Much of it is empty administrative rhetoric, as would be the case for any athletic department, but there were a few items worth responding to. Be sure to click through to the linked photos and stories.
In August of 2010, USC President Max Nikias entrusted me with the great privilege of serving my alma mater as athletic director.
There’s a lot of context behind this statement: Haden’s predecessor, Mike Garrett, was of course fired in the wake of Pete Carroll’s hasty departure and impending NCAA sanctions. Haden didn’t even want the job, for reasons we can only infer, and declined it twice before Nikias ultimately persuaded him.