Each month, we bring you a Q&A with USC athletic director Pat Haden to keep you up to date on the latest happenings around Heritage Hall.
Q.) What does it say about the power of USC that star athletes like Matt Barkley, T.J. McDonald and men's tennis champion Steve Johnson decided to return for their senior years?
They are all the best at what they do in college athletics, so it is phenomenal for our school and our fans that they are coming back. As for what drew them back, it is the allure of USC. It is finishing what you started. And, it is an understanding that this college experience is just a breath in your life that goes by fast. They will have plenty of time to go into the professional ranks, but this point in time in their lives is so special that they want to finish it.
Q.) Would you be interested in playing a USC football game in China?
Pac-12 commissioner Larry Scott is a proponent of this idea and I understand why. I would have some logistical concerns particularly with the travel and the schedule. USC has a big following in the Pacific Rim, so it would be fantastic to reach out to that alumni base. Can it be done? Yes, but we need to discuss the things around it.
Q.) How can the NCAA improve the punishment procedure?
We need much greater transparency. We need a clearer explanation as to why certain penalties are handed down to one school and not to another. If we had penalty guidelines, it would let universities understand what is at stake for them and lead to more consistency.
Q.) What impressed you most about women's volleyball Honda Award winner Alex Jupiter?
One of the measures of great athletes is being able to perform at a high level even though your opponent knows that you are the go-to player. Everybody knew that Alex Jupiter was our star, but she was still able to carry us down the stretch and into the tournament when we needed her the most. She has had a remarkable career at USC.
Q.) What are you most looking forward to in the spring semester?
After an exciting football season, a great run in women's volleyball and another men's water polo national championship in the fall, the spring semester should be even more fun with 15 sports in action. Men's tennis is trying to win a fourth consecutive national championship. Women's tennis is nationally ranked with two talented young freshmen in Zoe Scandalis and Sabrina Santamaria. Track and field boasts 29 national championships and we could be really good again this season. There is always something going on this time of year around campus. I am going to a lot of events, but I am loving it. It is the fun part of the job.
(Photos by Pierson Clair)
Q.) What does it say about the power of USC that star athletes like Matt Barkley, T.J. McDonald and men's tennis champion Steve Johnson decided to return for their senior years?They are all the best at what they do in college athletics, so it is phenomenal for our school and our fans that they are coming back. As for what drew them back, it is the allure of USC. It is finishing what you started. And, it is an understanding that this college experience is just a breath in your life that goes by fast. They will have plenty of time to go into the professional ranks, but this point in time in their lives is so special that they want to finish it.
Q.) Would you be interested in playing a USC football game in China?
Pac-12 commissioner Larry Scott is a proponent of this idea and I understand why. I would have some logistical concerns particularly with the travel and the schedule. USC has a big following in the Pacific Rim, so it would be fantastic to reach out to that alumni base. Can it be done? Yes, but we need to discuss the things around it.
Q.) How can the NCAA improve the punishment procedure?
We need much greater transparency. We need a clearer explanation as to why certain penalties are handed down to one school and not to another. If we had penalty guidelines, it would let universities understand what is at stake for them and lead to more consistency.
Q.) What impressed you most about women's volleyball Honda Award winner Alex Jupiter?One of the measures of great athletes is being able to perform at a high level even though your opponent knows that you are the go-to player. Everybody knew that Alex Jupiter was our star, but she was still able to carry us down the stretch and into the tournament when we needed her the most. She has had a remarkable career at USC.
Q.) What are you most looking forward to in the spring semester?
After an exciting football season, a great run in women's volleyball and another men's water polo national championship in the fall, the spring semester should be even more fun with 15 sports in action. Men's tennis is trying to win a fourth consecutive national championship. Women's tennis is nationally ranked with two talented young freshmen in Zoe Scandalis and Sabrina Santamaria. Track and field boasts 29 national championships and we could be really good again this season. There is always something going on this time of year around campus. I am going to a lot of events, but I am loving it. It is the fun part of the job.
(Photos by Pierson Clair)
Pat Haden's remarks about transparency for the NCAA is a pipedream. There seems to be no controls on this organization and undue duress by some of their management showed their bias and placed unwarranted sanctions on SC yet letting other colleges off who had committed much more grevous violations. If there's no redress for unjust penalties why not withdraw from the organization since the university doesn't want to litigate?
From this perspective it is imperative that the university attain notoriety in light of the sanctions to show the sports public that the NCAA is not a "fair" organization, while sticking their collective finger in its eye.
Haden is way off base. How about Perry and Kalil leaving early guess the allure of USC and playing for a national title not enough. Johnson came back since he was not ready for prime time in the pros. Come on down the stretch of women's volleyball getting beat two years in a row in the semis. Great players show leadership which she didn't have when the going got tough. Women's tennis had the #2 player in the country last season and went nowhere. Haden should be looking for a new coach after sixteen years of one final four only. No mention of baseball which should be foremost on his mind after changing coaches in his first year on the job.