USC athletic director Pat Haden stepped down from the College Football Playoff selection committee on Friday, the committee announced.
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“I am reluctant to step down, but my doctors advised me to reduce my traveling”, Haden said in a statement that accompanied the announcement by Bill Hancock, executive director of the College Football Playoff. In a released statement, Haden cited USC’s uncertain coaching situation and planned renovations of the Coliseum as reasons for relinquishing his post on the selection committee.
The former USC quarterback (1970-73) was one of the thirteen original members of the first Selection Committee, representing the Pac-12’s interest.
The selection committee is due to release their first round of rankings next Tuesday with meetings planned for the weekend to determine the order.
Haden, who has a pacemaker, returned to work but has been under pressure in the wake of his hiring and firing of football coach Steve Sarkisian. Haden was among the highest-profile of the committee members, at least in terms of his college football profile, but he’s had health concerns over the a year ago, and now the duties and other commitments have become too much. It was a pleasure to serve alongside them.
In an interview with the Daily Trojan earlier this season, Haden said that his role on the committee was to focus primarily on the Atlantic Coast Conference, along with University of Wisconsin Athletic Director Barry Alvarez. The Playoff said it will not immediately replace Haden and operate with 12 for the rest of the season.
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‘We will miss Pat, ‘ Hancock said. During a game previous year against Stanford, Haden went down to the sidelines to confront officials. There are several committee members with West Coast ties that remain: Former Stanford and Washington coach Tyrone Willingham and Stanford professor Condeleezza Rice.
