I briefly caught up with USC Athletic Director Lynn Swann after USC's loss to Notre Dame. He didn't say much, only offering that he has a plan in place regarding Clay Helton and that he will first communicate it to Helton. Swann added that a press release could be released soon.
When asked for his thoughts on the season, Swann replied, "Do you think anyone’s happy with this season? I really don't."
While that all would seem to suggest a change is coming, Helton again did not talk like someone who will be fired in the coming days.
When asked for his thoughts on the season, Swann replied, "Do you think anyone’s happy with this season? I really don't."
While that all would seem to suggest a change is coming, Helton again did not talk like someone who will be fired in the coming days.
- "It will be my task moving forward to make sure this doesn't happen again."
- "I'm fully confident in the support that I have, not only from Mr. Swann but this administration. They have been terrific to me, our staff and our football team. And I know that we'll get their continued support, and we'll do a better job not only for them but the Trojan family."
- "As far as personnel and staff changes, I'll sit back and see where we're at and I'll visit with Mr. Swann and do exactly what needs to be done moving forward."
- (on what Swann told him after the game) "He said, 'Coach, there are better days ahead.'"
- "Everybody I know will want immediate changes, but right now tomorrow starts the first day of recruiting. And I have the opportunity to sit down with Mr. Swann and discuss everything that we need to get done moving forward, and it's a bunch. We got a big task ahead of us. The changes will be made that need to be made, from a culture standpoint, discipline standpoint, a personnel standpoint and staff standpoint, and that's my job. And we'll put it all together and get moving."
- "Like I've said, I've always had confidence in the support that I have here, from Mr. Swann and the administration. I feel confident that I'm looking forward to being the head coach here, if given the opportunity. I look forward to doing that and doing the best job that I possibly can. But I'm never going to put words in Mr. Swann's mouth, out of honor and respect to him. I know that he'll release a statement at some point in time, when he feels fit, and we'll move forward from there."
