My daughter (high school sophomore) is using the Steve Sarkisian hire as a study subject for a business research project. She asked for my help and there are critical questions I CANNOT answer. First my statement then my question.
Statement: I have never understood why Pat Haden hired (or even interviewed) a lowly coach with a 5-4 best league play record in the first place. Let's be honest here. If Alabama, Ohio State, Michigan, or Texas were looking for a Head Coach, would a guy like Steve Sarkisian and his coaching record have even gotten a return phone call? I think not! His application would not have made it past the receptionist. Maybe the mailman himself, would have laughed so hard upon seeing it, that he'd refuse to make the delivery. A new rubber stamp would have been created and used for this; "Return To Sender. You've Got To Be Kidding!"
In my clearly bias opinion, USC Football (as a program) has always been one of the top 5 programs in the country. As an aircraft, I would consider it Air Force One, with cargo just as precious. Why would Pat Haden hire a Cessna Pilot like Steve Sarkisian , with previous crash landings on his resume, (see coaching stats at Washington) to fly such an aircraft and expect smooth sailing?
Could it actually be true that USC wants to give every former Pete Carroll assistant a shot at head coach, in an attempt to revive his glory days before they are willing to move on with a coach who is not a former member of the family? Will our next head coach be Rocky Seto? This inbreeding has to stop!
The ironic thing is that I think one of the major reasons Haden was not willing to retain Coach O was because Coach O felt he was just fine with his current play caller (Clay Helton) and Defense Coordinator Clancy Pendergast. Fast Forward to now; Haden, for all his wisdom, has the SAME play caller in Helton but traded Pendergast's top 20 defense and Coach O's hard nosed defensive line expertise, for Justin Wilcox who thus far is struggling at best and Sark After Dark, who is being laughed at by the same folks who laughed at Kiffin and more! In short, USC is the same punch line it was while Kiffin was here.
Question: I've asked the following question to everyone I can think to ask and have yet to receive an intelligent answer. Either no one knows, or everyone who does know keeps a better secret than "Victoria". Therefore, I thought I'd ask you in hopes of finally obtaining a qualified answer.
Who (if anyone) did Pat Haden actually interview for the head coaching job besides Sark? Did he even speak with the likes of James Franklin, Kevin Sumlin, Charlie Strong, or any other big name coach who might be willing to defect? Did each of them refuse the job, or were they ever offered same? Please Sir, if at all possible, can you answer this question, or direct me to someone who can and is willing to?
I'd really like to know.
Statement: I have never understood why Pat Haden hired (or even interviewed) a lowly coach with a 5-4 best league play record in the first place. Let's be honest here. If Alabama, Ohio State, Michigan, or Texas were looking for a Head Coach, would a guy like Steve Sarkisian and his coaching record have even gotten a return phone call? I think not! His application would not have made it past the receptionist. Maybe the mailman himself, would have laughed so hard upon seeing it, that he'd refuse to make the delivery. A new rubber stamp would have been created and used for this; "Return To Sender. You've Got To Be Kidding!"
In my clearly bias opinion, USC Football (as a program) has always been one of the top 5 programs in the country. As an aircraft, I would consider it Air Force One, with cargo just as precious. Why would Pat Haden hire a Cessna Pilot like Steve Sarkisian , with previous crash landings on his resume, (see coaching stats at Washington) to fly such an aircraft and expect smooth sailing?
Could it actually be true that USC wants to give every former Pete Carroll assistant a shot at head coach, in an attempt to revive his glory days before they are willing to move on with a coach who is not a former member of the family? Will our next head coach be Rocky Seto? This inbreeding has to stop!
The ironic thing is that I think one of the major reasons Haden was not willing to retain Coach O was because Coach O felt he was just fine with his current play caller (Clay Helton) and Defense Coordinator Clancy Pendergast. Fast Forward to now; Haden, for all his wisdom, has the SAME play caller in Helton but traded Pendergast's top 20 defense and Coach O's hard nosed defensive line expertise, for Justin Wilcox who thus far is struggling at best and Sark After Dark, who is being laughed at by the same folks who laughed at Kiffin and more! In short, USC is the same punch line it was while Kiffin was here.
Question: I've asked the following question to everyone I can think to ask and have yet to receive an intelligent answer. Either no one knows, or everyone who does know keeps a better secret than "Victoria". Therefore, I thought I'd ask you in hopes of finally obtaining a qualified answer.
Who (if anyone) did Pat Haden actually interview for the head coaching job besides Sark? Did he even speak with the likes of James Franklin, Kevin Sumlin, Charlie Strong, or any other big name coach who might be willing to defect? Did each of them refuse the job, or were they ever offered same? Please Sir, if at all possible, can you answer this question, or direct me to someone who can and is willing to?
I'd really like to know.
