The USC Trojan football season for 2021 came to a quiet end with another loss this time at the hands of the California Bears on the road. The night was a bit colder as the stadium probably only had 5,000 brave souls to watch this season-ending game. All good things and of course all bad things come to an end. 2021 was horrible until recently when AD Bohn pulled the surprise of the decade by announcing the hiring of Oklahoma head coach, Lincoln Riley. Never saw that coming but what a great way to soften what was arguably the worst season in USC Trojan football history.
Trojan Challenging Season and The Coaches
Year | Coach | Record |
1888 | Henry Goddard | 2-0 First season |
1895 | No Coach | 0-1-1 |
1896 | No Coach | 0-3 |
1901 | Clair Tappan | 0-1 |
1934 | Howard Jones | 4-6-1 |
1935 | Howard Jones | 5-7 |
1940 | Howard Jones | 3-4-2 |
1941 | Sam Barry | 2-4-1 |
1942 | Jeff Cravath | 5-5-1 |
1950 | Jeff Cravath | 2-5-2 |
1957 | Don Clark | 1-9 |
1958 | Don Clark | 4-5-1 |
1960 | John McKay | 4-6 |
1961 | John McKay | 4-5-1 |
1983 | Ted Tolnder | 4-6-1 |
1985 | Ted Tolner | 6-6 |
1986 | Ted Tolner | 7-5 |
1991 | Larry Smith | 3-8 |
1996 | John Robinson | 6-6 |
1997 | John Robinson | 6-5 |
1999 | Paul Hackett | 6-6 |
2000 | Paul Hackett | 5-7 |
2001 | Pete Carroll | 6-6 |
2010 | Lane Kiffin | 7-6 |
2015 | Steve Sarkisian | 8-6 |
2018 | Clay Helton | 5-7 |
2019 | Clay Helton | 8-5 |
2021 | Clay Helton | 4-8 |
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So we have had our share of interesting seasons but given we launched in 1888 I for one am pretty amazed by how well this program has done. The offseason will once again be a long one just like last year where our beloved Coach Helton chose not to participate in a bowl game blaming COVID issues and safety first. We will never know. Our interim head coach Donte Williams was in a tough situation as he had everything to learn and get valuable head coaching experience but man that was hard to watch. Where ever he ends up I for one wish him and his family well and thank him and the staff for coaching through the final difficult game. The photos of Donte throughout the night on the sideline showed just how deeply he was taking the challenge.
Now we turn the page. Ding Dong the witch is dead and will never be seen again on USC Trojan territory where ever this team travels. He is done. Our new leadership is top-notch and hit the recruitment trail hard and fast. Results are pouring in on Lincoln Riley and his staff's efforts as we see announcements almost daily of players wanting to follow him and stay home or come to Los Angeles and be part of something that could be a very happy and long successful run. But don't be fooled Trojan Fans, coaches are human and we only have them for a short period of time before one side or the other gets itchy for change.
Fight On