Sitake & Whittingham candidates for USC?

Fido · Post by **Fido** » Mon Sep 13, 2021 4:29 pm

https://kslsports.com/468018/kalani-sit ... andidates/

University of Southern California athletics director Mike Bohn announced that head coach Clay Helton has been released from his contract effective immediately.

Kalani Sitake is the most intriguing prospect out of the state of Utah who could potentially take over the reins at USC. What Sitake has been able to do at BYU has been nothing short of remarkable. During a pandemic broken 2020 season, BYU notched an 11-1 record led by the eventual number two overall pick Zach Wilson at quarterback.

Sitake is also highly regarded in and around Los Angeles. He has long recruited the area and is well known by local high school coaches and prospects throughout the proven college football recruiting battlegrounds.

In 2015, Utah Utes head coach Kyle Whittingham was linked to the then-vacant USC head coaching job. Whittingham refused to discuss the potential of him departing Utah for USC in the media and much is unknown as it relates to how serious USC’s interest was.

Nonetheless, Whittingham has only added to his coaching credentials and will likely be discussed as a potential candidate. With Whittingham not getting any younger, the soon-to-be 62-year-old may be intrigued by a coaching move in an attempt to secure college football dominance.

Post by **hawkwing** » Tue Sep 14, 2021 1:26 pm

Whittingham looks old, much older than he did 2 years ago. I think the pandemic has hit him hard, he isn't in the kind of shape he used to be. Not sure he'd have the fire and passion to go to USC and get them turned around.

Fido · Post by **Fido** » Sat Sep 18, 2021 8:36 am

I agree on Whittingham. He will turn 62 in November. Media speculation is he may not still be around for the next rivalry game (if played as scheduled) in 2024, when he would be turning 65. He also continues to publicly blame the offense for any team woes and says the defense under-performed because they got worn down by having to be out there so long. You can definitely see is a defense-first guy.

Sitake also is not a big enough name for the glam of USC. They are trying to pull guys like Oregon's Mario Cristobal (who is not believed to be interested). It seems they also have some big boosters who call all the shots on coaches (both HC and coordinators/position). So not a very stable environment.

frdbtr · Post by **frdbtr** » Sun Sep 19, 2021 12:37 am

I don't think Sitake is going anywhere, unless BYU starts sucking really bad. He has said multiple times that this is his dream job.

Post by **SpiffCoug** » Sun Sep 19, 2021 2:16 pm

The stability that BYU provides Kalani is probably more attractive than the quick money USC could pay. He'll have a longer leash at BYU before his seat would warm. USC would/could fire him after one average season. He's not going anywhere.

The old adage is that the most popular BYU player is the backup quarterback. At USC, the most popular coach is the next head coach.

Post by **BoiseBYU** » Sun Sep 19, 2021 3:15 pm

SpiffCoug wrote: ↑Sun Sep 19, 2021 2:16 pm The stability that BYU provides Kalani is probably more attractive than the quick money USC could pay. He'll have a longer leash at BYU before his seat would warm. USC would/could fire him after one average season. He's not going anywhere.

The old adage is that the most popular BYU player is the backup quarterback. At USC, the most popular coach is the next head coach.

Amen. USC would never have waited as long as Holme waited here. He’d have been gone after one 6-6 season, if not sooner. SC is a graveyard for coach hopefuls.

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