Former USC Coach Helton Returns Coliseum With Georgia Southern

Clay Helton, former USC head football coach, returns to the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum as Georgia Southern's head coach for a game against his old team, marking his first visit since being fired by USC in 2021. Helton's tenure at USC included notable success such as a Rose Bowl victory and a Pac-12 title, but was marred by declining performance and recruiting challenges, leading to his dismissal. The choice of Deontay Burnett, a standout receiver during Helton's USC era, as USC's tunnel captain adds a pointed reminder of Helton's peak coaching moments. Despite his firing, Helton has expressed no bitterness and is reportedly at peace with his departure, embracing his new role and the traditions of Georgia Southern, including the symbolic baptism in Beautiful Eagle Creek. His return to the Coliseum is seen as a homecoming filled with mixed emotions, as he leads a less prominent program against a former powerhouse. Throughout, Helton remains connected to USC and its community, with his family joining him for the game weekend.