Fball Recruiting Class of 2020

[Goose]

So, what happens if Helton is fired on the Tarmac when coming back from a loss at Utah week five?



BC

Depends on who they hire. If the next day they announce Urban Meyer (not happening, but for example) or the return of Pete the Cheat, they will have a great recruiting class. If it is somebody you never heard of, much less so. The new AD will have some time to plan his approach. I would imagine he is putting out deniable feelers right now just as a precaution.

The last two times they have done so (Kiffin and Sarkisian's firings), they promoted an interim coach and then hired the permanent coach after the season.  Sarkisian was hired Dec. 2; Helton was made the permanent coach Nov. 30.  National signing day was Dec. 18 - 20 in 2019 (early period), so if past is prologue the new coach will have 2 - 3 weeks to solidify the recruiting class.

BC

I am assuming that unlike the previous cases, the new AD has his act together and if Helton is fired on the tarmac there will already be a guy that can be announced as the successor. That guy may not actually coach the rest of the games, but he will be known. The Toejam faithful will go nuts if the AD isn't ready with a replacement. Given the history, I can't see any way the AD would allow an interregnum with doubts about who will be next. That is why I think there is a search going on right now. If U$C stinks it up in the first three games, it will become offer time to the new guy, and Helton goes two weeks later.

The new AD would get nothing but support from the fan's if he got rid of Helton. That may not be fair, and the new AD may value what Helton has done more than the fan's do. That said, it would be suicidal to be unprepared to replace Helton without much delay. The fan's think it past time as it is.

I don't think the coach really needs to "solidify" the class. I do think guys are reluctant to sign at any school if they think a coaching change is probable and/or they don't like the current head coach. If there is no coach, it is doubly bad. A "big name" coach will cure a lot of doubts, as long as he is in place at least a few weeks before signing day. If it is actually a couple of months, so much the better.

[BostonCard]

I am assuming that unlike the previous cases, the new AD has his act together and if Helton is fired on the tarmac there will already be a guy that can be announced as the successor. That guy may not actually coach the rest of the games, but he will be known. The Toejam faithful will go nuts if the AD isn't ready with a replacement. Given the history, I can't see any way the AD would allow an interregnum with doubts about who will be next. That is why I think there is a search going on right now. If U$C stinks it up in the first three games, it will become offer time to the new guy, and Helton goes two weeks later.


The new AD would get nothing but support from the fan's if he got rid of Helton. That may not be fair, and the new AD may value what Helton has done more than the fan's do. That said, it would be suicidal to be unprepared to replace Helton without much delay. The fan's think it past time as it is.



I don't think the coach really needs to "solidify" the class. I do think guys are reluctant to sign at any school if they think a coaching change is probable and/or they don't like the current head coach. If there is no coach, it is doubly bad. A "big name" coach will cure a lot of doubts, as long as he is in place at least a few weeks before signing day. If it is actually a couple of months, so much the better.

This works if the new guy is not currently employed as a coach (Meyer), but most of the candidates are presumably coaching other teams (either NFL or college).  I mean, it would be quite the coup if they got someone to quit their team mid-season to take the USC job, but most hires would probably have to wait until the end of the season (plus, do you really want to hire someone who is willing to bail on their existing job mid-season?)  So, they either have to bite the bullet and fire Helton at the end of the season (and/but they would have to deal with the will he or won't he be fired unceratinty until the end of November) or they tarmac him (and deal with the uncertainty over who the coach will be).

BC

[Spiny_Norman]

The new AD at USC came from Cincinnati. Wonder if Luke Fickell (current Cincinnati HC) would be at the top of the AD's list to replace Helton. Fickell just turned down an offer to be the new Michigan State HC. Maybe he is thinking to hold out for a better opportunity than Michigan State.

[Goose]

This works if the new guy is not currently employed as a coach (Meyer), but most of the candidates are presumably coaching other teams (either NFL or college).  I mean, it would be quite the coup if they got someone to quit their team mid-season to take the USC job, but most hires would probably have to wait until the end of the season (plus, do you really want to hire someone who is willing to bail on their existing job mid-season?)  So, they either have to bite the bullet and fire Helton at the end of the season (and/but they would have to deal with the will he or won't he be fired unceratinty until the end of November) or they tarmac him (and deal with the uncertainty over who the coach will be).


BC

You are certainly correct that a coach that is not currently employed but that has a big name, like Meyer, would be the best target for U$C if they need to tarmac Helton. At present, I don't think Ms. Folt is willing to allow Meyer into the conversation, but I could be wrong. Two years may be considered  "decent interval". As far as other coaches, I have no suggestions other than one of the many unemployed coaches who were NFL head men. Most of them don't meet the "big name" criteria however. I do believe that U$C could get a guy to quit mid-season. No, I wouldn't want such a coach, but U$C may feel quite differently about that. The deal may be structured so that he announces during the season but says he intends "honor his commitment" to finish the year at good old U State. U State then dumps him, thereby applying some lipstick to the pig. I can see this scenario playing out.

The AD at U$C is in a real tough spot. He has a coach that is not popular or respected by the fans. However, he has a football program that has just converted to the Air Raid and will also have a new DC going forward. Even if the team has a pretty good or even great record, the fans will still not like Helton. After he wins two straight PAC-12 South championships, MAYBE the fans will give him some respect. OTOH, if they have a poor start to the next season, there will be an expectation the AD will fire Helton and deliver a great replacement immediately. I think the AD is smart enough to know that this is the case and will do everything he can to deliver on that expectation if required. Changing coaches and therefore probably changing most of the staff yet again is exactly what one would prefer no to do, but the new AD may have no other choice. If U$C is 1-2 and didn't look good against New Mexico, it may be necessary to pull the trigger on an in-season switch. As awkward as that would be, I think the AD would feel so much heat for the rest of the season if he did not act quickly that his position would also become untenable. It probably would take a couple of weeks to finalize things, but the ball would start rolling at that point.

[OutsiderFan]

I'm really being turned off on college sports these days. Actually starting to - gasp - appreciate how boring Stanford is. 

The subterfuge around recruiting is just nauseating.

[BostonCard]

The thread is unpinned, but I wanted to add this little tidbit without creating a new thread on USC recruiting.

https://www.latimes.com/sports/usc/story...c-football

Hasan, who originally signed at Syracuse, played sparingly at Vanderbilt, starting one game over two seasons for the Commodores.

That's right, USC took in a grad transfer who wasn't even a starter at Vanderbilt.  Obviously, insurance if Slovis if injured, especially if Fink grad transfers.

Also, a brief reference to a 2021 target which we are also recruiting (Moss).  And lastly, ouch:

So USC turned its attention to lower-caliber prospects, offering three-star quarterback Blake Shapen, as well as two-star Cade Fennigan. Shapen chose Baylor and Fennigan signed financial paperwork with Boise State.

Losing a two star QB to Boise State.

BC