1 00:00:01,200 --> 00:00:07,160 Speaker 1: The volume. The Colin Cowherd Podcast brought to you by 2 00:00:07,200 --> 00:00:09,720 Speaker 1: Fan Duel. It's never been easier to play fantasy on 3 00:00:09,800 --> 00:00:13,000 Speaker 1: Fan Duel, whether the love basketball, golf, soccer, or any 4 00:00:13,039 --> 00:00:16,840 Speaker 1: fantasy sport. There is a contest for every fan Fan 5 00:00:16,960 --> 00:00:31,760 Speaker 1: Duel more ways to win, all right, everybody. Clay Helton 6 00:00:31,920 --> 00:00:35,400 Speaker 1: has been fired as Mike Bone, the athletic Director, acted 7 00:00:35,560 --> 00:00:40,760 Speaker 1: swiftly to get Clay Helton out. At USC, Dante Williams 8 00:00:40,800 --> 00:00:43,640 Speaker 1: will be the interim coach. Dante's one of the younger 9 00:00:43,680 --> 00:00:46,159 Speaker 1: coaches on the staff. He's the top recruiter on the 10 00:00:46,280 --> 00:00:49,760 Speaker 1: USC staff and also I believe the top recruiter on 11 00:00:49,800 --> 00:00:53,880 Speaker 1: the West coast. Mike Bone recruited him intensely a couple 12 00:00:53,840 --> 00:00:56,959 Speaker 1: of years ago at Oregon, where he was Oregon's top recruiter. 13 00:00:57,600 --> 00:01:00,360 Speaker 1: He's a go getter, he's very ambitious, he's very sure, 14 00:01:00,520 --> 00:01:03,120 Speaker 1: has great relationships with the players. So he is the 15 00:01:03,160 --> 00:01:07,280 Speaker 1: interim coach. The athletic director and I, Mike have gone 16 00:01:07,280 --> 00:01:10,800 Speaker 1: to dinner, have talked multiple times, had long conversations about 17 00:01:10,800 --> 00:01:15,160 Speaker 1: Clay Hilton. His concerns, very short leash. When I had 18 00:01:15,200 --> 00:01:18,840 Speaker 1: talked to Mike, I had voiced, you know, concerns and 19 00:01:18,840 --> 00:01:22,479 Speaker 1: asked multiple questions. And you know a prime example of 20 00:01:22,600 --> 00:01:26,440 Speaker 1: Week one where USC played very poorly against San Jose State. 21 00:01:27,920 --> 00:01:31,360 Speaker 1: There was a reviewable play in Game one against San 22 00:01:31,440 --> 00:01:35,440 Speaker 1: Jose State and USC's communication among its staff was so 23 00:01:35,520 --> 00:01:38,080 Speaker 1: poor it was a significant moment in the game. It 24 00:01:38,120 --> 00:01:42,720 Speaker 1: was a reviewable play and USC didn't review it. That 25 00:01:42,880 --> 00:01:47,400 Speaker 1: sums up Clay Hilton. It was a disorganized staff. It 26 00:01:47,480 --> 00:01:50,800 Speaker 1: was his staff. I can remember early on year two 27 00:01:51,600 --> 00:01:53,720 Speaker 1: having a couple of friends of mine in the recruiting 28 00:01:53,720 --> 00:01:58,560 Speaker 1: business and asking them about Clay Hilton and being told 29 00:01:58,560 --> 00:02:01,400 Speaker 1: by more than one source that it was a completely 30 00:02:01,720 --> 00:02:07,520 Speaker 1: disfunctional and disorganized recruiting effort. I do believe initially Clay 31 00:02:07,600 --> 00:02:10,400 Speaker 1: Helton that the university with Lane, Kiffin and Sark was 32 00:02:10,480 --> 00:02:15,079 Speaker 1: going through so much turmoil and chaos. I had said 33 00:02:15,120 --> 00:02:17,120 Speaker 1: early with Clay Helton there was a time and a 34 00:02:17,120 --> 00:02:20,480 Speaker 1: place for Clay a very man of faith family in football. 35 00:02:20,560 --> 00:02:23,720 Speaker 1: That was his motto, and that was about a two 36 00:02:23,800 --> 00:02:27,840 Speaker 1: year process. But over the course of time, it became 37 00:02:28,000 --> 00:02:31,800 Speaker 1: very clear by about year three that players were not 38 00:02:31,840 --> 00:02:35,520 Speaker 1: getting better. There's so much to recruiting beyond just a 39 00:02:35,600 --> 00:02:39,760 Speaker 1: sales pitch The difference between an Urban Meyer at the 40 00:02:39,800 --> 00:02:44,880 Speaker 1: top or a Lou Holtz or Berry Alvarez or a 41 00:02:45,040 --> 00:02:49,799 Speaker 1: Nick Saban is the ability to develop players once they're 42 00:02:49,800 --> 00:02:53,760 Speaker 1: in the program. I could give you so many examples. 43 00:02:53,760 --> 00:02:58,000 Speaker 1: Sam Donald regressed Keton Slovi's the current quarterback is regressing. 44 00:02:58,639 --> 00:03:02,000 Speaker 1: A very few players ever get better at USC. And 45 00:03:02,040 --> 00:03:05,600 Speaker 1: the ones that do, and there is a handful, Drake Jackson, 46 00:03:05,880 --> 00:03:11,760 Speaker 1: Drake London, Michael Pittman. They're just simply highly motivated individuals 47 00:03:11,760 --> 00:03:15,880 Speaker 1: that would get better under any coaching regime. But Clay 48 00:03:15,960 --> 00:03:18,240 Speaker 1: was over his head. It was I had a coach 49 00:03:18,360 --> 00:03:22,080 Speaker 1: a couple of years ago, one of USC's rivals, a 50 00:03:22,160 --> 00:03:26,480 Speaker 1: very prominent national coach, and I voiced my concerns about Clay. 51 00:03:26,520 --> 00:03:29,280 Speaker 1: I said, I just I think players don't get better. 52 00:03:29,840 --> 00:03:33,880 Speaker 1: And he said A I love coaching against Clay Helton 53 00:03:34,280 --> 00:03:39,040 Speaker 1: and he is good for our business. That says it all. 54 00:03:39,840 --> 00:03:43,520 Speaker 1: Clay could not put a fence around Southern California recruiting. 55 00:03:45,160 --> 00:03:50,160 Speaker 1: They have done such a poor job and in my opinion, 56 00:03:50,280 --> 00:03:54,120 Speaker 1: to retain top quarterback talent. I mean Clemson, Ohio, State, 57 00:03:54,640 --> 00:04:00,000 Speaker 1: Alabama all have California quarterbacks. And I understand California kids. 58 00:04:00,640 --> 00:04:04,600 Speaker 1: You know, they they're smart kids. They want to see 59 00:04:05,400 --> 00:04:07,600 Speaker 1: and go to the best places to develop them into 60 00:04:07,600 --> 00:04:11,040 Speaker 1: first and second and third round picks. And that is 61 00:04:11,080 --> 00:04:14,200 Speaker 1: not to say that every player that goes to USC 62 00:04:14,600 --> 00:04:17,719 Speaker 1: regresses and it's a bad spot for all the players. 63 00:04:18,080 --> 00:04:20,640 Speaker 1: But this is a unique brand that there have been 64 00:04:20,640 --> 00:04:24,360 Speaker 1: more players drafted from USC today in America than any 65 00:04:24,360 --> 00:04:28,600 Speaker 1: other college football program, and that includes Alabama, Ohio State, Michigan. 66 00:04:29,720 --> 00:04:34,159 Speaker 1: That this is just a program that has got to 67 00:04:34,200 --> 00:04:39,679 Speaker 1: have higher standards than Clay Helton can elevate them too. 68 00:04:41,320 --> 00:04:44,479 Speaker 1: Now many of you are asking who's next. Dante Williams 69 00:04:44,480 --> 00:04:46,920 Speaker 1: is the interim coach. Chris Peterson, I've been told is 70 00:04:46,960 --> 00:04:49,320 Speaker 1: not interested. I talked to Chris Peterson a week ago. 71 00:04:50,120 --> 00:04:54,240 Speaker 1: Chris Peterson is not motivated by money or status or stature. 72 00:04:55,040 --> 00:04:57,960 Speaker 1: Chris Peterson currently has an administrative job at the University 73 00:04:58,000 --> 00:05:01,960 Speaker 1: of Washington. He had elevated that program quickly in Seattle 74 00:05:02,160 --> 00:05:08,520 Speaker 1: and left. He's got enough money. He's about family. I 75 00:05:08,560 --> 00:05:11,080 Speaker 1: don't know if he loves the current direction with name, 76 00:05:11,120 --> 00:05:13,680 Speaker 1: image and likeness. I know a lot of veteran coaches 77 00:05:13,760 --> 00:05:18,560 Speaker 1: feel that it's going to ramp up cheating, you won't 78 00:05:18,600 --> 00:05:22,640 Speaker 1: be able to control over zealous boosters and fans that 79 00:05:22,680 --> 00:05:27,560 Speaker 1: are well healed. Some are very concerned about that. But 80 00:05:28,040 --> 00:05:32,479 Speaker 1: back to USC's current situation. This roster has talent. They 81 00:05:32,560 --> 00:05:37,279 Speaker 1: are severely lacking an offensive line talent. There are two 82 00:05:37,360 --> 00:05:40,560 Speaker 1: or three elite West Coast players that Oregon is in on. 83 00:05:41,120 --> 00:05:44,600 Speaker 1: I do not believe, despite what the recruiting services may, 84 00:05:45,000 --> 00:05:48,120 Speaker 1: they were going to land any of these offensive linemen. 85 00:05:50,160 --> 00:05:53,080 Speaker 1: They had a interesting recruiting class this year on the 86 00:05:53,120 --> 00:05:56,440 Speaker 1: defensive side. A lot of that's Todd Orlando and Dante Williams. 87 00:05:56,560 --> 00:06:01,839 Speaker 1: Orlando the current defensive coordinator. He's a motivated, willful, driven, 88 00:06:01,960 --> 00:06:04,480 Speaker 1: smart guy. I think he's a plus for the staff 89 00:06:04,920 --> 00:06:08,480 Speaker 1: right now that they have got to create an energy 90 00:06:08,560 --> 00:06:11,839 Speaker 1: that USC just doesn't have. They were flat against San 91 00:06:11,920 --> 00:06:17,040 Speaker 1: Jose State, they were flat against Stanford. And this, listen, 92 00:06:17,440 --> 00:06:20,440 Speaker 1: you can't wait. You can't sit around and ruin another 93 00:06:20,480 --> 00:06:23,240 Speaker 1: recruiting class. This is the right move. You know, a 94 00:06:23,240 --> 00:06:25,320 Speaker 1: lot has been made When Lane Kiffin was fired on 95 00:06:25,360 --> 00:06:30,120 Speaker 1: the tarmac. I didn't necessarily agree with that move, but 96 00:06:30,160 --> 00:06:33,080 Speaker 1: I understood it. Clay Hilton has now been there six years. 97 00:06:33,720 --> 00:06:34,960 Speaker 1: What are you gonna do wait for two and a 98 00:06:35,000 --> 00:06:38,640 Speaker 1: half months, three four or five losses. Remember there's two 99 00:06:38,640 --> 00:06:42,279 Speaker 1: different recruiting periods now, two different signing periods. The best 100 00:06:42,320 --> 00:06:47,040 Speaker 1: players are overwhelmingly signed in the next eight weeks. They 101 00:06:47,080 --> 00:06:50,920 Speaker 1: will be They will be signed by December. First, you've 102 00:06:50,960 --> 00:06:54,760 Speaker 1: got to get on this. This is an incredibly invaluable 103 00:06:54,800 --> 00:06:59,720 Speaker 1: recruiting class for USC because there are several really high 104 00:06:59,800 --> 00:07:04,120 Speaker 1: end and offensive lineman defensive lineman on the West coast 105 00:07:04,640 --> 00:07:09,920 Speaker 1: and Ohio State, Alabama, Clemson. They're cherry picking those players. 106 00:07:10,000 --> 00:07:13,360 Speaker 1: Oregon from the North is cherry picking those players. So 107 00:07:13,480 --> 00:07:16,920 Speaker 1: it's the right move. There's no wrong time to make 108 00:07:16,920 --> 00:07:19,000 Speaker 1: the right move. Would you be happier if it was 109 00:07:19,040 --> 00:07:22,480 Speaker 1: in week seven? Clay Helton gave you a tease to this. 110 00:07:22,680 --> 00:07:24,960 Speaker 1: A couple of days ago after they lost to Stanford. 111 00:07:25,440 --> 00:07:27,960 Speaker 1: Clay Helton had a quote and it was very interesting, 112 00:07:28,080 --> 00:07:32,040 Speaker 1: very telling. He said, I hope we don't rush in 113 00:07:32,120 --> 00:07:34,840 Speaker 1: any decisions we make. I hope we see this thing through. 114 00:07:34,960 --> 00:07:37,920 Speaker 1: That was Clay Helton telling you that Mike was not happy. 115 00:07:38,000 --> 00:07:39,840 Speaker 1: Mike on the athletic director was not happy. He had 116 00:07:39,880 --> 00:07:42,480 Speaker 1: already talked to Clay Hilton. It's just been a litany 117 00:07:42,520 --> 00:07:47,800 Speaker 1: of excuses, one excuse after another. Clay is an average recruiter, 118 00:07:47,960 --> 00:07:52,280 Speaker 1: does not develop players. The very best coaches he has 119 00:07:52,320 --> 00:07:56,160 Speaker 1: had on his staff have left the university. Now the 120 00:07:56,200 --> 00:07:59,360 Speaker 1: athletic department has sort of taken control of the hirings. 121 00:07:59,400 --> 00:08:03,040 Speaker 1: That tells you everything about their concerns about Clay Helton. 122 00:08:03,360 --> 00:08:07,360 Speaker 1: He was on a very short leash. I totally support 123 00:08:07,400 --> 00:08:11,000 Speaker 1: this move. Peterson, I don't think will be on the list. 124 00:08:11,040 --> 00:08:14,559 Speaker 1: I will say this. I had this discussion recently, within 125 00:08:14,640 --> 00:08:17,880 Speaker 1: forty eight hours with somebody. We were discussing what to 126 00:08:17,880 --> 00:08:20,920 Speaker 1: do with Clay Helton, and we both kind of came 127 00:08:20,920 --> 00:08:24,720 Speaker 1: to the conclusion, this may be a time if the 128 00:08:24,760 --> 00:08:26,440 Speaker 1: coach is not on the staff, and I'm not sure 129 00:08:26,440 --> 00:08:28,840 Speaker 1: if that coach is on the staff, that you go 130 00:08:28,920 --> 00:08:32,560 Speaker 1: to the NFL. I don't see it as a great 131 00:08:32,760 --> 00:08:37,360 Speaker 1: crop of coaching candidates at the collegiate level. If Chris 132 00:08:37,400 --> 00:08:40,840 Speaker 1: Peterson isn't interested, there's no slam dunk. There's no slam dunk. 133 00:08:40,880 --> 00:08:42,880 Speaker 1: Chris Peters and your slam dunk, and he's not interested. 134 00:08:43,240 --> 00:08:45,680 Speaker 1: If this would have happened a year ago, I think 135 00:08:45,760 --> 00:08:48,480 Speaker 1: urban Meyer would have been in play. Urban Meyer was 136 00:08:48,559 --> 00:08:51,880 Speaker 1: interested I know that Carol Alt, the president, was not 137 00:08:52,000 --> 00:08:54,360 Speaker 1: interested in Urban Meyer. So that's the very latest. Clay 138 00:08:54,400 --> 00:08:58,240 Speaker 1: Helton out more information as I get it. The Volume 139 00:08:58,280 --> 00:09:34,120 Speaker 1: sports at Twitter, on Instagram, rate review, subscribe, Thanks the Volume.