The first punch cut through the air unobstructed, so
JuJu Smith-Schuster reared back and launched another.
USC had been stewing since the start of Tuesday’s practice. Much of the energy was productive. But now it was convulsing into hostility.
A gratuitous celebration after a pass breakup had angered Smith-Schuster, USC’s No. 1 receiver. Words were exchanged. Frustration boiled. Smith-Schuster and safety
Ykili Ross began to scuffle, and much of the defense joined.
After taking a few swings, Smith-Schuster and another player locked and hurled themselves at the turf. A third player was tossed nearby.
Smith-Schuster got up, separated himself and then kicked the football toward the simmering scrum. Then he began walking off the field
He marched to the wall of the practice facility and sat there, slumped. Cornerback
Adoree’ Jackson scurried over to settle him down. Coach
Clay Helton and offensive coordinator T
ee Martin talked to him, and Smith-Schuster eventually rejoined the team, though he did not play for the rest of the session.
Here was USC, the rumblings of a 52-6 loss to
Alabama still echoing into the next week.
“We’ve got a mad football team right now,” Helton said. “Wish we could play today, to be honest with you. But it was ultra-competitive out here today, which is a good sign.”
Among the team, opinions split regarding the scuffle’s significance. Offensive tackle
Zach Banner, who’d thrown up his hands when he saw Smith-Schuster walk off the field, said he wished the anger had been directed toward Utah State, USC’s next opponent.
“When you get a lot of anger off of what happened on Saturday, disappointment with ourselves, I think you let emotions fly,” Banner said. “It’s unacceptable. You’re not allowed to do that with your teammates.”
But Banner did say he thought USC “had a great practice.”
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