They've a millionaire coach who lives in a mansion.
They've a charismatic quarterback with a huddle stuffed with endorsements.
They're loaded with high-priced free brokers who got here right here for an opportunity to reap the rewards of Hollywood.
To no one’s shock, they've turn into Los Angeles’ hottest skilled soccer crew, wealthy and rollicking and seemingly headed this winter for SoFi Stadium stardom.
The Rams? Suppose once more. The Chargers? Good strive.
It's, in fact, the USC Trojans, faculty soccer’s merry band of opportunists who head into this season with stars of their eyes and a goal on their again.
Something lower than a spot within the Faculty Soccer Playoff simply received’t do.
Even which may not be sufficient, simply take heed to the person who began all this ruckus.
At Pac-12 media day Friday, I requested new USC coach Lincoln Riley for his expectations for this season.
“To win the championship,” he stated.
The championship. This season. Win it. OK!
The CFP title sport is at SoFi Stadium on Jan. 9, so, yeah, that is an extremely excessive and dramatic bar set by a 38-year-old dude who got here right here from Oklahoma eight months in the past and promptly turned a 4-8 crew into the sport’s hottest vacation spot.
“We didn’t come right here to play for second, we're not wired that approach,” Riley stated. “We got here right here competitively to win championships, win them now and to win them for a very long time.”
A nation-leading 20 children have transferred to USC from different colleges. No less than that many have been compelled out of this system. The cash is flowing, the guarantees are hovering, this system has been turned on its helmet, and you recognize what meaning.
The strain begins now. The honeymoon ends right here. Even earlier than the primary summer season follow sweat, the warmth is on.
“The truth is that if there’s no strain, you then most likely don’t have the identical alternatives as others do,” Riley stated, including, “The chance is, in the event you do it properly, something is feasible. That is a kind of locations. That is a kind of packages. Frankly, that is a kind of cities that in the event you do it properly right here, the sky’s absolutely the restrict. I imagine it’s there for our soccer crew.”
A lot, so quick, so unnerving. Has there ever been a crew on this city beneath extra deserved preseason scrutiny than this one? Has there ever been a school crew wherever that can enter a season with extra unearned swagger?
They need to win? No, they higher win. All this, they usually have but to take an official snap.
“I'd reiterate once more, we didn’t come right here to play for second,” Riley stated.
It’s good that faculty athletes are lastly getting paid. It’s honest that faculty athletes are lastly capable of switch and turn into instantly eligible. The faculty athletes have lengthy been the spine of this billion-dollar business and need to be compensated for it. No matter they get, they’ve earned it.
But it’s a bit unsettling when this confluence of modifications happens in such dramatic trend at a spot the place the drama has all the time been rooted in custom. By no means have USC followers been requested to cheer for thus many full strangers. By no means earlier than has it been so abundantly clear that these strangers are solely right here for the cash and the soccer.
Fittingly, for the primary time in reminiscence, the 2 gamers USC delivered to Pac-12 media day to signify the college most likely nonetheless have hassle discovering their approach round campus. They have been quarterback Caleb Williams and linebacker Shane Lee, two extremely touted transfers from Oklahoma and Alabama, respectively.
Stated Lee: “Our focus is on getting the tradition proper.”
Stated Williams: “USC is a blue blood, easy as that. Groups … have tough moments, that’s what USC has had. We’re right here to attempt to flip that round.”
Williams is the centerpiece of the Trojans’ transform and the perfect instance of the brand new period. He's a switch from Oklahoma who already has a number of endorsement offers regardless of beginning solely eight faculty video games.
I requested what he would take into account a profitable season.
“Win each sport,” he stated.
His fundamental goal will probably be Jordan Addison, a switch from Pittsburgh who was voted the nation’s finest extensive receiver final season and now will probably be its finest dressed. When Addison confirmed up, he requested for Carson Palmer’s retired No. 3 jersey. This put Palmer in an unattainable place. He might by no means say no, even when he needed to say no. So, with Palmer’s very public blessing, USC regrettably gave the child the quantity.
No, this isn't the identical factor as former athletic director Mike Garrett giving Darnell Bing his No. 20 in 2005. It was Bing’s senior season, and Garrett thought-about it a reward for devoted service.
In Addison’s case, it feels extra like a recruiting instrument. He’ll play one 12 months right here and go to the NFL. The jersey giveaway seems like a direct hit on Trojan custom.
Think about the elevated strain on Addison. He drops a ball carrying a Heisman Trophy jersey? The gang received’t be thrilled.
USC has one other nice switch extensive receiver in Oklahoma’s Mario Williams, and an awesome switch operating again in Oregon’s Travis Dye. They need to rating 50 factors a sport. Drawback is, they might quit 60.
Riley doesn’t actually do protection. The numbers 54, 45, and 63 signify the factors scored by opponents in three of his 4 bowl video games at Oklahoma.
He hopes transfers like Lee, Arizona State’s Eric Gentry, Colorado’s Mekhi Blackmon and Auburn’s Romello Peak will assist change that narrative.
However no one is aware of. No person has seen this remodeled-down-to-the-studs crew in motion. In actuality, they’re one among faculty soccer’s most unknown portions.
They have to win anyway. Win massive. Win usually. Win that championship.
“My expectations are extraordinarily excessive,” stated Riley. “I imply, once more, it is a go-for-it type of place.”
That is additionally a boo-at-it type of place. Kudos to the Trojans for going for it, however perceive one factor.
It's going to get actual ugly, actual fast, in the event that they don’t get there.
Post a Comment