In this week’s notes column, I give some thoughts on how Clay Helton can handle the departure of Tyson Helton and look at the time legendary Buckeyes coach Woody Hayes brought Ohio State to the Coliseum (above) and got into an altercation after the game.
Wolf: USC’s Clay Helton has chance to shuffle coaching staff
Is that from the ’59 game? My brother and I were there and Ohio St had their all American who was never tackled for a loss,Bob Ferguson…guess what, he was tackled for a loss, and SC pinned a loss on Ohio St and Woody, who after the game shoved a photographers camera back into his face,he was an unhappy pappy
To be quite honest, Tyson Helton’s departure really caught me by surprise. I, along with everybody around here, thought it was going to be Tee Martin before him. I’m just speculating here, but this might be an indication of some sort of internal struggle within the team that was brewing longer than a few weeks.
You think Swann had anything to do with this?
I don’t think he’s the last one who will leave the staff this season
Yeah, it’s certainly a possibility, even though we’ll never know the real story behind the scene.
No, I don’t think so, either. I’m sure we’ll see at least a couple more changes in assistants soon.
We have been posting this website on basically the same issues during the whole season. Why is the team playing the way it has and not improved while others are saying as long as we win, so what. The real issue is this team could have done better if certain things had happened. It was a lost opportunity while having some really good talent to lead the way into the playoff. Most of that talent will probably leave and next year will be a struggle to get back what this years’ team had but didn’t take advantage of it. I don’t think we are anti Helton as much as we are anti Helton’s chosen staff. And the lack of coaching in 2-areas we all agree (O-line & DBs) has prevented this team from truly blossoming. Clay waited too long to hire all his coaches last season and wound up bringing in some who have no business being a USC football coach. I’m hoping Swann leads him into making necessary changes in his staff at least.
The DC has to go
He already missed out on Riley, but then I am just a yahoo who supports the team.
What I don’t understand is there have been how many O line coaches in the last 8 years? How could any school have any consistency with that going on. Not that Connelly is a good O line coach, but I don’t remember anyone being upset when he was hired.
Steveg,, he didn’t miss on Riley. He was never in play. Corvallis is his home and when he was done at Nebraska for good or ill, he was going home. The opportunity to be at OS and work/help a former player was a lucky turn of events. He wasn’t looking for another gig and was ready to enjoy life as a retired ball coach. I live in the NW and have heard & read countless interviews with him. He would have been a great add for USC; but he really wasn’t a legit option.
At this time, NOBODY is in play, as usual.
Riley’s offense is average. I like him but he is better to go back
You are right of course, too many changes doesn’t go well with consistency. But if the linemen are as important as Helton keeps saying they are to having big success, why doesn’t he go out, find a really good position coach and pay him big dollars to keep him? What is so difficult in that? Does it take a rocket scientist to think of it or does Helton think just any old coach in his 70’s will do….
Have you not read the comments on here from all the yahoos about Helton hiring a great staff? Yes he needs to, but with a 3 year contract, with the immediate past of USC do you really think the brand names are going to line up to come here? $$$$ are limited by administration, not Helton.
You make some very good points! I agree with you completely.
Clay Helton has three years left on his contract, which means, he won’t get an extension, unless USC goes to a major bowl next year. So I’m not sure what top assistants would come to SC under those circumstances
In my opinion we got a top assistant with the RB hire last year.
Tyson and Conley are both part of Clay’s coaching tree.Part of his first staff.
With a 21-5 record, talent, exposure and a Pac 12 championship.
I’m sure there are excellent young coaches that would jump at chance to coach OL,DB special teams.
It comes down to Swan and Helton to pull the string.
And who was the driving force behind that RB hire ? Here’s a clue, he played in the NFL.
Most assistant coaches at any college are only given 1-year contracts — not the same contracts as the coach. It is only in special cases that contracts greater than 1 year are awarded.
Who knew?!!!
If we can get a different dB coach, I would want the one from ugly. He used to coach here at USC and his db’s are prepared
There are always internal struggles among assistant coaches, at all levels. Part of the profession, and they try to keep it away from the players and fans and work around it. Lots of staffs get along great, but still at times can rub each other the wrong way pushing for different strategies. Winning generally cures all the ills.
The most viable guess in this case would be that there was a rather deep conflict between Martin and Ty Helton on who was the boss of the offense.
Wondering why would UT take Helton over Martin. Do they know something we don’t? Martin being an alumni and the supposed play caller at USC this is interesting.
I don’t believe hey took Helton over Martin. TM isn’t going to UT on a lateral move from SC…that’s a huge step down. Not a huge TM fan, but I also recognize our offensive stats are pretty darn good. Our problem has been more turnovers and penalties than actual play calling.
I think you’re right and the fact as OC-playcaller in the SEC, you are not going to push the end of the envelop in that conference. And if you notice, that conference hires DC’s for HC jobs. Tee is no dummy.
My guess is both of them were looking to get out, but when one was hired by another school, the other one decided to stay.
There is a chance Tyson was a good coach and that is why he was hired?
Tyson did an excellent job as OC at Western Kentucky
Peter, you found the problem to what has been the lack of coaching going on this year. You look at who Helton brought in as position coaches and a good number of them are from multi-directional programs the big 5 conference schools feed on in non-conference games such as Western Kentucky. You want those coaches handling your 4 & 5-star athletes?
No I don’t. I do think Tyson is a good coach.
I am glad he’s leaving.
What is the pedigree you think qualifies someone to coach 4 and 5 star kids. Is there a qualification process or what are you saying. Coaches move up and take over the 5 stars every year.
Regal Trojan, Tyson Helton’s departure before the Cotton Bowl is played is inexcuseable. It can only hurt the Team. You Woose…..!!!
Woody was a pr!ck
Was Woody Woodpecker over in Wimpwood any better?
He had a pathological personality – he was completely of the rails at the end of his career.
Lol, he was nuts all the time
On the field yes, off the field, very nice man
I loved watching Woody’s buckeyes. He was a huge personality. Unfortunately his temper got the better of him. John McKay took delight in torturing him including a rose bowl game where he signaled the impending touchdown play to the opposite sideline.
Woody’s punching of an opposing player signaled the beginning of an age of less passionate personalities in coaching. The only coach I remotely see Woody in nowadays is at Michigan.
(That’s off the top of my head where hair once grew, I’m sure you guys can think of more)
Saban, Les Miles
I was thinking closer to home such as the Wazzu coach. He either looks as if he’s ready to cry or scream his head off. California coaches are into PBIS positive behavior intervention strategies so if the kids mess up they give them a time out in the reflection room
Woody Hayes, the guy that southern California folks loved to hate.
The McKay taunting of Hayes is a telling episode. Thanks!
McKay signaled to woody that Cunningham was going over the top and wordy threw his hat on the ground and stomped on it because he knew he couldn’t stop. Sure enough Cunningham went flying in over the lines for a Ted. Classic
Now that Riley is off the board I am out of suggestions for OC. If Helton could make Martin assistant HC and qb coach and get a single full time OC that would be great. Is Pendy’s contract up?
Outside of Columbus-OH Hayes was universally disliked and disparaged ‘but’ he was revered by his players and staff as someone who really and truly cared for the guys who played for him.
It was a different era and he, sadly, brought the wrath upon himself for his constant inability to control his reckless temper. All remember that game against Clemson and that poor kid that got whacked by him which was the final end of Woody.
His last great victory was over McKay and USC in the 1969 Rose Bowl – a game that was much closer than most thought at the time. Unlike Schembechler, who never won a ‘nc’ Hayes constantly was in the hunt.
Just as you can’t inflict corporal punishment on students today a coach can’t act as Hayes did. Great coach but a real anachronism in flesh and blood.
He beat SC in the 74 Rose Bowl to end up ranked #2 behind ND, it’s the last time OSU beat USC
Is Helton going to keep that streak alive?
Oregon hires from within, new HC is Mario Cristobal.
Thought Sumlin would at least get a call…. And it seems nobody wants Les Miles????
wolfman, one can imagine your response to a stressed out coach putting his hands on you…i see you calmly applying a submission hold to one of his upper extremities and laying him down gently on the ground.
#WayOfTheMachoLobo
Oregon hires from within, new HC is Mario Cristobal.
Who?
Thats what I said.
I think it is interesting that Wolf speculates something and many people just think that what he says has credibility beyond his speculation. Much about the internal workings of the coaching staff are not known and for Wolf or anybody to say they know what is going on is just silly.
Nick Saban hires head coaches in waiting.