“After weeks of searching the collegiate and pro ranks, interviewing candidates, and speaking with head coaches, athletic directors, NFL executives, and very knowledgeable football people, and after observing Clay in action the past seven weeks, it became abundantly clear that what we were searching for in a coach was right here in front of us”, said Haden.
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Helton stepped out of his verbal comfort zone after USC stunned UCLA, 40-21, when he talked about how the Trojans, an extremely unimpressive 3-3 one game into his tenure as their interim coach, have come “out of the darkness and back into the light”. Sarkisian was sacked in the midst of reports of a drinking problem.
Georgia announced Sunday that Richt, who is 145-51 with the Bulldogs, will not return as coach in 2016 but will guide the team in this season’s bowl game.
Helton led the Trojans to a 5-2 record and a berth in the Pac-12 Championship Game this season. He was not hired because many current and former players voiced their support for him. But it was so long ago that the Trojans have since fired their head coach and already hired his permanent successor. For a look at the history of the short-lived Pac-12 Championship, we have all you need to know. Helton may not be the head coach that USC fans want, but he’s the head coach this USC football program needs.
Banner said a social-media post last week, in which he seemed to indicate he was preparing for his final game at USC, meant only that he and teammates were playing their final game of the year at the Coliseum. “They said, ‘You guys will regret it if you let this one slip away.’ So I’m down for Coach Helton”. “I know Justin has a great plan, and I like where these kids are at, especially with the confidence they gained last week”.
The move and the timing were surprising, but not a total shock.
A good coach is just as important as any player that comes the way of USC, and the university seemed like it finally realized it and made picking the heir-apparent a priority. They want to continue to be right up there as one of conference’s alpha dogs.
Henry’s performance against the Tigers was notable for several single-game, season and career reasons. Stanford entered the game with a 1-1 record and doubts about the road ahead. He has 149.8 per game on the ground this season after topping 200 yards for the third time in four games and the fourth time in sixth games overall.
Smith’s point: Holding McCaffrey to 94 rushing yards and 3.5 yards a carry created openings for quarterback Kevin Hogan to have a big game.
“You’re hoping that you play the team twice”, said Helton, whose team won the Pac-12 South Division.
He’s pretty much a “players-win-games” speaker.
UCLA and Utah are no easy teams to beat, but USC beat them both handily. The two-time Pac-12 All-Academic honorable mention honoree is now enrolled in a Master’s of Sports Law and Business and is on track to graduate in May of 2016.
AIR WATCH: Goff’s 542 yards passing were the most in the country for the week, and his 4,252 yards passing for the season is a Cal school record. Under Leach’s tutelage, Washington State at 8-4 is bowl eligible for just the second time since 2003.
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The Cardinal overcame that early loss to get back in the national playoff chase, only to suffer another setback to Oregon.
