Mentioning Pete Carroll in relationship to USC’s defense should not be viewed as a secret desire to want Carroll back at USC. No, that’s not where we are going with this. It’s true that Lincoln Riley’s struggles in Year 2 at USC make Carroll look better. Pete was able to sustainably build USC into a top program and keep the Trojans at the top for several years running. The enormity of that feat is enhanced by seeing Riley stumble in his second season in Los Angeles.
We don’t need to kid ourselves and dream of a world in which Pete Carroll and Lincoln Riley work together. That will never happen. Carroll has the Seattle Seahawks in the NFL playoff hunt and is trying to win a second Super Bowl with the franchise. That’s his job. He loves it. He’s not coming to USC. We’re not trying to suggest that he will or that he should.
Here’s the simple thing we’re focusing on in connection with Pete Carroll and USC: We certainly hope that as USC’s defensive coordinator search has unfolded behind the scenes this week, Riley has consulted Carroll about the choice. If Riley is smart, he has already picked up the phone and had a conversation with Carroll about the qualities of a good coordinator, and beyond that, how practices and daily operations can create tougher, stronger football players.
That’s all. We hope Riley has consulted Carroll, a USC coaching legend, for wisdom and insight at a time when Riley can use all the help he can get.
When USC reveals its new defensive coordinator, maybe Riley will share details on how the evaluation process unfolded.
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