Clay Helton must be desperate to ditch his calendar.
When the clock finally strikes midnight on New Year's Eve, the embattled USC boss can officially move past a deflating 2019. Perhaps he'll even join the "New Year, New Me" resolution crowd.
The last 12 months included nonstop rumors about his job security, and the whispers of a coaching change—Urban Meyer, anyone?—developed into relentless shouts as the Trojans began the season 3-3. All that uncertainty and performance-based negativity stung Helton and Co.'s efforts on the recruiting trail.
Tradition didn't sell. Neither did a three-win improvement from 2018.