“Everyone Comes from Somewhere-Even at USC”

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USC has a new head football coach, the interim coach, nobody really knew, who replaced the fired head coach, and proceeded to go (5-2) in place of Steve Sarkisian.

Clay Helton stepped in and returned leadership to the program, and even ended the losing streak against UCLA. A different breed of guy, lower profile, more business than pleasure.

Surely not a self-annointed brainiac in the lines of Lane Kiffin.

Surely not a dynamic salesman with the constant charisma of say Pete Carroll.

More of a Ted Tollner-Paul Hackett football intelligence and personna, but someone who did better than Hackett, and can match Tollner..

There is howling being directed at AD-Pat Haden. Insinutations he botched the last hire, Sarkisian and his baggage at the University of Washington, so therefore his judgement must be questioned going forward everyday..

Trojan Fan is caught up in yesterday, the great run by Carroll. The tremendous run of John Robinson. And prior to that era of John McKay, though that was decades ago.

The screeching today involves who was out there, who might be available. Chip Kelly of the Eagles, Sean Payton of the Saints, even Nick Saban of Alabama.

There is an attachment to old Trojans too, from Jack Del Rio, to the love affair with Jeff Fisher, or even Ed Ogeron.

USC fans fail to remember, that McKay wasn’t one of them. Neither was Robinson. Both PAC 8-guys from back in the day coming off the Oregon Trail. Pete Carroll was a Pacific guy, with an NFL background of pink-slips.

It is easy to roast Haden right now, but people assume he took the easy, cheap way out. But in the 8-weeks with the sinking of Sarkisian, bet on this. The proud Trojan quarterback-alum-and AD, has been looking at the field. Guys might not be available. Guys might come with baggage. Guys might have unbelievable buyouts. Guys might not want to move from good jobs to take on a new job.

No-one knows how Helton will work out. When Cody Kessler leaves, as well as a few of these other talents right after the bowl games, we’ll really find out how good Helton can be, coaching them up, and recruiting new ones to coach up..

He may not be a big name, but I guarantee you, neither was McKay nor Robinson upon arrival. The one thing he is, is familiar, with the staff and the roster and the program.

Yes, everyone comes from somewhere and Helton has proven himself in the volatile environment he inherited. That fact, plus the fact he already wears Cardinal and Gold, is as good a choice as you can make, especially if Haden tried but failed to convince the other big names he called, that Heritage Hall should be their next mailing address.

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