Trojan Fans,
It was an unfortunate evening in the Coliseum on Saturday night. While our game against San Jose State hinted at some cracks in the armor, Stanford confirmed what we have known for years. The Trojans had reached their potential under Clay Helton. Early that morning I took a standby flight out of Boston to Los Angeles enthused for a night game in the Coliseum. On the plane I followed the Oregon victory over Ohio State and was genuinely excited about the chance that lay before the Pac-12. Oregon put themselves into the top 4, and with a dominant win over Stanford, USC would stay on track to climb the rankings throughout the season.
From the opening kickoff, I knew my delusions of grandeur were in fact delusional. A kicker targeting call aside, the Coliseum was rocking. We had Stanford squarely on their heels facing a 3rd and 21 right in front of the student section. Just as the volume hit a crescendo, Clay Helton took a timeout and sucked the air out of the stadium. Admittedly, I am an armchair quarterback and maybe there was a big defensive adjustment that needed to be made, but if we can’t shift into a coverage that will stop a 21 yard gain, lord help us. These trends continued throughout as Stanford had their way on both sides of the ball. There was an offensive 3rd and 3 where we earned a delay of game penalty. A 4th down defensive offsides took 3 points off the board for Stanford and resulted in a touchdown play for them. Within each series, players appeared confused about the play calls and the penalties only compounded the issues. You can go find the stats on those yardages if you wish, but the point is that it was ugly.
By the end of the third quarter, fans flooded the exits. I don’t blame them. Peter Arborgast and his team in the booth do a fantastic job so why not tune into the radio broadcast and beat the traffic. USC scored a few points late when the game was out of hand, and well after the starters should have been removed. They trotted off the field under the echoing boos of the few fans left in the stands. The apathy was palpable as we left the coliseum, and fans left wondering just how long we would be subjected to these performances.
The answer, as we would learn Monday afternoon, was not long. Mike Bohn relieved Clay Helton of his duties and appointed Donte Williams as the interim head coach. This marked the end of Clay Helton’s 11-year tenure as a USC staff member, where he combined for 46-24 as head coach. Helton will be remembered well by players, administrators, media, and fans as one of the finest men to hold the job. You will be hard pressed to hear anyone speak negatively of Helton’s character, but unfortunately his position is judged on results. Time and time again, USC seemed to fall short of their potential and ultimately he was not the coach that could take us to an elite level. While I have often been critical of Helton, I wish him and his family great success in all of his future endeavors. I thank him for the wonderful memories he gave us, like the Rose Bowl against Penn State. USC will look different under a new head coach, but it will be a change for the better.
It is too early to speculate on his replacement, so I’ll table that discussion for now. I expect Donte Williams will finish out the season while Bohn and his team comb through candidates for the job. My crystal ball tells me a hire will be made in December or January. One thing is for certain, the reputation of Mike Bohn and the University at large hinges on this hire. Get it right, and USC will return to a packed stadium with a team ready to win a national title. Get it wrong, and USC will continue to fade out of the national conversation.
Mike Bohn has made the right moves to this point, and I trust he has the resources available to him to hire the right coach. Until that day comes, or we are given reason not to, I will devoutly support Coach Williams and his players through the duration of the season.
A new era of Trojan Football begins on the Palouse tomorrow, I can’t wait.
FIGHT ON
The Late Game 
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