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, a former BYU quarterback, 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.
Quarterback Cody Kessler and linebacker Su'a Cravens believe the players support Sarkisian, who went 9-4 last season after rejoining the program where he spent two stints as an assistant coach under Pete Carroll. The Trojans are a popular preseason pick to win the Pac-12 title in their first season after the expiration of heavy NCAA sanctions.
FILE - This Sept. 9, 2007 file photo Steve-O and guest arrive at the MTV Video Music Awards at the Palms Hotel and Casino in Las Vegas. "Jackass" star Steve-O will face five criminal charges after he climbed a crane in Hollywood to protest SeaWorld and drew dozens of emergency responders to a construction site earlier this month. (AP Photo/Kevork Djansezian, File)
FILE - In this July 31, 2015, file photo, Southern California coach Steve Sarkisian speaks to reporters during NCAA college Pac-12 Football media days in Burbank, Calif. Sarkisian apologized Sunday, Aug. 23, 2015, for his behavior and inappropriate language at a team event Saturday. Sarkisian issued a written apology on the schools official website the morning after the Salute to Troy, a reception held before each season for the football team, alumni and athletic program donors, after several people who attended the event said on social media that the second-year Trojans coach appeared to be drunk while using profane language in praising his team. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill, File)
Southern California NCAA college football coach Steve Sarkisian speaks to media before football practice in Los Angeles, Tuesday, Aug. 25, 2015. Sarkisian publicly apologized for his drunken appearance at a team rally last weekend, attributing his slurred, profane speech to a combination of alcohol and medication. (AP Photo/Nick Ut)
Southern California NCAA college football coach Steve Sarkisian speaks to media before football practice, in Los Angeles, Tuesday, Aug. 25, 2015. Sarkisian publicly apologized for his drunken appearance at a team rally last weekend, attributing his slurred, profane speech to a combination of alcohol and medication.(AP Photo/Nick Ut)
Southern California NCAA college football coach Steve Sarkisian speaks to media before football practice, in Los Angeles, Tuesday, Aug. 25, 2015. Sarkisian publicly apologized for his drunken appearance at a team rally last weekend, attributing his slurred, profane speech to a combination of alcohol and medication.(AP Photo/Nick Ut)
FILE - This Jan. 29, 2015 file photo shows New Mexico Attorney General Hector Balderas talking during a news conference in Albuquerque, N.M. Balderas, is launching an investigation into how the state's largest school district hired a high-level administrator who faces child sex abuse charges. Balderas announced Monday, Aug. 24, his office will look into why Albuquerque Public Schools' safety protocols were breached and Jason Martinez was hired in June before a background check was completed. (AP Photo/Susan Montoya Bryan, File)
Southern California NCAA college football coach Steve Sarkisian speaks to media before football practice, in Los Angeles, Tuesday, Aug. 25, 2015. Sarkisian publicly apologized for his drunken appearance at a team rally last weekend, attributing his slurred, profane speech to a combination of alcohol and medication.(AP Photo/Nick Ut)
Jason Martinez is seen in this Denver Police Department booking photo dated July 18, 2013, in Denver, Colo. New Mexico's attorney general is launching an investigation into how the state's largest school district hired Martinez as a high-level administrator who faces child sex abuse charges in Colorado. (Denver Police Department via AP)
Donate to the newsroom now. The Salt Lake Tribune, Inc. is a 501(c)(3) public charity and contributions are tax deductible