Photo/Image of Sport-USA Today
Here’s my analysis of the USC coaching search the past two days.
An excerpt: “Players already suggested there is a rift between upperclassmen who feel loyal to Ed Orgeron and younger players who want to see what Steve Sarkisian will do for the program. Offensive tackle Zach Banner, in the pro-Sarkisian camp, said he cannot force players to change their mind.
“I can’t show leadership toward people who don’t want to be led,” Banner said.
Here’s a photo gallery of Tuesday’s events. Click here
Bringing in Vince Lombardi or Knute Rockne might have been a better analogy than “Mother Theresa,” Pat. Also, whether you like it or not, how Sark does will determine your legacy at SC, and you will have a legacy, guaranteed, Pat.
Seems like Coach O got a taste of being an SC head coach and became addicted to the lofty title. So much so, that he was not willing to step back down.
Naturally, the players are going to take to Sark much as when a step-father takes over a family. But Sark has winning charm; now all he has to do is do some winning
And don’t you like the idea of a no-huddle offense, at least some of the time. This is 21st century football. The Trojans don’t have to junk the typewriter, but they better bring in the latest computer.
interesting Step-dad analogy…..in the movies there is always the one kid who loves the new step dad (like Zach) while the other kids are wondering why his suitcase is filled with rusty butcher knives…this has trouble written AAAAAAAALL over it!!!
Sweeeeeet Scoooopin’ wolfman!! you are taking your game to a WHOLE ‘NOTHER level!!!!!
Does that “level” include devils holding pitchforks? …..
It’s understandable to grieve over the loss of Coach O, but the upperclassmen who are causing a “rift” had better grow up in a hurry and get over it……change is inevitable….it’s gonna come….just ask POTUS…..
I hope Sark wins big and wins fast , because if he doesn’t he will feel the heat unlike ever before . Ed Orgeron never used Scholarship reductions as an excuse like Lane Kiffin did after every press conference, and I suggest that Sark not mention it either if things don’t start well for him. I will get a better feel with this hire after I see who brings in as his assistants and what type of class he signs in February .
Why hire Sarkisian to be head coach when he was part of the staff that got USC into NCAA violations ? It is unbelievable how these guys operate in the modern world – like a private country club.
Not a rosy picture is it. Then there’s FGCSUC BB team HC. I hear he’s scheduled to fight in an undercard 5 round bout with another tomato can at a Country Club fight night in BumFuc Montclair.
Fucing lame!
I the land of the blind, one eyed people are Kings or Queens.
Love the new eyepatch
Sarkisian has shown that he is not head coach material and couldn’t produce a winner at Washington. Pete Carroll was consulted about the search. Why ? Didn’t Carroll inflict enough damage on the program already. Pat Haden’s actions show how indecisive he is and really should not be athletic director. Enough of this guy. Get rid of him and hire someone else who is younger and has a better feel for what is happening in the head coaching world nationally. Sarkisian at USC, again ? What a waste of time and money. Haden, Kiffin (150 % support), Pete Carroll (NCAA sanctions and skips town), Sarkisian (Crummy record at Washington). When will USC ever learn to ignore these people ?
The other thing people seem to have let Haden off the hook about: THE SANCTIONS.
Why haven’t we sued the NCAA yet after the obvious inconsistency shown by the wrist slaps on the other programs who had far more severe violations?
If we had our scholarships restored for next season, don’t you think we’d have better options than Sark?
I keep telling you – it’s because Hayden knows SC cheated and that there’s no basis for any lawsuit. Trust him – you don’t want the whole truth coming out in court!
Ok…he cheated (even though Haden wasn’t even AD during the time)
ONE player receiving “benefits” vs. MULTIPLE players such as Miami? Or having the program hide child molestation (Penn St.)? Or hiring a so-called scouting service as an intermediary to funnel University funds (Oregon) ?
Tell me which offense tips the scale more.
Not even you can’t say that there’s a double standard there.
Exactly!…. and why are the NCAA refusing to release their evidence regarding the Todd McNair case?…..
Because they don’t have to. Just like you don’t have to release the poor results of your last psychiatric evaluation. Get it Tpizza.
Because they probably have something to hide….just like you, SUC Face….BTW…your loser (user) activity is STILL set on private!….not only are you a COWARD, but you’re a LIAR, too…..Troll on!
Don’t forget you medication today Tpizza.
Don’t forget your therapy appointment
At least come up with your own material SUC fan. Go the a library and get a book on how to be intelligent. In your case, silence would be your first and best option.
…and intelligent is trolling a rival blog 24/7 where everyone laughs at your lame a$$ posts. Your mom has raised a bad seed
You win. Yawn.
TPizza I’m not sure if my user activity is set to expose or not. I changed the media setting. If that is wrong I’m sure you’ll let me know, like your last post. I’m a coward and a liar etc., etc., etc.
Finish your dinner or no dessert!
You can’t have any pudding if you don’t eat your meat!
LOL!!!!
Sure I can. There’s no double NCAA standard. No sane person walks into a courtroom and mouths-off to the Judge and vows not to cooperate. SUC: a heap big (Key. Johnson head size) university did. MG’s vocal contempt and refusal to cooperate with the NCAA investigation sealed SUC’s sanctions.
Wow. I’m impressed. You actually made an argument with some support!
It goes way beyond your typical “Yo mama” posts.
What’s next? HeySUCs will actually start talking some FOOTBALL???
Yo Mama? That was passé in the late 80’s of the last century. But thanks for kudos.
Doesn’t he play the cello?… BTW….he was born in Paris to Chinese parents…..
Ok, that’s fairly funny.
Thanks…. a major breakthrough….
Thought it was the skin flute!
I am SHOCKED! Haden knew/knows.
LOL. Haden doesn’t sue the NCAA because he is a pansy and is afraid of making waves. Do you know how many sports writers have deemed USC sanctions unfair? ESPECIALLY when they admit it had no bearing on USC play. Trust me – the Trojans still would have won championships and you will still be on your knees crying about the Ruins.
Come on, little troll. Why waste your time being so ignorant? Do you need me to buy you some books?
Trust me, Haden is on thin ice for multiple reasons. USC has a big funding campaign and boosters are pissed about several things, including him refusing to sue.
Is there still pressure on him from boosters? I thought it was swept under the rug (like Benghazi).
Side question: have you heard anything if the Coliseum will look different before next season? Haden brags about how much money was spent since the Coliseum deal was reached, but the only thing I notice are very expensive concession stands.
btw – I’m not a Haden “hater” — I met him while watching a game from one of the suites under the peristyle last year and he chatted with us for a few minutes. However, he needs to be more than just a politician.
And we rarely hear from that other AD across town…..he’s very low profile….
He tastes a lot of wine in Italy.
sure better than what you taste….ouch!
Clever sandbox post.
I think “chatted a few minutes” is the operative point.
Go troll a ruin blog if you need some support or ask bucket for one of his soiled jockstraps
Yawn.
go back to bed, but first change that soiled diaper. The toy might need some new batteries
You remind me of Bill the Cat.
It’s interesting that you the word politician – because that’s exactly what I’ve heard him being described as. I’ve never met him personally, though.
I know that some donors are emailing him and I know there is pressure from the student body (do they really matter, though?). I think everyone is waiting for the court case with the assistant – if the assistant wins, the pressure will be on. Other schools should support USC too since others have been screwed.
I’m in the dark on the Coliseum. I have seen those plans for what it ideally should look like on Google Images (the renderings are gorgeous, though and I really hope it happens but I think it is pure artist fantasy). I thought the people at the Coliseum were complaining about changing it too much? This may be unrelated: USC is focused on the new village and the b-school has been having funding issues for buildings. Maybe Nikias is pressuring for wins before a massive overall of the Col?
Typical SUC fan argument starts with a personal attack “…he(Haden) is a Pansy and afraid of making waves.” You sound like a person who takes people to small claims for nickels and dimes and then appeals if you lose.
It’s ironic that you talk about personal attacks when the majority (and closer to all) of your posts show no real intellectual thought, but instead a bunch of name calling and speculation as to who I am (or am not). Not to mention your posts that show disdain for the Asian community and foreigners. Unfortunate, really as I really don’t think UCLA would take too kindly to their fans being petulant children supporting the ousting of minorities.
I’ll start reading your posts when you provide insight.
The guy is actually bucket….and now you know the rest of the story
The guy has no life, unfortunately. I will continue to ignore his replies until he decides to get out of diapers.
Here’s an insight – “…when the majority (and closer to all)…” smells just bit redundant. Gosh thanks.
What is it that’s missing in your life?
Your absence.
At this point I think Haden would welcome deliverance from his AD’s responsibilities. At SUC, the football team priorities are way out of proportion to their importance of the overall university mission. Lest you forget, less then 1% of SUC student body attends SUC because of the FB teams success or failure.
I’m not 100% thrilled either, but at least take a balanced look at the facts when informing your judgment.
Sark couldn’t produce a winner? He took a program that was 0-12 and showed step function improvement to an 8 win season this year. It’s freaking Washington. As much as SC recruits itself, UW does the opposite. As Pat pointed out, they’ve only had three 8-win seasons in the last 21 years.
Carroll inflicting damage? 3 Heismans, 2 NCs, 7 straight Pac-10 titles, 7 straight top-4 rankings, 4 Rose Bowl wins. He accomplished more in 2002-2005 than all but a few programs have accomplished in their lifetimes. Is that the kind of damage you’re talking about?
There are reasons to be skeptical about the hire, but there are also reasons why it can work. I am also disappointed with Haden for a variety of reasons. However, the real results by which to judge Haden are still in front of us with Sark’s tenure. Everything else Haden has done will pale in comparison to the results produced by Sark.
Don’t forget that we got seriously outcoached against UCLA.
Accurate critical SUC FB analysis from a SUC fan. An outstanding read on SUC: the private university’s Athletic Department’s past and present dubious record of administrative strategic achievement.
Here’s dessert 8===D…enjoy!
zzzzzzzzzz and zzzzzzzzzz’s.
So let’s discuss this rationally, shall we? I get the emotions of the older players, but unless they can let it go, they’re nothing but a detriment to the team. Is SC better off encouraging them to leave now? In normal circumstances, I’d say yes, but with the scholarship limits still impacting the program, who do you even replace them with? Are disgruntled bodies better than no bodies?
Ultimately, the Sark hire was not terrible, but it wasn’t was I expected either. I’m thankful it’s not Sumlin, Petersen or Franklin. I don’t think anyone in the PAC is shaking in their boots today, even though Sark will, I’m sure, do a pretty good (not great) job.
We’d see the same reaction from the players if anyone besides Orgeron was hired. Sark is probably the least disruptive since he may have recruited many of the USC younger players.
Right: Sark will lead as smooth a transition as possible. He recruited some of the players, knows his way around USC, the So Cal high school scene, etc. As for his leadership style, he should only emulate Coach O up to a point: O flopped big time last week.
The sad fact is, CEO got what he had coming and didn’t like the taste!
He will always be remembered as a great Trojan
Let’s look at the big picture – Zach Banner is from the Seattle area and heavily recruited by Sark. The RT position is vacant. Banner is pro-Sark because he wants the starting RT position. Ditto for Max Browne.
The first step Sark needs to make is getting Max Browne groomed as the starting QB. Kessler is an average QB at best and frankly it all starts with the guy getting the snap.
Heavy duty. But I disagree. Sarks first step is to ignore bimbo suc fans like yourself. “It all starts with the guy getting the snap.” What a diaper load. Mikey me boy, it all starts with the center snap. It’s basic football mikey.
No one gives a fuc what your opinion is, you just don’t get it!
What don’t I just get? Subject please, because you just don’t get how to construct a proper, coherent English sentence. ESL classes would improve your syntax immeasurably.
I am sure you would know about diaper loads. Based on the comments you make here, I am sure you are still wearing them. I am sure you are ucla enthusiast, never attended the school, but did go to a JC in San Bernadino and live in a dual wide in Moreno Valley. Congratulations on reaching your life goals. What a stupid PR1CK!
Perhaps Mr. Haden needs to address the players about the fact that they play football for the university. Whoever the coach is at the time will be the best they can put in there, and while they are on scholarship their loyalty is to the school, not necessarily the person. If there is a problem his door needs to be opened to any player.
Haden lost his bearing with players when he backed Kiffin despite the players clearly not liking him (and certainly not performing). From what I have seen, Haden is methodical, but he is not intuitive with people. I thought this was a perfect opportunity for Haden to be hands on and mentor the football team. Instead, he chose to remain on the side – I understand doing this in order to remain levelheaded about the decision, but I think his uncertainty at the press conference was directly related to the player’s reactions. He literally did not see the players in tears coming. If he was in tune, he would have.
Bringing in another technician and offensive football strategist (like Lane Kiffen) is likely to to be problematic if not a failure with this team. What coach Orgeron did might be called morale leadership — he brought in local ministers to pray with his team in a circle (with player’s families) that we all saw on video. He talked “family” not only “performance,” which is a buzz word that Sarkisian seems to like. Sarkisian needs to talk about the role of healer foisted on him. He needs to heal or finds others who can heal the team’s wounds about what has happened to them. Sarkisian is another X’s and O’s guy who needs to work on the Jimmy and Joe’s as well. He might take a lesson of how Orgeron was successful and build on it. Or he can rely on X’s and O’s and “performance” talk that isn’t leadership. The team is looking for morale leadership. This team didn’t want to play for a pure technician. What makes Sarkisian think they will play for him? He needs to show he can lead his players into battle even though out-manned.
Well said. I share many of the same thoughts.
The morale leadership you mentioned was the formula that was needed badly. Kiffin’s emphasis on having such a massive play chart took away the emphasis from the trenches. As much as people complained about his bubble screen calls, it wasn’t the calls themselves that were to blame. The receivers didn’t even attempt a block on many of them.
Also, the fancy no huddle, shotgun stuff is NOT what USC football has been about. We’re able to recruit the superior talent, so our approach has been imposing our will on our opponents with “here it comes — try and stop it.” That would kill the morale of the opponent.
Regarding the UCLA assistant saying it was like “taking a break” — duh? If we went no huddle and didn’t convert on 3rd down, that would just translate into our defense not getting any rest. It cracks me up when reporters like Wolf think they know football.
Shouldn’t Zach get to at least third string before he talks about leading others? If his potential was 1/32 of his mouth, he would probably have started or maybe played this year!
Zach Banner like so many other USC lineman, look like Tarzan but play like Jane, which is why I have always said 4and 5 star ratings don’t mean SQUAT. John Martinez, Kevin Graft , Andre Walker and Defensive lineman Greg Townsend Jr. are all show and no go. They would struggle to make the starting line up at Cal Lutheran .
Yup…it only seems like Max Tuerk has the nasty element about him, but doesn’t seem to possess the strength those you mentioned do.
The Kingsmen went 4-5 in the SCIAC conference this year…they just might have made the team. (My brother played QB for Oxy 🙂
Scott Wolf tweeted that A #USC booster emailed: “All my USC clothing goes in the donation pile tonight. I’m serious. I’m done. The end.” LOL.
Fair weather fan/donor/booster…….let him go….
you mean like the “supportive USC fans/boosters” that booed the team at halftime in 2007 when they weren’t beating Stanford by enough or the half-filled Coliseum crowds in the Paul Hackett era? You can be a fan, but not support an administration unwilling to make a change.
You have no argument from me on that….but if a “fan” wants to donate his USC gear to charity, I wouldn’t lose any sleep over it…..move on
EXACTLY!
move on…yeah that’s pretty much what Pat Haden wants fans to do…don’t pay attention to what’s going on so at least he knows a lot of people will follow no matter what.
Fuc dude, Give Sark a chance before you nail him to the cross!
a .500 coach at Washington…1-2 in bowl games there…AND he was an assistant coach at USC when the sanctions came down. Would you like to continue?
If mediocrity on the playing field or knuckleheaded coaching picks caused a college fan to dump their spiritwear, mine would have been buried under some dusty landfill circa 2001. Real fans are fans for life–they are not conditional fans. Just like marriage: until death do us part. TF and TH understand this.
Somebody has come to his senses. Congratulations.
…and you are still looking for yours…haha!
Hey Zach,
How about you play a snap before you talk about leadership. A new coach doesn’t mean that you’ll get playing time Mr. Banner. You still need to work hard and earn it.
The hire makes sense! for anyone that doesn’t understand that and is upset about the hire because Sark has a past with kiffin… CAN GET OVER IT!.
Now we wait and see if its successful!