A USC booster/donor who lives in Orange County called me Monday.
“Did you watch the scrimmage?” I asked.
“No,” the booster said. “How many times have they practiced so far? I used to have a roster. I used to keep track of the spring practice schedule. I don’t even have know the names of most of the players. I had season tickets since 1964.
“I still have Clay Helton’s phone number. I’ve been in his office. He gave me a shirt. I could care less about him. This is what he has done to my interest in USC football.”
We all know a lot of fans have had enough.
But even last weekend’s scrimmage indicated the challenge for USC. Fans had not been allowed at the Coliseum since 2019 and yet USC could not even sell 5,000 tickets immediately.
There is an entire section of the fanbase that is numb. They have had enough. A motivational speech from Mike Bohn will not change their feelings. Many of them are also upset with Carol Folt.
“Maybe if they fire Helton I will come back,” the booster said. “But I don’t really like the administration either. It’s a mess up there.”
Case in point: Folt fired Swann because he blew her off to satisfy his own ego, not because he was incompetent and never should have been hired as athletic director. What Clay and those who begat and have since enabled him have done is shameful.
C.L. Max Nikias plan to De-Emphasize Trojan Football has worked to perfection.