USC AD Pat Haden was reprimanded and fined $25,000 for yelling at officials during the USC-Standford game. The Pac-12 called his behavior inappropriate, which is putting it lightly, and Haden issued an apology and will “suspend” himself from the next two games.
Here’s more from USA Today:
In a statement, Pac-12 Commissioner Larry Scott issued a strong reprimand of both Haden and USC coach Steve Sarkisian for conduct “in clear violation of our Conference’s Standards of Conduct policy.”
“The conduct by USC Athletics Director Pat Haden was inappropriate,” read the statement. “Such actions by an administrator in attempt to influence the officiating, and ultimately the outcome of a contest, will not be tolerated.”
Haden left the press area and sprinted across the Stanford Stadium field late in the third quarter of Saturday’s game at the request of a USC staff member, he said after the game. USC linebacker Hayes Pullard had just been ejected for targeting, but Haden said his discussion with the officiating crew centered on an unsportsmanlike conduct penalty levied on Sarkisian.
“The conduct by both Sarkisian and Haden were in clear violation of our Conference’s Standards of Conduct policy,” Scott said. “We appreciate the public apology and recognition of the errors in judgment, as well as Pat Haden’s self-imposed 2-game sideline ban. We took this into consideration as we determined the discipline. Nonetheless, the actions fell short of our expectation of our head coaches and athletics directors as role models for our student-athletes and important leaders of our institutions.”
Haden was captured on national television talking with two officials, shaking his head in a “no” motion and then waving his arms as the conversation ended.
But it’s important to note that Haden wasn’t the only AD and playoff committee member yelling at officials. Wisconsin’s Barry Alvarez was on the sideline doing the same thing. There is a reason that current school President’s and AD’s shouldn’t be on the committee, and this is exactly why.
