Time for the Weekly Paul Hackett Show

After only 2 1/2 seasons, the hallmarks of a Paul Hackett-coached team are disturbingly clear:

1. The team will peak on opening day.

2. Game strategy will include no Plan B, unless you consider the total abandonment of the running game to play catch-up Plan B. I don’t.

3. The coaching staff will regularly telegraph plays with changes in offensive personnel.

4. Everyone will offer laughable excuses for the defense--”Except for the long touchdowns, big plays and our inability to stop them whenever it mattered, our defense played a pretty solid game.”

5. Indecision on the sidelines will cost the team at least one penalty and two timeouts a game.

6. Through it all, the coach will continue to act and talk as if it’s all someone else’s problem. Unfortunately, next year it may well be.

RICHARD A. FOND

Los Angeles

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I’m all for free speech and welcome the other viewpoint. I was disappointed, though, that not one letter of Trojan support made it into the paper last week. Even more disappointing are the so-called fans who make their way to the Coliseum and boo the Trojans. We expect to be booed at our opponents’ stadiums--but not on our home field.

Let’s do the Trojans a favor--if you can’t support the team at our games and are so disenchanted, stay at home and boo at the television.

EDWARD COREY

Los Angeles

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Hey, let’s lighten up on Paul Hatchett, er, Hackett. I mean, the man was marvelously mediocre as head football coach at Pittsburgh. And, he has been marvelously mediocre as the head honcho at USC. Doesn’t consistency count for anything these days?

LONNIE TEPER

Alhambra

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Watch out college football fans, Carson Palmer might make you forget about Ron Powlus.

PAUL JOHNSON

New Canaan, Conn.

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“Fight On” is out. M-I-C--K-E-Y M-O-USC is more appropriate.

FRED E. STEMRICH

Claremont

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FIery REPublicAns rUn aLlegedly subliminAl advertisemeNts. Did tHey UndErstAND this MIght maKE trouble? did they kNOW? I don’t kNOW! PRESIDENT SAMPLE, is it PossibLE to ASsumE thIs May BE another exaGGeratIoN Gore falselY cOnjUred up?

OLIVER LANG

Los Angeles