FOOTBALL

When Will They Announce Clay Helton’s Fate?

If Carol Folt and Mike Bohn decided they like Clay Helton and want to bring him back, why haven’t they announced it yet?

Will they wait until Monday after the Pac-12 championship game is set? Maybe they just aren’t in a big rush to the meet the tidal wave of negativity that will hit USC if they bring Helton back.

A nice press release, with no questions from the media, will probably do the trick. But an announcement tonight probably would be a good idea since everyone would be out of Heritage Hall on Thursday and Friday.

  • By the way, the Coliseum cost at least $315 million to renovate (I’ve heard the actual figure is higher) and this is what fans stared at all season.
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71 thoughts on “When Will They Announce Clay Helton’s Fate?”

    1. I believe Bohn answered that question when he said he doesn’t “want to interfere with opportunities that MAY exist.” In other words, IF Helton is destined (improbably) to lead our team against Oregon in the Pac 12 Championship, Helton stays in place to coach that game. If things don’t play out that way, he will be allowed to resign “with dignity” the day after Utah beats Colorado.

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      1. Hope you’re right, MG. But let’s entertain this horrifying scenario: “Clay Helton just received a 3-year contract extension in addition to the existing one.” How’s that for a Christmas gift to us?

        Liked by 1 person

      2. RegalTrojan —you’re back! Yea! [I don’t know about Christmas —but you’ve given me a Thanksgiving I’ll never forget]!!
        Note: Norman Mailer wrote about how much Ali’s fans in Zaire were horrified when he’d hit the canvass in sparring and say “Oh, you’ve beaten me George Foreman! You are the greatest!” Norman asked him “why are you doing that? Isn’t it bad luck?” Ali explained that getting bad magic out in the air is the best way to destroy it.
        #IThinkWeAllOweYouADebtOfGratitude…
        #..No3YearExtension,ThanksToRT!

        Liked by 2 people

      3. LMAO…I’m no Muhammad Ali, but yeah, I gave you a little artificial scare for a little Thanksgiving fun. Not sure if it will disperse any dark clouds our football program is still in, however.

        No, I’m not a lunatic to think Helton will be given any kind of contract extension, let alone keeping his job beyond this year, even though I think it’s still a possibility he might be given another year. OH NO!!! PLEASE GOD!! NO!!!

        I’m convinced that we’ve already seen the best of Helton’s coaching. Probably the worst, too, and I think we’ll never escape from playing the Smallville football under him because that’s the limitation of his coaching ability.

        I’m afraid that it might become even more difficult to let Helton go unless it happens in the next few weeks because the program and fanbase will get even more accustomed to mediocrity by this time next year after putting up a similar record or even worse.

        Let’s hope for the best, MG.

        Happy Holidays.

        Liked by 2 people

      4. Sorry for the late reply, RT! (I blame it on my in-laws).
        Hope it’s not too late to wish you a Happy Thanksgiving wherever you are (just 6pm here in Maui)!

        Liked by 2 people

  2. I’m sorry to say that the coliseum is still ghetto. I had the opportunity to travel to South Bend for the ND game 2 years ago and that stadium is clean, bathrooms are modern and clean and the food offered is quality and much more reasonable compared to the coliseum.

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    1. Beg to differ, I have been to South Bend the last 4 USC visits, food is below average, bench seating is terrible. Bathrooms are much better than Coliseum, with lines just as long, if not longer than Coliseum. Regarding the Coliseum, there could be a world rated chef at each food stand, people would still complain about the quality, the price, and the long lines.

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  3. Regarding the coliseum railing pictured above: It was meant to symbolize Pat Haden’s “that’s good enough” philosophy ….
    #CoachBaxterRubsAgainstItBeforeEachGameForLuck….

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      1. gt —Correction: ONE of Haden’s Follies.
        [I wish the Queen of England had banished Pat from polite life after he made his first official announcement as Athletic Director: “I’m joining the drama department as a singer and dancer!”].
        #…WeAllSawSignsOfTrouble

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      1. It WAS on the list —but Haden insists on doing the walk through himself and fixing everything on the list personally…..
        #…For12Million$$

        Liked by 4 people

  5. Wow.

    Talk about a team that makes you want to stop watching sports in general.
    The Cubs and the Red Sox had some fans that went through years of losing.
    This is not the same situation, but it seems as if everything USC does these always makes me shake my head in disbelief.
    What sad university it’s become in sports and with the admissions scandal, and the pervert doctors who think they are untouchable until they get caught. Football. It was the one thing people would say USC won’t mess up with. Now we are in the true hollywood set for a dysfunctional place of learning and sports.

    I’m bummed out.
    Thanks Pat, Lynn, Clay, Clancy, Sark (Let’s party!)!!!!!!!°

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    1. Great post man! Way to break it down with all the scandals going on in Heritage Hall. Hey Folt worry about the integrity of the school before you even mention integrity about it for your next football coach. You hired Bohn to bring USC back to respectability and it’s winning way tradition to the football program. Let him do his job you hired him for. Everything will work itself out once Helton is gone and USC starts winning again.

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      1. I had to smile, tb —every word you typed is true.
        #Don’tOverThinkThisUSC….
        #…&Don’tBeAfraidToWinAgain…HireMeyer
        #[TakeTheHeat,GetItOverWith&Let’sMoveOn]!

        Liked by 2 people

      2. I agree.
        Attendance alone should be enough considering what Clay Helton had to work with from day 1. He had more than enough and even today he has more than enough. Even Petros Papadakis has voiced his dislike to keep Helton. That can only mean Helton has to go. Helton brought in a new DL Coach, a new Offensive Coordinator, a new Secondary Coach, and a new Strength and Conditioning Coach. He foolishly continued on with half of the problem by keeping Clancy Pendergast another season. But he had his shot and lost 4 games. With or without JT Daniels at QB this particular team had enough and should never lose that game at BYU. It was sad but even more embarrassing is that BYU lost a bunch of games after beating us. They have to pull.the plug on this man.

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      3. I’ve been accused of being easy on Helton. And, although I’d like to see him go with dignity, I definitely want him GONE.
        #HeHired&RetainedCallaway
        #HeHired&RetainedBaxter
        #HePlayedToaAtCenter
        #HePickedMaxOverSam
        #HeKeptSteppOnTheBench
        #HePickedJ.T.OverSlovis
        #’NuffSaid?

        Liked by 2 people

  6. I have been in stadiums all over the PAC 12, aluminum seats without backs, cold vendors and rabid hateful fans. The Coliseum used to be home before the Helton era. I knew it was a relic but the team, band and the fans made it home. I grew up going to that building with my parents and when I was old enough they went with me. I plan to return when football returns.

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    1. Years ago they should have blown up the century old LA Coliseum relic that was designed to be a track facility and built a state of the art $1 billion football only stadium with great sight lines like the Rams owner has ended up building in Inglewood. Sadly, Pat Haden and the other clowns in the administration were lazy, stupid, visionless and incompetent. So instead we get the $315 million Haden’s Folly that alienated thousands of loyal Trojans who lost their season ticket location to make room for a boondoggle.

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  7. Im not going to another game until they get rid of Helton. I Havent been to one in 2 years. Because of his lousy coaching and game planning. No discipline football ,special teams playing without any intensity or sense of urgency when they are down in games.

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    1. I also haven’t been to a game in a couple of years.
      I do not want to pay to get irritated. I can get irritated watching from my living room.

      I think all this silence is deafening to sw. After all, he is Mr. Inside and has no news to report.

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      2. Exactly! USC dude that’s what I left out. I rather be irritated at home in my own living room yelling at the TV and Heltons lousy coaching. Then wasting my time and money yelling live and in person. It sucks because I used to go a game every year. Most of them in the Pete Carroll era. Memories!#####!!!!!!!
        Please Fire Helton and higher Urban ASAP so we can all go back to the Colosseum again and dont have worry about what team is going to show up today! Used to be great watching Pete Carrolls teams boat race teams in the 2nd and 3rd quarters.

        Liked by 2 people

    2. I hear you on that. The only games I can manage are away games they are cheaper and my wife likes the road trips. Watching the games on the TV isn’t any easier. I’ve actually cramped my legs watching games when I tense up during a run for short yardage. I know it’s stupid but it’s like an addiction I can’t kick it.

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    3. Trojanbooge: Thank you and I am with you . Hope more will do the same to send a message. It insults our intelligence . Do they think we are a bunch of boobs who will accept anything? So far they have. The new decision makers will have to prove themselves.

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  8. Remember when Lane Kiffen ca,e aboard and everyone was excited to turn the corner? Then Sark….then Clay Helton. Now it’s been a decade plus since the NCAA pile drives USC and made them a running joke (unfairly) of rampant corruption. Now we’re living in mediocrity and if another years happens…it will be the one that broke this camel’s back. I really believe USC lose so much by bringing Clay back. We’re better of asking Coach Harrell to hold the reigns for a year. That said, Bohn cannot be that ignorant, right? I guess we’ll find out.

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  9. Sam-
    Don’t let it happen to you yet, man. Don’t become a grumpy old man; don’t let the bitterness take hold; fight it with all you got.
    Here is a start: No matter how bad the coaching, there is always some good in the football team. The receivers were lights out and could be even better next year. The QB is a keeper and the defense has some talent to work with. No matter what, fight for that silver lining.

    Your Amigo,
    Arturo

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    1. I’ll be honest and say I was beyond pi**ed when they gave Helton the job after the Bruin game. Even Ohio State was smart enough to no just give the gig away to Fickle and mad him audition for one year. I don’t remember ever hearing the negative feedback in recruiting towards USC until now. We really didn’t get any visitors at all this year. They didn’t even waste one if their trips on Helton. We may have CLAY HELTON vs. NICK SABAN again. That blows me away.
      But I’ll get through it somehow Arturo. It won’t be easy but i good👍

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      1. Sorry, if they bring him back we should cancel our season tickets and even if you do not cancel, we should not attend games. We must send a message. We count. And, we should make it known. Too long we have taken whatever they decided. We are the main spokes in this wheel. I am personally sick and tired of being ignored. Fans should have an input. They should do a fan survey and if not, we should protest. We care and things do not move without fan support. There is nothing decent about being ignored. If the majority of the fans feel this is ok, then game over , I will gladly go along. I will accept Helton if the majority of the fans think he is ok. Main point: fans should be a part of this process. Most of us have spent most of our life supporting USC, and some started as kids, and it is no longer proper to be ignored.

        Liked by 2 people

      2. Professur1,
        You make a GREAT argument and i think since Pete Carroll moved on to the NFL and we’ve had this roller coaster of a program this in my opinion is the worst it’s been. This 8-4 season hides everything that Helton has done wrong. It’s an embarrassment that a kid from Upland who is the #1 LB in the country wants no part of USC because of Clay Helton and/or Clancy Pendergast. That’s just one kid. This class is not a USC recruiting class. Other than Slovis being wrongly ranked as a 3* Helton hasn’t matured any of these kids really. Look how he lost both #1 & #2 QB in the nation who are from where? You guessed it Mater Dei and St. John Bosco. This is his backyard. These are the players that are the future stars of college football and the future 1st Round NFL draft picks that do not want to be coached by Helton because they know he will not lead them to the top. But look at the stadium, we took thousands of seats out of the coliseum (92,00 to 76,000) and he still couldn’t put people in them because we’re not stupid and are going to spend money and show up for an undeserving product of a program. And like you said we are being ignored and that’s what really irritates me the most. The 2012 season was a disaster, that still doesnt come close to the last couple of seasons when you look at every area of the USC football team on and off the field that Helton has ruined. I can go on all day. But I am definitely feeling the same way you are and out in my neck of the woods every USC fan wants Helton gone.

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      3. Sam , not only are the USC fans complaining about it, but I hear it from casual fans. They identify the problem as Helton. Is the whole world wrong? I personally will not take it any more . It is downrighjt disrespectful and insulting. If it is true she ,Folt, likes his leadership and that is her criterion for making this decision, then I question her judgement.

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      4. We can only expect the worse given our past track record with football and coaching situations. But we need Utah to handle Colorado tomorrow. Once that game is finished and the Utes are in the Pac 12 hopefully Helton’s 9 lives will have ran out and Bohn will see a potential Pac 12 South Champion become a Alamo/Holiday Bowl team who’s hail mary fell short and we move Helton out.
        🤞🤞🤞🤞🤞🤞🤞🤞🤞🤞🤞🤞🤞🤞🤞🤞🤞🤞🤞🤞🤞

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  10. Helton does not have any more rights than a worker. We all have to produce and if we do not we are told to move on. This criterion should apply to all of us. Why should Helton be an exception. It is about being professional.I understand that he is a nice guy, but I would fire my brother if he did not produce. When we no longer produce we should move on, that includes the person writing this. It is always a tough decision dismissing someone but if you are a good decision maker you do it.

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  11. Here’s the real question for Mike Bohn, Would you go to the Pantages theater to see phantom of the opera if you heard Jim the meth addicted drummer from Union Station was the director? Would you go the Hollywood Bowl to see Sam the plumber and the London Symphony?
    Would have your eyes operated on by the maintenance guy for the clinic?
    If your answer is no to any of the above, then why do you want us to pay full price for amateur coaches? It is really that simple.
    Happy Thanksgiving Trojans may they soon fire the turkey and all of his fixin’s

    Liked by 3 people

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  12. Letter to AD Bohn if they keep Gomer…
    Dear Athletic Director Bohn,
    I want to thank you for keeping Coach Gomer and “improving” my life. Before Gomer was on the scene, USC was the premier football team in the Western US. We rarely lost games so when we did lose, it would eat me up for a week. I would yell at the wife and kids. My blood pressure rose. I couldn’t concentrate on work. Back then I attended every home game and a few road games and would watch the remaining games on TV. Back then my closet was full of USC sweatshirts, t-shirts, etc.

    But now that Coach Gomer is in charge, my Saturdays are free again. I rarely watch games on TV and I never go to the Coliseum. I’ve become the ideal family man as my relationship with my wife and kids is better than ever simply because we lose so often, I simply don’t care anymore. And with the money I have saved by not buying USC gear and tickets to games, the 4 of us spent 2 weeks in Cancun thus reducing my blood pressure further and spending even more quality time with my family.

    So thank you AD Bohn, for continuing to improve my quality of life by prolonging my apathy for all things USC by keeping Gomer as your coach.

    Sincerely,
    Calabasas Trojan

    Liked by 3 people

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    1. I am with you on everything in your letter. The last USC gear purchase made for me was car mats and a steering wheel cover. The only reason my wife bought these items was because they were in a liquidation outlet store where you buy stuff for pennies on the dollar. She didn’t grab any shirts or shoes because I don’t wear the ones I have now unless we’re traveling. I haven’t yet reached apathy yet, but if Helton comes back, it is a real possibility. I would really hate to be a super fan like Giles Pellrin who died at a UCLA game because he hadn’t missed a game in years and wanted to keep a steak alive.

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    2. “Before Gomer was on the scene, USC was the premier football team in the Western US. We rarely lost games so when we did lose, it would eat me up for a week. ” ? You mean before Lame Kiffin the nepotism creation and the Drunk Sark.

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      1. Yeah, I was thinking the same thing, gt. I guess that whole period is now becoming a blur [that we refer to, in shorthand, as “Helton”]….
        #TheHeltonEpoch

        Liked by 3 people

    4. Come on, man!
      The educated elite sycophants on the East Coast blather over Harvard-Yale FB game every Fall.
      #cuzIVYLEAGUEFOOTBALLisexciting!
      #thiscouldbeTROJANFB!

      Liked by 2 people

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    1. So fickle, Pudly! Now you’re hanging out with people who’ve got “real life connections to the Trojan program” instead of us?! Any fool can pick up information that way!
      #WhatWeDoHereTakesSomeImagination!
      #[NextTimeYou’reBackI’llShareSomeTheoriesOnTheMultiverse]

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      3. Calabasas,
        I’ll meet ya at the airport, old buddy —- we’ll head straight to Mama’s Fish House….. [which, come to think of it, is where I wish I were heading today…. instead of a day with the relatives…]
        Happy Thanksgiving!

        Liked by 1 person

      4. Happy Thanksgiving, back at ya, Pudly!
        #FromTheImagineer
        [I’m thinking of doing one of those Disney-style books, “USC Football Imagineering: The Fevered Lives of 67, gt, Calabasas, karma, James, Arturo, Chaz, Dude, 04, Cal75, Pasadena, Sam, Pudly, Michael …and, of course, Owns”]…
        #InBookstores&AmazonNextDecember ..
        #”WithAForward&IntroductionByScottWolf”

        Liked by 4 people

      6. I’ll keep it clean (if verbose).
        #middlenamepumpinsunshine
        #evenmywifecanstandit

        A lot to be thankful. Happy Thanksgiving Trojan fans.

        Liked by 3 people

  16. Dang it guys…you’ve actually got me to feeling empathy for your situation. I never in my wildest dreams thought I’d shed a tear for SC football fanatics.

    #ButJustOneFromMyRightEye
    #HappyThanksgiving

    Liked by 2 people

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    1. They say that’s how much Dean Martin cried when he broke up with Jerry Lewis, Cal75.
      #Jerry,OnTheOtherHand,WeptFor4Days
      #[IThinkYouOweUsTheJerryLewisVersion]…..

      Liked by 1 person

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