Southern Cal football coach Pete Carroll, who months earlier had lambasted quarterback Mark Sanchez for his decision to skip his senior season and go pro, executed a dubious about-face at the team’s pro day yesterday. In front of the NFL’s scouteratti, Carroll talked up his quarterback–and everyone ate it up.

“[Carroll] made a point to really go to bat for Sanchez,” a scout said. “You could tell he meant it.”

Carroll told the group that his public frosting of Sanchez — including the comment the player made a “bad choice” — was meant to test his resolve, to see if he truly had his heart set on turning pro right away or if he would waffle. Sanchez didn’t waver.

“He told us, ‘I challenged him. I wanted him to make the right decision,’ ” the scout said. “He said, ‘I love the kid. I support him. I think he’ll make a good pro.’ “

How inspiring! And totally believable! See, I would have thought that Carroll finally realized what a douchebag he’d been all along and then suddenly stepped up to support a player that would be representing his program in the NFL. And personally, I think Carroll was right the first time. Sanchez has put together, what, one good season? It works in his favor that there’s nobody in front of him besides consensus No. 1 Matt Stafford. He’s the Hootie and the Blowfish of this draft, and even those guys managed to put together one solid payday.

Southern Cal coach Pete Carroll has this reputation for being one of the more laid-back and personable guys in college football. That reputation might take a hit after throwing a mighty hissy fit after his quarterback, Mark Sanchez, announced that he would skip his senior year and enter the NFL draft. Carroll, who probably pays his players anyway, was surely pissed. And said so.

“We have always been in full support of Mark pursuing his dream,” Carroll said, “he just should have postponed realizing his dream another 12 months.”[...]

Carroll cited a study that shows 62 percent of underclassmen quarterbacks who declare early for the Draft eventually don’t pan out in the NFL. He also pointed to Sanchez’s NFL Draft evaluation, which projected Sanchez as a second-round selection.[...]

“Even though we disagree, I still support him and we’re going to try to help him in any way we can,” Carroll said. “It’s like a family member — you’re not going to stop loving him just because he makes a bad choice.

I’m guessing this is the same spiel that Carroll gave Matt Leinart in 2005. Leinart, you’ll remember, would have went back to USC for his senior year despite being the consensus No. 1 prospect in that year’s draft; he was drafted tenth the following year, signed for a lot less money, and he’sstill riding the bench. Even if Carroll couldn’t brainwash his quarterback into coming back, why poop in the lunchbox of a guy that’s going to represent his program in the pros? Not cool, bro. Not cool.

[Fabulous Forum via PeteCarroll.com]

USC coach Pete Carroll wants his team to wear their red home jerseys at UCLA this Saturday, even though it will cost his team two timeouts during the game.

Carroll said on Monday that the Trojans would wear their cardinal red home jerseys on Saturday at the Rose Bowl. That violates an NCAA rule that requires visiting teams to wear white, and the infraction will cost him two timeouts, one per half…

“I just thought it was a really cool tradition,” Carroll said.   As for losing timeouts?  “I don’t care about it right now,” Carroll said. “I think it’s the fun thing to do, and I think the fans will appreciate it over time.”

The “tradition” of both teams wearing their home jerseys was last carried out 26 years ago, and USC has to win the rivalry game in order to secure their spot in the Rose Bowl.  So no pressure, boys.  Just focus on tradition and fun, and relax knowing that you’re not wearing white after Labor Day.  That has to be a relief.  Those away jerseys totally made you look fat.

I know it's wrong to call things "gay" and mean "bad," so believe me, when I call this video gay, I mean it's very very homosexual.  Which, let the record show, is a perfectly acceptable way of life that doesn't deserve anyone's fear or hatred.

I could be wrong aout the video's gayness, though.  I'm sure there's a non-gay explanation for why USC coach Pete Carroll (white shorts) was hanging around shirtless with about sixty shirtless young men.  Maybe they were playing Simon Says and the leader said, "Simon says take off your shirt."  Hmmm.  Nope, that's still gay.

[All Things Trojan via The Sporting Blog] 

Maybe it's the short salt-and-pepper hair. Perhaps it's the impish smile. Or it could even be the lustrous vagina. Whatever it is, when USC offensive line coach Pat Ruel looks at Pete Carroll, he knows he's laying eyes one of the most prepossessing women he's even seen. Oooh babe-ay.

"Pete's like a beautiful woman," Ruel said after taking the job. "The closer you get, you better look out. He is very charismatic. He can smile and make you feel like a million dollars."

Yessiree, a million dollars in single bills with Pete's face on the front. That way Ruel can toss it up over his bed and roll around in it. Why won't the world accept his Carrollbucks? Is there not a place for beauty anywhere? *SIGH*