Arizona Football: Opposing ‘Coaches Gone Wild’

Dec 21, 2013; Las Vegas, NV, USA; Southern California Trojans coach Steve Sarkisian (left) and athletic director Pat Haden at the Las Vegas Bowl against the Fresno State Bulldogs at Sam Boyd Stadium. USC defeated Fresno State 45-20. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports

It’s old news, but just in case you have been climbing the Alps or something else more exciting, USC’s head coach Steve Sarkisian ‘acted a fool’ less than a month ago at the Salute to Troy booster event.  He says he took medicine, then had a drink, and that’s why he was slurring and cussing during his speech. Several people at the event mentioned that he was taking in shots of fireball and had one too many.

RELATED STORY –> USC’s Sarkisian Delivers Drunken F-bomb Filled Speech, Apologizes

But you’re already sick of hearing about it, and I am tired of writing about it. Sarkisian’s team has blown out their last two opponents. They beat Arkansas State 56-6, and then they beat Idaho 59-9 the following weekend. Impressive. This weekend USC takes on Stanford at home. This game will be a big test.

Sarkisian did, however, receive an unsportsmanlike conduct penalty last season according to LA Times reporter Gary Klien:

"Last season, Sarkisian and Haden were reprimanded and Haden was fined $25,000 by the Pac-12 Conference for “inappropriate sideline conduct” during USC’s 13-10 victory over Stanford. Sarkisian summoned Haden to the field late in the third quarter of the Stanford game after he was called for an unsportsmanlike-conduct penalty."

Since he was scolded and schooled by his AD Pat Haden, Sarkisian has not been in the news for any bad behavior. So far so good.  We haven’t yet seen how he handles the pressure on the sidelines in a close game this season, but I predict he will ice the kicker if things get too close. Remember Arizona fans? I felt it was a desperate move and way too late a whistle, but it worked against the Wildcats last season, the Trojans beat the Wildcats at home.

Florida State Head Coach Jim McElwain is not a Pac-12 coach and Arizona will probably not be playing his team this season. But he did made news in a major way this past week with his emotional outburst towards a player. One more coach was running wild.

Next: Florida State Head Coach Jim McElwain