According to ESPN, Haden implemented a zero-tolerance policy on alcohol for Sarkisian, and when the coach’s sobriety came into question on Sunday, it was grounds for dismissal.
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When Sarkisian agreed to seek treatment in August after he was clearly drunk during USC’s “Salute to Troy” event, he told media during his first interview that he didn’t have a problem or need treatment.
“In our hiring process, we used a respected national search firm that screened all our candidates, including Steve”, Haden said.
Haden said Tuesday that he has not personally spoken to Sarkisian since Sunday. Haden said Sarkisian knew the expectations for his behavior “and failed to meet them”.
Sarkisian later apologized, but concerns about potential alcohol abuse dating back to his time as head football coach at the University of Washington began to surface. Notre Dame is a great football team and we’re excited to get out there.
USC President C.L. Max Nikias issued a statement October 13 in support of Haden.
Even though it is hard to avoid moving from season-to-season, coach-to-coach, star-player to star-payer, the USC community needs to stick with Steve Sarkisian.
“You can’t keep a head coach as long as I have (coached) when it’s heading in the wrong direction”, Spurrier said. It’s unclear just how mentally sharp they will be based on everything that has taken place over the last 48 hours but I do believe the USC offense at the very least will do their part to make amends for one of their worst efforts in the Sarkisian era.
The 43-year-old Helton’s accent reveals him as no California native, but he has been a rock on the Trojans’ tumultuous coaching staff since his arrival in 2010, when Lane Kiffin hired him as USC’s quarterbacks coach. “Their care and concern for our players and their want-to for them to succeed is staggering and I think they’re doing a tremendous job”.
College football coaches have a lot of responsibility.
“I hope he gets better”, said Danny O’Neil. I’ve been around a few quality men, and I picked up numerous things from each one.
Instead, the Irish are going about business as usual as they prepare for Saturday’s game against a USC program in disarray.
The Gamecocks, though, have struggled at 2-4 overall and are 0-4 in the Southeastern Conference for the first time in Spurrier’s 23 seasons in the SEC. “You can be upset and you can pout and walk around, or you can come back out and get back to work”.
But Notre Dame’s coach isn’t listening to the speculation.
“We love Coach Sark”, Helton said.
But Helton will continue to call plays while serving as the Trojans’ offensive coordinator.
“We’ve been in this situation before”, Helton said. “You have to coach it your own way”. And while settling Sarkisian’s contract could have been a factor, Haden looked at it more as a hand up for someone who needed help.
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“We’re very excited about what the future holds here at USC”, Helton said.
