Pat Haden Gives Interview

SARK.HADENUSC athletic director Pat Haden finally spoke about his handling of Steve Sarkisian tonight on the “Trojans Live” radio show on 710-AM.

“These kinds of decisions and particularly this one was given a lot of thought, a lot of careful thought,” Haden said. “Before the decision was made, I talked to and had conversations with medical professionals, trusted members of my staff, people I’ve known for a long time.

“We developed a confidential plan going forward. Steve has discussed the counseling part of it, which he’s started. I think it’s started off well, at least what he’s told me. Importantly, he’s approached it with an open mind.

“A lot of people are going to disagree with my decision. It happens all the time. But I believe the course of action we chose is in the best interest of USC and Steve Sarkisian. And maybe just as importantly, or more importantly, to our players and their best interest.”

53 thoughts on “Pat Haden Gives Interview

    • When will the Dr. Rachel Maddow of Inside USC apologize for falsely claiming that Bryce Dixon would be rejoining the team?

  1. Such a shame Wolfie, the expert, wasn’t consulted. How was the Blogger for the Trolls ever omitted? I’m great with unpopular decisions. No guts, no glory.

  2. hey Paddy Boy, so tell us what your going to do when a player shows up plowed at the hotel friday night before a road game and he’s causing a scene in the lobby??

    oh, you can’t do anything, cause the kid will say “hey you dint do that to Sark”?????

    what a pickle!!

    • You little gutties don’t need to worry about your cheating coaches. It’s the cops and the prosecutors that got felon bruins in their sites. This is hilarious. I wonder if Robber Adams asked to make a phone call after he was booked?

      • I can hear him. “Can I have the phone back for a sec, I have to call coach. He’s going to be pissed! I hope he doesn’t caress my face, that’s creepy.”

    • What should he do when a player strong arms a cabbie and steals his phone, o’, right that’s Mora’s problem, never mind.

  3. And most obviously in his own best interest since he hired Captain Cutty. What a joke!!!

  4. You know, when I come to this blog, I expect to see anti USC news. I expect to see all the negative USC news. I expect to see the TROLLS loving it. That is all I’ll type.

    • The rest of us expect to see first class objective reporting. Then followed by SC apologists flying off the handle when anything is said that isn’t a positive spin job. Ha! Maybe you could answer one question, how many up downs should Ish have to to avoid a real punishment?

  5. Interesting that the order of importance is USC, Sark and then “maybe just as importantly..” the players. Pat’s words. Baabaa bouie horse tooth j@cka$$

      • A lie of omission… where is this applicable here? You continue to demonstrate strong reactions to anyone who criticizes USC. If you read Haden’s own words, its clear the priorities are USC first (i.e. donation $) and the players after that. The biggest asset of the University is the students who make up the school.

        • No not anyone , I don’t like you. Here’s where it’s applicable, the part of the quote you so conveniently left out, ” or more importantly, to our players and their best interest.”, “more importantly”. You and scooter are cut from the same cloth. You have your agenda and have always had it. You never wanted Sark to be the coach and you grind your ax at every opportunity. Without hesitation you parse quotes to fit your agenda. You’re intellectually dishonest.

          • Hey turd bird… I didn’t parse the sentence. “maybe just as importantly, or more importantly,” means just that “MAYBE” This also discussed third indicating an afterthought. Not sure how I’ve mischaracterized its importance per Pat Haden’s OWN statement? You are nothing but a pro-USC troll. Ever consider that? Ruminate on that for a minute and it might make sense.
            I’ve not called for Sark to resign or be fired. I did post a hypothetical that some of last years play calls and disorganization might be from a coach not giving 100% as an example as how these incidents can reverberate after the fact. In fact, I’ve only asked that he take the time he needs, with USC support, to get help and return to the program.
            For you and others to pretend that this is not a serious incident and place $ before the welfare of the team is not good and will ultimately put USC’s crown jewel at further risk than its already been subjected. My axe to grind here is USC’s non-response and their pursuit of $. Did you hear Sark apologize in his presser “to the donors?” It wouldn’t surprise me if you worked for USC, even in Heritage Hall based on the irrational and angry responses you write.

          • Now who’s angry? You can’t admit you never wanted Sark as coach and now resort to “turd bird”? It’s not a non response, it’s just not the response you wanted. You are who we thought you were. At lest Bucky and the boyz don’t call themselves Trojans.

          • So you’re not denying that you work in Heritage Hall? Interesting…. BTW, I was lukewarm with his hire and thought there were better out there to hire at the time. I’m also not calling for his firing now. I call him 7ark for obvious reasons but will support the team in all regards. However, I’ll exercise my free speech and continue call out the idiots running the asylum as long as they continue to act in a manner that is detrimental to the University and team. Fight On!

          • I didn’t realize you were serious, no I do not work for USC, nor do I represent anyone in Heritage Hall.

          • He obviously is paid by Pat Haden to push the brainless rah rah line. Nobody could be this obtuse on their own.

  6. Whoever is in charge of the PR Department needs to be fired. Once again, another dim whit explanation from the “leader” of the USC Athletic Department. What Sarkisian should have said is that he had too much to drink, used bad judgement, and embarrassed the university and the football program, and that it will not happen again. Then he should have suspended himself for one game. By doing this the whole episode would have been brought to a halt. The story continued because Sarkisian mentioned prescription drugs and treatment, and Haden now mentioning consulting with “medical professionals”, which only opened the door to more speculation. If both of these men would have just manned uo and told the truth, instead of trying to spin this, it would have been better for everyone involved.
    There is an excellent story in the OC Register about Haden not properly handling certain situations in his tenure as USC Athletic Director. The author makes some valid points about some of the decisions Haden has made.

      • My post was on Haden, not so much Sark/Kiffin. Haden is the “leader” of the athletic department.

    • I agree this wasn’t handled well and I don’t understand why Sark ever mentioned his meds. Had he done what you suggested most would have been done with the incident.
      The one game self imposed sanction would have had little effect on the team and would have satisfied those without a ax to grind.
      Anyone who compares this to incidents of drunken violence, drunk driving, or a pattern of alcohol related incidents are just using this incident as an opportunity.

  7. Pat Haden basically said the same thing after he hired Steve Sarkisian—> ” I talked to and had conversations with trusted members of my staff, and people I’ve known for a long time about Sarkisian”…. But guess what ? I guess those trusted staff members failed to mention Sarkisian had drinking issues when he was the head coach at Washington, and that he was allegedly having infidelity issues with his wife, or did Haden choose to ignore it ? Nevertheless, Haden is a fantastic businessman, and Attorney , but without a doubt, he is a weak, gutless athletic administrator. And I’m sure USC can hire a more effective, and experienced Athletic Director for half of the $2.3 million dollar annual salary they are paying Haden.

  8. There you go… ” a lot of people are going to disagree with me…” Why Pat Haden? Because you didn’t do the right thing in some kind of suspension! You simply cannot make exceptions on a conduct rule when it is in the public’s eye. He got buzzed and talked profanity. He made a very poor decision. Not only does it make you look irresponsible of poor judgement also, which now makes the University look stupid, coaches from other football programs have gotten fired for doing exactly what Sarkisian did. Oh I forgot… you hired Sarkisian didn’t you? And people say Haden is an improvement over MG?

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