Earlier today, a report surfaced that USC had interviewed Washington coach -- and former USC assistant coach -- Steve Sarkisian.
According to the Los Angeles Daily News’ Scott Wolf, Sarkisian said in a radio interview he did not formally interview for the position. Instaed, Sarkisian seemed to characterize it in far more informal tones: “They reached out and I talked to them,” he said.
That doesn’t mean Sarkisian didn’t interview, though -- coaches have a knack for playing coy with just about everything -- nor does it mean Sarkisian won’t formally interview at some point.
With Chris Petersen and Kevin Sumlin no longer in the mix, most reports have Vanderbilt’s James Franklin pegged as USC’s top target.
Wolf posed this question, which is interesting at least from a PR standpoint: If USC can’t land Franklin, how far down the backup option ladder does Pat Haden go before Ed Orgeron becomes the best candidate?
Of course, PR in December is rendered irrelevant with a successful season next year no matter who’s coaching in Los Angeles.