Almost a year ago, when USC’s coaching search was in its final hours, USC staffers drafted a press release. USC had defeated UCLA two days earlier, and the Trojans were ready to announce that their ideal candidate was already on the team — interim Coach Clay Helton.
Four paragraphs down, USC made sure to include an assurance from then-athletic director Pat Haden.
“Clay was not hired because his team defeated UCLA Saturday,” Haden said in the statement, continuing later: “He is our choice because we believe he can win Pac-12 and national championships here.