IMHO Sunday: Will new NIL rules pressure USC to put names on back of jerseys?

In my humble opinion, cardinal and gold thoughts on what I see, what I hear, and what I think from Los Angeles.

NIL competition: USC has never allowed players’ last names to be visible on the back of their jerseys during games, but could that be revisited with the new Name, Image, and Licensing (NIL) rules? The Michigan Wolverines, who already wear their last names on game jerseys, recently worked a deal with its bookstore, The M Den, to partner with its Wolverines football players to create custom jerseys to sell with the players’ names and numbers on the back. Could it be only a matter of time till you see a similar arrangement for USC and the way the Trojans market players through jersey sales?

NIL competition – Part 2: According to the Los Angeles Times, the current USC policy bars USC “athletes from wearing USC gear as part of their NIL activities, including uniforms or team apparel. They’re also not allowed to use or display USC logos, trademarks or other intellectual property owned by USC, including any photos or videos produced by the university.”

NIL competition – Part 3: Because of the amount of money a USC player could make in jersey sales of his own name, it seems a question of not if but when the Trojans have their last names on the back of their actual game jerseys, which would provide a logical marketing and branding tool for each player. I’ll admit, because of emphasis on team, tradition, and the general overall visual color combinations of cardinal and gold, I think the Trojans’ uniforms – including helmets – are flawless. I’ve never in the past wanted USC to put the last name of players on the back of jerseys, but I think the time has come to move on because if a player can legally “advertise” his brand in and during a game, who am I to stop them from making legal profits?

NIL competition – Part 4: The way the Michigan deal works is that every player on the Wolverines has a chance to sell his jersey and make a profit. All money goes to that player and to that player only and not the team or the program. Fans have the opportunity to select from the team roster a player’s name and number. The jerseys are being now sold through “The M Den” and are considered a customized product.

NIL competition – Part 5: According to ESPN, “The M Den worked with former Michigan football player Jared Wangler, who started Valiant Management group, an NIL agency, to help secure contracts with the players. Wangler was on the team from 2014 to 2018, and he still knows most of the players on the roster. He says at this point, there are roughly 60 Michigan football players signed up, with more on the way.”

NIL competition – Part 6: ESPN also wrote, “The deal will pay each player the same amount per jersey sold and will pay each player quarterly. If one player is more popular than another and sells more jerseys, he will make more money, but each player will have the opportunity to make the same amount per jersey.”

NIL competition – Part 7: While each state will have its own rules on the new college NIL options, The M Den president and co-owner Scott Hirth said, “The rules on this are two weeks old and are changing daily. I said as long as your eligibility exists at the University of Michigan, we will pay you for the rights to put your name and number on a jersey. Right now, our contract with each player is for the length of their eligibility at Michigan.”

NIL competition – Part 8: Can you imagine how much legal money a Matt Leinart or Reggie Bush could have made during their playing days with their last names above their numbers and sold through the USC Bookstore? In all probability, it would have been mind-blowing.

NIL competition – Part 9: And what if the Trojans current All-Pac-12 QB Kedon Slovis actually wins the Heisman Trophy? You think that No. 9 jersey and the name “Slovis” on the back won’t be in high demand? The Los Angeles Times reported this week that Slovis signed a contract with Klutch Sports based in L.A, which represents LeBron James, Anthony Davis, and other major NBA stars.

NIL competition – Part 10: This past week, Alabama head coach Nick Saban announced that quarterback Bryce Young, once a USC commit out of Santa Ana (Calif.) Mater Dei who hasn’t officially been named the 2021 Crimson Tide starter, has already signed endorsement deals “approaching” $1 million. Said Saban, “And it’s like, the guy hasn’t even played yet, but that’s because of our brand (Alabama).”

NIL competition – summation: So, will USC, located in the land of Hollywood image making and within a population center that can bring forth huge player income, follow the lead of Michigan and others? For the record, Notre Dame still doesn’t have their players’ last names on jerseys, but it should be noted that 11 teams in the Pac-12 do have players names on the back of jerseys – the Trojans the lone exception. One thing for sure, it isn’t hard to imagine a recruiting pitch between USC and recruiting competitors regarding who can sell the most jerseys for a player to make the most amount of money. Let the bidding begin!

From the press box…

O-line recruiting: Honestly, from the press box perspective, it’s still a little premature to throw in the towel as it applies to the offensive line recruiting class of 2022, but it isn’t too early to be concerned – yet again – that while the Trojans have hosted some of the nation’s very best O-line prospects, they are also learning they have been eliminated by some of those same quality recruits that Troy was hoping to stay within recruiting contention.

O-line recruiting – Part 2: Recently, 4-star recruit Addison Nichols (Norcross, Ga./Greater Atlanta Christian), who had been a serious visitor to Troy, tweeted out his finalists: Ohio State, Tennessee, and North Carolina. Let’s see, that’s one Big Ten team, one SEC team, and one ACC team. One could understand the Buckeyes’ appeal for the obvious reasons of past playoff success, and certainly North Carolina head coach Mack Brown, the ageless one, has rejuvenated the Tar Heels football program, and wasn’t that former North Carolina chancellor Dr. Carol Folt introducing the coach to the Tar Heels nation back on Nov. 27, 2018?

And then there’s the University of Tennessee, once a proud SEC football tradition, finally making some recruiting headway way under first-year head coach Josh Heupel, the former Oklahoma national champion quarterback and former UCF head coach and a 2018 National Coach of the Year finalist. Three different schools from three different Midwest to Eastern conferences, which spells wanting to stay somewhat closer to home for Addison Nichols.

O-line recruiting – Part 3: And there was last weekend’s announcement that “former” Trojans 4-star offensive line recruit Dave Iuli (Puyallup, Wash.) had committed to Oregon. Iuli (6-5, 330), selecting the Ducks over the Trojans, Oklahoma, and the home state of Washington. The man-child is considered the third best player in the Washington.

O-line recruiting – Part 4: Of course, all is not lost because the Trojans are reportedly still in the hunt with upper tier linemen like five-stars Josh Conerly Jr. (Seattle/Rainier Beach) and Devon Campbell (Arlington, Tex./Bowie) and four-stars Earnest Greene (Bellflower, Calif./St. John Bosco), Elijah Pritchett (Columbus, Ga./Carver), and Neto Umeozulu (Allen, Tex./Allen). Get a couple of these kids to commit and you’ve got some O-line recruiting momentum. If not, been there and done that and a lot more explaining to do.

O-line recruiting – Part 5: Obviously there’s a pattern to the inability of the Trojans to sign quality offensive linemen. Why? It might not be just one issue but a series of them, which all adds up. Certainly, the yearly status of Clay Helton job security is center stage. At the very least, it gives the perception of instability. And it doesn’t help that the Trojans have yet to play in the College Football Playoffs (CFP) since its inception or has won just one conference title (2017) under Gentleman Clay.

O-line recruiting – Part 6: Another issue – like it or not – is the Trojans version or should we say offensive coordinator Graham Harrell’s version of the Air Raid offense. Going into his third season of good-pass, bad-run results, Harrell has told recruits that it’s a misconception that his offense is strictly a passing offense. However, offensive line recruits are reminded by other schools that the Trojans finished last in 2020 Pac-12 rushing and 10^th in 2019. Although when he first took the OC position two years ago and promised a running game to compliment the passing game, it certainly gives the appearance that Harrell’s priority – with the backing of Clay Helton – has a running game designed only to keep the defense honest. So far, the only displayed honesty is that Trojans can’t run the football either by deficient offensive line recruiting, design, and/or the play-calling itself.

  
O-line recruiting – Part 7: Another reason for the inability to sign stud offensive linemen is the perception by recruits that the Air Raid doesn’t properly get them ready for run blocking in the NFL. Of course, the Trojans can point to back-to-back first round draft picks in Austin Jackson and Alijah Vera-Tucker, respectively. You would think this would be a selling point, but perhaps it isn’t strong enough with the aforementioned reasons.

O-line recruiting – Part 8: Then there has been the revolving door of offensive line coaches, which recruits see as instability and an issue pointed out by competitors. With Neil Callaway and Tim Drevno out and Clay McGuire in, it doesn’t exactly bring a sense of coaching stability or security to an offensive line recruit. Recruits want to feel like their riding a positive wave of O-line recruiting and not feel they are by themselves on an island. 

O-line recruiting – Part 9: So, what will it take to change these dire offensive line perceptions? Well, it rather obvious that the Trojans have to show a major visible offensive improvement in 2021. IMHO, the Men of Troy have to win the Pac-12 and at least get to the Rose Bowl if not the CFP to help change the dynamics. Harrell and McGuire need to show substantial improvement in the running game and a devotion to it. In this case, reality must overcome perception.  

O-line recruiting – Part 10: Another USC challenge is that Oregon has made a point of emphasis that it’s the Pac-12 home of offensive linemen if not nationally, and like it or not, they do have a recent history of it, thanks to Ducks head coach Mario Cristobal, a former O-line coach at Alabama (2013-2016) and a former all-conference O-lineman himself for the Miami Hurricanes, which won national championships in 1989 and 1991 during his playing days. The coach brings credibility and proven offensive line credentials and don’t think for a moment he doesn’t inform recruits of his O-line background.

O-line recruiting summation: The Trojans have to find a way to neutralize that coaching comparison between Cristobal and Clay Helton, a former quarterback, QB coach, and offensive coordinator. When Cristobal sells offensive linemen, they obviously listen. He not only talks the talk but walks the walk, something that USC used to be able to do way back in its glory days. It could be as simple as comparing the Ducks balanced offense to USC’s basically passing offense. Helton and his offensive staff have to find a way to convince the high quality recruits that what’s being said out there is not true as it applies to USC’s Air Raid.

O-line summation – Part 2: It will take more than Clay Helton telling recruits that he is the son of an offensive line coach. Helton rolled the offensive philosophy dice when he made the drastic, dramatic, and some would argue ill-advised change from a physically somewhat balanced Sam Darnold offensive attack to the Air Raid philosophy. IMHO, the change tore at the fibers of what once made USC one of the most feared balanced attacks in America. Because of past poor offensive line recruiting and many would say coaching, Helton has had to resort to a different offensive style in which he originally had novice understanding. Now the Trojans’ head coach has placed all his marbles in the Air Raid and an offensive coordinator who was magnificent as a Texas Tech quarterback but has never won a conference title as either a player or a coach. Don’t kill the messenger.  

The post-game show…

Pac-12 Media Day: A final reminder that WeAreSC will be giving full coverage to Tuesday’s Pac-12 Media Day from the W Hollywood Hotel in Los Angeles. Festivities are slated to begin at 8 a.m. PT, so get that coffee brewing and the assorted donuts in place.

Pac-12 Media Day – Part 2: The one-day media event event will feature all 12 head coaches and two players from each university, as well as all 12 athletics directors and representatives from the Pac-12 Conference staff, including Commissioner George Kliavkoff, Senior Associate Commissioner of Football Operations Merton Hanks and Vice President of Officiating David Coleman.

Pac-12 Media Day – Part 3: You can watch Media Day on the Pac-12 Networks beginning at 8 a.m. on the Pac-12 Networks

Pac-12 Media Day – Part 4: Trojans head coach Clay Helton, quarterback Kedon Slovis, and wide receiver Drake London are scheduled to appear in front of the media at 3:30 p.m. PT.

Pac-12 Media Day – Part 5: Because all participants at Media Day are required to be vaccinated, Washington State head coach Nick Rolovich will not be in attendance and will be interviewed remotely because of his decision not to be vaccinated for COVID. which he says is a personal decision.

Point of intrigue: I, for one, am interested to hear the opening remarks of new Pac-12 commissioner George Kliavkoff and his thoughts on the proposed 12-team CFP expansion, how the departure of Texas and Oklahoma to the SEC may affect any thoughts of Pac-12 expansion, and any general ideas on how to inject some fresh ideas to promote Pac-12 football and the conference.

Herm: I am also intrigued but not expecting too much from ASU head coach Herm Edwards regarding the ongoing investigation of recruiting visits during the dead period and the pandemic. Edwards is usually never at a loss for words, but Tuesday could be the exception.

 The call-in show…

Caller No. 1: Greg, do you expect any revelations from Pac-12 Media Day as it applies to Clay Helton?

Caller No. 1, usually all the coaches in the conference give a very bland and uninformative opening statement. Every coach will say that their off-season conditioning was excellent, highlight their stars, and say they think that they will be in the hunt for a divisional title and Clay Helton will be no exception. The real info comes after a coach has appeared in front of the general media and heads for a table where the coach and players are surrounded by their local media, who will pepper them with questions.   

Caller No. 2: Grego, how do you think new Director of Football Sports Performance Robert Stiner is doing?

Caller No. 2, to be honest, every time the Trojans are making a change in its strength and conditioning staffing it gives the impression that the last guy wasn’t doing his job. Each time a new guy is hired, lavish praise is heaped upon that individual like things are going to be dramatically different on the field. I think the only time that there was a glaring upgrade was when Pete Carroll brought in Chris Carlisle into the program, and you saw a major difference in physical power. Of course, it didn’t hurt that Carroll recruited some very physical players, as well. The thing about Carlisle was that he was also a former coach and he, too, had a keen eye for talent. I can remember him at some of the summer evaluation camps giving Carroll inside thoughts on various position players. As for Stiner, the players all seem to like what he is selling, which is a good foundation.   

Caller No. 3: G-Kat, what are your thoughts of a celebrity leading the Trojans out of the famous Coliseum tunnel just prior to kickoff?

Caller No. 3, now that is a good question. Like many of you, I am always intrigued with who is going to lead the Trojans onto the sacred Coliseum turf prior to kickoff. I have to admit, I can never really understand how players from other sports other than football lead the Trojans onto the field. I mean, the Trojans have so many iconic football players that can lead them onto the field, and I remember one season former Dodger Joc Peterson lead the Trojans out. Maybe it was he was once signing to play his college ball at USC but didn’t, having inked with the Dodgers. I am okay, however, with a Hollywood celebrity like Will Farrell doing the honors because he is a well-known USC alumni and super fan.

Caller No. 4: Gregger, do you think there is a chance that Reggie Bush will lead the Trojans onto the field sometime during the season?

Caller No. 4, is the Pope a Catholic? No doubt part of the welcome back Reggie Bush image rehab says it’s not if but when. Maybe San Jose State, but that won’t draw the biggest attention like perhaps Utah or UCLA. The key is how long do the Trojans and Bush want to wait before they unveil him behind the Coli curtain?

Caller No. 5: Mr. Katz, what do you think of today’s music compared to your time period growing up?

Caller No. 5, thanks for the loaded question so I can alienate our younger readers. However, since you asked, I started listening to rock and roll music on radio (KRLA/KHJ) when I was in sixth grade, which means Elvis, the Beatles, Stones, Beach Boys, Dylan, Four Tops, Temptations, Marvin Gaye, etc. For the most part, the lyrics were about love, peace, happiness, and the pain of love, breaking up, anti-war, and non-violence. Now, like all generations, there are still great songs and artists today. That being said, it seems that too many songs, IMHO, are geared toward too much street violence, which I think is a reflection of the times in which we live. How’s that for walking the line, so help me Johnny Cash?   

The last word: With the new NIL coming into place, can’t you just hear a player yelling at his position coach, “Coach, you have to give me more playing time because if you don’t, you’re going to hurt my marketing and branding, and it’s going to cost me jersey money!”