Letters: They’re not exactly jumping on the Steve Sarkisian bandwagon

I have to believe that even the most devout of the USC faithful are viewing Pat Haden’s hiring of Steve Sarkisian with cautious optimism. To the objective observer, this move smacks of a reluctance to distance the program from the specter of Pete Carroll. In sum, not a choice that shows much imagination.

Bud Chapman

Northridge

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In the words of an L.A. icon, Sgt. Joe Friday, just the facts:

Lane Kiffin’s record at USC was 28-15; Steve Sarkisian’s record at Washington was 34-29.

In five years at Washington, Sarkisian never won more than five Pac-12 games in any one year.

Sarkisian was 0-5 against Oregon, 1-4 against Stanford, 0-3 against Arizona State and 1-2 against UCLA.

In his best and fifth year, Sarkisian lost to Stanford, Oregon, Arizona State and UCLA.

In 2010, Sarkisian lost 44-14 to Arizona, 53-16 to Oregon, 56-21 to Nebraska, and 41-0 to Stanford. In 2011, Sarkisian lost 65-21 to Stanford, and 67-56 to Baylor. In 2012, Sarkisian lost 41-3 to LSU and 52-17 to Arizona.

So after an exhaustive, two-month search across the nation, Pat, you had a “gut feeling” Sarkisian is the best coach in America for USC football?

Tom Lallas

Los Angeles

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Once again, Bill Plaschke presents an article that is short on logic and long on verbiage, this time in support of USC hiring Steve Sarkisian as the new football coach.

“He is greater than the sum of his past and a nice fit for USC’s future.” (A well-balanced sentence, but can you imagine using it in a job interview?)

Sarkisian “knows how to win on USC’s giant stage.” (Is the game played differently there?)

He “is a coach whom Hollywood will love”. (Absurd.)

He is “a winning head coach.” (His record was 34-29 at Washington. Win merely one more game than you lose each season, and after five you’re 34-29. Not very convincing, especially when compared with Orgeron’s 6-2 record.)

Plaschke, quoting Pat Haden on Sarkisian, says, “He understands the heritage and tradition of USC.” (The same can be said of many USC graduates, but it doesn’t qualify them for the job. Did Pete Carroll pass this test before he was hired?)

“He is not Lane Kiffin.” (More Plaschke wind. It applies to anyone they might have hired, except Kiffin.)

David Londe

Simi Valley

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No one at USC would ever come right out and say it, but Ed Orgeron wasn’t of the right pedigree to be their head football coach. Mr. Orgeron seems to have a bulldog-type personality, but that would never do at USC. USC was in the market for a French poodle, so they went out and found one.

Jay James

Pico Rivera

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So what is Haden’s legacy in hiring Steve Sarkisian? To me, it can only mean that the USC athletic department doesn’t value hard work, loyalty, fairness, and even success.

Susan Bernard

Los Angeles

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Nowhere in any of the four pages of stories about USC’s hiring of Steve Sarkisian is there a mention of “student-athlete” or academic goals. Pat Haden confirms where the university’s priorities are by rekindling the Pete Carroll days. Once they buy a few more houses, Land Rovers and defense attorneys for their players and schedule more classes at L.A. Trade Tech , they’ll be back on top.

Jay Ross

Los Angeles

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On the hiring of Steve Sarkisian by USC, I would like to offer my sincere congratulations to UCLA, Notre Dame and especially to the University of Washington.

Greg Hatfield

Temple City

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As one of my old bosses said to me, some people are tank commanders and some people are field marshals, and the best way to remove that stigma or perception is to go out and win some major wars. You haven’t done that yet, Ed, but I’m rooting for you in your next campaign.

Gary Engstrom

Mission Viejo

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I knew it was the kiss of death when Lane Kiffin gave his stamp of approval to making Ed Orgeron the head coach.

Gary Cocayne

Santa Monica

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What a way to treat Coach O after what he did. What was the rush? Why not let Orgeron coach in the bowl game? Letting Kiffin go on the tarmac at 0-dark thirty should not have been done either. We are a classier school than that.

Cooper Layne

Sherman Oaks

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There was a lot of momentum building behind Ed Orgeron. But getting angry, quitting, and abandoning his team before their final game only proved that Pat Haden had made the right decision.

Jim Gillespie

Temecula

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I think they should fire Sarkisian right now for causing all this negative feedback.

Craig Poletti

San Dimas

Own goals?

Pat Haden, the Los Angeles Times and the local radio talk show guys did everything in their power starting Monday to shift focus onto the USC hire and resignation in order to take away the impact of a great Bruins victory last Saturday night at the Coliseum. So for those of you who may have missed it, please allow me to say: UCLA 35, USC 14.

No, the Bruins don’t own L.A. yet, but it won’t be long coming.

Robert Lorenzi

Harbor City

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I was amazed after hearing Trojans fans going berserk when Coach Mora proclaimed L.A. a Bruin town. Let’s see, our baseball team wins the NCAA championship and Pat Haden tries to steal our coach. Our basketball team is undefeated after scoring over 80 points in seven straight games and Coach Andy Enfield is trying to tell recruits that Steve Alford plays a slow-tempo game. Then our football team demolishes USC last week, winning for the second straight year. Sure sounds like a Bruin town to me.

Richard Katz

Los Angeles

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I love the enthusiasm of Jim Mora, but beating a “down” USC team and claiming you own this town is equivalent to being named valedictorian in summer school.

John Mark Miller

Newport Beach

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Brett Hundley should call Tommy Maddox for advice on joining the NFL after a fantastic sophomore year.

One or two more years at UCLA might bring a Rose Bowl or possibly a national title run. Going early to the bright lights and big city is a flip of life’s fickle coin. Brett should stick around, mature and learn here, and work on that quick release.

William Singley

Manhattan Beach

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Question: Who is Jim Mora minus Brett Hundley?

Answer: Rick Neuheisel.

William David Stone

Beverly Hills

Court is in session

Ben Bolch wrote a fine column Sunday about Coach Mike D’Antoni and how these Lakers are more to his liking. He marveled how D’Antoni has made it all work with “a paper clip, a stick of chewing gum and a ball of twine.” The truth is D’Antoni is a fine coach when he has coachable players.

You only have to look at the Knicks of his previous stop for evidence. When ordered by Jim Dolan (another owner who should have stayed back a year in school) to play divas Carmelo Anthony and Amare Stoudemire, the team sagged and became almost unwatchable.

These Lakers will be fun to watch until Kobe and poor old Nash return and Jim Buss bids that they play. Then, alas, D’Antoni won’t have a “team” to coach and last place will beckon.

Bill Lane

Hollywood

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Jim Buss and company see the Lakers’ future this way: There will be no profits without Kobe in the next few years, so don’t upset Kobe by rebuilding the Lakers with stars that could have replaced him after this season.

Kobe sees it this way: It’s all about me and that’s all that matters.

Lakers fans see it this way: Do I stay loyal or do I drift to the Clippers, where winning is all about working for championships through teamwork?

Joe Martinez

El Segundo

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Steve Nash is the assist in assisted living.

Jeff Black

Beverly Hills

Rolling the Tide

Little-known recent news release in the Auburn Villager: “On Nov. 16, the Auburn head football coach, Gus Malzahn, quietly made a legal name change to Gus Faust. This apparent bargain with the devil obviously included the Georgia and Alabama games. What is not known is if his agreement extends to the SEC and BCS championship games.”

Dave Sanderson

La Cañada

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I’ll bet Nick Saban never buys a watch with a second hand.

Steve Leonard

Dana Point

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