First of all, allow me to apologize for the missing blogs this year. I would like to blame it on not having cable and therefore not having ESPN to get inspired. But I have little excuse other than my work life interfering with my hobby life. Cest la vie.
But the news today is too exciting for me to stay silent. After years of begging and pleading via this blog, Steve Sarkisian has returned to LA.
As you all know from reading this column, Sark has been my first choice since day 1. At the end of last year's disaster of season I wrote an open letter to Sark. When Kiffin was finally fired this year I stood by my preference. The timing of the coaching change, coming just one year before the end of the Reggie Bush sanctions (brought on by ONE player, unlike at Ohio St and Miami), is particularly eerie. Way back in January 2010, end Pete Carroll left for Seattle, I wrote:
"I have a theory.
Getting some key assistant coaches back is the best part of the whole ugly, awful mess. Kiffin can't possibly fill Carroll's shoes and will relentlessly be compared to him. If the NCAA sanctions are harsh, Kiffin may struggle even more. Best case scenario, Carroll's recruits thrive under Kiffin and son's system and compete for the Pac-10 title the next few years. Worst case scenario, we lose to Notre Dame AND UCLA this year and alumni start grumbling. Maybe Kiffin lasts 3 years before being asked to resign. Just about the time the NCAA sanctions run their course.
By then, Norm Chow will be ready to move over from UCLA, Steve Sarkisian will be ready to come back from Washington, and maybe the Seattle Seahawks will be looking for a new coach. Welcome home, Uncle Pete!"
Yes, Uncle Pete is not ready to come home. And his Seahawks are among the best in the NFL. But the timing of Sark leaving and returning is pretty perfect.
And what of Coach Orgeron? He's fantastic. We all love him. But there was still an open question if he could be the permanent Head Coach USC needed. Its really hard to hire the man whose only two losses are to your rivals. Other than the UCLA game, I thought Coach O performed beyond expectations. And he has the support and devotion of the students and players. But the top spot needs to be a proven "X's and O's" planner like Sark. With careful encouragement by Pat Haden, I have no doubt that we can get Coach O to stay in the family and continue his outstanding recruiting efforts.
Keeping Coach O and adding Sark is the best of both worlds. Lets hope it translates to success on the field.
Fight On,
Hans
PS: What an amazing weekend of football! One of the best this year. Labeling the ending of the Iron Bowl as an "instant classic" is cliche and unworthy. It was the best finale to a college football game . . . ever. The only comparison was 1982's The Play with the Stanford band on the field. I would argue that the Iron Bowl field goal return was better because: 1) there was more at stake in this game, with National Championship implications and 2) the dozens of laterals by Cal at the during The Play were hard to follow and were in immediate dispute to their legality. There was no question to the outcome of the Iron Bowl; everyone knew Auburn had won. They just couldn't believe it. (I had to look up in the rule book about advancing missed field goals . . .)
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