Whicker: The benefit of the doubt is now exhausted at USC, as are its fans

3 years ago 372
  • Running backmost Vavae Malepeai #6 of the USC Trojans runs for a archetypal down against the Stanford Cardinal successful the archetypal fractional of a NCAA shot crippled astatine the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum successful Los Angeles connected Saturday, September 11, 2021. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/ SCNG)

  • Head manager Clay Helton of the USC Trojans walks disconnected the tract aft the Stanford Cardinal defeated the USC Trojans 42-28 during a NCAA shot crippled astatine the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum successful Los Angeles connected Saturday, September 11, 2021. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/ SCNG)

  • Head manager Clay Helton of the USC Trojans reacts aft a turnover against Stanford Cardinal successful the 2nd fractional of a NCAA shot crippled astatine the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum successful Los Angeles connected Saturday, September 11, 2021. Stanford Cardinal won 42-28. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/ SCNG)

  • Defensive extremity Ryan Johnson #23 of the Stanford Cardinal pressures backmost Kedon Slovis #9 of the USC Trojans successful the 2nd fractional of a NCAA shot crippled astatine the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum successful Los Angeles connected Saturday, September 11, 2021. Stanford Cardinal won 42-28. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/ SCNG)

  • Quarterback Kedon Slovis #9 of the USC Trojans looks connected from the seat successful the 2nd fractional of a NCAA shot crippled astatine the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum successful Los Angeles connected Saturday, September 11, 2021. Stanford Cardinal won 42-28. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/ SCNG)

  • Quarterback Kedon Slovis #9 of the USC Trojans aft the Stanford Cardinal defeated the USC Trojans 42-28 during a NCAA shot crippled astatine the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum successful Los Angeles connected Saturday, September 11, 2021. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/ SCNG)

  • Head manager Clay Helton of the USC Trojans walks disconnected the tract aft the Stanford Cardinal defeated the USC Trojans 42-28 during a NCAA shot crippled astatine the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum successful Los Angeles connected Saturday, September 11, 2021. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/ SCNG)

  • Quarterback Kedon Slovis #9 of the USC Trojans runs disconnected the tract arsenic the Stanford Cardinal defeated the USC Trojans 42-28 during a NCAA shot crippled astatine the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum successful Los Angeles connected Saturday, September 11, 2021. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/ SCNG)

  • Wide receiver Gary Bryant Jr. #1 of the USC Trojans drops a walk successful the extremity portion against the Stanford Cardinal successful the 2nd fractional of a NCAA shot crippled astatine the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum successful Los Angeles connected Saturday, September 11, 2021. Stanford Cardinal won 42-28. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/ SCNG)

  • Quarterback Kedon Slovis #9 of the USC Trojans looks connected against the Stanford Cardinal successful the 2nd fractional of a NCAA shot crippled astatine the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum successful Los Angeles connected Saturday, September 11, 2021. Stanford Cardinal won 42-28. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/ SCNG)

  • Wide receiver Gary Bryant Jr. #1 of the USC Trojans drops a walk successful the extremity portion against the Stanford Cardinal successful the 2nd fractional of a NCAA shot crippled astatine the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum successful Los Angeles connected Saturday, September 11, 2021. Stanford Cardinal won 42-28. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/ SCNG)

  • Head manager Clay Helton of the USC Trojans looks down aft the Stanford Cardinal scores successful the 2nd fractional of a NCAA shot crippled astatine the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum successful Los Angeles connected Saturday, September 11, 2021. Stanford Cardinal won 42-28. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/ SCNG)

  • Wide receiver Gary Bryant Jr. #1 of the USC Trojans drops a walk successful the extremity portion against the Stanford Cardinal successful the 2nd fractional of a NCAA shot crippled astatine the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum successful Los Angeles connected Saturday, September 11, 2021. Stanford Cardinal won 42-28. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/ SCNG)

  • Wide receiver Tahj Washington #16 of the USC Trojans drops a walk successful beforehand of cornerback Zahran Manley #31 of the Stanford Cardinal successful the 2nd fractional of a NCAA shot crippled astatine the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum successful Los Angeles connected Saturday, September 11, 2021. Stanford Cardinal won 42-28. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/ SCNG)

  • Head manager Clay Helton of the USC Trojans looks toward the video committee against the Stanford Cardinal successful the 2nd fractional of a NCAA shot crippled astatine the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum successful Los Angeles connected Saturday, September 11, 2021. Stanford Cardinal won 42-28. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/ SCNG)

  • Quarterback Kedon Slovis #9 of the USC Trojans looks connected from the seat successful the 2nd fractional of a NCAA shot crippled astatine the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum successful Los Angeles connected Saturday, September 11, 2021. Stanford Cardinal won 42-28. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/ SCNG)

  • Quarterback Isaiah Sanders #0 of the Stanford Cardinal runs for touchdown against the USC Trojans successful the 2nd fractional of a NCAA shot crippled astatine the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum successful Los Angeles connected Saturday, September 11, 2021. Stanford Cardinal won 42-28. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/ SCNG)

  • Cornerback Chris Steele #8 of the USC Trojans reacts aft being called for a interference telephone against the Stanford Cardinal successful the 2nd fractional of a NCAA shot crippled astatine the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum successful Los Angeles connected Saturday, September 11, 2021. Stanford Cardinal won 42-28. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/ SCNG)

  • USC Trojans honors those that mislaid their lives successful the 9/11 attacks anterior to a NCAA shot crippled betwixt the USC Trojans and the Stanford Cardinal astatine the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum successful Los Angeles connected Saturday, September 11, 2021. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/ SCNG)

  • USC Trojans honors those that mislaid their lives successful the 9/11 attacks anterior to a NCAA shot crippled betwixt the USC Trojans and the Stanford Cardinal astatine the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum successful Los Angeles connected Saturday, September 11, 2021. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/ SCNG)

  • USC Trojans enters the tract anterior to a NCAA shot crippled betwixt the USC Trojans and the Stanford Cardinal astatine the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum successful Los Angeles connected Saturday, September 11, 2021. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/ SCNG)

  • A instrumentality holding a US emblem arsenic the USC Trojans honors those that mislaid their lives successful the 9/11 attacks anterior to a NCAA shot crippled betwixt the USC Trojans and the Stanford Cardinal astatine the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum successful Los Angeles connected Saturday, September 11, 2021. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/ SCNG)

  • Head manager Clay Helton of the USC Trojans looks connected anterior to a NCAA shot crippled betwixt the USC Trojans and the Stanford Cardinal astatine the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum successful Los Angeles connected Saturday, September 11, 2021. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/ SCNG)

  • A instrumentality holds a motion “LA Loves NY” arsenic the USC Trojans honors those that mislaid their lives successful the 9/11 attacks anterior to a NCAA shot crippled betwixt the USC Trojans and the Stanford Cardinal astatine the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum successful Los Angeles connected Saturday, September 11, 2021. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/ SCNG)

  • Quarterback Kedon Slovis #9 of the USC Trojans runs disconnected the tract arsenic the Stanford Cardinal defeated the USC Trojans 42-28 during a NCAA shot crippled astatine the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum successful Los Angeles connected Saturday, September 11, 2021. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/ SCNG)

  • head manager David Shaw of the Stanford Cardinal walks disconnected the tract aft the Stanford Cardinal defeated the USC Trojans 42-28 during a NCAA shot crippled astatine the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum successful Los Angeles connected Saturday, September 11, 2021. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/ SCNG)

  • Quarterback Kedon Slovis #9 of the USC Trojans runs disconnected the tract arsenic the Stanford Cardinal defeated the USC Trojans 42-28 during a NCAA shot crippled astatine the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum successful Los Angeles connected Saturday, September 11, 2021. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/ SCNG)

  • Running backmost Nathaniel Peat #8 of the Stanford Cardinal runs for archetypal down past linebacker Clyde Moore #36 of the USC Trojans successful the archetypal fractional of a NCAA shot crippled astatine the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum successful Los Angeles connected Saturday, September 11, 2021. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/ SCNG)

  • Wide receiver Elijah Higgins #6 of the Stanford Cardinal dives for yardage against the USC Trojans successful the archetypal fractional of a NCAA shot crippled astatine the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum successful Los Angeles connected Saturday, September 11, 2021. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/ SCNG)

  • Head manager David Shaw of the Stanford Cardinal reacts against the USC Trojans successful the archetypal fractional of a NCAA shot crippled astatine the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum successful Los Angeles connected Saturday, September 11, 2021. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/ SCNG)

  • Head manager Clay Helton of the USC Trojans reacts against the Stanford Cardinal successful the archetypal fractional of a NCAA shot crippled astatine the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum successful Los Angeles connected Saturday, September 11, 2021. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/ SCNG)

  • Quarterback Kedon Slovis #9 of the USC Trojans scrambles against the Stanford Cardinal successful the archetypal fractional of a NCAA shot crippled astatine the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum successful Los Angeles connected Saturday, September 11, 2021. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/ SCNG)

  • Wide receiver Drake London #15 of the USC Trojans catches a walk for archetypal down against the Stanford Cardinal successful the archetypal fractional of a NCAA shot crippled astatine the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum successful Los Angeles connected Saturday, September 11, 2021. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/ SCNG)

  • Defensive lineman Colin Mobley #90 of the USC Trojans hands disconnected to moving backmost Keaontay Ingram #28 of the USC Trojans against the Stanford Cardinal successful the archetypal fractional of a NCAA shot crippled astatine the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum successful Los Angeles connected Saturday, September 11, 2021. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/ SCNG)

  • Running backmost Keaontay Ingram #28 of the USC Trojans runs for touchdown against the Stanford Cardinal successful the archetypal fractional of a NCAA shot crippled astatine the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum successful Los Angeles connected Saturday, September 11, 2021. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/ SCNG)

  • Running backmost Nathaniel Peat #8 of the Stanford Cardinal reacts aft a 87 gait touchdown tally against the s successful the archetypal fractional of a NCAA shot crippled astatine the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum successful Los Angeles connected Saturday, September 11, 2021. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/ SCNG)

  • Qide receiver Drake London #15 of the USC Trojans can’t scope a walk against the Stanford Cardinal successful the archetypal fractional of a NCAA shot crippled astatine the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum successful Los Angeles connected Saturday, September 11, 2021. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/ SCNG)

  • Cornerback Isaac Taylor-Stuart #6 of the USC Trojans is called for walk interference against wide receiver John Humphreys #5 of the Stanford Cardinal successful the archetypal fractional of a NCAA shot crippled astatine the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum successful Los Angeles connected Saturday, September 11, 2021. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/ SCNG)

  • Qide receiver Drake London #15 of the USC Trojans can’t scope a walk against the Stanford Cardinal successful the archetypal fractional of a NCAA shot crippled astatine the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum successful Los Angeles connected Saturday, September 11, 2021. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/ SCNG)

  • Running backmost Nathaniel Peat #8 of the Stanford Cardinal runs for a 80 positive gait touchdown against information Calen Bullock #27 of the USC Trojans successful the archetypal fractional of a NCAA shot crippled astatine the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum successful Los Angeles connected Saturday, September 11, 2021. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/ SCNG)

  • Quarterback Kedon Slovis #9 of the USC Trojans sliders for the archetypal down against the Stanford Cardinal successful the archetypal fractional of a NCAA shot crippled astatine the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum successful Los Angeles connected Saturday, September 11, 2021. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/ SCNG)

  • Wide receiver Elijah Higgins #6 of the Stanford Cardinal catches a walk for a touchdown past cornerback Joshua Jackson Jr. #23 of the USC Trojans successful the archetypal fractional of a NCAA shot crippled astatine the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum successful Los Angeles connected Saturday, September 11, 2021. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/ SCNG)

  • Running backmost Keaontay Ingram #28 of the USC Trojans is upededend against the Stanford Cardinal successful the archetypal fractional of a NCAA shot crippled astatine the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum successful Los Angeles connected Saturday, September 11, 2021. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/ SCNG)

  • Running backmost Keaontay Ingram #28 of the USC Trojans runs for touchdown against the Stanford Cardinal successful the archetypal fractional of a NCAA shot crippled astatine the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum successful Los Angeles connected Saturday, September 11, 2021. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/ SCNG)

  • Wide receiver Elijah Higgins #6 of the Stanford Cardinal catches a walk for a touchdown past cornerback Joshua Jackson Jr. #23 of the USC Trojans successful the archetypal fractional of a NCAA shot crippled astatine the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum successful Los Angeles connected Saturday, September 11, 2021. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/ SCNG)

  • Cornerback Isaac Taylor-Stuart #6 of the USC Trojans is called for walk interference against wide receiver John Humphreys #5 of the Stanford Cardinal successful the archetypal fractional of a NCAA shot crippled astatine the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum successful Los Angeles connected Saturday, September 11, 2021. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/ SCNG)

  • Wide receiver Drake London #15 of the USC Trojans drops a walk against the Stanford Cardinal successful the archetypal fractional of a NCAA shot crippled astatine the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum successful Los Angeles connected Saturday, September 11, 2021. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/ SCNG)

  • Running backmost Keaontay Ingram #28 of the USC Trojans runs for archetypal down against the Stanford Cardinal successful the archetypal fractional of a NCAA shot crippled astatine the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum successful Los Angeles connected Saturday, September 11, 2021. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/ SCNG)

  • Quarterback Kedon Slovis #9 of the USC Trojans with the backmost keeper for the archetypal down against the Stanford Cardinal successful the archetypal fractional of a NCAA shot crippled astatine the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum successful Los Angeles connected Saturday, September 11, 2021. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/ SCNG)

  • Offensive lineman Courtland Ford #74 of the USC Trojans silhouetted walks toward the seat arsenic they lukewarm up anterior to a NCAA shot crippled against the Stanford Cardinal astatine the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum successful Los Angeles connected Saturday, September 11, 2021. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/ SCNG)

  • USC Trojans warms up anterior to a NCAA shot crippled against the Stanford Cardinal astatine the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum successful Los Angeles connected Saturday, September 11, 2021. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/ SCNG)

A batch of things died connected the Coliseum turf Saturday night, including each extenuating circumstances.

USC shot has sunk beneath the h2o table. The excuses alert retired the model similar a misguided walk by Kedon Slovis.

There are nary unbearable injuries. There are each these gleaming caller recruits and transfers. Patience, usually a virtue, descends into blindness if it tries to warrant this 42-28 loss to Stanford, which was 42-13 aboriginal successful the 4th quarter, conducted connected the country of Fiasco and Debacle.

All coaches’ days are numbered, to immoderate extent, but Clay Helton’s tenure astatine USC seems person than it’s ever been to the notary public’s signature book.

Some things can’t beryllium helped, similar Parker Lewis getting ejected connected the opening kickoff for targeting. Lewis is, oregon was, the kicker himself. The lone rational mentation is that Lewis was angling for an NIL endorsement woody with Target. A manager shouldn’t person to pass his players against that.

In immoderate event, this wouldn’t beryllium decided by tract goals. But the hail of blunders that the Trojans person often survived successful the past are nary accident. You don’t person to beryllium a firewater-belching Trojan alum who wonders wherefore it isn’t inactive 1978 to request a do-over, implicit with the dreaded “culture change.”

Stanford, which had 7 points and 233 yards against Kansas State past week, got 1 touchdown aft 2 USC walk interference penalties. It was blessed with a tract extremity astatine the extremity of different thrust until Joshua Jackson lined up successful the neutral zone, the 3rd captious USC infraction of that drive, astatine which constituent Stanford manager David Shaw took the 3 points disconnected the committee and called for a touchdown, which Tanner McKee provided with a walk to Elijah Higgins.

Slovis coiled up fielding astir arsenic galore arsenic boos arsenic Helton did. On 3rd and five, helium ignored one-on-one matchups connected the close broadside and threw left, wherever the Cardinal had help. The walk was wayward, and Ryu Blu Kelly picked it and scored. Kelly’s dada Brian was a cornerback who did those types of things for USC, erstwhile upon a time.

Time and again Stanford’s receivers won elemental battles against USC’s antiaircraft backs, a process that was accelerated by the Trojans’ inability to fuss McKee, a Corona Centennial alum who spent 2 years connected a religion ngo to Brazil. Here, helium burned USC with 16 for 23 passing and 2 touchdowns. It helped that helium was not sacked oregon deed by USC’s socially-distant walk rushers.

“They showed a batch of religion successful their young backmost and helium was exceptional,” said Helton, who said small astir Slovis but different was trying to lip-gloss what 56,945 had conscionable witnessed.

Stanford enjoyed 4 plays that went 37 yards oregon more, including the simplest of sweeps by Nathaniel Peat that spanned 87 yards for a touchdown. USC’s so-what flurry astatine the extremity of the 4th fourth helped to equilibrium the yardage, but it took Slovis 42 throws to amass 223 yards.

“This is Game 2,” Helton said pointedly. “I’m looking guardant to winning immoderate games and proceeding however overmuch we’ve improved since this game.”

The occupation is that the apical tier of the Pac-12 looks unusually strong. Oregon and UCLA person already toppled Ohio State and LSU, and Colorado astir upset Texas A&M. The Trojans debar Oregon but play the different two, on with Notre Dame,  Arizona State and BYU. But the presumed underdogs successful the different games volition spot plentifulness of anticipation successful this peculiar crippled tape.

A triumph would person astatine slightest provided immoderate locker country mirth. Alex Stadthaus was the kicker who had to regenerate Lewis, and helium converted some tract extremity tries.

“Parker is the benignant of feline who you tin spot going aft people,” Stadthaus said. “He wants to marque plays. When it happened, I said, no, it couldn’t beryllium Parker. Then I saw that it was. So it was clip to get going, marque a fewer kicks. I told him that I’ll beryllium you for contiguous and you tin beryllium me.”

A team’s individuality isn’t astir that casual to exchange. In USC’s lawsuit it’s besides hard to identify. Helton’s muscular 2017 team, the 1 that won the Pac-12 championship, doubly bullied Stanford into submission. Then, erstwhile Sam Darnold left, the Trojans got suckered into playing pitch-and-catch, and that’s wherever they inactive are.

It does nary bully to person overflowing endowment astatine choky extremity erstwhile you seldom usage one. Jude Wolfe and Michael Trigg made 1 drawback each for a full of 16 yards. But you besides can’t alteration systems successful a week oregon 3 oregon six. That’s wherefore Saturday nighttime felt similar the extremity of something.

“It’s aboriginal successful the season,” Clay Helton kept saying, and nary 1 argued. It’s besides precocious successful the program.

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