Tag: Fired

Notre Dame Football: Christmas Came Early Thanks to USC

What we know is that there won’t be anyone to confuse as a great head coach at Southern Cal in 2020 and that’s something any fan of Notre Dame or any Pac-12 school not named USC should be thrilled about.

Merry Christmas, Notre Dame fans!

It may only be the early hours of December 4 as I sit and type this but it might as well be three weeks from now because I’m not sure any Notre Dame fan will get a better present than the one that just arrived on their doorstep with a return address of Los Angeles, CA.

Clay Helton appears to be returning to USC next year.

This news comes just days after a Sports Illustrated report erroneously said Helton would be out of the job and that Urban Meyer was the number-one candidate USC’s administration had in mind to replace him.

I won’t lie, upon reading that article I got more than a bit uncomfortable as a lifelong Notre Dame fan as very few fits seem as puke-worthy perfect as Meyer would at USC.

It appears now that we can say that report was in fact, false.

Let me say that I don’t think Clay Helton is an awful coach.

He led the Trojans to a third-overall final ranking in 2016 after guiding them to a Rose Bowl win over Penn State and even after falling behind big at Notre Dame this season, his players fought until the end for him, pulling within three late.

He also was the only coach to beat Utah this regular season, a currently top-five and possibly headed to the CFP squad.

It’s not that I think he’s awful by any means – that status is reserved for the likes of Tyrone Willingham, Tim Beckman, and Mike Riley if you’re looking for Power Five examples.

I just don’t think Helton is anything special, whatsoever.

Since starting his USC career by winning 27 of his first 37 games, the Trojans have gone just 13-11 in his last 24.  There also appears to be some turbulence coming in terms of talent, or lack-there-of as USC currently ranks 67th in 2020 recruiting rankings per 247Sports.

Louisiana, as in the Louisiana and not LSU, North Texas, Western Michigan and Vanderbilt all rank immediately ahead of the Trojans according to those rankings.

Compared to the rest of the Pac-12, only Utah ranks lower at 107.  It is worth noting a lot can change between now and National Signing Day but it’s clearly not looking like this recruiting class will be anything stellar at USC.

Getting stars to USC hasn’t been the issue for Helton as he his classes were rated the following in recent years by 247Sports:

2019 – 20th
2018 – 4th
2017 – 4th
2016 – 10th
2015 – 2nd

He gets talent to Southern California but his teams have regressed with the more elite talent he brings in.  Sound like someone you used to know, Notre Dame fans?

From afar he seems to have a little Charlie Weis in him, although he seems a lot less insufferable than old Charlie was.

What we know is that there won’t be anyone to confuse as a great head coach at Southern Cal in 2020 and that’s something any fan of Notre Dame or any Pac-12 school not named USC should be thrilled about.

Texas has fired defensive coordinator Todd Orlando

Texas has officially fired defensive coordinator Todd Orlando. After three seasons in Austin, the defense has regressed in all three years.

According to Pete Thamel, Texas has officially fired defensive coordinator Todd Orlando. There were rumors of this happening before the Texas Tech game, but it seems like it will be official.

The Longhorn defense has struggled this year, allowing 29 points per game. Allowing 21+ points in every single Big 12 and against LSU, the defense allowed 30 or more points in six different games.

Ranking second to last in the Big 12, Texas allowed 306 passing yards a game. The rush defense ranked well in the Big 12, only allowing 140 yards per game, but Big 12 offenses exploded in the air against the Longhorns.

Orlando had been the defensive coordinator for Texas since Tom Herman’s first season in charge. They have regressed every single year, allowing more and more points.

Even though Texas only returned three starters on defense, a lot more was expected from the unit. An injury-riddled season also contributed to the poor season, but it was not enough to save Orlando’s job.

Craig Naivar is expected to take over for the bowl game. Anwar Richardson of Orangebloods.com is reporting that former Rutgers head coach Chris Ash is the top candidate to take over the position in the future.

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Michigan State’s Mark Dantonio plans to return for 2020 season

Dantonio says he plans on coaching MSU into next season.

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The 2019 Michigan State football season has gone about as poorly as could be predicted at the beginning of the season. That has led to many fans and members of the media to speculate over the future of Mark Dantonio in the program where he has been the head man for 13 seasons.

Today at his weekly press conference Dantonio spoke to the speculation, shooting it down as directly as he could.

“Yes,” was the response from Dantonio when asked whether he planned on being the head coach when Michigan State opens the 2020 season against Northwestern.

The last four seasons have been up-and-down for Dantonio, to say the least. Since making the College Football Playoff in 2015, Michigan State has an even 24-24 record and haven’t come close to threatening for the Big Ten title.

Dantonio’s Spartans are currently stumbling through a five-game losing streak and need to win out against Rutgers and Maryland in order to be eligible for a bowl.

Dantonio also said today that he will evaluate potential staff changes in the offseason.

Michigan State takes on Rutgers this Saturday in Piscataway, NJ (noon, FS1).

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