Former USC quarterback Matt Cassell was asked by Kansas City radio station WHB the last time he spoke to Pete Carroll.
“I think it was the week I took over for Tom Brady, when I was going to make the start at the Jets stadium, he gave me a call and told me he believed in me.”
I wonder if Carroll ever told Cassell he believed in him when he was at USC? I’m sure Cassell thought the same thing.

Remember last year’s Achilles’ heel for USC’s offense was third-down conversions? USC is currently converting 53.1 percent of its third-down conversions, which is the second-best in the Pac-10. That stat is definitely un-Bates-like.
Last year USC converted 36 percent of its third downs.

USC athletic director Pat Haden and president Max Nikias went to Indianapolis to introduce themselves to the NCAA.

Wrapping up last week’s Open Forum.
Continue reading “Answer Tuesday!” »

Now that Steve Sarkisian said USC is the best team in the Pac-10 and praised its “depth,” the only thing left is to see how Monte Kiffin turns Jake Locker into Peyton Manning this week. Then again, Kiffin will be hard-pressed to outdo the breathless coverage Locker received as the Heisman Trophy frontrunner all summer.

“In my opinion the most talented football team in our conference from top to bottom.”
— Washington coach Steve Sarkisian on USC. What will he say when he faces Oregon or Stanford?

“He’s done a nice job, I think we’ve done a nice job. These are both jobs we thought we special ones, especially in the Pac-10. It’s a unique experience, this early in our careers, to be facing each other in such a pivotal ball game in the Pac-10 race.”
— Washington coach Steve Sarkisian on facing Lane Kiffin

Time for post-Washington State questions. One per person please. I still have a few more questions to answer from the previous forum so if your question did not get answered yet, you do not need to repost it.

Here are the grades for the Washington State game.
Continue reading “USC Report Card” »

It’s a much tougher Pac-10 than the first time Lane Kiffin coached at USC.