HEROSPORTS
  • Home
  • FCS
    • FCS Home
    • Big South-OVC
    • Big Sky
    • CAA
    • Ivy
    • MEAC
    • MVFC
    • NEC
    • Patriot
    • Pioneer
    • SoCon
    • Southland
    • SWAC
    • UAC
  • FBS
    • FBS Home
    • AAC Football
    • CUSA Football
    • MAC Football
    • Mountain West Football
    • Pac-12 Football
    • Sun Belt Football
  • College Basketball
  • Register at BetMGM
  • BetMGM Promotions
  • More
    • About HERO Sports
    • Contact
No Result
View All Result
  • Home
  • FCS
    • FCS Home
    • Big South-OVC
    • Big Sky
    • CAA
    • Ivy
    • MEAC
    • MVFC
    • NEC
    • Patriot
    • Pioneer
    • SoCon
    • Southland
    • SWAC
    • UAC
  • FBS
    • FBS Home
    • AAC Football
    • CUSA Football
    • MAC Football
    • Mountain West Football
    • Pac-12 Football
    • Sun Belt Football
  • College Basketball
  • Register at BetMGM
  • BetMGM Promotions
  • More
    • About HERO Sports
    • Contact
No Result
View All Result
HEROSPORTS
No Result
View All Result

Doughty’s Dump (Friday, Nov. 22): USC’s Clay Helton Problem, Micah Potter, Florida State

HERO Sports by HERO Sports
November 22, 2019
Doughty’s Dump (Friday, Nov. 22): USC’s Clay Helton Problem, Micah Potter, Florida State

Welcome to Doughty's Dump, your daily dump of college football and college basketball links, videos and other goodness. And if your time isn't valuable, follow me on Twitter and check out my podcast, High Motor.

[divider]

$20 Million Question

Pete Thamel on the irreparable damage Lynn Swann caused to his alma mater:

"The more than $20 million cost represents both what it would take to buy out Helton’s contract and the rest of the Trojan staff. The Helton contract was one of the worst administrative decisions in modern college athletics, as former athletic director Lynn Swann bid against himself to keep Helton and guarantee a large swath of that contract through 2023. None of the USC athletic department lifers were savvy enough to stop him, as they’ve been around for USC hiring three straight lemons – Helton, Steve Sarkisian and Lane Kiffin – and have watched a Cadillac job turn into a Corolla."

Even if USC commits to the $20-million buyout, they still have to pay Helton's replacement. And there are reports it might not be Urban Meyer:

"There is at least one other report that new USC president Carol Folt is against Meyer's hiring," wrote Dennis Dodd this week. "The addition of Mike Bohn as new USC athletic director is seen by some as a sign that it won't be Meyer. The only tie between the two is that Meyer played baseball at Cincinnati, Bohn's old school. One high-ranking college football source close to the coach told CBS Sports they firmly believe that Meyer is done. Maybe. Meyer was done twice at Florida before coming back to Ohio State."

If they can't land Urban Meyer or another high-level coach like James Franklin or Kyle Whittingham, the list of potential candidates is suddenly small. 

[divider]

Ain't Played Nobody

More often than not, playoff teams didn't run through gauntlets. In fact, most playoff teams navigated strong but not eye-poppingly tough schedules. Sure, they have other strong metrics (e.g. strength of record, game control, etc.) but rarely do they boast a strong SOS.

Only one of the 20 playoff teams, Alabama (2015), had the top-ranked SOS, and only four were in the top 16. Meanwhile, seven teams ranked 40th or worse, including two 50th or worse. Average SOS of playoff teams: 29.4.

Entering Week 13, Clemson's SOS is 68th, or in the bottom half of college football. The Tigers haven't played — not defeated; they haven't even played — another current top-25 team. And unless the ACC Coastal champ is gifted an undeserved spot prior to the ACC Championship, Clemson could be 13-0 with 13 wins against unranked opponents.

Even if things fall perfectly for their final two opponents, South Carolina and the Coastal champ, it's highly unlikely Clemson will enter the playoff with a SOS higher than Washington's 55 from 2016.

[divider]

Renaissance

"Florida State officials have defended coach Willie Taggart after reports the school is asking boosters to help fund his buyout," wrote Iliana Limón Romero of the Orlando Sentinel in October. Two weeks later, Taggart was fired and owed a buyout of nearly $20 million (full buyout details here).

Now, Florida State is pleading with donors for even more money, this time to fund a "renaissance of FSU football." FSU's president John Thrasher sent a letter to top boosters requesting a one-time 20-percent increase in their annual donations. Seriously, he sent a letter. To their top boosters. Asking for more money. After wasting $20 million on the last guy.

I have no faith in this Florida State coaching search. 

[divider]

The Big Dump

Is this the worst call in basketball history? . . . The NCAA botched Micah Potter's transfer case . . . The best college football betting column out there . . . Bob Bowlsby says he's not panicking over CFP Rankings (liar) . . . Eight current top-25 playoff teams don't have a top-25 win . . . Predictions for college basketball's early-season tournaments . . . This is unbelievable . . . CBS' college football ratings are WAY up . . . College basketball has too many timeouts . . . ICYMI on Wednesday night: New Vandy coach Jerry Stackhouse had a heated exchange with an Austin Peay assistant.

[divider]

Remember When…

All hell broke looses at the UCLA-Arizona game in 2011:

[divider]

High Motor

If you're interested in recent episodes of the High Motor podcast:

split-fbo-6-23-25
Previous Post

The Top 5 Best Performers in the NFL So Far

Next Post

FCS: HBCU Week 13 Picks

Next Post
FCS: HBCU Week 13 Picks

FCS: HBCU Week 13 Picks

No Result
View All Result

Recent Posts

  • Extreme Makeover: AD Edition
  • 2025 North Texas Football Preview: Prediction, Betting Odds & Schedule
  • 2025 Kent State Football Preview: Prediction, Betting Odds & Schedule

HERO Sports is the go-to website for FBS and FCS football news, analysis, and predictions.

Gambling problem? Call 1-800-GAMBLER (Available in the US)
877-8-HOPENY or text HOPENY (467369) (NY)
1-800-327-5050 (MA), 1-800-NEXT-STEP (AZ), 1-800-BETS-OFF (IA), 1-800-981-0023 (PR)

For new customer offers, Bonus Bets expire in seven days. One New Customer Offer only. Add'l terms. For existing customers, Bonus Bets expire in seven days. Add'l terms.

21+ only. Please Gamble Responsibly. See BetMGM.com for Terms. First Bet Offer for new customers only (if applicable). Subject to eligibility requirements. Bonus bets are non-withdrawable. In partnership with Kansas Crossing Casino and Hotel. This promotional offer is not available in DC, Mississippi, New York, Nevada, Ontario, or Puerto Rico.

Welcome Offer Bet $10, $150 in Bonus Bets

GAMBLING PROBLEM? CALL 1-800-GAMBLER (AVAILABLE IN THE US). 21+ ONLY. CO, MI, NJ, PA, WV ONLY. PLEASE GAMBLE RESPONSIBLY. SEE BETMGM.COM FOR TERMS. THIS PROMOTIONAL OFFER IS FOR NEW PLAYERS ONLY. SUBJECT TO ELIGIBILITY REQUIREMENTS. BONUS BETS ARE NON-WITHDRAWABLE. US PROMOTIONAL OFFERS NOT AVAILABLE IN MISSISSIPPI, NEVADA, NEW YORK, ONTARIO AND PUERTO RICO.

  • About HERO Sports
  • Contact
  • Privacy Policy

© 2022 HERO SPORTS.

No Result
View All Result
  • Home
  • FCS
    • FCS Home
    • Big South-OVC
    • Big Sky
    • CAA
    • Ivy
    • MEAC
    • MVFC
    • NEC
    • Patriot
    • Pioneer
    • SoCon
    • Southland
    • SWAC
    • UAC
  • FBS
    • FBS Home
    • AAC Football
    • CUSA Football
    • MAC Football
    • Mountain West Football
    • Pac-12 Football
    • Sun Belt Football
  • College Basketball
  • Register at BetMGM
  • BetMGM Promotions
  • More
    • About HERO Sports
    • Contact

© 2022 HERO SPORTS.