USC Now mailbag: Coaching search, USC vs. UCLA and Pac-12 title race

It’s a special edition Monday mailbag.

And don’t worry, there will be another one Friday so that you can yell at me for copping out on the USC vs. UCLA question.

Isn’t it near the time to speculate on who the potential USC coaching candidates will be? What would be your best guesses?

— David Barber

This coaching search seems much different from the search conducted two years ago. No names have really surfaced.

In 2013, we heard about several interviews and meetings, both formal and informal.

Some coaches who I am guessing will be discussed include: Oklahoma Coach Bob Stoops, Penn State Coach James Franklin, Texas A&M Coach Kevin Sumlin, Utah Coach Kyle Whittingham and USC Interim Coach Clay Helton.

Helton has become an intriguing candidate.

He is 4-1 and USC has moved into position to win the Pac-12 South and make a trip to the title game in December.

If USC defeats Oregon and UCLA, it would be difficult to argue that Helton shouldn’t be named coach.

The Trojans and Bruins now have played several common opponents. Who has the edge at this point in the season before the cross-town rivalry?

— Rob Clarke

I stared at this question for five minutes and contemplated who to give the edge to.

But I’ve decided to take the easy way out and not answer until next week, after USC plays Oregon and UCLA plays the Utes.

Perhaps that should tip USC fans that I’m (kind of) leaning toward the Trojans.

In the meantime …

USC is 7-3 overall and 5-2 in the Pac-12 and UCLA is 7-3 and 4-3, both teams playing several common opponents.

The Trojans defeated Arizona, Arizona State, California and Colorado and lost to Stanford.

The Bruins defeated Arizona, California, Colorado and lost to Arizona State and Stanford.

Both teams have suffered several key season-ending injuries.

Defensive lineman Eddie Vanderdoes, defensive back Fabian Moreau and linebacker-running back Myles Jack have been sidelined for UCLA.

Sidelined for USC are offensive linemen Max Tuerk and Toa Lobendahn and linebackers Cameron Smith and Lamar Dawson.

The Trojans appear to have found their identity under Helton and have committed to running the ball and are playing more physically on defense.

And the Bruins are still… the Bruins, as my colleague Bill Plaschke wrote.

What has to happen for USC to win the Pac-12 South?

— Michael Mitchell

Arizona defeated Utah, 37-30, Saturday in double-overtime, which put USC in the driver’s seat in the Pac-12 South.

The Trojans can clinch the division if they defeat Oregon and UCLA.

I note that once again you’ve referred to Ed Orgeron not beating Notre Dame while he was interim coach. Surely you haven’t forgotten that USC lost that game because the kicker missed multiple very make-able field goals? That circumstance was hardly of Orgeron’s doing in a very low scoring game.

Too, you intimate that “emotion” largely fueled the play of USC under Orgeron while stating that Helton’s win streak is based more on emphasizing fundamentals. Again, I’m sure I don’t need to remind you that under Orgeron, USC was not only still under NCAA sanctions, but as well was playing with a ridiculously small roster (about 50 or at times slightly fewer players due to injuries) as I recall -- as compared to a much larger pool of (scholarship) players in today’s situation.

In conclusion, I think it’d be appropriate if in your next “mailbag” you at least acknowledged those two realities.

— Greg Marlowe

Greg, I appreciate the thoughtful email.

Kicker’s fault or not at Notre Dame in 2013, USC lost.

If we were carefully tracking games won and lost because of kickers, USC’s victories against Stanford and Arizona last season also should be noted - because those games were won due to missed field goals by the Cardinal and Wildcats.

However, that’s not how it gets recorded in the win-loss column.

To your second point: Sanctions and emotions aren’t related.

What Orgeron accomplished as interim coach was impressive, however, it was fair to question whether his success could be sustained.

Everything was fueled by emotion and at some point, emotion runs out.

That had nothing to do with sanctions.

Questions or comments about USC? Email me at LNThiry@gmail.com or tweet @LindseyThiry and I will respond to select messages in a weekly USC Now mailbag.