premier college football teams in the nation.

We will never forget Pete Carroll for those contributions.

Yet there are other things we may never forget about Pete Carroll and those things are yet to become evident.

The ncaa is continuing their investigation of the Reggie Bush scandal.

Bush, the former Trojan running back is alleged to have received improper benefits from Trojan boosters specifically in regard to housing arrangements made for his family.

To what extent this investigation will impact USC remains to be seen.

Speculation has USC being imposed with sanctions and it is these sanctions that prompted Carroll to seek employment elsewhere.

Other rumors suggest that the working relationship Pete Carroll has with Mike Garrett has deteriorated to such an extent that Carroll was not even advised when Joe McKnight, the former Trojan running back, was declared ineligible for the Emerald Bowl.

Whatever the reasons for Carroll’s departure, the main thing that matters for Trojan fans are what he leaves behind.

If the ncaa determines that the infractions, if any, in the Bush case are so egregious that it warrants severe sanctions, Pete Carroll will have to carry the mantle of that punishment with him to Seattle.

Pete Carroll already will leave behind the wreckage of a very promising recruiting class.

The Trojans have lost many prep players already just due to the rumors of Carroll’s departure and more are to follow.

Exactly how many high school players will now defect remains to be seen but suffice to say, the damage has been done for this years class.

Yet, that isn’t Pete Carroll’s fault.

After seven great years of Trojan football (his first and last years at USC were just “so-so”), Pete Carroll has given his best to USC football.

And in America, we all have the right to better ourselves and if money is the primary consideration, the Seahawks will pile far more in Carroll’s bank account than USC can.

What may be Carroll’s fault, although this remains to be seen, are the sanctions that may be imposed by the ncaa.

If they are severe, and if it is shown that Carroll was responsible for their imposition, then Pete Carroll’s USC legacy will be tarnished.

The last impression that Pete Carroll will leave Los Angeles with will be one of angst for those USC fans he has left behind.

The sweet taste of Trojan football will become bitter for their fans if those sanctions cost USC scholarships or are manifested in a lengthy probation.

So we thank you Pete Carroll, for everything you did for USC football.

However, the full measure of our appreciation remains to be seen.

Your legacy in the annals of Trojan football will be written by the ncaa.

And that is an author with few, if any, bestsellers.

Those same rumors have Carroll requesting USC assistant head coach Jeremy Bates join him in the Pacific northwest.

According to one source, in regard to Carroll leaving the Trojans for the head coaching position in Seattle, “This is going to happen.”

Of course we have heard this story before.

Until last year, almost every head coaching position that opened up in the NFL had Pete Carroll’s name attached to it.

And every serious overture by the NFL has been resisted by Carroll.

But how about now?

USC, which recently imposed self sanctions against its basketball team for recruiting transgressions, is still operating under the spectre of the Reggie Bush possible scandal still being investigated by the NCAA.

If Carroll is aware of major violations and possible sanctions to be imposed, there may be a real possibility for him to jump ship.

Now the absolute latest rumor has USC “reaching out” to Mike Riley, the Oregon State head coach, as a possilbility for replacing Carroll.

Either way, the timing of this is horrible for USC fans.

Deep into the heart of the recruiting season, with letter of intent signing day only three and a half weeks away, news of a possible departure by Pete Carroll could not come at a worse time.

The Army All-Star game, with a ton of USC pledged recruits playing and a like number considering the Trojans, will be played this Saturday.

It is crucial that Pete Carroll addresses this latest rumor immediately.

If Carroll, who is rumored to be interested in the Seattle job, truly is considering leaving, he needs to either say so or put it to rest.

Now.

Not tomorrow, not in two days, and certainly not after the letter of intent signing day when prep football recruits will sign their name on the dotted line expecting to be coached by Pete Carroll.

Whatever Pete Carroll decides, and I speak for thousands of Trojan fans who hope he stays, he will have contributed mightily to bringing the Trojans back to national prominence.

We, as Trojan fans, thank him for this.

We will also thank him for putting this latest rumor to rest as well.

Either way Pete, make up your mind and do it fast.

On “NFL Live,” Adam Schefter reported that the Chicago Bears may have targeted USC offensive “guru” Jeremy Bates as a possible candidate for the offensive coordinator position.

Bates, who until this year was the only offensive coordinator, Bears quarterback Jay Cutler had known in his professional career, has spent a disappointing year directing the Trojans’ offense.

It was reported that Cutler had advised friends that if Bates would have been retained by the Denver Broncos, he (Cutler) would not have asked for the trade that eventually found him being dealt to the Bears.

With Chicago’s offense struggling this year, talk had turned to the possible return to the NFL of former Notre Dame head coach Charlie Weis as an offensive coordinator.

Weis, it has been reported, would welcome an offer by the Bears to run their offense.

Now Bates’ name has been tossed into the ring, and there is little doubt that Cutler would welcome the return of Bates, of whom Cutler says, “is one of the best minds in football.”

For many USC fans, the departure of Jeremy Bates would be a welcome event.

The Trojan offense in 2009, supposedly the strength of this year’s team, has under performed, and much of the blame has been laid at Bates’ feet.

Questionable play calling has left many Trojan fans scratching their collective heads all season long.

Of course, to be fair to Bates, USC has played true freshman Matt Barkley at quarterback, and he has experienced the expected growing pains, which has hampered the USC offense.

In addition, the offensive line, called the best in the nation by The Sporting News prior to the beginning of the season, has also under achieved.

Having said that, Bates has rankled the Trojan faithful by calling passing plays when the running game was clicking, and vice versa.

All of which has translated into an offense that found itself ranked between 45th and 60th at various times during the season.

Which is much better than the third-down conversion rate of roughly 100th in the nation.

So will Jeremy Bates leave after this season?

Rumors started last week that Bates would return to the NFL when his old boss, Mike Shanahan was thought to possibly be returning to the professional ranks.

USC head coach, Pete Carroll, did nothing to squelch the rumors when he talked about Bates’ familiarity with the NFL and how attractive he might be to those teams looking for an offensive coordinator.

Now comes word of the Bears interest in Bates, and for many Trojan fans his departure would be welcomed.

To what extent Bates is responsible for the Trojans offensive woes is anyone’s guess.

Would the loss of Bates be a Trojan addition through subtraction?

Who knows, but a lot of Trojan fans would like to find out.

Reaching deep into the abyss of my waning optimism, I think I have found that hope in the oddest of places.

Nine years ago, Pete Carroll took over a moribund USC Trojan team that had floundered under the tutelage of Paul Hackett.

That 2001 team wound up 6-6, and lost 10-6 to Utah in the Las Vegas Bowl.

Led by Carson Palmer, a highly touted prep quarterback out of Santa Margarita high school in Orange county, Ca., the Trojans shut out the UCLA Bruins 27-0 in a controversial game that was highlighted by excessive celebrations by the Trojans which rankled the sensibilities of Bruin nation.

However, the 2001 season, while it indicated hope for the future, was generally considered a disappointment.

After all, a 6-6 season should never be celebrated by fans of the men of Troy.

Fast forward to 2009.

In Pete Carroll’s ninth year at the helm, the Trojans have gone 8-4, and the season has been roundly described as a disappointment by the fans of USC.

Led by Matt Barkley, a much celebrated prep quarterback out of Mater Dei high school in Orange county, Ca., the Trojans beat UCLA 28-7 in a controversial game marred by UCLA’s irritation at excessive Trojan celebration.

Sound familiar?

Wait, it gets weirder.

USC is expected to be extended an invitation to the Poinsettia Bowl where they probably will meet…yep, you guessed it, Utah.

Hold on, I’m not finished.

Although Carson Palmer was a junior in 2001, his passing statistics almost mirror young Matt Barkley’s in 2009.

Palmer’s passing statistics in 2001:

221/377 (58.6%) for 2717 yards, 13 Passing TDs and 1 Rushing TD; with 12 Interceptions

Matt Barkley’s passing statistics for 2009:

184/315 (58.4%) for 2385 yards, 13 Passing TD’s and 1 Rushing TD; with 12 Interceptions.

Uncanny eh?

In 2002, Carson Palmer began the Trojan resurrection by leading the Trojans to 11-2 record and a convincing win over Iowa in the Orange bowl.

Oh yeah, Carson Palmer also picked up some personal hardware along the way.

You know, that little bronze guy who is straight arming an imagined foe and is named for some guy named “Heisman.”

Now, I am not suggesting that 2010 will be the year when Matt Barkley wins a Heisman trophy even though I would be ecstatic if he did.

But what I am suggesting is that history often repeats itself and with an extra year under his belt, I expect Matt Barkley, he of the abundant talent, to improve and along with that, elevate the Trojans back to elite status.

And if he wants to win a Heisman along the way, that alright too…

I wrote an article after USC was demolished by Oregon where I stated that the Trojans “just weren’t very good.”

Let me amend that.

The Trojans are mediocre and getting worse by the week.

This team isn’t awful by any stretch of the imagination but I am almost completely certain, assuming they aren’t playing teams even worse than they are, like Arizona State and UCLA, in other words, “decent” teams like Arizona, they would lose more than they would win.

How far the mighty have fallen.

Like most of the USC faithful, I was sucked into the early season mirage of this edition of the Trojans being a quality team.

And I, like everyone else, was dead wrong.

There is just no getting around it.

This team is not good. Note that I have removed the “very” from my earlier assessment.

Even the 8-4 record is misleading.

If the season were to start today, I would not be in the least surprised if USC couldn’t even manage a .500 record.

Now, I know many of you will say I am going to extremes.

And perhaps you are right.

Maybe I am measuring this years Trojans by meeting the expectations of those in recent years gone by.

And maybe that is both unfair and unrealistic.

That is the price this years Trojans will have to pay when years of excellence are measured against a team that has continually gone backwards for the last seven games.

And today put the finishing touches on an embarrassing second half of the season.

On a day when the Trojans said goodbye to 19 seniors at home, they couldn’t even muster a victory against a marginal Arizona Wildcat team that was playing without their best tailback, Nic Grigsby and a quarterback playing with one good hand.

Thanks for showing up guys.

But that is about all you did.

I also wrote an article this week questioning whether or not offensive coordinator Jeremy Bates would leave for the NFL.

Now I am holding the door for Mr. Bates.

And don’t let it hit you on the way out.

Bates continued today what he has done all year long.

Calling pass plays when the run was working and running when he should pass.

Memo to Jeremy Bates: You set up the pass with the run in a pro set offense.

Not the other way around.

Meanwhile, Matt Barkley, a true freshman, continues to play like one.

But I can’t fault him when his offensive coordinator can’t figure out when to run or when to pass.

I just hope he hasn’t ruined Barkley for the coming years.

Yes, I understand that these are words of negativity and that I could be logically labeled an abject pessimist when it comes to this years Trojans.

Which brings me to my final thought.

This hasn’t been the greatest year for me.

I am coming off a year where my fiance and I broke up and, as a teacher in California, I have been laid off for the entirety of 2009.

So, in my spare time, of which I have plenty of lately, I decided to turn to two of my passions and combine them in one glorious package that would ease my blues.

Writing about my beloved USC Trojans.

Who knew that this would be the year that they would fall on their face?

So please 2009, end and lets let 2010 be a banner year for both myself and the Trojans.

I promise to try real hard to do better.

How about you USC?