Trojans and Bruins Lose First as a Team

Although the final score was 27-20, the real difference between Kansas State and USC is far greater. Kansas State is a team. USC, as usual, is a bunch of athletes who want to look good for the scouts. Nowhere was this more evident than in the second half when Kareem Kelly, with his team trailing by 21 points, was seen mugging for the camera and kidding around with defensive back Terence Newman, the same Newman who had humiliated and dominated Kelly for the entire game.

Note to Pete Carroll: I hope you looked across the field and saw how a real head coach in the NCAA operates. Would Bill Snyder have tolerated one of his players mugging and kidding around with an opposing player while his team was 21 points down?

Sadly, athletes like Kareem Kelly are no longer the exception at USC. They are the rule.

No desire. No passion. No heart. Same old SC.

Richard Meese

Garden Grove

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Halfway through watching USC’s embarrassing loss to Kansas State, all I could do was think that perhaps Norm Chow was using Paul Hackett’s playbook. As I live in New York, I did the police scanner thing to see if, in fact, Paul’s playbook had been reported stolen. While I heard nothing, I received concrete evidence on Sunday after the Jets’ loss to the Patriots that Norm Chow was in fact innocent and Paul certainly still had his playbook.

So this begs the question, what was Chow thinking about in that game plan? I was in a bar with about 75 other Trojans and everyone was asking the same thing. This team has too much talent to repeat the folly of past years.

L.R. Bass

New York

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New Las Vegas line on the number of fumbles by Kareem Kelly in any game:

0--pay 10 to 1

1-- bet not accepted

More than 1--pay 1.5 to 1

Tony Liu

Alhambra

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Based on Colorado’s games with USC and UCLA, the Trojans should be 51-point favorites against the Bruins. Anyone interested in a bargain? I will take the Bruins and 40 points.

Skip Burke

Indian Wells

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Tom Lasorda has received much derision on these pages, but it’s Bob Toledo who is killing us these days. We will continue to suffer defeats like last week’s if Toledo doesn’t wise up. Use your stars, Coach! Stop sitting Manuel White with all of his speed, size and skill.

When will L.A. have a coach who knows what he’s doing? Oh yeah, see you in Staples.

Rob Cucher

Los Angeles

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I have followed UCLA football for several years, loving some moments, but in total frustration. How can a team with great individual players end up so mediocre each year? It must be the coach.

A few trick plays per game do not equate to an imaginative, resourceful coach. The team is lackadaisical and uninspired again this year, only earlier in the season. They have never been prepared for strong, tough opponents. We all know where nice guys finish. The team is crying out for a strong, tough coach.

Marshal Backlar

Beverly Hills

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Well, USC and UCLA lost their first games this season, and now the letters from angry, spoiled alumni will pour in demanding that Pete Carroll and Bob Toledo should be fired.

If Oklahoma, Texas, Florida State, etc., played quality schedules like the Trojans and Bruins, they would lose too. Let’s see where all the teams are, come December.

Ralph S. Brax

Lancaster

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So what’s the big deal about the Irish’s “phantom” touchdown [Viewpoint, Sept. 21]? Carlyle Holiday just joined the Charles White “Phantom Club.” But, I suppose the writer was a USC fan.

Charles E. Keen

Encino