The “Mad Dog” tore Paul Finebaum to shreds.
On Wednesday, Chris Russo appeared on ESPN’s “First Take” alongside Finebaum and Harry Douglas, who were discussing USC head coach Lincoln Riley, with the former WFAN host strongly backing the Trojans’ football boss.
Finebaum, though, said he considers Riley and the Trojans to be a “disaster” through his first two years at the helm, with the Trojans posting a 19-8 record in that timeframe, including a 6-0 start in 2023, where USC dropped five of its last six regular-season games.
But Russo believes otherwise, as the 64-year-old vehemently defended Riley.
He started his rant with the fact Riley “didn’t take over a good program,” claiming “they [the Trojans] were terrible.”
Finebaum fired back, claiming that Caleb Williams — the No. 1 pick in the 2024 NFL Draft — wasn’t used to the best of his ability.
“He brought the best player in the country with him; he didn’t really get much out of him,” Finebaum said.
Hearing that, Russo erupted with outrage.
“He won a Heisman Trophy! At a place where they win Heisman Trophies,” Russo yelled.
He listed previous Heisman winners coming from USC, including Marcus Allen, Charles White, O.J. Simpson, Carson Palmer, Matt Leinart and Reggie Bush, before following up with an extended defense about the award’s meaning.
“You talk about a Heisman Trophy at USC, that means everything. … They love Heisman Trophies! And he brought a Heisman Trophy there. That counts! That counts!” Russo exclaimed.
With a puzzled look on his face, Finebaum questioned if Russo’s measure for success was plausible.
But Russo didn’t stop there.
“It’s a much better program than Oklahoma,” Russo said, referencing Riley’s previous head coaching stop before USC. “I’m surprised at you. Go talk about Vanderbilt football.”
Leinart — one of the Heisman trophy winners Russo mentioned — caught the screaming match and took to social media to respond.
He wrote on X, “Listening to Finebaum talk about Usc and Riley makes me want to puke. I see you Doggy!”
USC, now in the Big Ten this year, hopes to get off on a positive note in the new conference without Williams, who is now with the Bears.