Steve Sarkisian reportedly learned of firing via text messages from friends

According to sources, Sarkisian went to an out-of-state treatment center on Monday, which explained why athletic director Pat Haden was unable to reach him. (He managed to improve to 9-4 in his final year.) No doubt Haden thought he was getting a hot young coach – Sarkisian was 39 when he got the USC job – who would take the Trojans back to where they had been during the Pete Carroll era. Faced with mounting reports of erratic behavior by its football coach, USC fired the troubled Steve Sarkisian on Monday afternoon. “I asked him to take an indefinite leave of absence”.

Haden said that he learned Sunday that Sarkisian was not at practice and, after looking into the matter, “determined that [Sarkisian] was not healthy”. However, the timing of Sarkisian’s termination and Haden’s comments would suggest alcohol consumption lead to the termination.

“I was very fortunate to be in that situation with Coach O and see what he did and what we did as a staff”, Helton said. “[Sarkisian] violated those agreed-upon expectations. That’s what I gave him”, Haden said, adding that Sarkisian’s first year and a half on the job passed without incident. “He is a man of true character and integrity, he cares deeply for our student-athletes, and he always makes their well-being his highest priority”, he said in a statement. Look at what new coaches at Michigan and Florida have been able to do this year in their debut seasons – and USC has more raw talent on hand than either of those two programs right now. After serving as an assistant for several years, Moeller took a head coaching job with Illinois in 1977.Helton moved from Houston to the University of Memphis and spent 10 seasons there. He said he would seek treatment after the event and continued his duties as USC’s coach.

“He is going through a lot right now, so I think it’s just time for him to settle down and just get it together”, Sidney said. Sumlin is also in a big year for him, but no one is going to fire him from A&M, so it remains quite interesting to see if USC is such a big draw for someone in the SEC, working in a big school.

Sarkisian coached his last game for USC against his former team Thursday night when the Huskies upset the 17th-ranked Trojans 17-12 in Los Angeles.

“He deserved another chance”. Before he was the coach at Washington, Sarkisian was a co-offensive coordinator at USC. Lane Kiffin faced Notre Dame in 2012, Ed Orgeron in 2013, Sarkisian in 2014 and Helton in 2015. Helton called plays for USC when he served as the interim coach for the 2013 Las Vegas Bowl against Fresno State, a game the Trojans won, 45-20. Kessler was much sharper against the Fighting Irish last season when he threw for 372 yards and six touchdowns in a 49-14 USC win.ABOUT NOTRE DAME (5-1): The Fighting Irish are a different team than last season with DeShone Kinzer now guiding the offense at quarterback and C.J. Prosise stepping up as the lead running back.

“I can’t really imagine what it would be like to do that”.

So does Mahler, who believes there is a fine line with managing the responsibilities that come with a being a major university football coach. “I expect USC to respond the same way, so we’re going to have to play extremely well”.

Anyway, whatever the case he is no longer the coach at USC and seems to have a serious alcohol problem.