Sarkisian tweets support for USC

Haden has been the subject of criticism in recent days for his vetting of Sarkisian as a head coaching candidate and also for his handling of Sarkasian’s behavior at the August event.

“After careful consideration of what is in the best interest of the university and our student-athletes, I have made the decision to terminate Steve Sarkisian, effective immediately”, Haden said in a statement.

After Sarkisian was placed on indefinite leave, there were multiple reports detailing his misuse of alcohol, including allegations that he was drinking to intoxication for the Arizona State game two weeks ago.

“I felt a great deal of compassion for Steve Sarkisian”, Haden said. “He deserved another chance”, Haden said Tuesday.

“He has violated those agreed-upon expectations in the conduct expected of all our USC coaches”, Haden said, prompting the coach’s firing. He won the Las Vegas Bowl during a one-game stint in 2013 after interim coach Ed Orgeron quit when he was bypassed for the full-time job in favor of Steve Sarkisian.

“I was extremely humbled the other day”, Helton said. “I’m confident in my ability to do it”, Helton said Tuesday at his first press conference in 2015 as interim head coach. He said he spent a couple of hours trying to reach Sarkisian to inform him of his termination but was unable to do so. 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. “It’s my job to get a football team ready to go play at Notre Dame”, Helton said. With losses to at-the-time unranked Stanford and Washington, the Trojans’ 3-2 record might have helped in the decision. He’s the fourth head coach to guide Southern Cal into a Notre Dame game in four seasons.

“A lot of these guys, fortunately or unfortunately, have been in this situation before”, Helton said. He gained a reputation as an up-and-coming offensive coach, and Kiffin persuaded him to leave a job at Arkansas State two months after accepting it. Clay Helton is going to be USC’s coachfor the time being.

He advised all players to take the high road and be first class when they are asked about any controversy and encouraged them not to discuss Sarkisian.

But Helton will continue to call plays while serving as the Trojans’ offensive coordinator. “In college football at this level, you have to prove yourself. But I told them, I know this, ‘I’ve got your back and you’ve got my back'”.