Side Show: Pac-12 fines Haden, Sarkisian

Sep 8, 2014 - 5:20 PM San Francisco, CA (SportsNetwork.com) - Southern California athletic director Pat Haden and head football coach Steve Sarkisian have been fined and reprimanded for their sideline actions during the Trojans' 13-10 win over Stanford on Saturday.

The Pac-12 announced Monday that the conference has levied a $25,000 fine on Haden and imposed an undisclosed penalty on both men for a "lengthy and inappropriate" argument with officials in the third quarter over a sideline encroachment penalty.

"The conduct by USC Athletics Director Pat Haden was inappropriate," said Pac-12 commissioner Larry Scott. "Such actions by an administrator in attempt to influence the officiating, and ultimately the outcome of a contest, will not be tolerated."

During the game, Sarkisian summoned Haden to join him on the sideline and to act as an intermediary in dealing with the Pac-12 officials during the game. Haden then confronted game officials regarding the management of the game. In addition, Haden conducted a television interview on the sideline during the game with comments relative to the Pac-12's officiating of the game.

Haden has since implemented a self-imposed two-game sideline ban on himself for his actions.

"The conduct by both Sarkisian and Haden were in clear violation of our conference's Standards of Conduct policy," added Scott. "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."

USC, now ranked ninth in the country, visits Boston College on Saturday.