Clay Helton gets last laugh after Colin Cowherd buries USC football coach

Clay Helton, USC Trojans. (Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports)
Clay Helton, USC Trojans. (Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports) /
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USC football coach Clay Helton got the last laugh after FOX host Colin Cowherd buried the Trojans head coach during the win vs. Arizona State.

USC football should be better than their record indicates, which is an indictment on head coach Clay Helton.

The Trojans began their season ranked No. 20 in the nation and for 55 minutes against Arizona State, it looked like they’d be unranked by Sunday. The USC football roster has more talent than the Arizona State football roster, but FOX host Colin Cowherd took pointed blame at Helton for the shortcomings of the Trojans today and in recent years.

Helton has been on the hot seat from the moment he was hired, even with a Rose Bowl and Pac-12 championship on his resume. Nevertheless, he’s survived the constant barrage from critics who demand better from the USC football coach and program. With USC trailing 27-14 in the closing minutes, it looked like his hot seat could reach scorching levels.

Colin Cowherd buries Clay Helton for USC failures but Helton gets last laugh

Cowherd summed up the game quite succinctly on Twitter with a few key points that should enrage USC football fans.

USC’s short-yardage offense and a defense that gives up too many big plays were maddening for Trojans fans. But as Cowherd points out, this is what you get when you tolerate Helton.

USC football has had some talented quarterbacks like Sam Darnold, talented running backs like Ronald Jones and talented wide receivers like Amon-Ra St. Brown but the reason they can’t compete with Alabama, Ohio State and Clemson is the porous offensive line.

Helton’s failures to recruit high-end talent and the inability to develop the talent they do have has hamstrung the skill position players they do have and cost them in crucial Pac-12 battles.

However, USC football finally woke up in the closing minutes with Kedon Slovis throwing a pair of touchdowns, USC recovered an onside kick after the first, and the Trojans defense forced a turnover on downs with the Sun Devils attempting a game-winning drive.

Helton gets the last laugh.

In light of the pandemic and budgets tightening around the country, it may not be this year that USC buys out Helton and hires an expensive replacement like Urban Meyer. But for now, Helton is 1-0 and with the schedule in front of him, don’t be surprised if the Trojans go undefeated.

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