Answer Thursday! (Part 5)
Another one of those Pete Carroll-Jim Harbaugh questions in this segment.
Q: Sam Gilbert said:
What caused the bad blood between Pete Carroll and Jim Harbaugh? Are there any other coaches who have that type of relationship with Carroll?
A: It started when Harbaugh said Carroll would be leaving for the NFL anyways in his first season. Then Harbaugh had the temerity to upset USC in 2007. Then they had the timeout-calling standoff in the final seconds of the 2008 game, when Carroll put Rey Maualuga and Brian Cushing back in the game with a 28-point lead.
The dislike stems from the fact they are similar personalities. Very competitive.
The only relationship that rivals it is Carroll and Rick Neuheisel. So next week will be fun too.
Q: TROJANS32 said:
In view of what KEVIN THOMAS said about the defense, do you think there is dissension there, and, in view of what JOE McKNIGHT said about the offense, do you think there is dissension there? If so, do you think anything can be done about it this season? Thanx.
A: There is always some dissension when you lose. It's not that bad compared to some other USC teams I've covered, however, and this is a team that is not high on the ego meter (relatively speaking). But this is the gut check time. The season goals are in a shambles, so it will be interesting to see if USC plays with high intensity and does not crack under adversity in the next two games.
What you failed to mention about that timeout standoff at the end of last year's game is that Stanford was lining up to kick a meaningless FIELD GOAL. That's a jerk move, so Pete responded with a jerk move.
I guarantee you that Rick Neuheisel hasn't forgotten about about Pete Carroll's single vote that kept Rick from having his son on the field when all other Pac-10 coaches agreed to it. Rick will be out for blood, just like Harbaugh was.
Thanks for the answer Wolf.
btw: According to Jon Gold, Rick Neuheisel is now an equal competitor with Mac Brown, Urban Meyer and Pete Carroll...
Jon Gold, is in the wrong profession.
Hey, Jonathan Gold is one of my favorite writers. His restaurant reviews in the LA Weekly are always worth reading and won him the Pulitzer, a first for a restaurant reviewer. Is he reviewing football teams now too? Talk about diversifying!
I wanted to follow up on my comment yesterday that Stanford always plays tough at the coliseum. Here are the numbers for the last 30 years:
1969 - W, 26-24
1971 - L 18-33
1973 - W 27-26
1975 - No Game
1977 - W, 49-0
1979 - T, 21-21
1981 - W, 25-17
1983 - W, 30-7
1985 - W, 30-6
1987 - W, 39-24
1989 - W, 19-0
1991 - L, 21-24
1993 - W, 45-20
1995 - W, 31-30
1997 - W, 45-21
1999 - L, 31-35
2001 - L, 16-21
2003 - W, 44-21
2005 - W, 51-21
2007 - L, 23-24
2009 - L, 21-55
13-6-1, 65%
Not necessarily DOMINANCE.
Stanford is a bunch of smart kids, and smart kids know how to play assignment football. They know their alignment and their assignment and they do it quickly. That, my friends is why hard work beats talent when talent doesn't work hard.
As you can see, USC has lost:
The last 2, 100%
2 out of last 3, 67%
4 out of last 6, 67%
5 out of last 10, 50%