USC Football: Why Recent Trojans Negativity Needs To Be Fixed Now

Southern California is sunny, but the sun isn't shining on the USC Trojans right now, and with good reason.

I'm running out of fingers to count the number of mishaps that have befallen the mighty Trojans in the past couple of months.

Let's see:

1. Athletic Director Mike Garrett was fired from USC in July of 2010. Remember, he's the one who hired Pete Carroll, and we all know how much success Carroll had at the helm of USC.
2. Apparently freshman RB Dillon Baxter is suspended for the Trojans' Sept. 2 season opener against the Hawaii Warriors for "violating team rules," which is about as clear an explanation as lake water. This means the Men of Troy won't be able to set him loose on the Warriors. Baxter turned heads and dropped jaws with his performance in USC's 2010 Spring Game.
3. The Tennessee Titans have filed suit against Head Coach Lane Kiffin, stating that he "interfered" with Kennedy Pola, luring him away from the Titans and taking Pola with him to USC.
4. Oh, and those pesky little sanctions that the NCAA threw at USC.

Fantastic.

I'm not getting into whether Pete Carroll, Reggie Bush or Mike Garrett were to blame for the sanctions, as that's a battle I do not wish to entangle myself in. 

But why can't USC just catch a break?

I know this sounds whiny, and there are hordes of people laughing manically at the downtrodden Trojans, but how is all of this happening now?

Couldn't these horrible things have been spread out over a few years?

Of all the problems USC is currently facing, they have a new one that started with the hiring of Lane Kiffin: Distraction.

All of these events have undoubtedly brought an immense amount of distraction to the Trojans. Distraction is never a good thing, especially this close to the start of a new season.

So what's the big deal about the season opener against Hawaii?

Well, nothing much actually.

In 2009, the Warriors went 6-7. Not really a big threat there.

You know how your parents are always telling you the importance of first impressions?

Well, that same concept applies here for the Trojans.

If USC can't get past all of this negativity, and end up losing to Hawaii, it could be a very long 2010 season indeed.That would just further complicate the struggles USC is currently facing, and it would make the possibility of returning to the top that much harder.

So, what should Lane Kiffin and Co. do?

That's a tough question to answer, but it's one that needs to be answered now.

I'm sure up until this point it sounds as if I've lost all faith in the Trojans and have abandoned ship.

I wouldn't say that I've abandoned ship and lost all faith, I would just say that perhaps I've lost some of the luster. You ever seen a sign that has a few letters burned out? You still know what the sign says, but it isn't as bright.

Right now, I'm that sign that has a few letters burned out. I'm that 'Target' sign that reads 'T-R-G-T;' not totally burned out, but not as luminous as it once was.

However, I have faith that Lane Kiffin will pull his team out of the muck and mire that is the negativity, and return USC to its rightful place atop the pile, just give me some time, or at least 'til Sept. 2. 

Fight on.

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