Pete Carrol
For those of you who didn't catch that interview with 60 Minutes tonight on CBS, check it out on cbsnews.com. I always respected the guy as a coach, but never really trusted him as a person. I thought he was all Hollywood and did buy into the scandals somewhat. After watching this bit about him, I have all the respect in the world for the guy and am not surprised he can pull in anyone he wants in terms of recruiting. This guy goes out in the middle of the night to the worst of neighborhoods in LA, talking to gangsters and those growing up in areas where such a lifestyle exists, talking to them and mentoring them in order to change the way they live and motivate them towards living a better life. I've been to these areas before and its downright scary. This takes balls what he does and it also takes heart.
December 14th, 2008 at 8:47 PM ^
Yea. After watching that tonight he has gained more of my respect. That's really cool that he does that, but still in the back of my mind I can't shake the idea that he gets something out of it. Recruits? Money? I don't know. But he has gained more of my respect now.
December 15th, 2008 at 5:48 PM ^
I still think usc and pete must have shady recruiting practices but he SEEMS like a good dude. And usc doesnt need much help getting recruits. weather, chicks, great team. But USC still for some reason seems shady and im sure (not really) that their players are paid and dont go to class.
December 14th, 2008 at 8:50 PM ^
I don't think he gets money, but he definitely gets recruits out of it. For any mother sitting in Florida worried about sending her son all the way to Cali, all they can do is watch the video and they will be content with letting their kid play at USC.
December 14th, 2008 at 8:53 PM ^
Pete Carroll grew up in San Francisco in the late 60's and early 70's... it's entirely possible he just believes in helping people.
December 14th, 2008 at 8:56 PM ^
Same here. I was really impressed by this piece on Pete Carroll and definitely gained a lot of respect for him. The interviewer from CBS, however, was a moron.
December 14th, 2008 at 8:58 PM ^
I'm glad you brought this up, I was really impressed by him. I thought he was kind of a mogul with tons of talent at his fingers but I'm actually proud of the work he's done and I think he's a great fit there.
December 14th, 2008 at 9:24 PM ^
I'm glad someone beat me to the punch with this diary post. I am a Patriots fan and I kind of hate USC, but I do like Pete Carroll now. He used to just strike me as a golden-haired beach boy, but that's just his way. He is totally at peace with himself and everyone, it's amazing. I enjoyed listening to him speak about how he eventually found his niche after dealing with being fired twice in the NFL. And his community work is amazing. I may not be a fan of USC, but I am now a fan of Pete Carroll.
Also, I once saw a piece on ESPN about a Latino boy who lives near USC and is a fan. His neighborhood is rough and he has some type of disability that makes him unpopular. Well, Pete Carroll allowed him to come to practices and be the waterboy, and then gave him the responsibility of personal assistant to the coach--helping with mail and office stuff. For the boy, he gets to hang around something he loves and to do work that he can feel good about.
December 14th, 2008 at 9:45 PM ^
Puff piece. But that's ok-- Pete Carroll is good people. And it's nice to see someone in that kind of position getting involved in the community. After all, USC's campus is right next to Compton and Watts and some of LA's worst ghettos.
Pete Carroll is also a major playoff proponent, so he's got that going for him, which is nice.
December 14th, 2008 at 9:59 PM ^
when he was the HC of the Jets? Answer this, 60 min, and you will get my respect.
December 14th, 2008 at 10:09 PM ^
sure, now I have to re-evaluate my hatred of USC. oh no wait, there it is.
December 14th, 2008 at 10:45 PM ^
And nice digs at OSU and Charlie Weis.
December 15th, 2008 at 12:30 AM ^
but it's "Pete Carroll."
December 15th, 2008 at 1:00 AM ^
Considering who Peter Carroll is, or at least made out to be this story was very inspiring. I always thought he was all Hollywood and didn’t have to work for anything. The best recruits come to USC for a reason and that’s testament to Carroll. If I was father, I would feel very comfortable sending my child to USC. I love uplifting stories that I can relate to real life. Someday, there will be a movie made about this outstanding individual.
December 15th, 2008 at 1:39 AM ^
"This guy goes out in the middle of the night to the worst of neighborhoods in LA, talking to gangsters and those growing up in areas where such a lifestyle exists"
So, you mean he works late and walks around campus after dark, talking to students?
!!!
December 15th, 2008 at 2:26 AM ^
I think your impression of USC is wrong... It's all rich people's sons and daughters who have probably gone to private school all their lives and continue to go to private school at USC... kind of like the Michigan out-of-staters
December 15th, 2008 at 5:03 AM ^
yes, the students are like that. however, USC is in a terrible area of LA. Surrounding campus is south central.
December 15th, 2008 at 8:36 AM ^
The surrounding area is terrible, but the students are so confined within the campus that they are more or less oblivious to what is going on surrounding them.
December 15th, 2008 at 3:23 AM ^
The reporter sounds like one of those kids from Reading Rainbow.
December 15th, 2008 at 5:42 AM ^
Huh???
December 15th, 2008 at 12:10 PM ^
I think you were born after Reading Rainbow went off the air.
December 15th, 2008 at 12:42 PM ^
Now I am so happy, I do the Dance of Joy!
December 15th, 2008 at 12:44 PM ^
The best:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2Uz-sf5UEzc
Pete Carroll = Phillip Drummond.
December 15th, 2008 at 12:47 PM ^
OMG MEME IN A MEME
December 15th, 2008 at 1:13 PM ^
This was my favorite show as a young fella:
December 15th, 2008 at 12:41 PM ^
I'm always JACKED to talk about Pete Carroll. Just an AWESOME guy.
Srsly, I like Carroll and USC. I also thought the part where they read him some of the letters from back when he was first hired was particularly hilarious. Listening to some douche ramble on about how awful the hire was and how he would fail because he didn't know the area and didn't understand the pressures of being a coach at SC was A+++ awesome.
December 15th, 2008 at 12:49 PM ^
but I wouldn't say that he's the first guy I would want my son to play for. Not that he's a bad guy, but I heard that players at USC don't really have to go to class that much, but that's just what I heard once. Nevertheless, I haven't heard too much about any of his players getting into trouble with the law. I just see Lloyd as more of a father figure than anyone else.
I think that it's nice that Pete Carroll found a place for his laid back attitude and a way to use it. He just seems so at peace with himself, as if he found the best way to use his strengths and talents. And I am very impressed with his charity work.
December 15th, 2008 at 1:24 PM ^
Pete Carroll is my neighbor and we go surfing together in the summer before football starts getting busy for him. He's a really good guy, and I think a lot of people hate on him because of their hate for USC.
December 15th, 2008 at 1:35 PM ^
Do you guys do coke off each other's boards?
December 15th, 2008 at 1:42 PM ^
Not each other's boards...