UPDATE (4:43 p.m. ET): USC athletic director Pat Haden announced Monday that Steve Sarkisian has been fired as head coach of the university’s football team.
Haden released the following statement:
“After careful consideration of what is in the best interest of the university and our student-athletes, I have made the decision to terminate Steve Sarkisian, effective immediately.
“I want to thank Clay Helton for stepping into the interim head coach role, and I want to add how proud I am of our coaching staff and players and the way they are responding to this difficult situation.
“Through all of this we remain concerned for Steve and hope that it will give him the opportunity to focus on his personal well being.”
ORIGINAL STORY: Steve Sarkisian might have a serious drinking problem.
USC athletic director Pat Haden said Sunday that Sarkisian was “not healthy” and thus would take an indefinite leave of absence. Reports indicated Sarkisian was drunk at a team meeting earlier in the day and that the USC head coach is expected to seek treatment during his absence.
But that’s just the beginning. Stories from anonymous players and coaches have trickled out since, suggesting Sarkisian’s issues run deep. Some even believe Sarkisian was drunk during a game earlier this season against Arizona State.
BREAKING: Some #USC assistant coaches believed Steve Sarkisian was drunk during the Arizona State game on Sept. 26.
— InsideUSC (@InsideUSC) October 11, 2015
"His eyes didn't look right, he was too animated,'' said one #USC coach
— InsideUSC (@InsideUSC) October 11, 2015
BREAKING: #USC assistants pulled Steve Sarkisian out of player huddle on sideline during Arizona State game. Believed he was not sober
— InsideUSC (@InsideUSC) October 11, 2015
(For what it’s worth, the Trojans, who are 3-2 this season, defeated Arizona State 42-14.)
Scott Wolf, a staff writer for the Los Angeles Daily News, has been all over the Sarkisian story. His Twitter feed chronicled some of what transpired Sunday, as well as some previous incidents.
A source tells me #USC football staff knew immediately when they contacted Steve Sarkisian by phone they knew what was wrong
— InsideUSC (@InsideUSC) October 11, 2015
BREAKING: Players noticed Steve Sarkisian not sober at special teams meeting this morning #USC
— InsideUSC (@InsideUSC) October 11, 2015
#USC players noted Sarkisian not sober at team meeting, then he went missing, never went to practice field. Talked to Pat Haden on phone
— InsideUSC (@InsideUSC) October 11, 2015
BREAKING: #USC players said they smelled alcohol on Steve Sarkisian's breath during team meeting this morning
— InsideUSC (@InsideUSC) October 11, 2015
This season apparently isn’t the first in which Sarkisian’s drinking has been questioned.
BREAKING: #USC players said Sarkisian drank and passed out on flight back from Washington State game in 2014. Some reportedly took photos
— InsideUSC (@InsideUSC) October 11, 2015
Player on last year's #USC team claims Sarkisian drank bottle of Patron Tequila after Notre Dame game at Coliseum in 2014
— InsideUSC (@InsideUSC) October 11, 2015
A witness tells me Patron Tequila was also Sarkisian drink of choice in locker room following #USC Holiday Bowl victory over Nebraska
— InsideUSC (@InsideUSC) October 11, 2015
For new followers: Lane Kiffin had liquor kept in equipment trunk on game days. Ed Orgeron banned it. Sarkisian brought back in 2014 #USC
— InsideUSC (@InsideUSC) October 12, 2015
Pat Haden banned liquor from locker room after Sarkisian was drunk at the Salute to Troy dinner in August #USC
— InsideUSC (@InsideUSC) October 12, 2015
A player on last year's #USC team said he was surprised how much alcohol he saw in storage trunk after Cal game at Coliseum in 2014
— InsideUSC (@InsideUSC) October 12, 2015
Sarkisian, of course, landed in hot water back in August for showing up drunk to a pep rally. He publicly apologized at the time and claimed he didn’t have a drinking problem.
Thumbnail photo via Kirby Lee/USA TODAY Sports Images
