Offseason banter begins. My 2¢ - Pat Haden blew it.

[Conan]

I've been holding onto this point of view for a while. I've got to get this off my chest.

IMHO Haden really blew it by passing on Ed Orgeron. Guys like him come along maybe
once or twice in a lifetime. He had just the right chemistry to spark USC and get instant
results. This beleaguered once championship team finally showed some life after years of
going nowhere. His personality alone made Orgeron a legend in waiting. Instead, Haden
opts to hire Sarkisian who secretly brings along baggage in the person of his good ol' bud
Lane Kiffen who I guarantee will be lurking.

Haden said that had USC beaten UCLA, he would have offered the job to Orgeron. I can't
buy into making a decision as big as that hinging on one game. USC had owned the UCLA
Bruins for years and UCLA came into that game with a considerable desire to even the score,
even if they did manage a win over the Trojans the previous year. That wasn't enough, not
nearly. Not for a coach like Jim Mora.

So under those conditions, Orgeron was railroaded out of the HC job without cause. I've not
taken sides against Pat Haden too often but hiring Sarkisian reeks of cronyism. So what if Sark
put UW football back on the map? You'd think with all the talent at his disposal he could win
more games vs quality opponents aside from getting one over on Stanford in 2012.

On top of that, he threw a class act under the bus (not to mention more Lane Kiffin in store
for us as if everyone hasn't already had enough of that guy.)

 

[Knightrofins]

Welcome Back!!

 

[mason456]

Welcome Back!!

Ditto, get ready for the crap

 

[GoSooners]

Welcome back my friend to the show that never ends w-thumbs!^

 

[Albatross]

Maybe cronies maybe not. I just think his ego is too large to hire a name like Orgeron. Regardless of history or name, he was making positive traction, so I agree with you.

My guess is we will wait on ole Junkie to come in a post his insider USC info. I am sure he had something to do with the hire.

Hope all is well.......yes GS.....the beat goes on.

 

[2ese]

My 1.5 cents worth.....the PAC 12 continually blows it.....look at the preseason polls last year....6 of the top 10 teams were sec....look at head coaches pay.....6 of the top 10 were sec.....simple and successful formula.....stop trying to hire cheap coaches and get lucky.....when tx was looking for a coach there were probably 10 threads and 100's of responses daily on here...everyone from Gruden to god were serious contenders....when USC was looking it was like...let me no when they decide....whoever.....just my opinion

 

[russ1945]

My opinion when it all came down was that Orgeron had done more for the USC football program than Haden had. Winning or losing against USC being a make or break it is just an excuse. They didn't have to sign Oregon to a multi-year contract. Should have given him a 2 year deal and gave him a chance as a reward for his contributions to the program. Haden has dropped way down on my list. I do not blame Orgeron for getting pissed. I wonder if Haden told him that the job depended on the UCLA game. That should also be considered.

 

[rolltide]

IMHO Haden really blew it by passing on Ed Orgeron. Guys like him come along maybe
once or twice in a lifetime.

sleazy fuckers that can recruit come along once or twice in a lifetime? please. class act? orgeron? the same guy that called his UcheaT recruits several Januarys ago to make sure they didn't honor their early enrollment commitment just in case Eddie wanted them for himself? there's a reason this guy will not get a big time job....ever

I'd actually be happy if UAB gave him a shout. great southeast recruiting knowledge and they could use a guy that commits more recruiting violations in a month than most programs commit in a year

 

[Acebb]

Haden said that had USC beaten UCLA, he would have offered the job to Orgeron

=====
If this is true, Pat Haden shouldn't be in his job. It is frankly awful leadership and decision making.

 

[Conan]

My 1.5 cents worth.....the PAC 12 continually blows it.....look at the preseason polls last year....6 of the top 10 teams were sec....look at head coaches pay.....6 of the top 10 were sec.....simple and successful formula.....stop trying to hire cheap coaches and get lucky.....when tx was looking for a coach there were probably 10 threads and 100's of responses daily on here...everyone from Gruden to god were serious contenders....when USC was looking it was like...let me no when they decide....whoever.....just my opinion

Don't you know that pre-season polls are nothing but a meaningless beauty contest? You sir have obviously read nothing for at least a year. Texas was replacing a 25-year head coaching relic. Have you not heard about any of those "cheap" Pac-12 hires like Rich Rodriguez, Jim Mora, Mike Leach... Oh wait... you're from Florida on the east coast. Since when has anything out west been of any interest to you? You have no opinion. Quit pretending that you do.

 

[Conan]

My opinion when it all came down was that Orgeron had done more for the USC football program than Haden had. Winning or losing against USC being a make or break it is just an excuse. They didn't have to sign Oregon to a multi-year contract. Should have given him a 2 year deal and gave him a chance as a reward for his contributions to the program. Haden has dropped way down on my list. I do not blame Orgeron for getting pissed. I wonder if Haden told him that the job depended on the UCLA game. That should also be considered.

Probably the most intelligent reply so far that was on point. Thanks Russ.

There are a few things Haden has done that has raised my dander, not the least of them a Todd McNair powder keg of evil things that could turn the entire NCAA investigative division on its head -- more corrupt than any college football program. Guilty of malice says the judge! No way any impartial sports authority should be permitted to get away with that and Haden let's them skate at the expense of USC's reputation.

Most people believe all the NCAA bullshit and propaganda about USC. Who would ever have thought that the NCAA had no major violations after 3 years so they just made a few up and framed an innocent man? Let Haden take that to his grave.

 

[russ1945]

Conan: Then I heard that Sarkisian was going to offer Orgeron another chance to stay on the staff. I said winning or losing against USC, should have been UCLA. My blood pressure gets the best of me sometimes lol. Did not proof read.

I would love to see UCLA hire Orgeron as an asst, that would be the ultimate in your face all the way around. He might even sway some potential recruits etc.

 

[Conan]

sleazy fuckers that can recruit come along once or twice in a lifetime? please. class act? orgeron? the same guy that called his UcheaT recruits several Januarys ago to make sure they didn't honor their early enrollment commitment just in case Eddie wanted them for himself? there's a reason this guy will not get a big time job....ever

I'd actually be happy if UAB gave him a shout. great southeast recruiting knowledge and they could use a guy that commits more recruiting violations in a month than most programs commit in a year

Was that what you really thought I meant or was that a personal curve ball? Class act I can't respond to but the players loved the guy and he put a lot of winning and pride back into them which has been sorely lacking at USC. Results should count most. But as I said I don't know his history or am very familiar with any controversy if any or if your opinion/comments are the whole story or mostly conjecture missing a relevant detail or two. To my knowledge he's not on anyone's "show cause" list.

 

[Conan]

Conan: Then I heard that Sarkisian was going to offer Orgeron another chance to stay on the staff. I said winning or losing against USC, should have been UCLA. My blood pressure gets the best of me sometimes lol. Did not proof read.

I would love to see UCLA hire Orgeron as an asst, that would be the ultimate in your face all the way around. He might even sway some potential recruits etc.

Agreed


PS I must have your blood pressure. I got the meaning.

 

[rolltide]

Was that what you really thought I meant or was that a personal curve ball?

huh?

yeah i really thought you meant he was a "class act" and that "guys like him come along maybe once or twice in a lifetime." personal curve ball? wtf are you talking about? i'm responding to your characterization of a lifelong piece of trash as some sort of lovely fella because he won a few games as an interim at USC

to my knowledge you're the only person in the world that ever used those two phrases to describe a serial scumbag like eddie O. seriously the ONLY person! players always love him...that's why he can recruit but his personal track record laid down in the SEC including excessive improper recruiting practices (7 in one year if i remember correctly), and the aforementioned call to recruits not to attend class so they were still eligible to be recruited will always keep him from getting a decent job

and, yeah, i was also serious that i would love UAB to get him. he knows the region, has great contacts locally, and could bring them back to at least mediocrity and they wouldn't mind a little shady conduct and rule bending to win a few games. putting UAB on probation vs putting USC on probation is a world of difference

Haden was 100% correct in not letting this menace run his program

 

[rolltide]

of course i left off he was your recruiting coordinator when reggie bush and family ended up with a few extra hundred grand of benefits not to mention his well known history of beating up on women

other than that he's a class act that comes around once or twice in a lifetime

(unless you believe someone can be a piece of trash for 50 years then suddenly become a great guy? heck, maybe jesus is his lord and savior now? no idea....)


hard to believe a CFB fan like you wouldn't know this stuff about a guy you'd make a thread about. seriously.

anyway, he IS a tremendous recruiter and a great motivator. but those can be found without making deals with cvnts like Eddie O

 

[GoSooners]

His Ole Miss record probably scared Haden off of him more than anything else. He was given every chance there and failed. But on the other side of the coin we'll never know if he learned from his failures. I still think the man behind the curtain after Kiiffn got fired was OC Helton. The offense didn't start clicking until Kiffin was out of his hair and he was able to take over the offense. I was one of the few here who wasn't all that impressed by the Sarkasian hire. He did pull UW out of the cellar. But I don't think that program could have been fuked up any more than it was thanks to Tyrone and Gilbertson. He might end up being a good hire, but I still think he was a bit of a gamble.

 

[motowner]

just like every other top CFB job opening, it's all about who can actually get to accept the job. Sark was obviously one of those guys and is at least familiar with the So Cal landscape.

Chris Petersen was higher on Haden's list, but apparently they disagreed on a couple key areas. as a result, Washington benefited the most from all these changes.

the fact that on defense Wilcox, Sirmon, and Heyward all followed Sark from UW is huge, and Tui is a nice addition on offense as well. unfortunately Lupoi got into trouble, but USC will have plenty of recruiting in Sark, Sirmon, Nansen, and Tee Martin.

at the minimum, the USC staff has nice depth despite the rather bland HC hire.

 

[Conan]

of course i left off he was your recruiting coordinator when reggie bush and family ended up with a few extra hundred grand of benefits not to mention his well known history of beating up on women

other than that he's a class act that comes around once or twice in a lifetime

(unless you believe someone can be a piece of trash for 50 years then suddenly become a great guy? heck, maybe jesus is his lord and savior now? no idea....)


hard to believe a CFB fan like you wouldn't know this stuff about a guy you'd make a thread about. seriously.

anyway, he IS a tremendous recruiter and a great motivator. but those can be found without making deals with cvnts like Eddie O

So sorry if anything I wrote about Orgeron offended you... and there are no doubt more than just a couple of characters outstanding who you would consider to fall under the subject of "general knowledge" that I know little about... but I just chalk that stuff up to sleeping in late or maybe it was something like the last Ed O day in the press that happened to coincide with my pre-cataract surgery days. But if you want me to say that I have not been informed well enough about Orgeron's personal employment eligibility status, I'll give you that one. But lacking some of the information you pointed out, can you see how one might have seen Haden's move differently? Who's to say that Orgeron's unseemly habits as you pointed out were unmanageable from an "institutional" point of view? Just saying. the thread has morphed into an Ed Orgeron exclusive which was not my intent. I have lost respect for Haden, Orgeron being only the latest example.

I don't think Sarkisian is USC's answer to nearly a half decade in the doldrums and that empty gaze on his buddy Lane Kiffin's face is a huge turn off. It looks like some sort of torment. And as I pointed out, Kiffin will be lurking.

What occurred when EO took the HC job was nothing short of miraculous and you would have undoubtedly seen this for yourself if you had your hand on USC's pulse recently. No doubt Kiffin just had to go and what happened when Orgeron took the job was an unexpected surprise that whipped the USC boards and their fan base right into shape. Whoever he really is as a man seemed to transcend any downside... IMHO. Also to clarify something that so seldom comes around that I was referring to is his charisma. Like him or not, the man has plenty of that.

And also by the way, I have always held your opinions and avatar in the highest regard. Lately I have sensed an edginess of sorts that I don't feel the same way about towards you. Perhaps we should PM it out until it's dead. Perhaps it's nothing. But I do like you and think of your knowledge as a real asset here. I consider it an honor to find myself in disagreement with you on rare occasion.

 

[Conan]

just like every other top CFB job opening, it's all about who can actually get to accept the job. Sark was obviously one of those guys and is at least familiar with the So Cal landscape.

Chris Petersen was higher on Haden's list, but apparently they disagreed on a couple key areas. as a result, Washington benefited the most from all these changes.

the fact that on defense Wilcox, Sirmon, and Heyward all followed Sark from UW is huge, and Tui is a nice addition on offense as well. unfortunately Lupoi got into trouble, but USC will have plenty of recruiting in Sark, Sirmon, Nansen, and Tee Martin.

at the minimum, the USC staff has nice depth despite the rather bland HC hire.

Good word... "bland" And as far as his UW accomplishments go. aside from compiling a very non-compelling record vs. any of the better teams the dogs faced, following Ty Willingham is nothing to bark home about. Overrated high expectations that never came to pass.