SANTA CLARA >> USC coach Clay Helton apologized for not being a glitzy coach this week, but he does need to worry about being overshadowed today in the Pacific-12 Conference championship game.
Stanford coach David Shaw might be the best coach in the conference, but this year the school’s student store unveiled its “50 Shades of Shaw” T-shirt that pictures him multiple times with the same stoic expression.
Neither coach will be confused for Pete Carroll or Jim Harbaugh, but they each let their players speak for them. That could produce a memorable game today as the Cardinal try to remain the College Football Playoff hunt while the Trojans seek their first Rose Bowl appearance since 2009.