Pat Haden Tribute

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Pat Haden may have a mixed legacy with USC fans but he was a popular figure with the athletes as this farewell video demonstrated on the eve of graduation.

29 thoughts on “Pat Haden Tribute”

  2. I always say that most movies depict life but with background music to sweeten the deal. I mean, playing “Somewhere over the Rainbow” while the student athletes saluted ol’ Pat was very sentimental.
    And as I have written before, one of my greatest thrills was how Pat pulled out a national championship in the Rose Bowl in the 1975 game (1974 team) in the final minute by getting us 8 points, 18-17.
    And one thing I recall him saying was how much work can be done in a 3-hour period. I weigh that wisdom when tempted to watch a 3-hour football game.
    Thanks Pat. You were truly one of a kind.

  4. Pat Haden has won more football national Championships than UCLA. Case closed.
    #bonggoesthemic

    • I’ll always consider Haden’s tarmac firing of the Kiffer his greatest moment, his inexplicable hiring of Sark his worst. Overall he didn’t do football well.

      But Haden did some great things as the USC AD, especially in women’s sports. He started lacrosse and beach volleyball and both programs became totally nationally dominant in 3-4 years. Truly remarkable.

      It’s not his fault about the NCAA. He may have been severely pollyannish about the NCAA and certainly failed with that corrupt body, but the BOT made all the calls here, because Haden wanted to do the McNair route.

      SC was lucky to have Haden as a student/athlete and AD. It was time for him to go and he’ll do more good in whatever his role is in stewarding the Coliseum through the rebuild.

      The athletes at USC certainly loved and respected him. There’s something to be said for that, over and above his other successes and weaknesses.

  5. obvious by their omission from the video were several key moments:

    slow motion re-play of Padddy Boy running like a maniac onto the field to scream at refs in defense of his inebriated coach, Sark.

    Paddy Boy declaring his “150% support of Kiff” days before ambushing him on the tarmac.

    and finally, Paddy Boy announcing “we support our coaches 100%, until they are not our coaches anymore”!!! (which is a variation of what Henry VIII said about his wives)

    #NowWhat’sGoingOnDownThere??

    • Again, your here and you care so thank you.
      #firstoneatauclasiteturnthelightson

      • make no mistake….the Cadre is here to support the WOLFMAN. you mess with him, you mess with the CADRE.

        #YouWouldn’tLikeUsWhenWe’reAngry

        • Hey Bucket, who said “Coach O, I got your back, and you’ll get equal consideration as the permanent HFBC.”

        • Good to hear your firmly behind a USC graduate. He is part of the USC family. Unfortunately every family has a few blemishes that we prefer to keep in the basement.

  7. Always been a fan of Pat Haden since high school, but sadly I am glad he is stepping down. A change was needed.

    • Why would he start womyn’s lacrosse and not softball? They only play softball at every high school in America.That’s just an example of his inexplicable decisions as AD.

  8. The AD position didn’t go the way Pat Haden would’ve liked it to have gone. I was one of many who thought he should step down. SC just needed a change, but there’s no denying that he’s a personality that athlete’s and people like.

  10. In this video there should have been a thank you from Wolfie. Haden protected him from both Kiffin, and Sarkisian. Kiffin was out for blood with wolffie. He wanted to make his life miserable, and get him to quit or be fired. Haden wouldn’t let Kiffin bully him. Sarkisian also had an intense hatred for wolfie, and the same thing happened again. I don’t realize why wolfie criticizes Haden so much, when he made his life a lot easier.

    • Paddy Boy played it smart…..he recognized wolfman has more power in this town than all of Yesterday U COMBINED.
      THAT’s the only reason he made Kiff get on his hands and knees and APOLOGIZE to the wolfman in front of a chortling nation.

      wolfman also beat Sark like a rented mule. again, his fusillade of brutal posts left Paddy Boy no choice but to fire Sark as well.

      which is why the Cadre is PRAYING Hell-ton listens to us…the smartest thing he will ever do in this life is kiss up to the wolfman. otherwise, sadly, i doubt he lasts the season.

      #It’sLikeThat

  11. Why don’t you talk about the 144 student athletes who got their degrees? Or the crosstown cup victory over the ruins for the 10th time in 15 years. Do something productive and stop being childish for a change.

  12. A loyal trojan. Very popular with the student-athletes. I’m sure he wanted the very best for SC. But let’s be realistic. When it comes to football, he was one of the worst AD’s we ever had.

  13. i was at the athletic graduation ceremony on Thursday. Lots of athletes paid nice tributes to Haden even Julian Jacobs who was not there in person or Jovanovic or Reinhardt to accept their degrees. Darion Clark was present. Enfield looked so somber on the podium, and only Helton said anything with enthusiasm. The one thing about Haden that irritates me is that he keeps saying what great coaches USC has in all sports. Swann a no show which was probably anticipated. Robert Woods finishing his degree, and giving a congratulatory speech a nice gesture to his mom, and future career.

  14. Any other Athletic director would have been fired for the same decisions Pat Haden made at USC. He allowed Kevin O’Neill to continue to run the basketball program into the ground even after a 6 win season. And his biggest buffoonery move in the history of the storied football program, is this disgusting fool —> STEVE SARKISIAN , need I say more. So I’ll just remember Haden as John McKay’s quarterback.

      • Wolfie has always criticized USC for hiring sark over Orgeron! I would love to talk to you about what your daily news colleagues think of you. i once had a discussion with one of your former co-workers, who moved on to better things.

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