LOS ANGELES -- Southern California coach Steve Sarkisian publicly apologized Tuesday for his drunken appearance at a team rally last weekend, attributing his slurred, profane speech to a combination of alcohol and medication.
Sarkisian plans to seek unspecified treatment, but the second-year Trojans coach doesn't believe he has a drinking problem.
"I was not right, and I think the moral of the story is this: When you mix meds with alcohol, sometimes you say things and/or do things that you regret, and I regret it," Sarkisian said. "I'm sorry. I'm sorry for all of our fans and donors and all the people that were in attendance, but I'm going to move forward, and we're going to be great. I can't wait to start coaching again today."
Sarkisian was penitent in his comments before the eighth-ranked Trojans practiced on campus, but he expressed confidence in his ability to remain in charge despite his embarrassing performance in front of his players, fans and alumni at the Salute to Troy.
Sarkisian slurred his words, disparaged some of USC's upcoming opponents and used profane phrases before leaving the podium. The coach hasn't been suspended or publicly disciplined by USC athletic director Pat Haden beyond a scolding in a brief public statement.
Sarkisian doesn't believe he has substance-abuse issues that would require him to step away from the Trojans, who open the season Sept. 5 at the Coliseum against Arkansas State.
"I don't know if I even need rehab," Sarkisian said. "That's part of the process, and I credit Pat Haden for this, that he has put things in place for me to have meetings to figure that out, and I'll address them as they come. I've got a great staff that can support me along the way, and we'll see what comes out of it."
Sarkisian declined to specify what medication he is taking, but said he was impaired after combining it with "not a lot" of alcohol. The program is banning alcohol from campus and the Coliseum for the coaching staff. Alcohol was never available to players' locker room, Sarkisian confirmed.
"There won't be alcohol in our building ever again," Sarkisian said.
Sarkisian also said he was personally done drinking for the season.
Sports on 08/26/2015