Longtime USC beat writer Scott Wolf of the LOS ANGELES DAILY NEWS criticized Pete Carroll’s public reaction today to Mark Sanchez announcing he is going pro.
(Awkward)
Wolf reports:
USC coach Pete Carroll was extremely ungracious during the Mark Sanchez press conference. He stormed out of the room and did not even sit at the table before Sanchez addressed the media. Something he never did when Matt Leinart, etc., announced their decisions. Carroll never sat down at the table but stood with his palms on the table. His anger was clear if you spend time around him. Not a great moment.
That sort of reportage on Carroll harkens his days with the Jets, when media notations of his erratic behavior on and off-the-field weren’t uncommon. (Remember the throat-slash he signaled on-field in the ’90s while coaching the struggling Jets?)
Here in Los Angeles, Carroll can do no wrong. Especially with the latest publicity about his frequent visits to meet inner-city Angelenos. But for people who have studied the program closely, there’s been a definite shift in Carroll’s coaching approach since USC’s remarkable championship run. And it isn’t for the better.
(Video of Carroll’s reaction at Sanchez presser after the jump)
After winning his second straight BCS title, Carroll made little-to-no effort to keep offensive coordinator Norm Chow, who, along with Carroll, was most responsible to the pair of titles and Carson Palmer’s & Leinart’s Heisman awards.
Other veteran assistants from Carroll’s early days with the Trojans have also all left. More interesting is that Carroll replaced them with much younger, more inexperienced assistant coaches.
The result is that the younger assistants, unlike Chow, no longer challenge Carroll. They merely fall in line and hope for a recommendation for a plum head coaching job (see Steve Sarkisian and Lane Kiffin).
Since Carroll’s concerted shift in hiring practice, the program, despite overwhelming talent, has suffered unimaginable letdowns at the hands of Stanford and Oregon State (twice) in the past three seasons. Letdowns that killed the Trojans’ national title hopes.
Besides the obvious, why was Carroll so upset today? In case you don’t know, word is around the Pac-10 that USC next season isn’t going to be quite as talented across the board as it usually is, especially with the defection of Sanchez.
So with the mounting pressure of what could be a season of struggle next year, Carroll just couldn’t hold back his disgust with Sanchez, who will no doubt be a first-round NFL draft choice. In Sanchez’s defense, if USC were to have a mediocre 2009, who knows how that would effect his draft status. Not to mention that he was plagued by a gimpy knee throughout 2008.
So if you think today’s display by Carroll was bad, just wait kids, it could get worse. And then people might qualify PC’s forays into South Central as a distraction - instead of fawning over it as they do today.
8:20 pm on January 15th, 2009
Washington has his offensive and defensive coordinator and he has just lost his starting QB. The Pac-10 is about to start shifting back to it's proper balance - Washington #1 and USC #2. Slick Ricky set UW back for 7 years, but nature has a way of balancing itself and the proper King will regain it's crown in the next 2 years.
8:23 pm on January 15th, 2009
I think Pete's doing a fine job with USC - especially when he comes to visit Corvallis.
*cough*27-21*cough*33-31*cough*
8:27 pm on January 15th, 2009
Does this mean no more Dirty Sanchez jokes?
8:49 pm on January 15th, 2009
If Carroll wanted Sanchez to stay, he should've stood in front of the podium & held his breath until his face turned blue.
8:51 pm on January 15th, 2009
I can't feel sorry for Petey in this case. Or in any other case. Jerk.
And Johnny is right on with the Huskies coming back to prominence. You just wait!
9:13 pm on January 15th, 2009
I almost forgot about Pete Carroll's time coaching the Jets. And coaching the Patriots. And considering how well he did at each stop, it always amuses me when his name comes up for any NFL job opening.
9:42 pm on January 15th, 2009
When the Trojans stop winning Pac-10 titles, I'll concede Pete's having problems. But until then…
9:56 pm on January 15th, 2009
Coming to a YouTube screen near you: "LEAVE PETE ALONE!!!!!"
10:43 pm on January 15th, 2009
Yeah real smart Pete…feed the kid that junk about the NFL "caring" that kids finish school…
If Leinart had came out his Junior year he would have went #1 overall to SF….he stuck around the extra year and NFL scouts got a chance to realize he sucks.
Good for you Sanchez get that paper.
10:45 pm on January 15th, 2009
USC was not 2 time BCS champs!!!!!!!! their 03 season ended with being no 1 in th AP POLL, not BCS!! and not good enough
3:15 am on January 16th, 2009
Love all the masses of the jealous! Fight On Pete! The winning continues next season as usual at USC, the whining continues as usual at ACLU!
11:51 am on January 16th, 2009
Second straight BCS title? He won one, between LSU and Texas.
12:15 pm on January 16th, 2009
I'm not a USC fan, but I think you've journeyed into "yellow journalism" by dishing on him for simply stating his opinion in a sincere and thoughtful fashion. Once I saw the tape, it was obvious that you did a wholly unjustified slam job on Pete. Shame on Brooks.
1:31 pm on January 16th, 2009
Lorenzo Romar is tearing it up on the hardwood for the Huskies, so perhaps Sarkisian can continue the success on the gridiron. I really think college football is better when Washington matters. In any case, I'm hesitant to criticize Carroll because he's a playoff proponent, so with that said, hopefully Pete gets his wish.
3:24 pm on January 16th, 2009
Sorry LSU fan, it was split, USC was 2003 Nat. Champs! The AP Trophy is the oldest one in college football and they've been giving it to the best team at the end of the year ever since!
3:37 pm on January 16th, 2009
Jeez Brooks, Wolfie showed up 3/4 into the presser…got his info from Petros and Money, and then tried to "create the story" instead of journalistically professionally actually covering and reporting the story. His take is BS! Carrol was supporting his advisory side of it. Good for PC. I'd have expected nothing less from him.
5:41 pm on January 16th, 2009
finally someone tells the truth about an insecure guy who has sold the nfl dream to high school kids.
8:26 pm on January 16th, 2009
Ummm…another Pac 10 Title. Next year? Another Pac 10 Title.
UW fans? You will like Holt but I do not know a Trojan fan who was sorry to see Sark go. Pete was loyal but he should have replaced him after last year.
9:12 pm on January 16th, 2009
Pete's just another selfish Biatch .
8:31 am on January 17th, 2009
I think PC is simply stating the facts surrounding the situation. I'm an Ohio State fan, so I have no bias in this thing. PC has done great things at SC - The article really does seem to be a smackdown on him.
8:42 pm on January 19th, 2009
I'm pretty sure they will be just fine, considering USC's 2009 freshman class has the best quarterback in the country, a handful of the best OL, the 2nd best linebacker(and the inside track on the #1), and a half dozen or so WR's and all around athletes to drop in wherever they need to.