Remember Who Matters

I would say Coach is caught between a rock and a hard place. He obviously considers it a possibility he would return to the NFL under the right circumstances. By the same token, he loves SC and his success there.

So he is conflicted. And to discuss this with his players, or especially the media i.e. Wolf, would serve no purpose.

So, Scott, if you were interviewing with the Times, you would feel compelled to tell your boss and colleagues at the Daily News?

SO your first two posts on this issue didn't generate the anti-Carroll sentiment you desired, so now it's all about the players?

Since the season ended you've been on a muckraking bender and it's time to get some help.

At times this is an informative blog, but it's also poisonous, backbiting, gossip-filled and your perceptions and opinions are reported as fact.

It's ironic really when you think about the reasons you dubbed Coach Pete Carroll "Ceasar" when you turn an eye towards the way you treat your readers and the facts, not to mention your highly inflated opinion of your own articles.

Who says this was a job interview. Pete has many friends in football that respect his opinions. Do you think that maybe he was meeting with them to discuss things like "what can we do different to improve our organization?". Just because he was meeting with them does not mean it was all about him. I know that is a hard thing for some to grasp.

Doesn't it tell you something, when you look at the teams he was talking to? All three, recently had bad experiences with hiring college coaches. My "sources" say, he wasn't interviewing, but they were picking (a brilliant college coach's brain), for ideas on who they might hire. Carroll has coached at all levels, in many capacities. Many of his assistants have gone to the NFL (most recently: Kiffen/Raiders, and Orgeron/Saints). And to insinuate, he is not "up-front" with his players, is very strange.

And I bet PC is looking at the treatment Lane Kiffin is getting and just dreaming of being in that position in the NFL???

SW! Get into recruiting! That's what, we, the readers are interested in right now! Go eat with Julio, offer to buy a car for Pryor and find out if D. Scott really likes Tex-Mex. These things are of value.

And what about D. Jones de-commiting from UCLA??? What's with that? Where is he going? And who was PC recruiting in St. Louis???

I dont think the future of the USC trojans lives and dies in the hands of Pete Carroll. If he walks, we will hire another big name coach that recruits will want to play for. Lets face facts, Pete's team has been shoty on Offense with exceptional talent, and the team was very underdeveloped from the wide receivers, to JDB, to Sanchez.'07 was probably Carroll's worst coached season since his tenure at SC. The offense didnt click towards the end of the season. Sark does not call a good game. He never relied on the run, IE STAFON JOHNSON. Johnson should have gotten his carries during the 2nd and 3rd quarter or the Rose Bowl when the offense was stagnant.
Why are we so worried about Carroll leaving? We should be asking does he really want to be here? I think this season he has a lot to prove and if he has a season like '07, i would start looking for a new coach at SC to recapture his attention. This whole wait and see approach does us no good.
I back the SC nation of domination with or without Pete!

I sometimes wonder how many commenters followed USC football in the 80s and 90s. To quote the above commenter "Why are we so worried about Carroll leaving?" I'll start the list.

1) 3-8
2) Finished in last place
3) Fresno St.
4) Memphis St.
5) 8 straight losses to ucla
6) a DECADE plus 2 of futility against ND

That should be enough, but others should feel free to add more.

When I was at SC for the end of the Smith era and the first year of JRII, everyone talked wistfully of the McKay/Robinson era. Well, the last six years have been better than any six years from that time.

It's all about perspective and when you've been down in the valley of Tollner, Smith, JRII, and He Who Shall Not Be Named, I've got plenty to worry about. And yet some think we should just hand Pete his walking papers. Ridiculous.

Scott,

You are absolutely ridiculous.

Why should Pete say anything further to anyone? So you could have something to print in the off season? The players haven't been told anything thus far? How the hell do you know that? Because they haven't come forth and disclosed Pete's private conversations with them to you (I mean why wouldn't they have? You are after all Scott Wolf - confidant and friend to every player on the USC roster.)

Are you suggesting that the recruits that have signed to play at USC since PC has been here haven't asked that question and been told what the deal is? He clearly told them he would be here and he has been - where's the problem there?

Just because you interview doesn't mean you're interested in leaving. Interviews also serve to keep your name out there and relevant. You think the recruits don't see how in demand Pete is and realize that by coming to USC you get a chance to play for a guy that could easily be an NFL coach but decides not to. As long as the NFL wants Pete and he turns them down he gains respect in the eyes of the players. The moment he stops taking the interviews is the moment you will start writing that Pete has lost his energy and has become stagnant - much like Joe Pa and Bobby Bowden have. Relevance is everything in college football. Once players don't see you as cutting edge anymore you have no chance to recruit the best. Pete gets that you don't.

Oh and to the other idiot who says USC would be just fine with or without Pete - get a clue. You are the epitome of what is wrong with the typical USC fan. After the past few years you've convinced yourself that winning/success just happens. Pete leaves? no biggie - we'll get Bil Cowher. It doesn't work like that. It never has and never will. It's exactly what Nebraska thought and look where that got them.
No team has ever won 6 straight Pac-10 championships before - EVER! It's not pure coincidence that it happens to be on Pete's watch.

Never did i say handing him his walking papers! I said if he wants to continue to shop NFL teams why shouldnt Mike Garret pay a friendly visit to Jeff Fisher or Jack Del Rio. His NFL talks have become an issue and has an affect on the program. Do you not think that Pete might be taking SC for granted? SC has re-established its brand name in the eyes of the recruits. I see nothing wrong in taking a proactive approach instead of a reactive.

So now disputed the fact that this was his poorest coaching season and this time he shopped two NFL teams. Thats the problem with you Trojan fans, you wait until the program takes a nose dive to make moves. Kids want to come to SC because it is exciting time to be here, the 100,000 people in the stands. Sure Pete got it here, but it doesnt mean it all comes crashing down if he leaves... HAVE FAITH IN THE PROGRAM!!!
I was at SC during the Hackett era, so yeah i was there at the bottom, for every game, and didn't leave at half time.
Please refrain from using derogatory terms towards me. You don't need them to get your point across. We are Trojans leave that talk for miguelito.

I agree with trooojan02. If Pete is going to keep interviewing for other jobs, it's only prudent to have a contingency plan in place. It would be irresponsible for Garrett not to do so. The performance of the football team at SC affects the entire athletic dept as well as donations to unrelated programs. We can't just sit back while he flies around shopping for other jobs.
Two more points: Many of you are spinning Pete's actions according to your wishful thinking. You present any number of reasons why he would interview but not be interested in the job - to offer his expertise in looking for another coach, to keep his name out there, to stay energized, etc. Anything but the possibility that he hasn't let go of the NFL and wants to go back - whether it's to redeem himself or just to compete against the best as he's said himself.
Last point: Many people gave Scott a very hard time when he first reported the rift between Pete and Norm. He was a liar, a traitor, a sleazy journalist, etc but now it's common knowledge that this was true. Every local writer talks about it, announcers on TV have mentioned it, and the bruins were counting on it as a motive to get Chow for themselves. Don't beat up Scott for reporting Pete's actions for what they are. You just choose to look away.

So now disputed the fact that this was his poorest coaching season and this time he shopped two NFL teams. Thats the problem with you Trojan fans, you wait until the program takes a nose dive to make moves. Kids want to come to SC because it is exciting time to be here, the 100,000 people in the stands. Sure Pete got it here, but it doesnt mean it all comes crashing down if he leaves... HAVE FAITH IN THE PROGRAM!!!
I was at SC during the Hackett era, so yeah i was there at the bottom, for every game, and didn't leave at half time.
Please refrain from using derogatory terms towards me. You don't need them to get your point across. We are Trojans leave that talk for miguelito.

So now disputed the fact that this was his poorest coaching season and this time he shopped two NFL teams. Thats the problem with you Trojan fans, you wait until the program takes a nose dive to make moves. Kids want to come to SC because it is exciting time to be here, the 100,000 people in the stands. Sure Pete got it here, but it doesnt mean it all comes crashing down if he leaves... HAVE FAITH IN THE PROGRAM!!!
I was at SC during the Hackett era, so yeah i was there at the bottom, for every game, and didn't leave at half time.
Please refrain from using derogatory terms towards me. You don't need them to get your point across. We are Trojans leave that talk for miguelito.

Pete Carroll is not leaving.

But if he ever did there will be well prepared guys on his staff ready and willing to take over.

Things are fine.

Back to recruiting.....

I agree with everything trooojan02 said.

The question is not if Pete will leave or not it is when will he leave. He will leave.

If Pete leaves he leaves. In fact, I wish he would leave soon and just get it over with.

Why should we concern ourselves over a coach who is looking to get back in the NFL and just uses the USC job as a back-up or reserve and a stepping stone?

Look, if Pete really wanted to stay then there is no reason to keep interviewing.

This whole thing is getting old.

We will be OK after he leaves.