Carroll bailing out?

January 8th- Chris Mortenson, ESPN, reports that the Seattle Seahawks are targeting Pete Carroll, Head Coach of the University of Southern California, for their head coach vacancy left by Jim Mora Jr. fired the same day.

January 9th (my birthday by the way) ESPN reports that Seattle and Carroll are close to inking a deal worth $35 million over five years to be head coach and President of the Seahawks.

Now all that being said, two questions come to light. Why Carroll and why now? We could start by looking at the fact that USC and Carroll, have lost a significant lot of coaches due to USC's success over the last ten years and the struggles the team faced in 2009 because of those losses.

Norm Chow/Offensive Coordinator- hired by NFL's Tennessee Titans as Offensive Coordinator- now holds same position @ USC's rival, UCLA

Lane Kiffen/Offensive Coordinator, replaced Chow- Hired as NFL's Oakland Raiders as Head Coach- now Holds Head Coaching Position at the University of Tennessee

Steve Sarkisian/Offensive Coordinator, replaced Kiffen- Hired as Head Coach at the University of Washington

John Morton/QB Coach- Hired as Offensive Coordinator at the University of Washington

These are just a few examples of what USC's football program and Pete Carroll essentially has lost over the last five years. Replacing coaches with resumes such as these men is more difficult than you can imagine. Carroll you might say is a victim of his own success.In 2009 USC missed a BCS bowl game for the first time since 2001, losing 6-10 to Utah in the Las Vegas Bowl.

Then there is the Reggie Bush scandal. USC's football program is currently under investigation for boosters setting up Bush's parents in a $300,000 home. Bush, a Heisman trophy winner for USC, denies any wrong doing and no word from the NCAA has come down as far a ruling on the situation. Clearly the writing is on the wall after USC's basketball program was sanctioned heavily for the O.J Mayo scandal that cost then coach, Tim Floyd his job. I guess your wondering is Carroll running? Is he trying to get from under the gaze of the NCAA's ultimate power? I say without a doubt, YES! Think about it, February 3rd is National Signing Day. Why would Carroll put his program at risk of losing top recruits to this story if he wasn't leaving? Quick answer, HE WOULDN'T.

Coaching these days is a dirty game, in all college and professional sports. Say one thing only to do another. Building a dominant program is clearly a job for those not afraid to get their hands dirty. Image has become everything and Carroll's has been squeaky clean for the most part. Untill now, when sanctions and penalties would stain a reputation he has vigorously tried to protect. So rather than do what he is supposed to set the example to do for these young men who came to USC on his promises, he runs. Only to follow in the footsteps of fools such as Spurrier, Petrino, and Saban who left for the greener pastures in the NFL, only to come back with their backsides receiving a substantial beat down at the hands of real professionals.

So in closing, "Buyer Beware" Seattle. Pete's record in the NFL is something the "12th Man" might not even be able to overcome.

Danny Cross
Scoreonair.com