Steve Sarkisian takes to Twitter to thank people for their support

“He knew those expectations and failed to meet them”.

Meanwhile, USC offensive lineman Damien Mama said that the decision on Sarkisian indeed came as a shock to all of them, as per Los Angeles Times.

A short time later, Southern Cal announced it had fired Sarkisian one day after ordering him to take a leave of absence.

Haden also said that he still has not spoken to Sarkisian, who was sacked through a termination letter sent to him and his agent. Sarkisian was absent from practice Sunday. This followed a reportedly alcohol-related incident at the “Salute to Troy” event in August, when Sarkisian was reportedly pulled off stage because he could not complete his speech.

Clay Helton will serve as USC’s interim football coach the rest of the 2015 season.

When USC plays Notre Dame, the Trojans will face the Irish with a fourth different coach in four years.

“We weren’t waiting on them”, Carroll said. “We will try to win every game that we have”.

“It’s extremely frustrating knowing how talented we are, knowing how good we are, and knowing how poised we can be in those moments”.

Even though it is hard to avoid moving from season-to-season, coach-to-coach, star-player to star-payer, the USC community needs to stick with Steve Sarkisian. “We’re pulling for him”.

“In the locker room, he was too animated and had bloodshot eyes”, the coach said. It’s about his personal life and getting things in order. “I really do”, Kessler said. Haden couldn’t reach him directly because Sarkisian was in transit to a rehabilitation center. I’ve been praying for him.

Grier admitted to taking a performance-enhancing substance unknowingly by consuming an over-the-counter product without studying the contents label and checking with the team’s medical staff. Grier will practice with the team during the suspension. “He knows that. He’s got to take the steps to take care of business now”. Haden defended the decision Tuesday to hire Sarkisian, citing background checks conducted by the university and NCAA and interviews with “dozens” of people including head coaches, staff members and longtime friends of Sarkisian.

Sarkisian’s alcohol abuse is the root of the firing, and his disturbing pattern of behavior dating to his days at Washington has been detailed in investigative reports. Five years after Carroll has left, USC hasn’t been able to get back to the course of Pac-12 dominance and success. Helton will still call the plays for USC (3-2, 0-2 Pac-12), but is giving QB coaching duties to Marques Tuiasosopo, a former standout at Washington. Lane Kiffin faced Notre Dame in 2012, Ed Orgeron in 2013, Sarkisian in 2014 and Helton in 2015.

The USC Trojans suffered their second home loss as a big favorite in three weeks last Saturday, losing to the Washington Huskies, 17-12, as a 17-point favorite. He started as an assistant coach under Carroll’s dominating USC teams in the early 2000s.

But what if Haden is fired because of this whole Sarkisian situation?

That is a formula to win games, but maybe it would not be the way to get boosters to open up their wallets.

In the 87th meeting of the greatest intersectional rivalry in college football, USC will attempt to overcome the distractions of the week while the No. 14 Fighting Irish will look to avenge last season’s blow out loss.