Alexander: After an escape against Fresno State, USC’s challenges get steeper

LOS ANGELES — If Clay Helton’s career was flashing before his eyes toward the end of the first half Saturday night … well, could you blame him?
A coach under fire had already sweated through a half in which the Trojans were struggling with Fresno State. Graham Harrell’s variation of the “Air Raid” displayed promise on the first two drives, at least when the Trojans could stay out of their own way, before turning sluggish.
But when J.T. Daniels was sacked, fum