That's a strong argument. Ty's subsequent performance at Washington means that he's the leader in the clubhouse until Helton runs inevitably San Diego State into the ground five years from now.
But, no, Clay Helton is not a competent coach. He is in way over his head and always has been. Like Ty, he has benefited from an overwhelming talent advantage against almost all of his opponents. He has been unable to beat -- and usually can't compete with -- teams of comparable talent. Alabama, Ohio State, Notre Dame all crushed him. It will happen again Saturday.
Look at Clay's Rose Bowl-winning team in 2016. That team had 16 current or soon-to-be NFL players in its rotation. (That doesn't count some younger guys who didn't play a prominent role like Tyler Vaughns and Michael Pittman, which would make these numbers climb further.) Some of those guys were big-time talents. You have in that group 5 guys who went in the first or second round, including the #3 overall pick in the draft at the most important position. At times, USC's offense had the #3 overall pick at QB, four second-round skill position guys (when Adoree was on O), and three OL who have made NFL rosters.
That team failed to win the Pac 12 South. It got blown out twice.
Clay Helton is inept. Going 4-5 in the horrible Pac 12 with USC's talent in a year where Oregon and Washington weren't even on the schedule? That's Hackett, Ty, Weis, and Faust level incompetence.
I know you guys want to pour it on Saturday. Do what you must. Put us out of our misery.