O/NSO: 2015 New Year's resolutions edition

Greg Katz – WeAreSC.com columnist The Obvious: The clock has sounded for 2015, and it’s time for some cardinal and gold New Year’s resolutions. The Not So Obvious: I resolve to always appreciate and remember the 2014 Trojans for enduring so many positive and negative dramatic moments, yet always retaining the “Fight On” spirit. The Obvious: I resolve to root for the Oregon Ducks of the Pac-12 to defeat Ohio State of the Big Ten in the first College Football Playoff National Championship Game on Jan.12. The Not So Obvious: I resolve not to be too nostalgic in thinking that a Pac-12 and Big Ten matchup in a national championship game should be Ohio State and the Trojans in the Rose Bowl. The Obvious: I resolve to always appreciate not only the greatness of junior All-America defensive lineman Leonard “Big Cat” Williams, but to appreciate what a gentlemen he was with the media and the fans. He truly loved being a USC football player. The Not So Obvious: I resolve not to wonder what Leonard Williams would have been like with a senior season. It’s not too far fetched to believe that had he played his senior season, there might not have been any debate whether No. 94 was the Trojans greatest defensive linemen ever. The Obvious: I resolve to stand up and cheer if quarterback Cody Kessler is the 2015 Heisman Trophy winner. The Not So Obvious: I resolve to appreciate that in any other era, linebacker Hayes Pullard could have been a major cog on any of the Trojans national championship teams. The Obvious: I resolve to believe that freshman DB/WR Adoree’ Jackson will go down as one of the all-time Trojans before his career in cardinal and gold is over. The Not So Obvious: I resolve to believe that freshman WR John “JuJu” Smith will also go down as one of the all-time Trojans before his career in cardinal and gold is over. The Obvious: I resolve not to question the biorhythm logic behind early morning Trojans football practices during the regular season when USC games are generally played in the late afternoon or early evening. The Not So Obvious: I resolve to give coach Steve Sarkisian’s no-huddle offense and shotgun formation another season to show me it can take the Trojans to the promised land of championships. The Obvious: I resolve to never grow tired of listening to the Trojans Marching Band. The Not So Obvious: I resolve to continue to write that the College Football Playoff should be an 8-team bracket and not a 4-team bracket, so help me TCU. The Obvious: I resolve never to ask again if the Trojans offense will ever consistently make use of a fullback. The Not So Obvious: I resolve never to wonder why fullback Soma Vainuku never carried the ball as a tailback. The Obvious: I resolve never to cover my eyes when the Trojans call a bubble screen. The Not So Obvious: I resolve to believe that in starting freshmen offensive linemen Toa Lobendahn, Viane Talamaivao, and Damien Mama, the Trojans O-line should be outstanding in the future no matter who is the next offensive line coach. The Obvious: I resolve to be critical that Levi’s Stadium in Santa Clara is the absolutely wrong place to hold the Pac-12 title game. The Not So Obvious: I resolve to continue to believe that Pac-12 Commissioner Larry Scott should move the conference’s title game to Las Vegas. The Obvious: I resolve to believe that I will never see former All-America tailback Reggie Bush in one of those Dish Network commercials asking if he can go back to college. The No So Obvious: I resolve not to complain about the Trojans early 2015 non-conference schedule that includes home games with Arkansas State and Idaho. The Obvious: I resolve not to believe the rumor that Pac-12 football officials are paid by the penalty flag. The Not So Obvious: I resolve not to be critical of the Trojans special teams coverage as it pertains to kickoffs and punt returns. The Obvious: I resolve to believe that the return from the injury chart of linebacker Jabari Ruffin, defensive tackle Kenny Bigelow, tailback Tre Madden, and offensive tackle Chad Wheeler will help ease the losses from the 2014 roster. The Not So Obvious: I resolve to always remember and appreciate the life story and performance of USC tailback Javorius “Buck” Allen, who should enter the 2015 NFL draft. The Obvious: I resolve not to live in the past and wish the Trojans would run more Student Body Sweeps. The Not So Obvious: I resolve to admit that one of the most underrated players on the 2014 Trojans was junior linebacker Anthony Sarao. The Obvious: I resolve not to stop believing that John McKay is still the greatest USC head football coach ever, and O.J. Simpson is still the Trojans greatest running back ever. The Not So Obvious: I resolve to believe that my hair will go from gray to dark brown by the time any meaningful improvements are made to the Coliseum. The Obvious: I resolve to believe that the Trojans can replace departing defensive lineman J.R. Tavai, but it will be easier said than done. The Not So Obvious: I resolve to believe that the Trojans can replace departing tight end Randall Telfer, but it will be easier said than done. The Obvious: I resolve to remember and respect what a great USC quarterback and student Pat Haden was during his playing days in cardinal and gold. The Not So Obvious: I resolve to appreciate athletic director Pat Haden’s openness and blunt honesty when he says that an 8-win college football season at USC is unacceptable. The Obvious: I resolve not to be obsessed with how much private parking lots charge for Trojans home games. The Not So Obvious: I resolve never leave home for a USC home football game less than three hours before kickoff. The Obvious: I resolve to continue to complain about Thursday night Pac-12 games involving the Trojans - home or away. The Not So Obvious: I resolve to continue to be critical over tinkering with Trojans uniform changes for the sake of recruiting and selling merchandise. The Obvious: I resolve to never miss a USC/UCLA game because it’s so good that it always seems like a first-time experience. The Not So Obvious: I resolve to never miss a USC at Notre Dame game because it’s so good that it always seems like a first-time experience. The Obvious: And finally, I resolve to always wish everybody a Happy New Year! The Not So Obvious: I resolve to always appreciate all the great readers and contributors to WeAreSC.com, now and in the future.