Pete Carroll left the University of Southern California to coach the Seahawks in January 2010, just five months before the NCAA dropped paralyzing sanctions on the Trojans for improper benefits and staffing issues after a four-year investigation.
So, of course, many assumed Carroll jumped ship. That couldn't be further from the truth, the Seattle coach told Gary Klein of the Los Angeles Times. Had he known the sanctions would come down so hard and so soon, he would have stayed to help resolve what he claims was "a terrible error" on the NCAA's part.
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"The truth was, an opportunity came up and it was one I couldn't turn away from," Carroll told Klein. "Had we known that that was imminent … I would never have been able to leave under those circumstances. When I look back now, I would have stayed there to do what we needed to do to resolve the problem."
With a 97-19 record, a 6-1 BCS Bowl record and a national title, the Trojans in nine seasons under Carroll were, um, pretty good. The dynasty also produced Reggie Bush, one of the most exciting players in college football history. But of course Bush had to return his Heisman Trophy as part of the penalties — the NCAA found that the running back received improper benefits from sports marketers while in college.
But Carroll claims he had no idea about his star player's compensation; USC had no idea.
"We didn't know," he said. "What I hope comes out of this is that this never happens to a university again. I think it was extraordinarily overdone, an overreaction."
Fortunately for the universities Carroll speaks of, the Ed O'Bannon vs. NCAA trial begins Monday — the first time a challenge to the way the NCAA operates has gotten this far — and could lead to reform regarding D1 football and baskeball players' compensation for use of their likeness.
Carroll warranted his jump to the pros in the form of a Super Bowl victory — February's thrashing of the Broncos — in Year 5 of his NFL head coaching career. Bush has experienced NFL success, too. But the Lions running back and Carroll don't speak of what did or did not happen at USC, according to the report.
"It's always been, 'How're you doing? How's it going,'" according to Carroll.
The awkward relationship is strange, given Carroll's reputation as a "players' coach" and success the two shared in Los Angeles.
Just ... strange.