Almost everyone RShirted in the late 80's.
So when did the decline of talent in Western PA begin.
Maybe I have my dates wrong
It started in the very early 80's when the mills tanked, although it wasn't noticeable until the late 80's. The talent in Western PA. is still as good as ever, but the numbers are well down compared to Major's first run there. Pitt, Penn St., WVU, Ohio St., N.D. and Syracuse used to take Western PA. kids by the truckload. Maryland didn't do shabby there either.
You mentioned Johnny Majors. Major's was a helluva on the fly coach. I remember his second return for one game up there in '94. WVU had them down and out at half They came out in the second half, dropped their pro set offense, emptied the backfield, put five receivers out and started throwing. They came roaring back, taking the lead with under two minutes to play. WVU looked like it was cooked until one of Pitt's DB's broke off coverage to chase the QB who was scrambling for his life, leaving a WVU WR wide open from Pittsburgh to Philly. The QB spotted him and that was the game. It was a wild one.
USC has Hollywood, the nightlife, the warm weather and the beach and they're in the second largest metro region in the country. It's not like you've got to knock OOS recruits in the head to get them to visit? Crappy coaching has been their downfall lately. The machine that was known as USC football will function again when they make a good hire.