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Clay Helton says he felt 'no pressure' to make changes to USC's coaching staff

During the Pac-12 coaches teleconference Tuesday morning, Clay Helton got his first chance to explain the shakeup to the USC offensive staff he announced Monday afternoon.

Helton clarified that the decisions to let go of offensive line coach Neil Callaway and to take over primary play-calling duties from offensive coordinator Tee Martin were Helton’s decisions alone and not a result of nudging from USC athletic director Lynn Swann.

“I meet with Lynn every Monday,” Helton said. “I sat down with Lynn and told him what I wanted to do. I wanted to have Sunday night to be able to think about it, to make sure that I was headed in the right direction because obviously you’re dealing with livelihoods.