USC Football: Clay Helton shares message to fans, Trojans players

After dropping the conference opener against Stanford, USC coach Clay Helton addressed fans and players alike with a message of hope. The Trojans are now 1-1 following a Week One win over San Jose State but fall behind in the Pac-12 conference standings.

“It’s early in the season,” Helton told the media late Saturday night. “We lost our first conference game. I look forward to seeing the production of our team through an entire season and look forward to seeing where we add up at the entirety of the season.”

He continued: “Obviously, this is a step back from last week’s performance, but something that I know our kids will react from. And I hope our fans, and I know they will, they’ll support our players. Our fans love this university, and they love these players, and we’ll do our job. We’ll come back out and we’ll get it, we’ll continue to get wins and add them up and we’ll see where we are at the end of the season.”

Helton’s relationship with the fanbase has been rocky throughout his tenure. Rumors have floated about his job security and potential replacements for years. Despite all of the outside noise, USC put up its best season of the Helton era last season with a 5-1 record which included a five-game win streak through the regular season.

“I know it’ll be a successful season at the end,” said Helton. “Like I told them in the locker room, you never want this to happen, ever. But when it’s an early one in the season, you can live through it, but you got to correct it extremely fast.”

Fans call for new coach

Last night, the 1995 Pac-12 Player of the Year, wide receiver Keyshawn Johnson, tweeted out his displeasure with Clay Helton following USC’s lifeless loss to Stanford.

“I’m so pissed. I can no longer Fight On for him — Period. Embarrassing” tweeted Johnson.

While Helton entered 2021 with his team surrounded by promise, was all lost with the loss to Stanford. By the end of the night, it was clear that Johnson is not the only unhappy USC fan.

“Many of the few remaining USC fans at the Coliseum are clapping and chanting “Fire Helton!” loudly enough that we can hear them up here in the press box,” tweeted Greg Beachum.

Following years of middling play, Helton needed a memorable season to endear himself to Trojans fans. However, it appears he is already against the ropes with one loss.