New Trojans ace their Coliseum debuts

The USC spring game offered almost all the new Trojans their first opportunities in a setting open to the public to showcase their skills in the Coliseum. It was another example of why there’s so much optimism around this program right now.

Caleb Williams led the offense to touchdowns on his first two drives. Travis Dye rushed for 27 yards. Austin Jones had 32 yards on eight touches. Mario Williams caught four passes, including both touchdowns from Caleb Williams. Shane Lee recorded three tackles. Romello Height had three tackles and a sack. Latrell McCutchin had four tackles and delivered a huge hit. And behind it all, Lincoln Riley soaked up the atmosphere of the largest spring game crowd since USC began keeping records of that stat in the late-1990s.

It’s easy to find the positives in a spring game, especially one where there’s plenty of goodwill from fans who couldn’t wait to turn the page on last season and the previous direction of the program. But Riley truly hit all the right notes before, during, and after the game. Step 1, praise the Coliseum.

Riley said it was “awesome” to experience his first game-like atmosphere in the Coliseum. And every step, from meeting with the team in the locker room, to making the walk down the tunnel, had Riley thinking about the next time he’ll do that in front of fans.

“Every single moment,” Riley said. “Coming out of that tunnel for the first time certainly gives you chills. Check your pulse if it doesn’t. That one of those iconic walks in our sport that I’ve never had a chance to do. Glad I got to do it for the first time with a USC visor on.”

Step 2, feed the fans.

Riley again mentioned “a fanbase that was hungry for some real momentum.” He praised the more than 33,000 fans who were in attendance. Riley consistently mentions that it will take everybody affiliated with USC to get this program to where they want it to be. That includes administrators, coaches, players, fans and everybody in between. That group, collectively, was on display this past Saturday.

“If you’re in this city and don’t feel the momentum about this program, you’re not paying attention,” Riley said. “They were amped to play this game.”

And Step 3, put an elite product on the field.

Riley again said there’s a lot of work to be done between now and the season opener against Rice. There’s no disputing that. But nobody thought this program would become a juggernaut over the course of one spring camp.

But on Saturday, there were signs of a potentially prolific offense with pulling linemen getting runners into the second level and plays designed to get receivers running open. The defense displayed improved tackling and a mentality to battle back and perform well in the second half. Riley praised the battle at the line of scrimmage throughout the game.

Players Sound Off on Their Coliseum Experience

But Riley wasn’t the only new Trojan making his Coliseum debut.

Caleb Williams started the game 9-of-9 for 90 yards and two touchdowns. He said the beginning of the day was “solid” for the offense, but things slipped as the game went along. Through three months at USC, it’s clear Williams is going to be able to handle any pressure that comes with playing quarterback for the Trojans.

“I don’t really get nervous,” Williams said of playing a “game” after he dominated college football headlines this offseason. “It was really cool. Hopefully we get to pack it out really soon. It was awesome coming out here and getting in front of a couple fans and having ESPN and all that.

Dye is going to accomplish something very few players can, when he remains a fan-favorite at Oregon and also becomes one at USC. He took his first steps toward that on Saturday. Dye had seven carries, including one he took for 13 yards. He wasn’t used extensively, but it’s clear that he’s regarded as the starter right now and will have a big role this fall.

Dye visited the Coliseum twice to play the Trojans as a member of the Ducks. He had 28 offensive touches for 158 yards and a touchdown against the Trojans. This was his first time in the stadium as a member of the good guys.

“I was getting flashbacks to when I was here before,” Dye said. “But it’s so much nicer being in this jersey. Being in this Coliseum with this type of energy, these type of fans, you can’t match it in college football. [I’m] very blessed and very lucky to be here.”