It’s actually really simple. The administration (I’m talking U. president) has no idea what it’s doing regarding the athletic department, which leads to unqualified unprovens running the show, who hire more idiots. In particular, nothing but incest hires of current/former Trojans that in most cases no other serious program was seeking for a comparable post, and everything stems from that. Outsiders lose points, insiders sneak past with GLARING red flags. (Kiff being a douche re: Oak/Tenn, Sark a known drunk, Helton zero f****** HC experience.)
Hiring from within (or from past staffs) can work out. But USC hasn’t hired a head coach or AD that was not previously associated with the program since (legacy hire AD) Garrett lucked into his third choice in Carroll. (And Carroll aside it goes back decades, AD and HC). They ignore all the established talent in the world and ultimately fall back on some “real” Trojan. In this case because he beat UCLA once as interim coach and players liked being coached by an adult for once. High bar. You can guess my level of optimism that Lynn Swann is qualified to fix it but sports so [crosses fingers].
FWIW I’ve no real animosity for Carroll. Man took a raise and a challenge to reboot his NFL legacy. That **** is just how he’s wired. Bush wasn’t his fault, and even if he knew sanctions were coming, [shrugs]. We got through sanctions; they’re no longer an excuse. Our most competent HC since Carroll was Kiffin and that makes me want to vomit.