Crowd size didn't matter last Saturday and USC's brass shouldn't have mentioned it

Forgive me while I channel my inner Allen Iverson, but are we talking about crowd size? Not the game, not USC's win over San Jose State, but crowd size. Not the fact that Jayden Maiava was damn near perfect and looks like the next Heisman Trophy winner and future No.1 overall pick with Trojans football on his resume, but crowd size.

We aren't talking about Luke Wafle looking like a teenage wrecking machine along the defensive line or another top freshman, Trent Mosley, taking his first steps toward being the next great Trojans wide receiver. No, that can't possibly be more important than whoever showed up last Saturday to watch USC start its quest for the CFP.

And the sad part is...the blame for this snafu is coming from inside the house.

"We understand the factors that impacted Saturday’s attendance," USC said in a statement obtained by several media outlets. "We have high expectations and a premier home schedule this season, and we know the competitive advantage an electric Coliseum atmosphere can provide our program. We thank our fans who showed up on Saturday and look forward to seeing increased attendance the rest of the season."

USC athletic should not have made a big deal out of a small crowd

Trojans football does not have an attendance problem. They drew almost 68,000 fans each game last season, and they'll draw huge crowds this season. Playing a noon kickoff against a weak opponent in Week Zero was a risky move. Personally, I liked the idea of playing a Week Zero game. There could've been a better opponent than San Jose State, but it is what it is. 

However, a message to the USC brain trust: Don't feed the trolls. Don't feed into the silliness. The crowd wasn't good and everyone got a chuckle out of it. So be it. Sure, Alabama fans can brag about risking heat stroke to watch the Crimson Tide taking on East Carolina at noon this Saturday, but that's because there's nothing else for the townspeople to do in Tuscaloosa once the farmer's market shuts down at 11 a.m.

Was it TV obligations with NBC or did Lincoln Riley wanted to have the maximum amount of time between last Saturday's game and Friday's 6 p.m. kickoff against Fresno State? Whatever the reason USC decided to have a noon kickoff, was the decision they chose to make. It was a hot day and people chose to stay home or go to the beach or do one of the other million things there are to do in a major city like Los Angeles. 

Maybe it looks bad to people who have opinions that don't matter, but let's focus on the important things. Did the Trojans win? Yes. Did they look awesome for three quarters? Yes. That's what matters. If USC keeps winning and keeps looking great doing it, no one's going to care about the crowd size in Week Zero. And when USC comes to their town, they can fill their stadium to the max so all the people can watch the Trojans put a California-sized foot up their behind. 

Add us as a preferred source on Google

Follow