Dec. 8, 2004
I was a little surprised with the timing at USC, where coach Henry Bibby was fired just four games into the season.

What is going on in college athletics? It's starting to look like the pros, who fire guys early in the season. Yes, USC has been a disappointment, losing to LaSalle and being embarrassed by North Carolina. But the bottom line is, after last season, USC athletic director Mike Garrett told Bibby that the Trojans had to make the postseason. Bibby felt that was a reasonable goal.

Then there was a player morale issue where reports indicated six seniors were unhappy with their experience at USC. That forced the situation for Garrett to make his move.

USC's basketball program has slipped since making the Elite Eight in 2001.

That said, why didn't Garrett make the move after last season if he knew that there was potential trouble? Things are prospering in football at USC, as the Trojans prepare for the Orange Bowl showdown with the Oklahoma Sooners. The dream of being national champion is just one game away from becoming a reality.

USC's basketball program has slipped since making the Elite Eight in 2001. The potential for a turnaround is there as a new, state-of-the-art on-campus facility should open in 2006. Having a building with 10,000 seats should add excitement to the Trojans program.

The USC job is an interesting one. The Pac-10 has a handful of solid programs like Arizona and up-and-coming Washington. This is a potential sleeping giant of an opening.

Jim Saia is now USC's interim coach. Saia was part of the UCLA staff when Jim Harrick was let go, so he has dealt with a situation like the USC one already. I spoke to Saia, a former Steve Lavin assistant, and he praised Bibby for giving him a chance. The Trojans' interim coach has worked his way up from administrative assistant to the head-coaching position.

The success or failure of the Trojans this season will determine whether Saia is a legitimate candidate for the full-time position.

Expect several big names to be mentioned at USC. ESPN's Rick Majerus, the former Utah coach, has already been mentioned, but I really feel he will stay here. One of the all-time Trojan greats, Paul Westphal, is now doing a solid job as head coach at Pepperdine. He's certainly going to be high on the potential coaching list.

Keep an eye on this situation. Saia has a challenge on his hands. The Trojans could eventually develop into a big-time program.

Dick Vitale coached the Pistons and the University of Detroit before broadcasting ESPN's first college basketball game in December 1979. Send him a question for possible use on ESPNEWS.