FOOTBALL

USC Morning Buzz: Holiday Bowl Complaints

Let me start with my story on the USC game for the Sporting News.

“Helton saw the small group of remaining Trojans fans in the stands of SDCCU Stadium and knew what was coming: more boos directed at the embattled coach.” Full story here

Now some observations:

  • USC was loosey goosey in warm-ups.
  • Completely unnecessary celebrating with USC down 42-24 in the fourth quarter.
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  • The USC players didn’t appear too heartbroken over the outcome.

And this is after an entire offseason where the gullible repeated talking points about the new discipline and attitude.

Then Clay Helton makes this moronic remark after the game.

“Bright days are ahead.”

Who is this idiot fooling?

57 thoughts on “USC Morning Buzz: Holiday Bowl Complaints”

  1. LOL… and nobody cares…
    sc chooses not to practice like the other SD Bowl game vs Wisconsin…
    Iowa 6-7th best B10 team out prepares/out coaches/dominates ‘the zero/nothings’ coaching sc.
    Looking fwrd to BAMA slaughter as the lack of decent coaching parade continues.
    Sanity at some point will return and THE REAL SC football program will rise from the ashes…STAY TUNED… always darkest just before the light.

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    2. It was Deja Vu all over again: The Baxter’s Special Teams give up another back breaking kickoff return for a TD just when we had tied it up 14-14 in the 2nd quarter and had momentum.

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      1. gt –Isn’t it cute the way Helton thinks his weaknesses will suddenly turn to strengths in the toughest games? Calloway’s unit will magically transform into a powerhouse against Notre Dame. Baxter’s unit will kill it against Oregon and Iowa. Carr will take it to the house and make up for Iowa’s kickoff return.
        #It’sAFunnyPhilosophy…
        #….[OneThatWould’veGottenHisAssFiredAnywhereElseButUSC]…..

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    3. Carol Folt to Clay this morning: “It’s not that bad, Clay. People will forget.”
      #FoltDecreesUSCReplace”FightOn!”With”Don’tWorry!”

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    4. Tim —At his post game presser, Helton actually answered a question about what’s wrong USC with these words: “Nothing wrong. We’re #22 in the country.”
      #22ndInCountryIsNotGood,Asshole
      #..And,FYI,You’reNot#22Anymore

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      1. that is the world according to Clay. he is a fraud, always has been and always will be. i guess he just kisses the right asses. much like rats, he will probably be at SC longer than we will be able to hang on as fans.

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  2. Is anybody shocked by the outcome of this game? Really? I’m not. This was coming and we ain’t seen the worst yet. This SC football ship is sinking and it’s sinking fast with a head coach that’s far removed from the reality. Can you say “delusional”?

    HOLD ON TIGHT, TROJANS! THE WORST IS YET TO COME!!!

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    1. When Iowa came out in that first series and it looked like the defense was going to hold them and then Hawkeye’s WR Brandon Smith made an amazing catch like he had glue on his fingertips on 3rd and 9 I knew we were in for a long evening. Our defense seemed to give in to the Iowa short passes and pounding run attack after that.

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      1. Good analysis, GT. But the bottom line is our team has no fighting spirit and enough will to win under the coach with a lukewarm character and average coaching skills at best. I think it’s going to be a long time until we get rid of this boring guy in every conceivable way. The guy makes me yawn whenever I see him. I’m sure he does the same to you. lol.

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      2. Well, gt, what defense wouldn’t give up after the initial first down of the ballgame? They were disappointed. They were suffering. We need to cut them some slack —the way Clay and Clancy do.

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      3. i am quite curious to see whether some of the players that actually care about their future enter the transfer portal. they might not want to lose the SC degree, so maybe some of them fake injuries so they dont burn up eligibility and just ride out the degree, and then go grad transfer to another football program. i see alot of apathy starting very soon. pittman was a real leader, but he will be gone. i wonder if amon ra has had enough and will leave.

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  3. If Helton had integrity and respect for USC tradition, he would step aside. But he’s an arrogant fool who would rather loot and sink the ship rather than find safe harbor and a more suitable captain.

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      3. Uhh…Stanford IS in the West…and SC will never be anything like Stanford academically. Never. Unfortunately, we aren’t even better than Stanford in football anymore…
        RIP USC Football.

        Liked by 2 people

      5. Next Up –Just so you know: We use Stanford as a metaphor here, not a place….
        #”Stanford”:AnyInstitutionThatLooksDownOnTheirFootballTeam…
        #…AndUsesTheirBand,TeamName,Etc.ToMockThemselves

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    2. Well, FIRE CLAY HELTON, do not blame Helton, the culprits are FOLT and BOHN. You cannot expect a guy stealing several million a year to be a party to his on dismissal. We have to fire him. Why Folt does not have the good sense or courage to do it is a mystery. Helton is doing what all of the robber barons do, taking money because we let it happen. We are to blame. If we were to live up to our responsibility it would end. So, do not expect him to fire himself. Focus on the real culprits.

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  8. Well it’s really worse than I thoight. There was no reason for hope shown by our amateur coaches. Here is what I saw last night:
    1. The offense looked like tackling dummies
    2. The defense looked like dummies tackling
    3. The running backs looked like an old lady running through a produce department in the local grocery store- Not having any plan running parallel with the counter, then with a flourish, turning up an aisle and running into several people’s carts.
    4. The offensive and defensive linemen reversing roles. The offensive linemen aided tackling in the backfield and the defensive line opened holes in the line for running lanes.
    5. Special teams forgot to join the game at all. They were soundly out coached. Even though the would-be tackler was held by the arm, shoulder pads and jersey, in the back breaking kickoff return, the kick shouldn’t have dropped on the field of play in the first place. They left me wondering how high the ceiling was in that ballroom.
    6. A back-up quarterback who was so rusty he fell apart. When the center pulled a Toa Lohbendown move putting the snap six feet over his head, did he cover it? Did he catch it on a bounce for a play saving run? Nope! He turned back at the line to see if anyone had seen this miscue. Just before he totally destroyed all hope by flicking a pick six I had posted “take a knee we’ll lose less yardage.” I have never felt so right being silly , in my life.
    7. As I posted yesterday, it’s going to be a long 9 months until Helton lays another egg. If I didn’t know any better, I’d say he threw this game to get back at the fans, media and administration for doubting him. But I doubt he’s that smart. (way to go… he’s gonna throw the next game because I doubted him)

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  9. Glad someone else was as amused as I was when Johnson flexed. Fool doesn’t realize individual achievements don’t mean squat when you’re getting your butts handed to you. This is all on CH. No discipline. Yes, we were breathing down their necks and about to catch them when Slovis got knocked out, but what happened to “next man up”?! As good as he is, Kedon is looking a bit like Rosen in terms of being fragile. Your insistence on sticking with the air raid doesn’t help. We need a more balanced attack or defenses won’t hesitate to pressure him on each & every play.

    Clay, you’re making it very difficult for those of us who are calling for calmness, patience and most importantly, acceptance (of the fact you’re not going anywhere yet). CP and JB had better be gone by Monday. FIGHT ON!!

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  10. Conversation between Harrell and Texas coach Herman

    Harrell ” Hey coach, can you feign an interview with me so I can screw USC out of a new contract ? ”

    Herman “Sure, but you’ll have to pay you way here ”

    Harrell ” No problem ”

    Herman ” How much do you think you can get ? ”

    Harrell ” I don’t know, but they don’t seem very bright here, I think I can do pretty well for myself if they think you’re interested in me. ”

    Herman ” Well come on down ! “

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  11. If the business, cinema, or any other schools were hemorrhaging, you damn well know Folt and the BOTs would fix them quickly. But they obviously don’t give a crap about athletics, and particularly the football program. Honestly this needs to burn to the fracking ground. Bama is going to beat the hell out of us. I predict a 40 plus margin of victory, and that might be modest.

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    1. No, they wouldn’t. The university is turning to shit. They’ve survived through it in reputation by becoming SJWU, which will always pleasethe people at USNWR rankings. It’s a rotten, putrid and corrupt place now sadly, and that’s heartbreaking to say about alma mater.

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  13. “Brighter days are ahead.” OK Coach Chamberlain.

    Based on what? Recruiting? Coaching? Discipline? More hugs?

    You gave Fink a hug before he went into the game, and what did that get him?

    If you really love USC – then resign, and take a cut in your contract. You can live comfortable for the rest of your life for $10mil. Give the other $10mil back to the players you love so much so they can help hire a coach that can get them where they want to go.

    It’s about time you put your money where your mouth is.

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    1. Juan4usc, you have wrong target. It is the USC decision makers who are at fault. Let us focus on the problem. It is Carol Folt, not Helton/ the preacher. She could end this now. Also, who is going to give up millions. Helton does who all do, take the money if suckers give it to you. Again, If the people who make decisions are inept, every bum in town will take advantage. It is us, the decision makers and the fans who must rise up. Give up on, however, on the decision makers. They have no backbone and the fans have less. We eat crap and do nothing. They still go to games and the excuse is: support the kids. Well the best thing you can do for the kids is not attend the games. We must send a message. Helton is just doing what many do, game the system. This Glory to GOD statement he uses is to fool us. He is like every other crook. He is a bank robber and we are the willing helpers. And, lastly we as fans are not profiles in courage either. This crap could not continue without our support. Each individual fan should ask the question: What can I do instead of waiting for the rescue squad. Be the rescue squad. And, if you do not know how ask how.

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      1. We cancelled our season seats [8 total] and C&G after 35 years in 2018. Loyalty meant nothing to Ron Orr or those running the eColi. Won’t come back either, unless a quality product is put on the field.

        People give money back all of the time, if it helps their team. I’ve done it at my company.
        Tom Brady does it all of the time – to improve his team – restructuring. Something Helton should consider, if he indeed is as dedicated to the ‘student athletes’ as he often claims.

        SC admin are ‘suckers’ how else would they justify keeping this clown around as HC?

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    1. She will do it if the fans visiubly protest, by writing letters to the times, not going to games . The latter is the most potent. Leaders do what they are forced to do. They are not profiles in courage. Why do you think she left UNC. Because she had no choice nobody there, the board or the students liked her. She was too scared to make a decision. The Swann thing was done because she could get away with it. Think about it is not hard to fire a minority . She did the right thing because she would receive no flack. But, the person , equally guilty is left in place partially because it is a more difficult decision. Folt is the culprit here. Helton continues because she is scared.

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    2. No chance. This is a deliberate policy decision from the BOT led by Caruso and Spielberg to lower USC football to the same importance as the womyn’s cross country team. They expect the fans to gnash their teeth, wear sackcloth and heap ashes on their heads until we accept our new lower status.

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  15. If Slovis doesn’t get hurt, SC wins…end of story…Iowa sucks…did you see some of their dance moves? I mean really… what kind of coaching is that…? No shaking, flexing, posing, mouthing off? Really? I mean, C’mon…the scoreboard may say the Helton’s got killed, 24-49, but if you add style points–they win….and, the smartest play of the game was made by Matt Fink…snap goes over his head, between his fingers, and hits the ground…Fink looks left, looks right, can’t tell if Iowa’s defensive players want the loose ball, want to crush him, or both—remembers he’s only in the game because Slovis got hammered–and does the only logical thing…he bails… and who can blame him…that was clearly the smartest play of the night for sc, and proves once again, what a coaching giant helton is….fight on!

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    1. Ben –The story out there is that Matt wasn’t even taking snaps at practice. Helton didn’t even have a plan for what to do if his shit o-line got Slovis injured. [And it wasn’t just Matt that was asleep in the game —Iowa fumbled a punt and our guys watched until Iowa recovered, our special teams can’t cover a kick without one of our players running into one of our own players, our kicker loses interest in field goals whenever we get behind, etc. etc.]….
      #Forget”FightOn!”……
      #USC’sNewMotto:”What’sTheUse?!”

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      1. I agree MG and after finding Helton’s post game remarks online I have a new gig for him: Captain Obvious Or oblivious?
        Saturday night live could make a killing on his press clippings: “They played better than we did.” “We are hoping Slovis has an elbow sprain” (after having his wing nearly removed by a defensive lineman who took advantage of another whiffed block) I mean the guy in the commercials is awfully scrawny maybe Clay can make some money honestly for a change.

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      2. Dan Weber made a good point in that every time Iowa called a time out their QB’s were on the field throwing the ball, as in getting warmed up just in case, this would never occur to Gomer

        Liked by 3 people

      3. karma — It’s so clear that poor Clay can’t see around the corner. It actually didn’t occur to him that Iowa knew the way to stop the Air Raid was to crush the quarterback (and Drevno makes that easy). Stop and think about it —as soon as the game was in jeopardy (after we scored and recovered an onside kick), Ferentz gave Espenesa “the orders” ….and Slovis was gone….
        #…AndClayStoodOnSidelinesW/MouthWideOpen…..Again….

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  17. We got beat by a much better organization last night and EVERY bit of our dirty laundry was aired out on national TV. Couldn’t protect the QB, couldn’t/wouldn’t run the ball, bad special teams, bad defense, turnovers, terrible tackling and fundamentals…S.O.S. Also, forget about the physical beatdown, Iowa was getting most of their offense from scheme, play-calling, organization, discipline, fundamentals, creativity and execution. It didn’t even matter who had the better players because Iowa’s staff would’ve beaten USC with either roster. That’s what a developmental or teaching program looks like and that’s what a team looks like when the staff knows what to teach and how to teach it. That was a staff that makes good, efficient use of its practice time and gets the most out of its team. That’s what teams from football schools that play in football conferences look like, and none of that is what USC is. USC is a water polo school in a volleyball conference and the seat of West Coast football power (such as it is) is in Eugene Oregon.

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    1. That sums it up, Clay.
      [And the worst part? Helton doesn’t learn from his mistakes –because Haden, Swann, Bohn, etc. didn’t/don’t care and never held/hold him accountable]…
      #IfYouCan’tCoachWorthALick….
      #….VotingAlabama13thNotAGoodIdea…..

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      1. Michael, I don’t expect the CEO to be able to come down on the factory floor and train every employee on every machine and/or process. I don’t think I saw Kirk Ferentz running around and doing a bunch of in-game coaching, but it was clear that there was good coaching up and down that sideline. That was a “program” and they clearly have a program. I’d like to give them our players for the next 8 months, get them back for next season and then spring them on the Pac 12.

        That was a wrestling school showing us what football culture looks. Sometimes it feels like some of the stuff we do is sort of like some elaborate and almost ceremonial martial art, when what is called for is just a straight right hand. We can’t deliver a straight right hand to save our lives and our offense doesn’t even really contemplate it. I love the improvement in offensive numbers, but all things considered, 100 yards rushing is much better than 100 yards passing.

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    2. Well put, Clay.
      I would disagree with you regarding The Dux. While they are the best in the Pac12, they don’t belong in the top 8 or so of CFB. Entire Pac12 sux.
      Of 24 possible Playoff Seedings, the PAC has filled 2. 8%.

      Face it. West Coast sports suck.
      Time to figure out why.
      #footballaintliberal

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      1. Where is the disagreement? The seat of power in the Pac 12 is in Eugene and whether it’s “west” or “Pac 12,” it’s true. The point is that it’s no longer here and we’re in real trouble right now.

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  18. It’s very simple people FU PREZ FOLT (#METOO) AND FU BALLROOM CLAY!!! AND FU BOHN (AINT GIVING NO USC A BONER WITH YOUR FUKED UP DECISIONS) IF ANYTHING YOU HAVE MADE USC LIMP YOU BASTARD!!! FU TO COUNTRY CLUB BOT MEMBERS FOR LETTING IT GET TO THIS POINT!! ANYONE ELSE I FORFET????! PLZ SHARE THOUGHTS!!!

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  20. USC’s excellent players were totally outcoached. The defense and special teams simply looked confused. Sadly, unless a radical change takes place now, USC WILL REMAIN A MEDICORE TEAM. It is not too late for USC’s AD and President to clean house. Winning matters. Helton and his staff are embarrassments. Helton looked like a deer in the headlights.
    James Wulfsberg
    Class of 66′
    Proud USC ASSOCIATE

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  21. Doc said i need to vent more. This morn im feeling lazy with a dash of residual anger. Figured a repost of a prior post was permissible. The copy/paste job:

    Fu*kin’ embarrassing. 3, as in 1, then 2, then 3. 3 times in a row, on national tv, iowa went deliverence on the university of southern california,

    3 times in a mothereffin row iowa’s center bitch slaps trojan d-linemen while the qb is makin himself a fuckin artisan sandwich en route to the ol’ one inch line. Anyone, and i mean anyone, who doesnt know a nasty disposition starts on a fuckin football team when the defensive line maintains a nasty disposition should not be earning one more mother lovin dime of usc money midnight tonight forward. Hey Clay! Clay!! Hey guess what dumbass? Uhh, you got this one wrong bud. turns out it ain’t a good idea to let tufale, et al, aka “the bigboys”, have a 5wk headstart on vacation cause your highgloss cranium hasn’t picked up on the fact that tackling motherfuckers plays a really big part in the games outcome. i know you got a lot goin on up there so ill connect the dot for ya: dlinemen should be the tone setters for the entire team period. as such they’re at their best when they get to maul some unfortunate 2nd team guy at least a couple times a week. They love that shit. Rest of team follows suit. The dude who got mauled loves it cause he earns respect, learns technique, gets fuckin nasty. Once they start chillin it’s adios fitness until sometime late summer, bout a week before fall camp. I’m not shittin’ ya. Happens all the time. I mean you’ve only been at this what? 26, 27 years now? Our dlinemen haven’t hit anyone with bad intent since ucla. That’s how Ferentz fucked you live on national television. Oh, don’t worry, you isn’t the only one takin it… alum, fans, and folks who just appreciate watchin some quality college ball are getting bohned too. Speaking of, there’s a real go-getter, with upper mgmt potential, eh? I know this whole thing might sound like I’m being negative, and I know if I’m super negative it actually impacts the team negatively. Sorry everyone. Im gonna take my mulligan.

    Hey, awesome strategy clay!! you’re the best. really, i mean you are the best damn ball coach any damn where. plus the fact next year we’re making that jump, right?, i mean wow! i can only imagine how special it’s gonna be when the team isn’t full of young persons, and the football injury fairy is too busy someplace else. wait, hey why are you running??

    I dunno, something about them words aint sittin right. The fine docs over at Keck are callin’ it the “Helton Presser”. Symptoms include deep apathy mixed with lots of shitty saturdays. Might prove fatal to Trojan Football.

    So, uno mas question for El Jefe Helton as we wrap up another embarrassment of a season:
    Who taught you how to run? Just kiddin, that’s not my question. My question is how on God’s greenearth havent you resigned yet? You shit the bed in primetime, again!! From the motherf’n 12yd line to within an inch of the fuckin endzone ???

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  22. This idiot Helton is only fooling himself, Bohn and Folt. The rest of us are sick and tired of this spin and coach speak. Helton doesn’t practice, recruit or develop players. He is literally stealing money and holding the program hostage. So when that moron Folt talks about integrity in a football coach she clearly has no idea what she is talking about. BTW have Bohn or Folt made any statements about this debacle? Those so called leaders with integrity can’t even own up to this disaster yet they want to question Urban Meyer 😏

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    1. Megatron. You are on target. Now I will ask you this: What are you going to do about it?I find that when I ask that question I get an answer but it may not work for others.
      I do know that an excellent football program is at the heart of what is loosely referred to as the trojan family. It brings all ethnic persuasions, conservatives, liberals, blacks ,whites,gays, bigots , religions, republicans , democratics together : the subject is USC
      excellent football. That is the heart of USC family notion. Maybe Folt does not know that. All the factions come together here. And, we all are in agreement that Helton has to go in order to preserve that family. Also, In the broad sense, we can see how that sense of excellence is transferred to other areas in life.

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  23. Scott, new to the blog. Followed SC since Troy Winslow(first saw him on Dating Game way back when) and from there tried to find as young kid in upstate NY just what this USC was. Limited back then as TV telecasts ere rare, except for Rose Bowl, Domer game and UCLA. We used to get Jim Murray’s column in our local paper and the west coast scores on Monday via UPI and AP postings. Loved McKay’s teams on into John Robinson, big mobile O lines, tenacious D, etc. Then came the Dark years beginning with Tollner, Hackett, Smith(who wasn’t entirely bad) J Rob 2.Ego maniac Walsh’s comment about Yesterday’s University. Finally we get PC, saw one of their games and remembered a D Back making a tackle against some team but saw the same fire and enthusiasm from old days-I thought-Damn Carroll is bringing it back. Kiff was not ready-Sark was well what he was. E O, as I have read, not the Larry Scott Country Club type but a football coach to his core-got rid of him and now CH.
    I figured Haden took the job; as who would touch it with a President leaving and sanctions coming and finally levied. Pat filled the bill (Scholar, Lawyer, TV guy, financial success) Unfortunately has poor health and Swann takes the bullet (as again who would touch the job) doesn’t fill in very well and is more figurehead than anything. as I have read, no high level AD’s would take the job with an unknown new President and what their feeling or power they’d share or commitment to football.
    Firecracker Folt gets the job, Bohn by default.
    I apologize if you’ve already addressed the following:

    Was anyone really approached and/or did Folt say no and restrict money and power to a coach and/or her A.D.?
    Is Bohn just slow playing this for a year(donations, recruiting, attendance be damned) and will then pull the trigger on Helton as it is sadly a possibility that we are here again next year. I thought as Bohn may have said you have a year and Helton’s comment on “we’ll be very good next year” is a “final stand” for him.
    It was plainly obvious watching the Final four last night(even Oklahoma) that USC is nowhere at their level either team wise or university commitment wise. Will SC ever get back to those kinds or support?
    Finally, I agree with some posters-Helton is dumb like a fox. ike any employee-if my employer says come to work I come till I’m told not to. Especially at 4 Bills a year-hell I would to.

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