Clay Helton Named Finalist For Bear Bryant Coach Of The Year Award

USC head coach Clay Helton is one of nine finalists for the 2016 Paul “Bear Bryant” Coach of the Year Award after completing a stunning turn around in 2016.

Two months ago Clay Helton looked like he was on the verge of being fired. Now going into bowl game prep, Helton is a finalist to  e named the college football coach of the year.

Along with Helton, Wisconsin’s Paul Chryst, Western Michigan’s P.J. Fleck, Penn State’s James Franklin, West Virginia’s Dana Holgerson, Colorado’s Mike MacIntyre, Alabama’s Nick Saban, Oklahoma’s Bob Stoops and Clemson’s Dabo Swinney were selected as finalists.

Helton’s first season as the permanent head coach at USC started off about as poorly as it could have.

The Trojans were smashed by Alabama at AT&T Stadium in Arlington to start the year. Then, after rebounding against Utah State at the Coliseum, USC travelled north to Stanford and suffered their third consecutive loss to the Cardinal in a calendar year.

The final week of September brought no relief as the Trojans were once again on the road, on short rest at Rice-Eccles Stadium on a Friday night. Falling in the final seconds, USC was in trouble at 1-3. The head coach’s seat was hot.

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Of course, Helton is a finalist for the Bryant Award because of what happened next.

Fueled by the spark of Sam Darnold at quarterback and a defense that finally seemed to click, USC ran through October undefeated, knocking off ASU, Colorado, Arizona and Cal in turn.

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In November, Helton’s Trojans made their biggest statement. After taking care of business against Oregon, USC went to Seattle and knocked off No. 4 Washington at Husky Stadium.

With Helton’s image largely rehabilitated, the Trojans didn’t falter in rivalry games against UCLA and Notre Dame.

The USC head coach has one last chance to improve his chances at the award against Penn State in the Rose Bowl, since a winner won’t be selected until Jan. 11.