USC Now mailbag: After the bye week, it’s a mixed bag

Welcome back to the USC Now Friday mailbag.

Questions about the Trojans? Email me at LNThiry@gmail.com and your question could be used in a future mailbag.

Without further ado, here’s what you asked about this week.

Matt Granados and Bill Hokans, @bhokans, ask: When will Josh Shaw come back? What is he doing? Is he allowed in all the facility?

Lindsey: Great questions, Matt and Bill.

USC Coach Steve Sarkisian said there are no new developments with Josh Shaw’s situation. Shaw remains suspended indefinitely.

During the bye week, I spoke with linebacker Hayes Pullard, who said he has spoken to Shaw and sees him in the John McKay Center getting treatment for his injuries.

Shaw also has been seen outside the McKay Center.

It’s been nearly five weeks since Shaw’s incident, and USC is one-quarter of the way through its season, so it will be interesting to see how it unfolds.

Johnny Utah, @Utahfbi9, asks: How does [Coach Steve Sarkisian] justify giving a valuable scholarship to a first-year [kicker]?

Lindsey: The player you are referring to must be Matt Boermeester, the sophomore junior college transfer from Saddleback.

And it’s an interesting question you raise. I thought I had a quick answer – “Because you need a guy who can kick potential game-winning field goals.”

But on second thought, why did he?

Boermeester was a non-recruited player for USC who was awarded a scholarship after he started practice.

If he were a highly recruited kicker, it would make sense for USC to guarantee him a scholarship. However, he chose to walk on and has yet to see action -- and probably won’t unless something goes astray with Andre Heidari.

After watching Boermeester practice for several weeks, and learning this is only his second year kicking, it is easy to see he has a lot of potential and could have earned a scholarship in the future.

Why he received one from the 2015 class is a head-scratcher. Although the fact that he is the son of former UCLA kicker Peter Boermeester, and might have been on the Bruins’ radar after another JC season, could also help explain USC acting preemptively.

Tarik LaCour, @TarikLaCour15, asks: Who will be the starting quarterback in 2016 vs. Alabama: Max Browne or Ricky Town?

Lindsey: My crystal ball says … Max Browne.

Ricky Town has signed a financial-aid agreement with USC and is set to enroll mid-year, but when it comes to recruiting, I don’t count on anything happening until it actually happens. So it remains to be seen whether Town indeed ends up at USC.

Assuming he does, I give Browne the edge here.

Browne will be a fourth-year junior champing at the bit to finally get his shot (That is, if Cody Kessler returns next season and Browne remains his backup).

If Browne doesn’t win the competition against Town in 2016, it means he would be a top-rated recruit who never earned the starting job (Paging Matt Cassel). Browne is a very competitive player, and I don’t see him as a lifetime USC backup. The opportunity to play immediately somewhere else as a graduate transfer also would be an option.

Jonathan Bates, @iampangean, asks: Who do you cheer when USC football plays UW?

Lindsey: Cheer? Didn’t you know? There’s no cheering in the press box!

As some readers might know -- most probably do not -- I graduated from the University of Washington -- hence the question.

Here’s how I approach this subject: I am all about a great story, regardless of who is playing. If that means the Huskies win, great. If that means the Trojans win, that’s great, too. And remember: The best stories often have nothing to do with winning. The bottom line when I’m on the job is the story.

Some might think, “Well, that’s not possible!” But trust me, it is.

A career in sports journalism and broadcast is tough to carve, and it would be silly to not set aside any personal matter (i.e., rooting interests) that could interfere with how you perform your job.

Questions about USC? Email me at LNThiry@gmail.com or tweet @LindseyThiry, and your questions could appear in a future USC Now mailbag.