USC Football

USC offensive tackle Austin Jackson is back with the football team after donating bone marrow to his sister, Autumn. 

Per the Associated Press, Jackson's portion of the procedure took place in July, restricting his movement for 10 days after and preventing him from training for an additional two to three weeks. 

"We found out about a week ago that her body is beginning to accept it," Jackson told reporters Friday. "She's doing great. She was supposed to be in the hospital for about three months. She was engrafted, which means her body accepted the cells, and so she got sent home a month earlier."

Jackson's aunt, Kia, tweeted in July that the Trojans junior was found to be a perfect match for his sister. He had no hesitation about helping her after she was diagnosed with a genetic condition that caused her bone marrow to not produce red blood cells. 

"It's my baby sister, you know," Jackson said, via the AP. "Just growing up, being the older brother, you're told to protect your little sister."

USC head coach Clay Helton said the team is going to ease Jackson back into things during training camp leading up to the season opener on Aug. 31 against Fresno State. 

Jackson has appeared in 26 games for the Trojans over the past two seasons. He started all 12 games in 2018 and is expected to be the team's starting left tackle this year. 

Former USC Trojans senior defensive analyst Rick Courtright is suing the school for $2 million and claiming he was "fired and humiliated after reporting multiple violations to school officials," according to TMZ Sports.

Per that report, Courtright—who was with the team from 2016 to 2018—"claims he learned two USC graduate assistants working for the football team were paying other students to take their classes for them—with the blessing and funding coming from USC defensive coordinator Clancy Pendergast."

He also said he "reported safety violations," which included a pair of football players reportedly suffering concussions after an "unsupervised pre-game warmup, where they were not wearing proper protective gear."

Courtright said that people at the school retaliated at him for contacting the compliance office, from "gluing his computer mouse to his desk ... to leaving nasty sticky notes at his workstation calling him a 'dickhead' and an 'asshole.'"

He also said he had his clothing stolen and believes head coach Clay Helton's decision to place him on administrative leave before reportedly forcing him to choose between resigning or being fired was a result of his decision to report violations. 

Courtright previously served as an assistant secondary coach and defensive quality control coach from 2004-10 with the Arizona Cardinals. He also served as a scout for the New York Jets between 2013-15.

Bru McCoy's college career is right back where it started. The 5-star wide receiver is transferring from Texas to USC, the school announced Tuesday.

OFFICIAL: Freshman Bru McCoy is back at USC. #FightOn pic.twitter.com/YgS6Pfkw4M

— USC Trojans (@USC_Athletics) June 12, 2019

McCoy was the No. 1 athlete and No. 9 player overall in the 2019 recruiting class, per 247Sports' composite rankings. 

A native of Santa Ana, California, McCoy originally committed to USC at the All-American Bowl in January. 

At the time, Kliff Kingsbury was the Trojans' offensive coordinator. Days after McCoy's commitment, Kingsbury left to coach the Arizona Cardinals.

Later in January, McCoy entered the transfer portal and subsequently enrolled at Texas shortly thereafter.

However, Chip Brown of Horns247.com spoke to a source in May who said McCoy was having second thoughts about his decision and feeling homesick.

"Everyone wants to know why this is happening," the source said. "Bru is a really good kid. He just misses home way more than he thought."

According to Orangebloods.com's Anwar Richardson, a contingent of Longhorns representatives that included head coach Tom Herman and quarterback Sam Ehlinger planned to meet with McCoy and his family in California to discuss the issue.

The fact Herman and Ehlinger would make the trip to essentially sell McCoy on the program all over again speaks to how highly he was valued by the team.

That didn't stop McCoy from announcing May 31 his intention to leave Texas and re-enter the transfer portal.

As a senior at Mater Dei High School in 2018, McCoy had 78 receptions for 1,428 yards and 18 touchdowns, per MaxPreps. Bleacher Report's Mike Piellucci wrote he had drawn comparisons to DeAndre Hopkins, Calvin Johnson and Keyshawn Johnson, while McCoy saw Julio Jones as his personal inspiration.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RrpRstRl3r0

Unless the NCAA grants him an eligibility waiver, McCoy will have to sit out the 2019 season to satisfy the transfer requirements. That wait will be worth it for USC.

The Trojans had an underwhelming 2019 recruiting cycle. They were the No. 20 team overall and No. 3 in the Pac-12 in 247Sports' composite rankings. This was after USC went 5-7, missing a bowl game for the first time since 2000.

Head coach Clay Helton already added a pair of 4-star receivers, Kyle Ford and Drake London, for 2019, so signing another player at the position wasn't a necessity. But McCoy is so good that USC couldn't possibly have turned down the chance to bring him back into the fold.

The University of Southern California announced a 10-year naming rights deal with United Airlines on Friday.

According to the announcement, the field at the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum will become known as United Airlines Field at the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum.

As part of the contract, United Airlines will help in the funding a $315 million restoration of the L.A. Coliseum.

USC interim president Wanda M. Austin said the following about USC's partnership with United Airlines:

"USC is honored to be the caretaker of this Los Angeles treasure and, together with United, we are ensuring the Coliseum's future as a world-class venue. The naming of the field is a significant step in USC's efforts to usher in a modern era for this historic landmark and preserve its legacy. Through this process, USC was guided by doing the right thing for the community as we continue to honor our veterans. We look forward to the opening of United Airlines Field within the newly renovated Coliseum this summer."

The Trojans have played their home games at the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum since its opening in 1923. The Coliseum also hosts the NFL's Los Angeles Rams, but the Rams are set to begin play at Los Angeles Stadium at Hollywood Park in 2020.

USC has claimed 11 national championships during its history, with the most recent coming in 2004.

While the Trojans have not been among the elite teams in college football for at least the past decade, they won double-digit games in both 2016 and 2017.

They fell to 5-7 last season, however, and head coach Clay Helton's job appears to be on the line entering 2019.

Regardless of how the Trojans perform on the field, their partnership with United Airlines sets them up to make some significant improvements to their venue in the coming years.

USC quarterback Matt Fink will enter the NCAA transfer portal. 

"It was a tough decision to say the least, but I think it's best for myself to get the word out that I'm graduating and that I'm able to play for two years," Fink told Kyle Bonagura of ESPN.com. "I'm looking for a school that fits me and is ready to get the ball rolling."

Fink, who has two years of eligibility remaining, redshirted in 2016 and played behind Sam Darnold and JT Daniels in 2017 and 2018, respectively. He has completed 13 of 18 passes for 86 yards and a touchdown during his USC career.

However, Fink clarified to Bonagura that he's not officially taking off just yet.

"I'm not fully committed to leaving," Fink said. "It's not like USC doesn't fit me anymore. I just think there might be better opportunities. If there is something out there and it fits me well and they will take me in, that's the place for me." 

Mike Fink, who is Matt's father, spoke with Brady McCollough of the Los Angeles Times and reiterated similar points as his son while also complimenting USC coaches:

Mike Fink, USC quarterback Matt Fink's father, tells the @latimes that his son has entered the transfer portal. He said they are hopeful that with Fink graduating in June and having two years of eligibility left, he can find a place to start for those seasons.

— Brady McCollough (@BradyMcCollough) April 17, 2019

Mike Fink stressed that he has nothing but admiration for Clay Helton and Graham Harrell and that, if for some reason Matt doesn't like his transfer options, he could choose to remain at USC and continue to battle for the starting job. (Of course, that is unlikely.)

— Brady McCollough (@BradyMcCollough) April 17, 2019

The Trojans hired Graham Harrell, who was previously North Texas' offensive coordinator, for the same position at USC. As Bonagura noted, USC head coach Clay Helton said the team would conduct an open competition for the starting quarterback position even with Daniels returning.

But Bonagura wrote that Fink didn't appear in the starting picture.

"There was no indication over the past several weeks that Fink was in line to unseat Daniels," Bonagura wrote. "The competition also featured redshirt sophomore Jack Sears and early enrollee Kedon Slovis."

Adam Maya of TrojanSports.com reported that Fink ended spring camp third on the team's quarterback depth chart behind Daniels and Jack Sears.

Still, reports on Fink's spring were positive from numerous sources. Ryan Abraham of USCFootball.com wrote Fink looked "pretty good," and Alicia de Artola of Reign of Troy said she "thought Fink had a good spring."

However, De Artola also speculated that the transfer portal decision meant Sears was ahead of Fink coming out of spring camp.

The 3-star recruit out of Rancho Cucamonga, California was ranked 13th on 247Sports' list of the top dual quarterbacks in the class of 2016.

The USC quarterback battle took center stage Saturday in the Trojans' spring showcase at Cromwell Field in Los Angeles as incumbent starter JT Daniels attempts to hold off competition from Jack Sears, Matt Fink and Kedon Slovis ahead of the 2019 season.

USC hired former Texas Tech and NFL quarterback Graham Harrell in January to become its new offensive coordinator under head coach Clay Helton, who enters the year on the hot seat after the Trojans posted a 5-7 record in 2018.

https://twitter.com/alwayscompete/status/1114613218968625152

Sears said when spring ball began in March he was expecting a true competition for the quarterback job within Harrell's Air Raid system.

"I sure hope so. We're going to see how that plays out, but I really hope it is. They've sat down with everybody, and they've talked to us, and they've explained it to us, but that's a little bit above my pay grade. That's for the big guy over there," he told reporters, referring to Helton.

Air raid is coming to Tailback U. Yes, you read that correctly.

Our @YogiRoth talks with new @USC_FB offensive coordinator Graham Harrell at the Trojans' spring showcase.

Watch live on Pac-12 Now. https://t.co/3mqitqtiJI pic.twitter.com/Is5YgPoreG

— Pac-12 Network (@Pac12Network) April 6, 2019

Unlike most programs, USC holds more of a glorified practice to close out spring ball as opposed to a true spring game. It's tougher to make a snap evaluation of progress—at all positions, not just quarterback—with the lack of a game-like structure.

Helton says #USC has come a long way since Day 1. They are playing faster and more technically sound.

— Reign of Troy Radio (@ReignofTroy) April 6, 2019

The Trojans opted to feature some seven-on-seven work during the session, which was partly necessitated by a lack of available offensive linemen.

#USC’s offensive line was short on tackles today. Jalen McKenzie, Austin Jackson and Clayton Bradley all did not practice Saturday. Jackson was not in attendance for the second consecutive day. McKenzie had a brace on his elbow.

— Keely Eure (@keelyismyname) April 6, 2019

As a whole, the USC quarterbacks played well Saturday. Sears was picked off by true freshman Drake Jackson, but that was more of a terrific read by the defensive end than a poor read by the QB.

Jackson's pick-six was the play of the day:

SNATCHED.

Early enrollee @The99Athlete scores the pick-six!

📺: @Pac12Network#FightOn | #SpringForward pic.twitter.com/Vp8f7B9XP7

— USC Trojans (@USC_Athletics) April 6, 2019

Here's a look at some other highlights from the showcase:

There goes @Markese_Stepp!

The rising redshirt freshman RB scores the first TD of the Spring Football Showcase.

📺: @Pac12Network#FightOn | #SpringForward pic.twitter.com/as6kYJUcfC

— USC Trojans (@USC_Athletics) April 6, 2019

https://twitter.com/AWhite_73/status/1114614076741771264

Picking up where he left off!@amonra_stbrown with the TD 🙌

📺: @Pac12Network#FightOn | #SpringForward pic.twitter.com/0U8T3KrM2Q

— USC Trojans (@USC_Athletics) April 6, 2019

All told, USC isn't viewed as a top championship contender heading into 2019, but it's still on the fringe of the conversation. The Trojans own 100-1 national title odds, which is tied for the 20th-best preseason line in the country, per Vegas Insider.

USC kicks off the regular season with a home game Aug. 31 against the Fresno State Bulldogs at the Memorial Coliseum.

When the USC Trojans take the field for their annual spring game Saturday, all eyes will be on the program's offense. 

The Trojans originally employed Kliff Kingsbury to revamp their offense, but after he left to become head coach of the NFL's Arizona Cardinals, they called upon another disciple of the Air Raid system in Graham Harrell. 

Harrell is tasked with improving an offensive unit from a 5-7 team that has some solid returning pieces in quarterback JT Daniels and wide receiver Amon-Ra St. Brown. 

Daniels will be under the microscope Saturday since he's one of four quarterbacks fighting for the starting job in Harrell's first year as offensive coordinator.

                           

2019 USC Spring Game Info

Date: Saturday, April 6

Start Time: 2 p.m. ET

TV: Pac-12 Network

Live Stream: Pac-12.com

                        

After last season's debacle, USC won't enter the 2019 season in the national championship conversation, as it currently holds odds of +10000 (bet $100 to win $10,000) to win the title, per OddsChecker. 

If Clay Helton's team wants to force its way back into the national discussion and become a major player in the Pac-12, it has to trust the new offensive system being installed by Harrell. 

But going into Saturday, there's nothing clear-cut regarding the leader of the offense on the field, with Daniels, Kedon Slovis, Jack Sears and Matt Fink competing for the starting spot. 

Daniels threw for 2,672 yards as the freshman starter for the Trojans in 2018, but he's going to have to earn the starting gig in the new system. 

Helton noted to ESPN.com's Kyle Bonagura that the competition comes with the new system, which Harrell excelled in as a player at Texas Tech. 

Daniels is still favored to keep the starting post, but Slovis, a freshman early enrollee, has impressed Harrell in a short time, per Antonio Morales of The Athletic. 

"I've been really, really shocked with how quickly he's picked it up," Harrell said. "When he's in there, he just does everything right." 

The good news for Harrell is that the receivers are picking up the new system well, per Keely Eure of 247Sports. 

"I think they're doing a great job of really understanding what we're trying to do with the concepts instead of just running a route, they understand where they fit into the concept, what we're trying to get accomplished with the concept," Harrell said. 

In addition to getting the wide receivers comfortable with the system, Harrell is looking to get the running backs more involved in the passing game, which is something he excelled at in his time at North Texas. 

In running back Stephen Carr and wide receivers Tyler Vaughan, Michael Pittman and St. Brown, the Trojans have plenty of experienced weapons to work with on the offensive end. 

While a majority of the focus during spring practice has been on the new-look offense, the USC defense is also trying to change a few things up under defensive coordinator Clancy Pendergast. 

Some of the alterations, like playing with a three-man defensive line, have come with stopping the run in mind, as linebacker Palaie Gaoteote noted to Brady McCullough of the Los Angeles Times.

"Always stop the run, that's our pride right there," Gaoteote said. "We'll give up the pass, but when it comes to the run, nobody can get past us. That's our biggest emphasis come this spring."

In 2018, the Trojans ranked 63rd in the FBS in rushing defense by conceding 164.4 yards per contest. 

If the defense is able to improve on stopping the run, it will create more long third downs for opponents and allow the offense to take over. 

While we won't see the finished product until the fall, Saturday will give us a glimpse into what the Trojans have done so far to erase the memories of a brutal 2018 campaign. 

                        

Follow Joe on Twitter, @JTansey90

United Airlines has reportedly offered to step away from a $69 million agreement to rename the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum into the United Airlines Memorial Coliseum "following criticism that adding a corporate name is disrespectful to the facility's history of honoring troops who fought and died in World War I," according to John Antczak of the Associated Press. 

"If USC is not in a position to honor the terms of the agreement, including in particular the name change, United would be amenable to abiding by the wishes of the community, stepping away from this partnership with USC, and mutually terminating the agreement," the airline's president, Janet Lamkin, reportedly wrote in a letter USC official Todd Dickey.

USC holds the naming rights for the stadium.

The Coliseum was built in 1921 and, as Los Angeles County Supervisor Janice Hahn wrote in an opinion piece for the Los Angeles Times this week, "the civic visionaries who fought for the structure, including the Chandler family which then owned the Los Angeles Times, dedicated the stadium to the doughboys from Los Angeles who marched off to the fields of Europe in 1917 and 1918—many of whom never came home from the 'war to end all wars.'"

A ton of history in these walls. It’s a memorial to WWI servicemembers, and there are many nods to the famous speakers and athletes who have taken the field here. pic.twitter.com/04XrVPtfe5

— Libby Denkmann (@libdenk) March 28, 2019

Hahn's suggestion for a compromise between all parties involved was to give United Airlines the naming rights of the field, not the stadium itself, by calling it the "United Airlines Field at the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum."

She isn't alone in her protestations:

“I do love USC. My nephew plays football for USC. But I’m looking for you to make a committed change to keep the name: the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum.” - Marine Corps vet Lamont Duncan, VFW California. pic.twitter.com/Ilzfwbemgl

— Libby Denkmann (@libdenk) March 28, 2019

“I’m trying to imagine a proposal to sell off the naming rights to the Vietnam Veterans memorial wall in Washington, D.C....I urge you to reconsider.” — Steve Peck, CEO of U.S.VETS

— Libby Denkmann (@libdenk) March 28, 2019

The stadium is the long-time home of USC football and the temporary home of the Los Angeles Rams, and it has hosted Olympics and has been the host of various other teams in its history. It is a long-time staple of the city of Los Angeles, and its potential renaming has understandably been a divisive topic among citizens of the area.

Jake Olson, a long snapper for the USC Trojans who is blind, threw down 17 reps on the bench press during USC's pro day as a fundraiser to combat retinoblastoma, per Lindsey Thiry of ESPN.com:

Amazing moment at USC Pro Day. Jake Olson, their blind long snapper, just had 17 reps on the bench press to raise funds for retinoblastoma, which took his eyesight. pic.twitter.com/kSxWZxanAX

— Lindsey Thiry (@LindseyThiry) March 20, 2019

Olson lost his eyesight at the age of 12 to retinoblastoma, a rare cancer that cost him both of his eyes, according to Kyle Bonagura of ESPN.com. Wednesday's bench press was part of a fundraiser to donate money to Uplifting Athletes, "a nonprofit organization created to inspire the rare-disease community, and retinoblastoma research supporting [Dr. Brenda Gallie, head of the Retinoblastoma Program at The Hospital for Sick Children in Toronto]."

"It gives me chills right now, just kind of like thinking I could come back 10 years later and help aid the treatment that took my eyesight," Olson said, per Bonagura. "It gave me goosebumps when I first heard about it because I'm just like, 'Wow, we're at this pivotal moment right now.'"

Olson was an inspiration when he appeared in three games as USC's long snapper in 2017 and 2018. He continues to be one following his college playing career.

University of Southern California athletic director Lynn Swann was "blindsided" by the school's involvement in a college bribery scandal.

In an interview with Arash Markazi of the Los Angeles Times, Swann publicly commented on the situation for the first time:

"I think everybody was blindsided by this. The fact that it was a senior member of the staff and also our men's and women's head water polo coach. ...These are people that have been here a long time and people who had been here during difficult times and had seen bad things done and knew better. Everyone was completely shocked, caught off guard and taken by surprise."

Former senior associate athletic director Donna Heinel was arrested Tuesday after being indicted for allegedly accepting more than $1.3 million in bribes for helping 24 non-athletes gain admission to the university. Former water polo coach Jovan Vavic was also arrested for allegedly receiving $250,000 in bribes as part of the scandal.

Here is USC’s statement regarding the college admissions investigation: pic.twitter.com/IwZUuWfWA5

— USC Trojans (@USC_Athletics) March 12, 2019

Both Heinel and Vavic were fired.

As a result of the scandal, Swann noted the Trojans will make changes to ensure no employee holds as much responsibility as Heinel did.

"We will work with the university to implement the best system," Swann said.

While the university has come under fire, the 67-year-old Swann said he has no intentions of stepping down amid "misplaced" blame: "I have not considered resigning. I'm committed to this school, and I'm committed to this job. This was an opportunity that presented itself to me. I never went out looking for this job, but this is a job I feel I'm prepared for."

Swann, who USC hired in April 2016, added that he would like to serve as the athletic director for "10 years."

He was a member of the 1972 Trojans national championship team and was an All-American in 1973. The wideout would go on to be the 21st overall pick of the Pittsburgh Steelers in 1974. There, he put together a Hall of Fame career and won four Super Bowls, including MVP in Super Bowl X.