USC lost to BYU in overtime to the dismay of Trojans fans, but the truth is, it moves them one step closer toward Urban Meyer.
One week ago it looked like USC had a lot of momentum behind them with a convincing win against Stanford and a record-setting debut by freshman quarterback Kedon Slovis. There was talk about the Trojans being the team to beat in the Pac-12 South. But so much changes in so little time in college football. Over the last week, athletic director Lynn Swann resigned and the Trojans lost at BYU in overtime.
Their Pac-12 hopes are still alive with Utah coming to USC this Friday. But the loss isn’t the end of the world for USC football fans because it brings them one step closer to the end of the Clay Helton era and the beginning of the Urban Meyer era.
Helton has been on the hot seat ever since he was hired it seems, even with a Rose Bowl win and Pac-12 championship in 2016 and 2017, respectively. But after a 5-7 season last year and the loss of the AD who gave him a contract extension, Helton might need to win the Pac-12 for a shot to save his job. Even then, it might not be enough.
The Meyer rumors aren’t new. They have been there ever since he retired last year from Ohio State. Just like when he retired from Florida, no one really considered that the end of the road for the three-time national champion.
Meyer spoke at length with Cleveland.com’s Doug Lesmerises about his past, his present and his future that could include a return to coaching.
“I’m not there at the moment,” Meyer said of a possible return. “Like you said, next year can I say that? We’ll talk again next year and we’ll see.”
Of course, Meyer isn’t going to say he’s ready to return to coaching right now. He’s working for FOX as a studio analyst and teaching at Ohio State. He’s not going to publicly campaign for a job. But he clearly misses doing what he’s done for his whole entire life.
“I’ve been in a fight for 33 years, and now you’re not in that fight,” Meyer says. “So how do you fulfill that fight?”
“It’s all about a win and a loss for 33 years. I mean every day was. Not just you’re getting ready for a game. No, no, no, no. You’re recruiting every day. You’re going against Alabama and Clemson every day, The Team Up North every day. Now you’re not. That’s the number one void, is you’re not in a fight.”
Does that sound like someone who is prepared to never stand on the sidelines again?
Not a chance. And with Meyer working alongside USC legends Matt Leinart and Reggie Bush at FOX, they will be in his ear recruiting him to restore the program to national title contender.
So while USC fans can feel upset and disappointed with the outcome of the BYU game, in the big picture, it’s a positive for the direction of the program. I’m not saying USC football fans should be or are actively cheering for USC to lose, but with every loss, USC is closer to the end of the Helton era.
And when that era is over, USC can begin to officially recruit Meyer who won’t have to be careful with his words and can outright say he’s ready to pursue job opportunities.
Meyer said, “The only thing that still gets me a little bit is, ‘Am I making an impact?’ That’s what I miss more than anything. I miss winning and I miss that.
If he wants to un-retire for another time, he can make no bigger impact than taking the USC job where he would have them in the College Football Playoff within three years.