(No diss or disrespect) but
casper90403
represents the general feeling of half the fan base. They don't trust Helton and think he's fools good. They're of the belief that his success is 100% tied to Sam Darnold because simple evidence -- they were 1-3 before Darnold and 20-2 since he was named starter - points to that.
Bobby Layne
has said similar recently which annoyed me (mostly because Darnold until the second half of this season was average to above average at best save a wow play or two every game, and it's been way more so the defense first and then run game that has carried the year.)
Lynn Swann the AD wanted to fire Helton after the Utah game last year and the admins and boosters wouldn't let him. He wanted to fire Helton again this year after the ND blowout (they were 6-2) and again the admins wouldn't let him even though a large contingent of the fan base was calling for his head. Even after this conference title there are many who still want him gone. Larry Coker comparisons aplenty. That's why Swann had to give him a public vote of confidence and say his job is safe.
There's a bit of "I felt this way at the start and so I'm going to dig in and stick to my guns until I'm proven right, be it this year, next year, or in 5 years. Helton sucks," going on. I think Swann the AD thinks he's a mediocre coach too.
Personally I don't know what he is. I wasn't happy with the hire and I'm still unhappy there was no coaching search, but I'm also a guy who wanted Jon Harbaugh, Gary Patterson, or Tom Herman. I think Helton is an average to slightly above average coach right now, but he has outwon all those coaches since he was hired. You can say it's because USC is a Ferrari and he only wins cuz he has the best players, but that's kinda what matters at the end right? I judge him based on what I judge all the other coaches on. I go into every game thinking we can and should win the game and the team won a Rose Bowl and won its conference in his first two years as HC. If I'd consider those things successes for Lincoln Riley and Kirby Smart, I consider them successes for Helton. Now he has to follow it up and get to a playoff next year like those two have. There are definitely better coaches out there, even within our own conference - Petersen - but I'm OK with the job he's done and if/when he is let go, the cupboard is gonna be absolutely stocked for the next guy. He can recruit his *** off.
