Pete Carroll Says USC Is Following Rules

LOS ANGELES -- There is an alluring naivete in Pete Carroll, a genuineness when responding to questions about potential wrongdoings or errors in his program. The USC Trojans have dominated the Pac-10 and college football during his nine-year tenure and Carroll is accustomed to questions about the cleanliness of his team.

Such was the case Thursday, when the coach performed the media rounds on Pac-10 Media Day, talking to every local television station, cable networks, a Seattle radio talk show and then print and Internet reporters, discussing allegations that his hiring of NFL experienced coaches such as Pete Rodriguez and Alex Gibbs as consultants were violations.

It is against NCAA guidelines to hire coaches with NFL experiences to coach if they are not on staff. Carroll said the school ensured that Rodriguez and others were cleared by the NCAA before they were allowed to attend practice and offer advice.

"No, we went through the channels to make sure we were doing everything right on that deal and I think we went over that to make sure we were doing the right thing," he told a group of reporters. "I really can't say too much more than I have already said but that was done well before we got into [practice]. We took the proper channels. That's how we've always done it. So the fact is that we're contributing in every way we can to help."

Carroll did not seem too concerned about the latest accusation against USC. Remember, the NCAA has been investigating allegations that former tailback Reggie Bush was supplied a rent-free house for his parents, and that was three years ago. Still, not even a scholarship has been revoked or penalty assessed. So Carroll continues to keep trucking, oblivious to such negativity.

"The Reggie Bush stuff is really not topical. We really don't care anything about it," he said. "We don't get questioned about it. We did all of our contributing a long, long time ago. It seems like even longer than [three years]. We will continue to do what we need to do. We've done all we can do. The information is all in. Whatever the process is, we'll go through it and do whatever we have to do in the process and make sure we do it right. Respect it and regard it the way it needs to be regarded."

Carroll said there wasn't much more he could say to address the accusations or dealings with the NCAA. He has a season for which to prepare. The Trojans are ranked in the top 5 in most preseason polls and that's based on as much reputation as talent. USC was besieged by losses in the NFL Draft. Eleven Trojans were selected, including quarterback Mark Sanchez, much to the chagrin of Carroll.

The coach apologized for his public chiding of Sanchez for entering the draft a year early. And his concerns may not have been warranted since Sanchez was taken fourth overall by the New York Jets and is projected to start. So the Trojans were left with a slew of talented -- but inexperienced -- quarterbacks from which to choose. He chose redshirt sophomore Aaron Corp, he of three career pass attempts.



Some Trojan faithful appear concerned, but Carroll isn't one of them. He seems to recall when notables such as Sanchez, John David Booty and Matt Leinart took over the starting quarterback position with little experience, and the school has two national titles and seven consecutive BCS bowl appearances. So rest easy, Carroll said.

"It's one of the challenges that we've been through before," he said. " Who would have thunk that Matt Leinart in his first game was going to be able to go out against Auburn? The No. 1 defense and No. 1 team in the country and lead us in the game [a 23-0 win], so I think it's like that situation. He hadn't played before and he's going into Auburn. So I think we have a more solidified support group on offense that we did at that time."

If a program does indeed adopt the attitude of its leader, then USC is cool, collective and comfortable with being conference favorites despite questions about its depth and talent. But are these neophyte Trojans merely new names that college football teams will learn over the next six months when they become superstars? Will Aaron Corp or Joe McKnight become as familiar as Leinart or Bush in coming years? Carroll smiles slyly when talking about his team, apparently convinced that brilliance remains.

"I never felt any more than I feel right now, I think maybe the year coming back with Matt as a senior [in 2005] is similar to this," he said. "If we go back and work real hard, we have a chance. I don't know if this team is going to win this conference. I don't know where that takes us, I never have. We go and just start playing. This sound trite but that's how we do it and go to work. We'd like to see how you guys thought our defense was going to be last year. When we started the year, you might have some questions about it. But there's always questions."

And Carroll has had all the answers to this point.