Now for This Week’s ‘Paul Hackett Show’

The condition of the USC football program should come as no surprise to anyone.

Beating Louisiana Tech to end last season does not mean you are back.

Recruiting a top-five freshman class that does not meet your needs does not mean you are back.

Beating three teams (which now have a combined 12-14 record) to open this season does not mean you are back.

Finally, hiring a head coach with a history of player mutiny does not mean you are back.

MATT STEIN

Los Alamitos

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Hackett’s excuses will not only short-circuit this season, they will continue to plague the program. His micro-managing undermines his offensive and defensive coordinators. If Hackett would stop whining to the flagship radio station and take responsibility for his predictable schemes, the last two debacles wouldn’t have happened.

WOODROW BAILEY

Los Angeles

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Last week I tuned in a bit early to witness the latest USC football misadventure. When I noticed that the “pregame” show was a Three Stooges marathon, I was struck by the perfect double feature the station had programmed. What better match for a game featuring a Paul Hackett-coached team?

DAN GRAHAM

Coto De Caza

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With an 0-5 conference record, Hackett has a better chance of getting a reprieve on Texas’ death row than avoiding being fired at season’s end.

DAVID ALLEN TYAU

Pasadena

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I am a proud graduate of USC and a loyal follower of its football team. I make the following observations about this year’s team:

1. It is not prepared emotionally for each game.

2. It can’t make short yardage in critical situations.

3. It can’t make the big play when it counts.

Oh, well, fight on. And please tell T.J. Simers that Dr. Sample has better things to do than to call him about sports.

DENNIS D. RESH

Pasadena

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Contrary to what Dr. Sample might think, I do not believe most of my fellow alums expect to win a national championship every year, but we expect to be the best we can be, given today’s environment. On a regular basis, USC should be competing for the Rose Bowl and national championships, just as Michigan, a highly respected academic school, does.

There are four Pac-10 teams in the top 25 this week. I do not need to state where USC stands.

JIM OLIVER

Anaheim

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Paul Hackett, as John Robinson could so ably tell you, if you have an answering machine, get rid of it.

J. PHILIP SCHEDIWY

Apple Valley

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I was watching a football movie after the USC-Cal game. The coach was exhorting his players in the dressing room before the game. He told them, “Nobody comes to our house and pushes us around.” That might be something for the Trojans to think about before the Washington State game in two weeks. I really miss that kind of college spirit. That works better for me than having the players wondering how many pro scouts are in the stands.

ROBERT H. WILLIAMS

Monterey Park

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I refuse to waste another weekend day of my life watching this Hackett-led USC football team. In fact, the only reason I will show up to the Coliseum, this year, is to hang out with my friends and bad-mouth Hackett and his Least Coast Offense.

I cannot believe how excited he was at halftime when he led his team into the locker room with a two-point lead against that powerhouse team from Berkeley. I never thought I could hate a sports personality as much as I hate Hackett. Maybe he does not deserve this treatment. And maybe he should be given another chance. But the fact remains that his players are in no way, shape or form improving as the year goes on. He is not a teacher as a college coach should be. The ongoing mental mistakes and turnovers are yet another reason why Hackett is just not suited for the coaching ranks.

FRANK J. PEREZ

Los Angeles

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This 2000 Trojan team is a joke--mental mistakes, poor play-calling, untimely penalties, giving up sacks in bunches, special team gaffes, no kicking game and a total lack of discipline. Paul Hackett is destroying this program, like he did at Pitt. He (and Mike Garrett) should resign immediately. I’d take Ted Tollner or Larry Smith over Hackett any day, and that’s not saying much. Give Terry Bowden an offer he can’t refuse.

MICHAEL DAWSON

Rialto

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If you’ve ever seen four cars approaching an intersection from four directions at the same time with no driver understanding the right-of-way rules, then you’ll definitely have no problem recognizing USC football when you see it.

JACK VON BULOW

Temple City