USC interim athletic director Dave Roberts has a go-to answer whenever he is asked about evaluating football coach Clay Helton's future.
"I've commented on that a number of times, and this is what I've said and I'll say it again. I've known Clay for a number of years and I think he's a good coach and a great person and I get along really well with him. He's going to stand or fall on his record," Roberts said Wednesday in an interview with TrojanSports.com.
"If he's going to have a great record, he's going to beat Notre Dame, he's going to beat UCLA and others and do well, he'll be in good stead. If he's not as successful as he might hope then people will come to their own conclusions, including the new athletic director. But it would be inappropriate, I think, for Dave Roberts to basically be making that call."
That's the question, though -- who makes the evaluation and decision on Helton's future if a new athletic director is not identified or hired by the end of the season?
**Want to keep reading? Take advantage of our FREE TRIAL through Dec. 7. Get full premium access to this story and all of our exclusive content as we cover USC football and recruiting from all angles. Use promo code FREEUSC at sign-up.**