Monday, January 11, 2010

Pete Carroll Ditches School for Pros as USC Hurts


For years, he has built a foundation and declared citizenship. The masses, in the Southland, are wondering why a college genius has chosen to ditch the campus life, where he has clearly been the symbol of USC football. As a baffled community tries to figure out why he’s fleeing the Hollywood lifestyle for the rainy days in Seattle, Pete Carroll is running and leaving behind a corrupted athletic department.

Maybe it doesn’t have to do with all the scandals, but maybe he feels it’s time to make a transition to the next level. People in Los Angeles were used to seeing ferocity, built and formed by the clever-minded Carroll. The crafted coaching trait were signs of brilliancy, thriving as a valuable architect USC never envisioned losing.

However, the unforeseen fiascoes last season and repugnant scandals, may have dictated Carroll’s future. You can’t blame, arguably, the greatest coach in USC history of evading the toxic haze. All the grotesque messes are headaches, are enough to make a successful coach resign. So Carroll isn’t on vacation, but leaving for the airport, where he’s ready to catch the next flight to Seattle.

In a country where decisions are suitable usually in any giving situation, there’s no law stated in the constitution that he must remain the coach at USC. There’s much negativity floating around USC in which Carroll could be burned out, nauseated of the pending investigation and alleged infractions.

Because issues continue to unfold, the Trojans are caught in a horrific predicament and mystique is ripped, not grasping a sense of what is transpiring such as the latest outbreak. Of late, the messes have stained the pride of a prominent program, facing all sorts of headaches. But the latest spill came when news surfaced that tailback Joe McKnight allegedly drove a Land Rover owned by a businessman.

Meanwhile, there’s an investigation still pending on if Reggie Bush received gifts and cash, including renting a free home while attending USC. Four losses last season could’ve compelled him to leave and not spend the rest of a productive livelihood in Southern California.

Where he presented nine years of excellence, Carroll is thrilled and takes on a greater challenge. He’s leaving the campus for the pros. He’s leaving USC for the Seattle Seahawks, a franchise where he has to start from scratch, similar to the arrival at USC.

For years, NFL teams organized interviews and pleaded for Carroll’s assistance. But every time, he ignored and turned down NFL jobs to relish an illustrious profession at the college level.

As the executives in Seattle were desperate and elated to give Carroll a wealthy deal, he refused to turn down a chance at redemption. Reportedly, the five-year deal ranges at an estimated $32.5 million to revitalize a stagnant organization that has won nine games in two seasons. From two standpoints it seems unforeseen.

First of all, hardly, everyone in L.A. is stunned Carroll has resigned and is leaving for the NFL. Secondly, everyone in the Pacific Northwest is shocked the local franchise faltered instantly in Jim Mora Jr.’s renaissance era. Agreeing in principle with Seattle, seems like a perfect fit in an atmosphere where he has a chance to vindicate to all doubters.

Last time he coached the pros, Carroll seemed mediocre and committed failure by rupturing an image. But now, he has a chance to redeem burdens and confirm his magnitude of success, if meeting the pro criteria is as simple as the college game.

And the idea now, after he graduated from the campus life with a degree of prosperity, is to make a statement by surviving the pros. But given his horrid track record, Carroll isn’t supposed to survive in a game that recruiting isn’t a factor for overhauling and assembling resurgence.

During all head coaching stints in the NFL, Carroll was fired by New England and the New York Jets and failed in producing enough victories to procure recognition. The Trojans' reign has suddenly come to an end, in which the genius who assembled almighty classes during a nine-year stay understands triumphant ages eventually vanishes.

While the fans are hurt wondering whether Carroll is worth describing as a traitor or quitter, he considers finishing out a phenomenal career in the NFL. Three weeks away from national signing day, and Pete is gone. More than millions paid out now is the least worry at USC. Two national titles, seven Pac-10 titles, seven BCS bowl games and 97 wins in 116 games will always exist as Carroll’s legacy lingers.

Whenever a coach groom student-athletes and produce victories at an ideal program, many become attach to an incredible play-caller, recruiter and mentor. And, indeed, he had the personality to nurture sports figures. Not many players were unknown under Carroll. In fact, many were identified as legends and were All-Americans. What we are seeing now is a man leaving school for a bigger challenge, an exciting journey in the pros.

If the average fan is disappointed and feels betrayed, having a critical attitude or lambasting him comes as no surprise. Carroll knows he’s departing the prestige lifestyle for a hapless town.

That pretty much describes where it stands as far as sports. Though the Trojans have won 11 national championships and seven Heisman Trophies, he views a surreal transition as an effulgent juncture. Thanks to Carroll -- USC was obsessed with well-balanced quarterbacks.

Of course, each had the complete package and displayed unmatchable precision and mobility. The big men stood on campus in prior years and were gunslingers and runners, such as Matt Leinart, John David Booty, Mark Sanchez and Matt Barkley, who Carroll molded and taught the fundamentals of the game.

So, maybe leaving for the NFL isn’t bad after all. Now he’ll be able to make personnel decisions, something he has had very little of while in his seasons as head coach. As the Seahawks are expected to hire a general manager, the announcement could come as early as Tuesday or later in the week.

But, either way, Carroll is the next head coach and filled the coaching vacancy in a matter of days following Mora’s dismissal.

With several recruits stressing uncertainty, the tougher hassle is filling the coaching vacancy. The next head coach may not be USC alumni Jeff Fisher or frontrunner Mike Riley, who singed a three-year contract extension late Sunday to remain Oregon State’s head coach.

It’s clear the Trojans may be expressing interest in Jacksonville Jaguars coach Jack Del Rio and former USC offensive coordinator Steve Sarkisian could be in the mix as well.

Even though he admitted his “dream job” is Washington, Sarkisian may be interested and a perfect blend for the program. His familiarity is considerable, adapting to Carroll’s tactics and understanding the formulas in the offensive playbook. That name makes the most sense out of all candidates, but which ever way you visualize it, USC hurts without an attractive guru like Carroll.

Even if agreeing in principle mocked the Rooney Rule, Carroll has been welcomed aboard to coach an NFL franchise.

Yes, the Seahawks ignored the Rooney Rule, but stealing a genius hurts the Trojans. Somehow the program must Fight On.

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