USC hires Steve Sarkisian as their new Head Football Coach (Kline)

Welcome everyone.  This is the first blog I’ve ever done. I decided to do this so I could react to some of the bigger news in sports more timely than just discussing it during our weekly radio show.  So lets go down to business.

Earlier today, University of Southern California Athletic Director, Pat Haden hired former Washington Huskies head coach, Steve Sarkisian as their new head football coach.  Prior to Sarkisian being the head coach of the Trojans, he was previously with USC as a quarterbacks coach from 2001-2003, then again from 2005-2006, and then as Offensive Coordinator/ Quarterbacks coach from 2007-2008 before accepting the head coaching job from the University of Washington (34-29 overall record,  1-2 in bowl games).  Sarkisian has worked with quarterbacks like Carson Palmer, Matt Leinart, Mark Sanchez, and most recently at Washington, Keith Price.  Sarkisian was with a list of head coaching candidates for the head coaching job with the likes of Interim Head Coach of the Trojans, Ed Orgeron, Boise State's Chris Petersen, Texas A&M's Kevin Sumlin, and Vanderbilt's James Franklin.  

Now what do I think of the hire?  This is USC's Athletic Director, Pat Haden's first head football coaching hire in his tenure with the Trojans.  He needed to make a splash with this hire, not only for the players of the football team, but also for the fans.  He did NOT do this with Steve Sarkisian.  And the only way Sarkisian can prove himself worthy of the fans of the Trojans, is only if Sarkisian has instant success in his first season.  The fans wanted Coach O, and they did not get him, so there are very high expectations for Sarkisian in his first season next year. The fans will expect a National Championship in his first year, which really isn’t fair, but that’s what happens when your named the Head Coach of a College Football team with a very storied past.  Overall, I don't like the hire; I think they should have went with their former interim coach.  

And speaking of Coach O, what is to happen with Ed?  Orgeron was outraged when he was not offered the head-coaching job, and instead was offered a raise to be the assistant coach of the Trojans.  I honestly can't blame the guy.  The Trojans went 6-2 under Orgeron, with key wins upsetting at the time #5 Stanford 20-17.  His 2 losses came against Notre Dame and UCLA who were both ranked at the time.  The fans loved him, and more importantly the players.  Which is going to be really interesting to see how recruiting will work with Sarkisian being named the HC.  Orgeron deserves to be the Head Coach at a D1 program somewhere.  I mean  Washington now doesn't have a head coach.  How ironic would that be if Orgeron was hired to be the Huskies HC?  That would one hell of a game next year when Washington and USC meet if that were to happen.  

I’m not sure how many times per week I’ll post up a blog, but I’ll let you guys know on some of the various social media networks.

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