No. 15 USC aiming to return to national title conversation
3 years, 4 months ago

No. 15 USC aiming to return to national title conversation

Associated Press  

LOS ANGELES — For the sixth consecutive summer, Clay Helton is back for another shot at restoring Southern California to an annual spot among college football’s national title contenders. “You can be at USC and win every game but one, and if it’s the last one, it’s looked at as a bad season. That’s a special place to be.” There is progress, if fans choose to see it: USC finally moved past the successful Sam Darnold era with eight victories in 2019 and a not-quite-as-impressive-as-it-looks record of 5-1 last year, culminating in a home loss to Oregon in the conference title game. About 16 starters return from last season’s Pac-12 South champions, led by third-year starting quarterback Kedon Slovis with USC’s usual wealth of skill-position talent around him.

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History of this topic

No. 23 USC unveils its revamped defense in Vegas with last season’s embarrassment still stinging
3 months, 3 weeks ago

No. 23 USC unveils its revamped defense in Vegas with last season’s embarrassment still stinging

Associated Press  

The AP Top 25 college football poll is back every week throughout the season! “When you do that, you hold on to stress, sadness, anger.. Last year is not something you forget, but it’s something you learn from and move on, and that’s how we approach this year.” USC was 116th in rushing defense, while crosstown rival UCLA finished second, …

No. 9 USC blocks out bigger goals, focuses on visit from Cal
2 years, 1 month ago

No. 9 USC blocks out bigger goals, focuses on visit from Cal

Associated Press  

The AP Top 25 college football poll is back every week throughout the season! “To be honest, when it’s a program maybe that hasn’t won quite as much as of late, it’s honestly probably a little bit easier right now,” Riley said. “It was probably a little bit tougher at times at the previous spot because we had won so …

College football review: A year ago, USC dumped Clay Helton. Both sides are better off
2 years, 3 months ago

College football review: A year ago, USC dumped Clay Helton. Both sides are better off

LA Times  

A year ago, on this same second Saturday night of the college football season, I sat down to write a column demanding that a very nice man lose his job. When I called for Helton’s job, I never could have predicted USC athletic director Mike Bohn would be able to lure Riley away from Oklahoma, but he is exactly the …

USC set multiple performance benchmarks for Clay Helton. He didn’t make it past No. 1
3 years, 3 months ago

USC set multiple performance benchmarks for Clay Helton. He didn’t make it past No. 1

LA Times  

Stanford’s Kyu Blu Kelly sprints past USC quarterback Kedon Slovis on a interception return for a touchdown during the Trojans’ loss Saturday at the Coliseum. The criteria for the most consequential decision of Mike Bohn’s career was established ahead of the football season, weeks before the disastrous defeat that accelerated the end of Clay Helton’s disappointing tenure as USC’s coach. …

Clay Helton’s USC firing ends a tenure defined by its setbacks and one overriding weakness: accountability
3 years, 3 months ago

Clay Helton’s USC firing ends a tenure defined by its setbacks and one overriding weakness: accountability

New York Times  

LOS ANGELES — At the end of a USC recruiting camp in June 2019, head coach Clay Helton spoke to the camp’s participants and told them USC’s assistant coaches would hang around on the field for 30 minutes afterward so the prospects could talk to them. “When a team is really good, they’re accountable to one another,” said one person …

USC coach history lessons: Who should replace Clay Helton?
3 years, 3 months ago

USC coach history lessons: Who should replace Clay Helton?

LA Times  

USC coach Clay Helton stands on the sideline against Stanford at the Coliseum on Saturday. “World-class coach?” “Most competitive and highest levels of collegiate football?” Those lofty goals should go without saying, but the Trojans’ leading power broker said it anyway. Folt and Bohn need to put aside the fears of past USC administrators who worried that if the football …

Column: USC must remove Clay Helton now to salvage season
3 years, 3 months ago

Column: USC must remove Clay Helton now to salvage season

LA Times  

USC coach Clay Helton looks at the scoreboard in the closing minutes of a 42-28 loss to Stanford at the Coliseum on Saturday night. USC needs to remove Clay Helton right here, right now, no more waiting, no more waffling, no more rationalizing, no more rhapsodizing. USC Sports USC’s Clay Helton urges unity, praises Graham Harrell after Stanford loss With …

Commentary: College football Saturday review: USC coach Clay Helton must go after loss to Stanford
3 years, 3 months ago

Commentary: College football Saturday review: USC coach Clay Helton must go after loss to Stanford

LA Times  

USC head coach Clay Helton watches from the sideline in the closing minutes of the Trojans’ 42-28 loss to Stanford at the Coliseum on Saturday night. The natural pop culture reference is that USC athletic director Mike Bohn has spent much of his short tenure rearranging the deck chairs on the Titanic, but, days before the Trojans’ latest inexplicable embarrassment …

USC AD measured in discussing Clay Helton’s job security
3 years, 4 months ago

USC AD measured in discussing Clay Helton’s job security

Associated Press  

LOS ANGELES — Southern California athletic director Mike Bohn had the chance to defend embattled coach Clay Helton. And all you have to do is watch these young players and the way this recruiting class is really producing for him and us, and we’re encouraged.” Helton has been under pressure practically from the moment he was named the permanent head …

News Analysis: USC’s unfulfilled promise leaves coach Clay Helton’s future in limbo
4 years ago

News Analysis: USC’s unfulfilled promise leaves coach Clay Helton’s future in limbo

LA Times  

USC coach Clay Helton, left, talks to a referee during a win over Arizona in November. When the Trojans fell to 5-7 in 2018, their first finish below-.500 in nearly two decades, Helton explained in a statement that “the best is yet to be.” When USC was humiliated at the Holiday Bowl a year later, the coach promised it was …

Column: This season has been anything but normal. That’s working out well for USC’s Clay Helton
4 years ago

Column: This season has been anything but normal. That’s working out well for USC’s Clay Helton

LA Times  

USC coach Clay Helton is one win away from taking the Trojans to the Pac-12 Conference title game, after their 38-13 win over Washington State on Sunday night. “Impressive win by the Trojans,” USC athletic director Mike Bohn tweeted afterward, apparently ignoring the rushing failures in the flush of the team’s biggest margin of victory this season. USC’s first two …

Will Utah be able to play USC on Saturday? Clay Helton staying optimistic
4 years, 1 month ago

Will Utah be able to play USC on Saturday? Clay Helton staying optimistic

LA Times  

Days after more than two dozen players were put in quarantine, forcing Utah to cancel its game with UCLA, USC coach Clay Helton said Sunday that this week’s scheduled road trip to face the Utes is “trending in the right direction.” Utah has yet to play a game this season because of positive coronavirus cases or contact tracing protocols. Elsewhere …

USC’s Clay Helton remains hopeful about college football restarting this year
4 years, 3 months ago

USC’s Clay Helton remains hopeful about college football restarting this year

LA Times  

USC coach Clay Helton is trying to stay optimistic about the challenges the Pac-12 and college football faces in playing games amid the COVID-19 pandemic. On a Thursday night he otherwise would have finalized his plans for Alabama, Helton was at home watching South Alabama upset Southern Mississippi, soaking in what little college football he could find. “I’m focused on …

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