Smith Reaction
USC athletic director Mike Garrett on Larry Smith: ``When he came to USC, he brought a tough-minded approach and solid fundamentals and he produced some very successful teams here. Getting his first three teams into the Rose Bowl is unprecedented in our history. We'll remember Larry dearly and will long appreciate his contributions to Trojan football. Our sincere thoughts go out to Cheryl and the family.''
God, I hate tributes to the dead from people who did not give one thought to them for years and years. So hypocritical. But I guess Garrett felt obligated to make his hollow comments.
Tough situation for him though Lawyer John. He says nothing and he gets grilled for being insensitive. Says something for the society we live in that it is considered better to make some insincere comments than just do nothing.
I don't think Larry Smith needs to be lionized beyond what he was. He had a couple of good years early but was a poor recruiter (his talent fell off); he seemed to delight in angering alums and fans (unreasonable as we can sometimes be) and bottom line: he was hired because at Arizona he was able to beat ASU and SC was looking for someone to beat ucla and Notre Dame. I don't recall his record against ucla, but he never beat ND and will be always be remembered by me for his inert non-reaction at ND Stadium when the refs made a clearly bad spot that cost SC a crucial first down. All Smith did was grin. That trademark silly grin made him look clueless and weak. A nice man, but come on. He was fired for a reason. So his players didn't want to be at the Freedom Bowl when they got beat by Fresno State?!? Hello! It's the coach's job to motivate.
all coaches can be faulted for not motivating players...even our beloved Pete ( Fucla 2006, Stanford 2007)