Clay Helton was asked tonight if he regretted not playing Markese Stepp and Kenan Christon sooner?
“You never know until you throw them out there and see what they are,” Helton says. “Last night we saw a true freshman (Kenan Christon) walk out there and explode.”
You never know when you have the 2019 Gatorade California Boys Track and Field Athlete of the Year, who won state titles in the 100-and-200 meters last spring.
You never know when you have a 230-pound back barreling through the defense.
- Then this on why the reserves flourished: “I credit our coaching staff. This has been an unusual year where the next guy up is really the next guys.”
So the coaches get credit for getting the reserves to produce but not recognizing they are better than the starters?
- Helton said he’s never lost three running backs in a week in his 25-year football career.
- Helton did not have any injury updates and said he would have more information tomorrow, when he doesn’t speak to the media.
InsideUSC with Scott Wolf 
We are lucky to have Helton. He really does make chickens salad out of chicken poop.
LikeLiked by 4 people
Hamburger Helper without the meat and real homemade ketchup. Nothing but the best.
LikeLiked by 1 person
I still wonder how Helton got this job in the first place. Hes a nice guy but he really is in over his head.
LikeLiked by 2 people
Pac 12 Fan — It looks like Helton PROBABLY has the rest of the year to do his thing. IF he wins out and wins a major bowl, a lot of mouths will be shut. If he doesn’t —- well, figure it out. For those who have been criticizing the folks on this blog for being too hard on Helton— please consider the pressure lots of other coaches are under (including our own Coach O) and how they seem to handle it just fine. Stop making excuses for the coach or our record. Let’s just see where we go from here….
#FightOn!
LikeLiked by 3 people
The dope got it because the dope before him was on dope and missed practice because he was stoned … that and the SC administration was in the habit of hiring complete morons at the time
LikeLiked by 6 people
Suckisian- that’s the best summary of how Helton got the job that I’ve ever seen. You nailed it.
LikeLiked by 2 people
Helton’s “never know until you throw them out there” comment is an indirect shot at his own practices.
Isn’t that what practice is for? To know who deserves to start and play?
If he couldn’t figure that out from his own practices then Helton is truly a fool.
#FireHelton-ForNotAllowingHisPracticesToLetHimKnowWhoShouldBeGettingMorePlayingTime
LikeLiked by 6 people
marvienna —Obviously Helton can see the talent of a Sam or a Stepp or a Slovis or a Christon or a Mauga. But he can’t bring himself to do the bold thing and replace a starter. “What if something went wrong?” “Better to play it safe and go with the devil you know!” These are the thoughts of all average coaches (and Helton is probably slightly above that —but you get what I mean). For all the people who marvel over the fact that Helton doesn’t change his line up based on what’s developing each week (as he promised to do —“no position is safe”), LOOK NO FURTHER THAN HOW HELTON HIMSELF GOT THE JOB! Our A. D. took the path of least resistance and went with the guy already in place. The whole Haden/Helton era has been about nothing other then hedging your bets, playing it safe, sitting on the fence, splitting the difference —- it’s part of the USC culture now. And it would take a man a lot more dynamic and creative than Clay to change that.
LikeLiked by 4 people
Helton is dumber than a bag of rocks…..
Says you don’t know what they have till they are out there… What the hell is practices for, to find out who is the best player— OH wait Helton does not do practices–only loves of his life and hugs ( maybe he is gay)!
Then he praises the coaches–not the player. What a turd.
Hoping he gets canned regardless of this years record.
LikeLiked by 3 people
Not sure who is dumber—
Haden for hiring him ( told Wolf he hope he was right) or Helton.
Guess the ole saying ” Peas in a pod “
LikeLiked by 2 people
Wonder who is dumber—
Haden who hired Helton or Helton. Haden supposedly told Wolf ” He hoped he was right hiring Helton”. NO HE WASN’T !
Like the ole saying ” Peas in a Pod “
LikeLike
Correct me if I’m wrong—
Didn’t we get 2 delay of game penalties. While Slovis was waiting for the play ?
Helton was supposed to leave the play calling to Harrell ( Dead Air Raid ).
So who is slower–Helton or Harrell ( who does not know what a run is).
Both are from the South and being slow – That’s why the South lost the Civil War. ” Hey Jessie— ah shit we lost the war “.
LikeLiked by 2 people
Clay Helton is an anathema to College Football, but in a way so is SC.
If one looks back over the last forty years, with the exception of McKays run in the early 70’s, JR’s first 5 years and Pete’s 03-08 years.
SC football was at best average to mediocre the rest of approximately 25 years. Between Howard Jones and McKay it was putrid.
This poor play is systemic at SC and only noticed and complained about by folks how took notice of SC Football during the Carroll Era.
All schools go through this, Nebraska, Oklahoma, tOSU, Michigan and even Alabama “Pre Saban”
Seldom do schools Administrators find a Saban, Meyer or Swinney or Lincoln Riley, I’m sure they try but the odds are against it. But, You at least have to look, or maybe you don’t…have to ask Haden that question.
What makes our current situation untenable is Helton is Administratively and Football Stupid….Pure Stupid !
The fans, Alums and others in the Football World see this lack of talent, but it appears to go unnoticed by the Administration….is it that big an embarrassment for those in charge to admit they made a terrible mistake…evidently so!
Your mileage may vary
LikeLiked by 2 people
🙄 Oh boy, the man can’t evaluate players.
This is why we had Max instead of Darnold starting.
This is why Lobendahn was starting center while he kept making grave errors
This is why JT started ahead of better leaders (who cares if you have high football IQ if you can’t lead the team)
This is why Stepp and Christon were buried in the depth chart
This is why Pittman and Vaughns were behind good but less talented upperclassmen
This is why Houston never got moved to strong safety, a better fit for his body
This is why USC was 5-7 in ’18 and 4-3 in ’19 after dropping three winnable games
This is why Helton will be dismissed as USC opts to go in a different direction from a coach who has failed to step up to the position and shown an uncanny inability to learn on the job.
LikeLike
Urban
Save us from
Clay
LikeLike
Urban Save us from Clay
LikeLike