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Clay Helton (HC USC Trojans)

osugrad21

Capo Regime
Staff member
Interim tag removed (ESPN)

[URL='http://espn.go.com/ncf/team/_/id/30/usc-trojans']USC hired Clay Helton as its head coach, signing him to a multiyear contract Monday after he guided the Trojans to a 5-2 mark as the interim coach.

"After weeks of searching the collegiate and pro ranks, interviewing candidates, and speaking with head coaches, athletic directors, NFL executives, and very knowledgeable football people, and after observing Clay in action the past seven weeks, it became abundantly clear that what we were searching for in a coach was right here in front of us," athletic director Pat Haden said in a statement.
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Pretty sure keeping Helton is just them realizing that Urban is a pipe dream and that the field of potential hires this year lacks one name that may be out there next December after a year of "recharging"...Chris Petersen.

Of course, that's assuming the risk that Petersen says "no thanks" and their roster continues to atrophy...their class this year is currently ranked 70th nationally (sandwiched between Troy & Dook), 11th in the Pac-12 and it seems obvious filling out '21 is gonna be a challenge with what is in all likelihood a lame-duck coach. That gives them two potentially disastrous classes in a row (2020/21) for their new coach to mitigate.
 
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Pretty sure keeping Helton is just them realizing that Urban is a pipe dream and that the field of potential hires this year lacks one name that may be out there next December after a year of "recharging"...Chris Petersen.

Of course, that's assuming the risk that Petersen says "no thanks" and their roster continues to atrophy...their class this year is currently ranked 70th nationally (sandwiched between Troy & Dook), 11th in the Pac-12 and it seems obvious filling out '21 is gonna be a challenge with what is in all likelihood a lame-duck coach. That gives them two potentially disastrous classes in a row (2020/21) for their new coach to mitigate.
I wonder if Peterson would want it. Seems like he’d be happier in a smaller school situation like he had at BSU.
 
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https://247sports.com/Article/USC-football-Clay-Helton-2020-recruiting-class--139836839/

USC destroyed its recruiting class by bungling Helton situation
By CHRIS HUMMER 22 hours ago


Clay Helton is returning to USC for a fifth full-time season as head coach, the school announced Wednesday. There will be plenty of time to dissect how that decision affects the Trojan program. Fans didn’t wait long to weigh in with vitriol – a thread on the Peristyle is currently titled “we’re a joke” – but that can also be put on pause for a moment.

Instead, it’s worth examining how poorly the Trojan administration handled this process.

For those unfamiliar with USC’s schedule, the Trojans ended their season 11 days ago. Helton and his staff waited nearly two weeks to get the final word on their job status. In other lines of work that wouldn’t be a big deal. Proper examination and context is needed in any situation. This isn’t any other job. We’re only two weeks away from the Early Signing Period, and USC’s recruiting class ranks just 67th nationally. Good for 11th in the Pac-12. That’s worse than nine Group of Five programs. Helton sitting in limbo for two weeks only harmed USC's chances at improving what is an abysmal effort on the trail. USC traditionally finishes cycles strong — great talent remains on the board like receivers Gary Bryant and LV Bunkley-Shelton. Perhaps five-star linebacker Justin Flowe spurns Clemson and Oregon and decides to stay close to home. But it's hard to come all way back from this.

The mismanagement goes well beyond that; it’s lasted for more than a calendar year. Helton got word he’d keep his job on Nov. 24, 2018 after a tumultuous 5-7 season. That left Helton feeling like a lame duck coach, which showed on the recruiting trail. The Trojans ranked just 20th in the 2019 class rankings. That’s the worst mark in program history. For context, USC signed top 10 classes the previous six years. Even the lean years where USC dealt with sanctions saw the Trojans recruit better. You can shake trees in Los Angeles and find elite football talent. Ranking 20th is abysmal.

How do you think this recruiting cycle will go for USC? The perception about Helton is he’s still a lame duck coach.

Cont'd ...
 
Upvote 0
https://247sports.com/Article/USC-football-Clay-Helton-2020-recruiting-class--139836839/

USC destroyed its recruiting class by bungling Helton situation
By CHRIS HUMMER 22 hours ago


Clay Helton is returning to USC for a fifth full-time season as head coach, the school announced Wednesday. There will be plenty of time to dissect how that decision affects the Trojan program. Fans didn’t wait long to weigh in with vitriol – a thread on the Peristyle is currently titled “we’re a joke” – but that can also be put on pause for a moment.

Instead, it’s worth examining how poorly the Trojan administration handled this process.

For those unfamiliar with USC’s schedule, the Trojans ended their season 11 days ago. Helton and his staff waited nearly two weeks to get the final word on their job status. In other lines of work that wouldn’t be a big deal. Proper examination and context is needed in any situation. This isn’t any other job. We’re only two weeks away from the Early Signing Period, and USC’s recruiting class ranks just 67th nationally. Good for 11th in the Pac-12. That’s worse than nine Group of Five programs. Helton sitting in limbo for two weeks only harmed USC's chances at improving what is an abysmal effort on the trail. USC traditionally finishes cycles strong — great talent remains on the board like receivers Gary Bryant and LV Bunkley-Shelton. Perhaps five-star linebacker Justin Flowe spurns Clemson and Oregon and decides to stay close to home. But it's hard to come all way back from this.

The mismanagement goes well beyond that; it’s lasted for more than a calendar year. Helton got word he’d keep his job on Nov. 24, 2018 after a tumultuous 5-7 season. That left Helton feeling like a lame duck coach, which showed on the recruiting trail. The Trojans ranked just 20th in the 2019 class rankings. That’s the worst mark in program history. For context, USC signed top 10 classes the previous six years. Even the lean years where USC dealt with sanctions saw the Trojans recruit better. You can shake trees in Los Angeles and find elite football talent. Ranking 20th is abysmal.

How do you think this recruiting cycle will go for USC? The perception about Helton is he’s still a lame duck coach.

Cont'd ...
Good.
 
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