Weekend Forum Answers, Act II

Q: Do you think the basketball team will be able to make the NCAA Tournament?
A: Yes. The Pac-10 is brutal, but USC should have a good power ranking and their preseason schedule is a definite plus. I'm not worried that the team will not get better over the next two months, I'm only worried that some attitude issues will have a negative impact.

Q: Since going to so many Rose Bowls within just a few years is bad (so you seem to indicate), how did John McKay handle the problem, and how much sharper would USC have been had they gone to a different bowl?
A: I don't know because I wasn't around for the McKay era. But consider this: The Rose Bowl was the ultimate goal in those days. USC now ``settles'' for going to the Rose Bowl because it didn't make the BCS title game. USC was sharp in the Rose Bowl, but who were they playing? Would LSU or Georgia have folded as easily as Illinois? Doubtful. Those are much more talented teams.

Q: Does PC have a buyout clause in his contract (similar to the Rich Rodriguez-West Virginia contract)? If so, what is the number?
A: I know there is a buyout clause in Caesar's contract that pays him if he is fired. I doubt there is a reverse clause because he can set his own terms with USC, so it's doubtful they would push for that.

Q: Is OJ Mayo bad for this team, the way Steve Francis and/or Stephon Marbury is bad for there teams -- they are all about themselves and they don't make teammates better?
A: I do not believe Mayo is bad for the team although his shot selection is sometimes questionable. But what I didn't anticipate was that I honestly believe Mayo could use another year in college, although I am not foolish enough to believe it will happen. I figured with the hype college was merely a pit stop, but I think another year would do a lot for him.

Q: Is the NCAA going to do anything about the horse collar tackle which is very dangerous?
A: Nothing's planned.

Q: Can you offer us any insight as to why the Pac 10 is against a playoff system? Who, in the Pac 10, serve on this group ?
A: The Pac-10 and Big Ten consider preserving their ties to the Rose Bowl the No. 1 priority. Pac-10 commissioner Tom Hansen is on the BCS committee, but the Pac-10 university presidents and athletic directors advise him.

Q: Do you believe anything will come of Mike Slive and John Swofford's promise that the BCS would explore moving to a plus-one system during their spring meetings, and is there any hope of Michael Adams prevailing in his effort to take the fight for an eight-way playoff system directly to the NCAA Executive Committee?
A: The movement is gaining steam and is slowly making progress. As I've said, the Pac-10 and Big Ten need to come on board. Although I'd like to see the other conferences call the bluff of the Pac-10 and Big Ten, and see if those conferences would voluntarily cut themselves out of the championship process.
Q: What's your latest prediction on how the Colisseum negotiations will play out?

A: USC will reach an agreement before the spring.

Q: Setting aside all the posturing and double-speak, what's your take on Pete Carroll's true feelings about an NFL job? Is he just biding his time at SC until a pro team offers him the level of control he's looking for?

A: Pete Carroll's inner circle of friends and his background are in the NFL. He can tell you scores of NFL games with much more familiarity even now than college games. If an owner said he could become the coach and GM, it would be a dream job. But who wouldn't take that or at least strongly consider it?

He knows he is best suited for college football and loves being at USC. But he likes to listen and see what's out there. He might never get his dream offer, but who does?