What’s Plan B if USC strikes out on Urban Meyer?

The USC Trojans have hired their new athletic director in Mike Bohn with them likely pursuing Urban Meyer to replace Clay Helton. But what if Meyer says no?

It’s pretty clear that the USC Trojans will need to make a change at the head coaching position of their football team. USC football has become an afterthought under Clay Helton. And with USC hiring Mike Bohn formerly of the University of Cincinnati to be the school’s new athletic director, it seems that the Trojans will be all-in when it comes to making Urban Meyer their next head coach.

Meyer has had success at all four of his coaching stops to date. He won at Bowling Green, Utah, Florida and most recently at Ohio State. Meyer won national titles at both Florida and Ohio State. While he would be one of the best head coaches in college football should he return to the sidelines, he did retire from coaching after last season due to health concerns.

USC may want him, but what if Meyer doesn’t want to leave his new gig with FOX on Big Noon Kickoff just yet? Who could the Trojans target if they do want to move on from Helton? And what does this mean for USC football as a whole if Meyer says, ‘no, thank you,’ and the Trojans strike out in getting their guy?

Bohn probably doesn’t want to keep Helton around beyond this season because he’s not his guy. Given that he used to work at Meyer’s alma mater in Cincinnati, that could have some power of persuasion in prying him off the television set and on to the coaching sidelines once again.

Let’s not overlook that Meyer’s employer in FOX is based out of Los Angeles, same as USC. That could be a factor too, not to mention one of his former employers in the University of Utah is now in the Pac-12, so that would give him strong knowledge of at least division rival of the Trojans.

So it’s safe to say that USC will do everything in its power to land Meyer as its next head coach for 2020. But if he says no, then it says a lot about him and USC. What it says about him is his health is more important than rebuilding a college football blue-blood at this time. It would also mean that the USC job is not as appealing as it once was, and this is the crown jewel of the Pac-12.

There is also a chance that Meyer could be more interested in the Notre Dame Fighting Irish job should that open up in a few years, depending on how Brian Kelly’s relationship with the University of Notre Dame shakes out in the near future. Then again, maybe Meyer is done coaching after all? We’ll just have to wait and see what he wants to do.

As for what Meyer saying no would mean to USC, it would be a devastating blow. People don’t say no to the USC gig, which if Meyer did would mean that the program is in far worse shape than people may realize. USC should dominate the Pac-12. The Trojans have the best history in the conference and the most talent of any team in the conference, but the culture hasn’t been great.

So if Bohn parts ways with Helton at the end of the season and can’t get Meyer, there are a few other candidates that may not be bad fits after all. Keep in mind that nobody wanted Pete Carroll when he was hired to replace Paul Hackett in the early 2000s. Candidates to watch could include Jeff Fisher, Mike Norvell, Matt Campbell, Chris Peterson, Jim Harbaugh or even Bill Clark.

Fisher last coached with the Los Angeles Rams. He had a ton of success in the NFL with the Rams and the Houston Oilers/Tennessee Titans before that. Fisher is open to coaching in college and played for the Trojans as a defensive back and return specialist. He’d be interested for sure, but would USC want him to coach the football team?

Norvell, Campbell and Clark are all coaches on the rise. Norvell has done a marvelous job the last few years with the Memphis Tigers. Campbell is doing great things with the Iowa State Cyclones and may even garner some NFL attention this offseason. Clark has been an outstanding football coach for the UAB Blazers. He’s due for a Power 5 gig, but USC may be too big of a leap for him.

USC has had interest in Peterson before and they could try again, but he may not want to leave the Pacific Northwest. Harbaugh doesn’t stick anywhere for very long, but if he leaves the Michigan Wolverines, he’s the high-profile coach that the Trojan Family would covet if they part ways with Helton. USC might even try to take a stab at Lincoln Riley, but he’ll stay at Oklahoma.

Overall, USC has a great opportunity to hire a great head coach if they do let Helton go at the end of the season. Meyer is their top candidate and the Trojans should shoot for him. But if they don’t get him, it won’t be a great look initially. However, there are plenty of quality coaches that would be a serious upgrade over Helton and could make this Pac-12 program proud once again.

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