Peristyle Podcast - USC Trojan Football Discussion

Latest Episodes:

USC Triple-Double: Alijah Arenas commits, Courtney Jaco talks women’s hoops' winning streak Jan 31, 2025

Show notes

The USC Triple-Double Podcast -- the Peristyle Podcast's basketball-focused podcast -- returns with co-hosts Shotgun Spratling and Connor Morrissette (aka Mr. Triple Double) breaking down the latest USC hoops action as the Trojan men lose a rivalry game but pick up a five-star commit with some name cache while the Women of Troy continue to win even when short handed.

USC's men's program continues to rise even after suffering a loss to UCLA where free throws and a big dagger three-pointer hampered a Trojans' comeback attempt. Eric Musselman got his first big recruiting win at USC as five-star shooting guard Alijah Arenas, the son of former NBA All-Star Gilbert Arenas, chose the Trojans over his father's alma mater, Arizona.

The No. 4 USC women's basketball team is 19-1 on the season and remains perfect in Big Ten play after pulling away from Minnesota in the fourth quarter to take an 82-69 victory despite an awful first half from JuJu Watkins that she turned around into a 20-point double-double.

USC assistant coach and alum Courtney Jaco joins the show for the first time this season to chat about the Women of Troy's progression, including their improved three-point shooting recently. Jaco also discusses Watkins breaking the record for most three-pointers in one game that Jaco had previously held and the work Watkins has put in to increase her range this offseason. She also talks about what the Trojans are getting in five-star signee and McDonald's All-American Jazzy Davidson.

Shotgun and Connor look at where both Trojan teams stand and then look forward at the upcoming matchups for the men and women. The men have a big opportunity Saturday as they welcome Tom Izzo and No. 7 Michigan State to the Galen Center for the first time before heading to Northwestern. The USC women hit the road, traveling to Iowa where the Hawkeyes will retire Caitlin Clark's number before swinging over to Wisconsin.

Please review, rate and subscribe to the Peristyle Podcast on Apple Podcasts!

Make sure you check out USCFootball.com for complete coverage of this USC Trojans basketball and football teams.

Dedeaux Download: Senior pitcher Caden Aoki, VP of scouting Shooter Hunt preview USC baseball's 2025 season Jan 30, 2025

Show notes

The Dedeaux Download podcast, part of the Peristyle Podcast family of shows, is back with Shotgun Spratling and Jack Smith returning with another episode in our four-part season preview, leading up to the start of the 2025 USC baseball season.

In part two of the season preview series, Prep Baseball vice president of scouting Shooter Hunt joins the show to break down USC's freshman class and what kind of impact the first-year Trojans could have this season. He also discusses the reputation of the USC coaching staff on the recruiting trail and why the Trojans have struggled to consistently lock up big-name talent over the last 15-20 years under previous coaching regimes. Hunt also talks about the impact NIL is having on the college baseball game and the potential impact other changes that could be coming to the sport could have.

After a break, USC senior right-handed pitcher Caden Aoki then joins the Dedeaux Download to chat about the mentality the team has this season after falling just short of making the NCAA tournament each of the last two years. Aoki also discusses his role as a veteran and leader on the team this year and where he's seen the team make strides this offseason. He gives his picks for freshmen pitchers to watch out for and which returners he's seen make the biggest jumps from last year to now.

Aoki also discusses the move to the Big Ten Conference and the extra travel the team will have to face this season and gives his impressions of new pitching coach Sean Allen.

Please review, rate and subscribe to the Peristyle Podcast on Apple Podcasts!

Make sure you check out USCFootball.com for complete coverage of this USC Trojans basketball and football teams.

Composite Two-Star Recruits: USC poaches Notre Dame GM Chad Bowden, hires CB coach Trovon Reed and previewing massive Junior Day Jan 30, 2025

Show notes

The Composite Two-Star Recruits podcast returns for a packed episode to discuss USC hiring Trovon Reed as the CB coach, poaching Notre Dame's GM Chad Bowden and previewing a massive Trojan Junior Day event. Cilantro Boys also talk new offers, Rob Ryan on the road and Annie Hanson stepping down as the recruiting director.

TIME STAMPS:

5:30: Cold Open (USC hires Chad Bowden as General Manager)

34:27: USC Hires UCF's Trovon Reed as Cornerbacks Coach

1:01:19: Previewing USC Junior Day

1:38:30: Local 5-star TE Mark Bowman Reclassifies to 2026

1:43:56: Rob Ryan Hired as Linebackers Coach

1:55:51: Annie Hanson Steps Down as Recruiter Director

1:58:13: National Signing Day Next Week

2:02:26: New Offers

2:10:14: Listeners Questions

Trojans make a major move hiring GM Chad Bowden away from rival Notre Dame Jan 28, 2025

Show notes

In this edition of the Peristyle Podcast hosts Ryan Abraham and Connor Morrissette (aka "Triple Double") are back in studio talking about how the major power move made by athletic director Jen Cohen and head coach Lincoln Riley, hiring away Chad Bowden from Notre Dame to take over as the Trojans new general manager. The Trojans have been looking to hire a GM for a while and with the role being so unique and new, there were certainly challenges to getting the right person to help build and maintain an elite college football roster. Bowden has shown he knows what it takes to win, helping to assemble a Fighting Irish squad that made a run to the national championship and beating an impressive list of programs to get there.

The guys talk about what an impressive hire this is for USC and what sort of impact they think it will make on the Trojans as they head into the 2025 season trying to bounce back after a disappointing first campaign in the Big Ten.

They also talk about new linebackers coach Rob Ryan out on the recruiting trail for USC, Pete Carroll getting the Raiders head coaching job, Penn State hiring DC Jim Knowles away from Ohio State and how some of the players that transferred out of USC fared last season.

CLICK HERE for 30% OFF an annual VIP membership to USCFootball.com!

Please review, rate and subscribe to the Peristyle Podcast on Apple Podcasts!

Thanks to Trader Joe's for sponsoring the Peristyle Podcast!

Make sure you check out USCFootball.com for complete coverage of this USC Trojan football team.

USC Triple-Double: Talia von Oelhoffen talks about finding fit with USC women's hoops Jan 24, 2025

Show notes

The USC Triple-Double Podcast -- the Peristyle Podcast's basketball-focused podcast -- returns with co-hosts Shotgun Spratling and Connor Morrissette (aka Mr. Triple Double) breaking down the Trojan men getting another tough road win defeating Nebraska 78-73 and the Women of Troy claiming another pair of Big Ten road victories winning at Indiana and Purdue.

The No. 4 USC women's basketball team is 18-1 on the season and remains perfect in Big Ten play after shaking off a pair of sluggish starts, using a 12-0 run in the fourth quarter to win 73-66 at Indiana and then a whopping 41-4 run that featured 31 consecutive points at Purdue to overcome an early 14-5 deficit.

Senior guard Talia von Oelhoffen joins the show for the first time to chat about the Women of Troy's progression this season and how she feels like she's fitting in after transferring from Oregon State. She discusses her role on the team as distributor as well as mentor to USC's freshman guards and what it's like playing beside JuJu Watkins. Von Oelhoffen also talks about what her high-profile athlete parents instilled in her growing up and her desires to coach in the future.

Shotgun and Connor look at where both Trojan teams stand and then looks forward at the upcoming matchups for the men and women. The men have a big rivalry game coming up on Monday as they welcome Mick Cronin's UCLA team and former Trojan Kobe Johnson to the Galen Center for Eric Musselman's first iteration of the Crosstown Showdown. The USC women get a much deserved week off since their last game before facing a ranked Minnesota team at home next Thursday.

Please review, rate and subscribe to the Peristyle Podcast on Apple Podcasts!

Make sure you check out USCFootball.com for complete coverage of this USC Trojans basketball and football teams.

Dedeaux Download: USC baseball 2025 season preview + HC Andy Stankiewicz joins to discuss progression of team, stadium Jan 24, 2025

Show notes

The Dedeaux Download podcast, part of the Peristyle Podcast family of shows, returns after a lengthy hiatus as the college baseball season approaches. Shotgun Spratling and Jack Smith are back to break down the latest news and developments around the USC baseball program, including the continued rebuild of Dedeaux Field and the move to the Big Ten Conference, which means the Trojan road warriors will be playing even farther from home this season.

The podcasting duo look at the different angles of a second season on the road and the move to the Big Ten Conference, where the Trojans have been picked anywhere from fourth to 11th in an unofficial poll of other Big Ten coaches. They also look at what USC needs to do to get over the hump to make a regional after being oh so close in each of the first two seasons under head coach Andy Stankiewicz. Shotgun and Jack also take a look back to the 2024 season to assess what went well, where the Trojans are set up for success in 2025 and where they'll have to make improvements with a roster that saw a lot of turnover.

USC head coach Andy Stankiewicz then joins the Dedeaux Download to talk about another season of unique challenges for the Trojans, but one that should come with a little more familiarity than last season when there were adjustments routinely being made on the fly as USC played at Great Park in Orange County and LMU's Page Stadium.

Stankiewicz talks about how the program has to keep progressing forward rather than taking a step back, no matter what challenges they face. He also discusses building a non-conference schedule, the challenges the Big Ten move will present and the hire of experienced pitching coach Sean Allen, who will give the Trojans a little more familiarity when they enter Big Ten play and have to travel east to Michigan, Indiana, Penn State and Minnesota.

Please review, rate and subscribe to the Peristyle Podcast on Apple Podcasts!

Make sure you check out USCFootball.com for complete coverage of this USC Trojans basketball and football teams.

USC solidifies its defensive staff by extending D'Anton Lynn and hiring Rob Ryan Jan 23, 2025

Show notes

In this edition of the Peristyle Podcast hosts Ryan Abraham and Connor Morrissette (aka "Triple Double") are back in studio talking about how the USC Trojan defensive staff has come together, with defensive coordinator D'Anton Lynn sticking around and getting an extension after Penn State made a strong run at him and the hiring of new linebackers coach Rob Ryan, the longtime NFL defensive coordinator. With so many defensive improvements made in 2024, it was extremely important for head coach Lincoln Riley to keep that side of the ball going in the right direction. Losing Lynn, especially to a conference rival, would have been a major setback to the Trojans defensive revival. The guys also give their thoughts on the Ryan hire and how well they think he can replace Matt Entz, who moved on to become the head coach of Fresno State. USC did lose defensive assistant Taylor Mays to Washington and they discuss the significance of that loss.

The portal activity has slowed down significantly with the latest news being defensive back DeCarlos Nicholson getting an extra year of eligibility, entering the portal and then withdrawing his name from the poral.

They also discuss how the USC incoming freshmen performed at the Polynesian Bowl including co-offensive MVP Husan Longstreet and the potential issue on the NIL front where Title IX could require male and female athletes to be compensated similarly, which could take away a significant amount of revenue share resources earmarked for football players.

CLICK HERE for 30% OFF an annual VIP membership to USCFootball.com!

Please review, rate and subscribe to the Peristyle Podcast on Apple Podcasts!

Thanks to Trader Joe's for sponsoring the Peristyle Podcast!

Make sure you check out USCFootball.com for complete coverage of this USC Trojan football team.

Composite Two-Star Recruits: USC adds transfer WR Prince Strachan, DB Bryce Fitzgerald; USC shifting to local recruiting approach? Jan 16, 2025

Show notes

The Composite Two-Star Recruits podcast returns to discuss the latest transfer additions of WR Prince Strachan and DB Bryce Fitzgerald. The Cilantro Boys also talk about new 2026 RB commit Shahn Alston, a potential 2025 official visitor and the beginning of a potential local shift in recruiting.

TIME STAMPS:

0:00: Chris Finally Watches the Godfather

18:47: Cold Open (USC Lands Three Commitments; WR Prince Strachan)

35:32: NC State Safety Bishop Fitzgerald

53:47: Four-star 2026 RB Shahn Alston Commits

1:07:25: Transfer Notes; Emmanuel Pregnon to Oregon

1:25:34: 2025 Recruiting Note Done

1:53:42: USC Finally Shifting to West Coast Emphasis?

2:35:17: Is Hurricane a War Time Consigliere?

USC Triple-Double: Desmond Claude, Willnett Crockett talk big wins for USC men's and women's hoops Jan 15, 2025

Show notes

The USC Triple-Double Podcast -- the Peristyle Podcast's basketball-focused podcast -- returns with co-hosts Shotgun Spratling and Connor Morrissette (aka Mr. Triple Double) breaking down the men's two game Big Ten win streak and the women's 95-73 victory over Penn State.

After discussing the last week in game action, USC women's basketball assistant coach Willnett Crockett joined the hosts to share more about her journey from Narbonne High School to UConn as a player. Crockett also offered her thoughts on what it's like to work with USC's post players and how special it is for her to coach a local program with such high expectations.

On the men's side, the Trojans recorded the program's first ranked road win since 2010 when they took down Illinois 82-72 last Saturday. Desmond Claude exploded for 31 points to clinch the victory.

The Trojans led 70-60 with 5:18 to play after a Claude layup, and USC hung on despite Illinois deploying a relentless press. Claude was the hero, but Wesley Yates III and Rashaun Agee were catalysts for the upset victory too. Yates scored 15 points on 7-of-8 shooting to go along with six rebounds and two beautiful assists. Agee scored 13 points, which included making 3-of-5 triples, and he grabbed eight rebounds, which tied for the team high.

After the Crocket interview, Claude discussed his Illinois performance on the show, and he also broke down his role in USC's 99-89 win over Iowa from Tuesday night.

Please review, rate and subscribe to the Peristyle Podcast on Apple Podcasts!

Make sure you check out USCFootball.com for complete coverage of this USC Trojans basketball and football teams.

Helium Boys Podcast: USC adds WR transfer, listener mailbag and best movies in 2024 Jan 14, 2025

Show notes

Shotgun Spratling and Chris Trevino are backbehind the microphones for another episode of the Helium Boys Podcast, a serious non-serious USC football podcast. The Helium Boys return to talk about the latest developments for USC in the transfer portal, including the loss of stalwart offensive lineman Emmanuel Pregnon along with replacements on the offensive line the Trojans have picked up after Pregnon's departure and the addition of Boise State receiver Prince Strachan.

The episode opens with the Helium Boys staple 'Two-Minute Drill' that features Chris and Shotgun sending their thoughts and condolences along to everyone dealing with struggles, both minuscule and catastrophic, stemming from the fires that have ravaged Los Angeles in the last week. Things get personal as Shotgun also discusses his first trip to the Xfinity Center on the University of Maryland campus where the Women of Troy took down the Terps in a top 10 battle.

Chris and Shotgun then dive into the transfer portal comings and goings, including a long discussion on the offensive line and where the Trojans' depth stands now following the departure of Pregnon and the additions of J'Onre Reed and DJ Wingfield.

After a break, the podcast duo answer your mailbag questions discussing the overall talent level of the current USC roster as well as USC's searches for a linebacker coach and general manager. That leads to a discussion about the addition of inside receivers coach/tight ends coach Chad Savage. There are also questions about the NIL era, where the USC roster is better and worse than last year and where JuJu Watkins stands head and shoulders above others on the basketball court. The Helium Boys also react to the best movie readers saw in 2024.

Please review, rate and subscribe to the Peristyle Podcast on Apple Podcasts!

Make sure you check out USCFootball.com for complete coverage of this USC Trojans football and basketball teams.

Check out The Peristyle Shop where you can order your Helium Boys merchandise to help support the podcasting duo.

Our TOPPODCAST Picks

Follow Us

Stay Connected

Peristyle Podcast – USC Trojan Football Discussion

Related Podcasts

Links

Stay Connected