USC president Max Nikias offered a public statement on behalf of Pat Haden this morning.
“As president of USC I am very, very fortunate to have Pat Haden as our Athletic Director – as is the entire Trojan Family. He is a man of true character and integrity, he cares deeply for our student athletes, and he always makes their well-being his highest priority.
“Pat Haden has been doing an outstanding job in leading Trojan Athletics in the past five years and I want to take this opportunity to reiterate my unwavering support for him.
“I look forward to working with Pat Haden as our USC AD for many years to come.”
Will the Board of Trustees be releasing a similar statement for Nikias?
Seriously? When will these guys do whats right for the university by dismissing Haden. This is a joke.
Good! We love Pat.
any 3rd year players on the fence about going pro early just made their decision!
Uh, oh! The dreaded “vote of confidence”. Just like Haden was “110%” behind Kiffin. Before a new coach is hired, look for Haden to announce his retirement.
Stop thinking in anger. So let’s see we get rid of Haden right now, then we need a football coach AND an athletic director over the next 2-3 months?? That’s just not realistic.
Nah, what we need is to get the CFB search, (just go ahead and hire Orgeron if they were smart, it would immediately stay the bleeding but Max Nikias isn’t that smart). And then have have Pat gently set up rumors as we hire our next AD. But Pat is all about Pat now, and his ego. And that is ruinous. He is supposed to be doing the best for the kids and the university that did so much for him. He owes everything to SC.
Maybe Max needs to check himself into rehab with Sark. They’re both in denial.
Jeez Louise:
Pat Haden wasted tens, if not hundreds of thousands of dollars of the University’s money with the sham Korn Ferry search. He spent at least 8 million dollars in buyouts for Sarks and his staff at UW and payouts the Orgeron and Clancy. After Gary Klein and the LAT found ample, readily discoverable evidence of Sark’s drinking and erratic behavior, Haden lied to thje LAT when claiming USC performed due diligence investigating Sark. Either that or he is beyond incompetent. He is the higfhest paid AD in college sports, yet his tenure has seen one embarrassment after another.
And he keeps his job. What do you have to do to get fired?
Jeez, USC is terribly insular and corrupt. I wanna work there.
Georgie….I hate to admit it…but I usually read your LONG posts….every one of them….This one is a little shorter than most, but probably more pointed and direct than anything you’ve ever written….HAMMER….MEETS NAIL…
USC is becoming like ucla was a couple years ago (and in many cases still is): A complete national laughingstock. It is time for a house cleaning. Pat Haden needs to go and Clay Helton is NOT worthy of being the Head Coach at USC. And Nikias, don’t let the door hit you…
I want to smoke whatever Max is smoking.
Why can’t USC take a cue from the University of Michigan. New AD, new coach who is qualified to lead this program?
Competence is overrated.
Was that 150% support or only 100%?
At least we now know where that response came from re: Lane Kiffin.
The Clown show has turned into a 3 ring circus.
I have to hand it to SoCal Athletics even in the entertainment capital of the world, they are the weirdest show going!
SERIOUSLY???? I think I just wet my Maxy Pat laughing at this manifesto.
“I look forward to working with Pat Haden as our USC AD for many years to come.”
First comes the public show of support. Then, it’s good-bye at the airport.
#AvoidTheTarmac
LMAO Terrific!!! And true.
I don’t think Nikias makes this statement without the Board of Trustees feeling the same way. If he did this on his own and the Board feels differently, then he may be out of a job.
Yes, Haden has made mistakes but how many athletic directors have nailed coaching choices. I seem to recall that UCLA went through a ton of basketball coaches after Wooden retired. Same thing at North Carolina after Dean Smith retired too.
Mike Garrett got lucky that PC worked out because after this first year it was a mess.
Alumni like myself need to support our university and stand behind the decision made.
The Dreaded Show Of Support. You know Pat Haden is on the way out now, with the talk about his wife not doing well, etc. Good. Now Whyyyy Are We Waaaiting…
Every Manager and head coach got a 100% vote of confidence from the owner/general manager before they got fired.
Sounds to me like they are not listening to us. I can’t believe that, some of the best minds in college sports are on here. Perhaps we need to quit complaining and just go with it. I can see where Haden got deceived by Sark, and I trust Haden is smart enough not to let it happen again. The university needs at this time to stand unified together in order to save face and move on. Perhaps we need to exercise some patience and let things work out some, then I am sure Nikias will listen to us again.
Yesterday I wanted Haden’s head. Today I want Nikias head. What a freakin joke of an AD and President.
maybe the problem is Max??
If Nikias truly believes this then he should resign as the incompetence obviously starts at the top.
What else could Max say unless he was going to fire Pat.similar to Pats endorsement of Lane Kiffin prior to firing him less than two months earlier.