Southern Cal Football "Leans" On Pete Carroll - Sitcoms Online Message Boards

Wreckless · 09-16-2009, 11:51 AM

This is a great story....

SOURCE

Was there any doubt the Southern California football team was going to find a way to beat Ohio State? Give the Buckeyes credit. They provided the No. 3-ranked Trojans with a bigger test than anyone outside Columbus, Ohio, imagined before succumbing 18-15 in the Horseshoe.

Win or lose, coach Pete Carroll never allows USC to get uptight or get the upper hand on him. ESPN's College Game Day on Saturday morning featured a segment on the Trojans singing Bill Withers' classic Lean on Me during an August team meeting. Carroll then did his squad one better by tracking down Withers and inviting him to address the Trojans -- as a representative from the NCAA who was there to inform the team about a serious fungus being found in college locker rooms.

After stringing along the worried Trojans, Withers smiled and told them they'd "just been punked." Carroll gained revenge on his Trojans for a fake fight they had staged earlier in the preseason. Withers then requested freshman linebacker Marquis Simmons to sing his trademark song, and all was well in Trojanland.

This was just the latest chapter of Good Ship Carroll. Remember when gold old Pete permitted Johnny Knoxville, who's wearing a Tennessee Volunteers uniform, to field punts -- without blockers -- and get annihilated by tacklers for a Jackass episode?

Friday's pregame walk through practices often include linemen engaged in a field-goal kicking contest. Then, there was the time when comedian Will Ferrell showed up to save a man who supposedly fell off a platform. It was all part of a Halloween prank.

There are many ways to go about winning. When you have USC's stable of athletes, Carroll pretty much can go about winning any way he wants. More than anybody, though, Carroll knows the players his Trojans face in practice every day are better than anyone they'll face on Saturdays.

Said true freshman quarterback Matt Barkley, after he led the Trojans to the last-minute victory:

"We're Trojans. That's what we do. This is what we dreamed of, coming back like this. Doesn't matter where we are in the score. We found a way. I love this."

No wonder Los Angeles isn't interested in landing an NFL team again. The fans already have one, complete with a daily halftime show.

09-16-2009, 11:51 AM	#1
Wreckless Member Forum Fanatic Join Date: Nov 04, 2007 Location: Banned Posts: 9,406	Southern Cal Football "Leans" On Pete Carroll This is a great story.... SOURCE Was there any doubt the Southern California football team was going to find a way to beat Ohio State? Give the Buckeyes credit. They provided the No. 3-ranked Trojans with a bigger test than anyone outside Columbus, Ohio, imagined before succumbing 18-15 in the Horseshoe. Win or lose, coach Pete Carroll never allows USC to get uptight or get the upper hand on him. ESPN's College Game Day on Saturday morning featured a segment on the Trojans singing Bill Withers' classic Lean on Me during an August team meeting. Carroll then did his squad one better by tracking down Withers and inviting him to address the Trojans -- as a representative from the NCAA who was there to inform the team about a serious fungus being found in college locker rooms. After stringing along the worried Trojans, Withers smiled and told them they'd "just been punked." Carroll gained revenge on his Trojans for a fake fight they had staged earlier in the preseason. Withers then requested freshman linebacker Marquis Simmons to sing his trademark song, and all was well in Trojanland. This was just the latest chapter of Good Ship Carroll. Remember when gold old Pete permitted Johnny Knoxville, who's wearing a Tennessee Volunteers uniform, to field punts -- without blockers -- and get annihilated by tacklers for a Jackass episode? Friday's pregame walk through practices often include linemen engaged in a field-goal kicking contest. Then, there was the time when comedian Will Ferrell showed up to save a man who supposedly fell off a platform. It was all part of a Halloween prank. There are many ways to go about winning. When you have USC's stable of athletes, Carroll pretty much can go about winning any way he wants. More than anybody, though, Carroll knows the players his Trojans face in practice every day are better than anyone they'll face on Saturdays. Said true freshman quarterback Matt Barkley, after he led the Trojans to the last-minute victory: "We're Trojans. That's what we do. This is what we dreamed of, coming back like this. Doesn't matter where we are in the score. We found a way. I love this." No wonder Los Angeles isn't interested in landing an NFL team again. The fans already have one, complete with a daily halftime show.