USC Now mailbag: Bowl practices, coordinators and recruiting

Happy holidays to all, but especially to those of you who maintain a strong relationship with the USC Now mailbag.

If you want to join in the fun, tweet me @LindseyThiry and or email LNThiry@gmail.com and your question could be featured in a future mailbag.

Why is the team only using seven practices to prepare for the Holiday Bowl? Aren’t they allotted 15?

-- Bill Hokans, @bhokans

The limit of 15 spring practices is often confused with the number of bowl practices a team is allowed.

The NCAA rulebook does not restrict the number of practices before a bowl game, with the exception of the regular-season rules that limit football activity to four hours a day and 20 hours per week until finals are over.

Helton’s decision to practice seven times -- five practices at USC and two in San Diego -- is likely based on several factors, including the health of players, final exam schedules, recruiting and making staff hires.

USC already practiced an extra week and played in a 13th game because it appeared in the Pac-12 championship.

At some point, less is more.

When do you think Clay Helton will [name] his new offensive/defensive coordinator?

-- Brandon Stein, @brandonkstein

I sat down to write the mailbag and an announcement arrived in my mailbox that Tee Martin had been promoted from receivers coach to offensive coordinator.

Check one job off the list.

Helton has not said if he has a timeline to make hires, but that he would pursue “all avenues.”

My best guess is that Helton will announce a defensive coordinator following the Holiday Bowl game against Wisconsin on Dec. 30, or after Week 17 of the NFL season (all games on Jan. 3).

How many recruits decommited after the Sarkisian debacle? Is Helton looking for defensive and offensive linemen or just skill players? Do Pat Haden and Helton know they are in the middle of a continuing soap opera? Since Haden became athletic director, it’s been nothing but bad publicity. Something is terribly wrong.

-- Gary Habekost, USC ’72 and ’75

Gary, I like your style. One email, three questions. Efficient.

Linebackers Mique Juarez of North Torrance and Daelin Hayes of Skyline High in Ann Arbor, Mich., announced they had withdrawn their commitments to USC following the Sarkisian situation.

Before Sarkisian’s firing, it was widely speculated that Juarez and Hayes both would eventually back out, so in all likelihood, it seemed the Sarkisian drama provided a simple excuse.

Hayes has since committed to Notre Dame and USC continues to recruit Juarez.

USC has 14 players committed in its 2016 recruiting class, six available scholarships, and seems to be well stocked with linemen.

Defensive linemen Keanu Saleapaga, Liam Jimmons and Keyshon Camp have committed and so have offensive linemen Nathan Smith and Frank Martin.

And., yes, Haden and Helton know that the football program has been riddled with drama recently. That was one of the reasons Helton was hired. Haden said that Helton “brings high character, stability, continuity, consistency, toughness and resiliency” to the USC program.

If that doesn’t scream, “Hopefully drama free!” then I don’t know what does.

Has there been any word on who will be USC’s defensive coordinator against Wisconsin and what is that person’s background as a play caller? While you couldn’t call Wisconsin’s offense particularly high-powered, USC has been rather hit-and-miss on defense this season even with an experienced play caller. Helton’s willingness to go into a high-profile game without a good part of his coaching staff is impressive.

-- Don Green

Helton said that linebackers coach and recruiting coordinator Peter Sirmon would be the defensive coordinator for the Holiday Bowl.

Sirmon, in his second season at USC, was the only defensive coach Helton retained.

He does not have experience calling plays, according to his resume posted by USC, but he has worked closely with former defensive coordinator Justin Wilcox since 2010.