Two days after USC hired Steve Sarkisian as head football coach, Riki Ellison remained shocked at his alma mater's speed in making the decision.
The linebacker on USC's 1978 national championship team played nine seasons in the NFL, but always kept close tabs on the Trojans.
So, on Dec. 4, 2013, Ellison emailed J.K. McKay, USC's senior associate athletic director for football, warning that Sarkisian's off-field behavior had "caused issues" during his five seasons as the University of Washington's coach.
"I am very close to one of the UW Board of Regents who were looking to replace Sark due to his off the field activities that have caused issues in the community as well as their frustration with him," Ellison wrote in the three-paragraph email that he provided to The Times.