California Dolphin

When Lincoln Riley was hired at USC in 2021, one of his first calls was to Alex Grinch. The defensive coordinator had already helped turn around his Oklahoma defense, and in the process, the two coaches had come to trust each other. Their families got close. So when Riley arrived in L.A., on an early-morning plane that November, Grinch was on the same flight. It turned out to be a rocky ride for Grinch at USC. He lasted less than two seasons and presided over two of the worst defenses in school history. But when the two coaches reunite Saturday at the Coliseum — this time, with Grinch wearing a different shade of red — Riley won’t be thinking about how things ended for him, less than a year ago, at USC. Fight on! Are you a true Trojans fan? Get our Times of Troy newsletter for USC insights, news and much more. You may occasionally receive promotional content from the Los Angeles Times. “It’ll be good to see him,” Riley said. “It’ll certainly be unique, being on opposite sidelines, with all the good times

Braden Fiske remembers the Chicago Bears’ last trip to the Super Bowl. Fiske, a Rams rookie defensive lineman, grew up in Michigan City, Ind., about an hour by car from Soldier Field in Chicago. With family members and friends rooting for the Bears, the then-7-year-old Fiske was enamored by the Indianapolis Colts, who defeated the Bears in Super Bowl XLI in Miami to cap the 2006 season. “I grew up in the Peyton Manning era,” Fiske said, adding. “I have family down in Indianapolis, and I grew up loving that defense. [Retired All-Pro safety] Bob Sanders is still one of my favorite players.” Fiske is looking forward to one day playing against the Colts at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis, but he also is excited to compete for the first time as a pro against the Bears at Soldier Field on Sunday. At least 25 family members and friends are expected to attend the game, Fiske said. They will be rooting for Fiske, but he acknowledged that allegiances only go so far. “That’s Bears country,” he said. Fiske, 24, has made an immediate impact for

Updated on: September 27, 2024 / 6:25 AM EDT / CBS/AP Philippines, China clash could draw in U.S. U.S. could be drawn into clash between Philippines, China as tensions rise | 60 Minutes 13:27 Satellite imagery showed that China’s newest nuclear-powered attack submarine sank alongside a pier while under construction, a U.S. military official confirmed to CBS News on Thursday. The sinking of China’s first Zhou-class submarine represents a setback for Beijing as it continues to build out the world’s largest navy. Beijing has become increasingly assertive in pursuing its claim to virtually the entire South China Sea , which is crucial to international trade. Meanwhile, China faces longtime territorial disputes involving others in the region including Brunei, Malaysia, the Philippines, Taiwan and Vietnam. The United States has sought to strengthen ties to its allies in the region and regularly sails through those waters in operations it says maintains the freedom of navigation for vessels there, angering Beijing. The submarine likely sank between May and June, when satellite images showed cranes that would be necessary to lift it off the bottom of the river, said

Sept. 27, 2024 3:02 AM PT 1 The Rams are riding high with confidence after avoiding a disastrous 0-3 start by coming back to defeat the San Francisco 49ers, 27-24, with a last-second field goal. If he amasses 223 yards passing, Rams quarterback Matthew Stafford will move past Eli Manning into 10th place on the NFL’s career passing yardage list. Stafford is still without injured receivers Cooper Kupp and Puka Nacua, so running back Kyren Williams must have another big performance. Receiver Tutu Atwell is among others who must again step up. Bears quarterback Caleb Williams, the top pick in the 2024 draft, could benefit from the return of receiver Keenan Allen. The Rams defense ranks at or near the bottom of the league statistically in yards surrendered and points, but it made key stops against the 49ers. 2 How to watch and listen to Rams vs. Bears The Rams and Bears will play at 10 a.m. PDT Sunday at Soldier Field in Chicago. The game will air on Fox in Southern California and will be available on YouTube TV with a subscription to NFL

He was the top pick in the NFL draft, a quarterback regarded as a generational talent selected by an NFC North team coming off a losing season. Caleb Williams? No, Matthew Stafford. In 2009, a few months after they finished 0-16, the Detroit Lions selected Stafford No. 1 overall. It took Stafford a few seasons to find his NFL footing. Now — 15-plus NFL seasons later — the Super Bowl champion is pushing to move into the top 10 all time in several passing categories. Williams, the No. 1 pick in the 2024 draft, is three games into his first season with the Chicago Bears. He also is a Stafford admirer, and Sunday at Soldier Field in Chicago, Stafford and the Rams will try to prevent a breakout performance by the former USC star. Williams, the 2022 Heisman Trophy winner, has passed for two touchdowns, with four interceptions, for a team that is 1-2 after a defeat by the Indianapolis Colts. It might not be a spectacular beginning for Williams, 22, but the 36-year-old Stafford indicated that the rookie was just getting started. Caleb Williams

Sept. 27, 2024 3:01 AM PT 1 Two weeks ago, this matchup looked as if it could be an opportunity for the Chargers to make a major divisional statement. Now it’s just about survival. With injuries affecting four key starters and a one-game suspension to star safety Derwin James Jr., the Chargers (2-1) are hoping to at least limp into the off week without adding anyone else to the injury report. Quarterback Justin Herbert will try to tough out a high-ankle sprain behind an offensive line that might be without starting tackles Rashawn Slater (pectoral) and Joe Alt (knee). Outside linebacker Joey Bosa is nursing a hip injury that limited him to just two snaps against the Pittsburgh Steelers. Chiefs tight end Travis Kelce has had a quiet start to the season with eight catches for 69 yards and no touchdowns while the Chiefs (3-0) have struggled to convert in the red zone, but the All-Pro has a history of terrorizing the Chargers. He averaged 105.8 yards receiving in the last eight games against the Chargers, with eight touchdowns. The Chiefs have won five in

Taylor Heinicke is not supposed to be in the spotlight like this. The backup quarterback stood in front of his locker that was full of freshly laundered sweatshirts and spoke to a group of reporters as concerns about starter Justin Herbert’s ankle loomed. After the gaggle dispersed, Heinicke could return to his main task. Heinicke sat down and pulled a tablet onto his lap. Game film was already on the screen. Even in a state of uncertainty with Herbert’s ankle injury, the Chargers quarterback room remains calm, anchored by the backups whose jobs are to stay in the shadows while still being prepared to take center stage. Heinicke and Easton Stick are under no delusions that they can sling the ball like Herbert, but the quarterback trio’s skillsets overlap in one key area. “The most important thing in that room,” Herbert said, “is everyone wants to win.” Chargers quarterback Taylor Heinicke (8) came off the bench to replace an injured Justin Herbert against the Steelers. (Matt Freed / Associated Press) The star quarterback still could play Sunday against the Kansas City Chiefs (1:25 p.m. PDT)

Biscuit was my first rescue dog. I will never forget the way he stretched before a walk, his shake after waking from a nap, the way he fell over effortlessly for a belly rub, the way he raised his paw and pressed it against my leg when he wanted more treats, and most of all, his smile. Before he came into my life, he’d been found abandoned wandering rural back roads in North Carolina, terrified, drastically underweight, his fur coat matted and nonexistent in patches, and his rear legs permanently deformed probably because he’d spent countless hours in a small wire cage. Biscuit was taken to a rescue in Maryland where he received veterinary care and treatment. When my husband and I adopted him, he began emerging from his shell. Over time, a dog that once cowered behind chairs and tables and avoided humans became a true companion, a best friend. With Biscuit as my inspiration, I began a decadelong project documenting the fate of nearly 60 other abandoned dogs. I photographed them prior to their adoption and learned their stories, then did it all

By Sara Cook September 27, 2024 / 6:03 AM EDT / CBS News Harris, Trump campaign in battleground states Harris and Trump campaign through battleground states with six weeks until election 02:43 Rep. Debbie Dingell believes her state will remain competitive until the last vote is counted on Election Day .  “I don’t think we know who’s going to win Michigan yet,” the Michigan Democrat told chief Washington correspondent Major Garrett on “The Takeout” podcast. Dingell said in 2016, she had a sense that Donald Trump would win her state, but that’s not the case this year.  “I don’t think either of the candidates has won Michigan yet,” Dingell said. She noted that during his first run for president, Trump connected with auto workers and union workers.  “He understood their fear and anxiety that their jobs had been shipped overseas,” she recalled. “Our supply chain had totally been shipped overseas.” Much as it was in 2016, “this election is going to be about the economy,” Dingell said. She added the issues that people discuss around their kitchen table — like grocery prices, mortgage and rent