USC Doesn't Take UCLA's Bulletin Board Bait

UCLA quarterback Dorian Thompson-Robinson set this rivalry week in motion Monday morning when he spoke to the assembled media. He offered up some bulletin board material for the Trojans, while USC players toned down the rhetoric ahead of Saturday’s massive Crosstown Showdown.

“Obviously, we hate those guys across town,” Thompson-Robinson said. “There’s a bitter feeling with those guys.”

The Bruins didn’t hesitate to bury the Trojans last season. UCLA ran up a 62-33 win, setting the record for the most points ever scored by the Bruins against the Trojans and tying the record for most points scored by any team against USC. The Trojans were 4-5 heading into that game and seemingly hadn’t yet bottomed out. But they sure did that day and UCLA was only too happy to do the honors.

Thompson-Robinson said they want to post an even more lopsided win this Saturday.

“We want to be even better,” Thompson-Robinson said. “We want to break 60 and all that stuff.”

UCLA safety Mo Osling said earlier this week that the Bruins would replicate last year’s blowout win against the Trojans.

When USC players and coaches say they tune out the media, they mean it. None of the Trojans spoken to after practice on Tuesday had heard about the statements from UCLA players the previous days.

This is a huge game for USC safety Calen Bullock, who is a football legend in Pasadena and will be making his first appearance inside the Rose Bowl since his junior year of high school. He said he and the team are focused on what they need to do this Saturday. None of the Trojans went out of their way to predict anything regarding the upcoming game against UCLA. And Bullock was seemingly caught off guard a bit when told about Thompson-Robinson’s prediction of a UCLA offensive onslaught.

“I didn’t know that until you just said it,” Bullock said. “He has his own opinion. We’re going to go out there and execute.”

After a quick pause, Bullock added, “I know that’s not going to happen.”

USC wide receiver Jordan Addison heard about the comments for the first time from the media as well.

“I didn’t see any of that,” he said. “But who wouldn’t want to put 60 up on us? We’re USC. But they’re going to have to stand behind that. He’s going to have to stand on them words.”

Several of the USC players said they could feel a different energy in the locker room early this week. Linebacker Shane Lee got his first taste of things when he saw a statue taped up following a Monday morning meeting. He thought UCLA had gotten to it before being told it was a protective measure taken by USC. Lee said the early part of the week ahead of the rivalry game “has been awesome.” He wasn’t about to take any shots across town though.

It’s always about us and it’s always about what we’re doing,” Lee said. “But you definitely feel the energy.”

It’s clear that a big chunk of Thompson-Robinson’s ire stems from how he feels USC players treated UCLA following the Trojans’ comeback win against the Bruins in 2020.

“Remember it clear as day,” Thompson-Robinson said. “Cussing at us, flipping us off, disrespectful as you can get…We’ve got to go out there and win this game.”

It remains to be seen whether Thompson-Robinson believes signing an autograph mid-game is also categorized as disrespectful.

What’s obvious this year is that the 2022 Trojans are nowhere near the same team as the 2021 Trojans. And it’s USC, not UCLA, that has an opportunity to guarantee themselves a spot in the Pac-12 Championship Game with a win on Saturday evening. It’s tough to imagine USC would need any more motivation that what’s at stake, combined with any memories returning players have from last year’s absolute beat down. And outside noise has not affected the Trojans this season. This USC team is on a mission.

USC offensive lineman and team captain Justin Dedich called the one-year turnaround “unbelievable.”

“I’m so grateful for this opportunity and this staff,” Dedich said. “I’m just excited for this last game and, man, it’d be so cool to play in the Pac-12 [Championship Game].”