I've got to admit, when I heard this story, my jaw dropped open in total shock. Pete Carroll possibly leaving USC to go Atlanta? There must be some mistake. Thank god when I actually READ the story, the two sides were just talking, not agreeing on a contract. Now I'm no sports genius (I like to think of myself more of like a sports guru; the next Howie Schwab in training if you will), but why on God's green earth would Pete Carroll leave? You can make the argument that Carroll has done everything he can do at the college level and is looking for his next big project. But let's look at the numbers. In his 7 seasons in Los Angeles Carroll:
-has a (76-14) record
-won 2 national championships
-has one of the highest recruiting classes year after year
-since 2002, has been in a BCS bowl EVERY year
But more importantly in his two NFL coaching stints he was
-(6-10) as the Jets coach in his one and only season (1994) and
-(28-23) with one division title and 2 playoff appearances at coach of the Patriots from 1997-1999.
Some people are just not meant for the NFL. They're a better college coach than a pro one. Don't believe me? Look at Steve Spurrier, Bobby Petrino and Nick Saban. All great college head coaches at one point in their career but failed miserably in the NFL just because they weren't use to losing like they did. And that's why I believe Pete Carroll will turn them down. Why anyone would want to leave a place like Los Angeles where its 70 degrees year round, a place where you are treated like royalty and the best high school players in the nation want to play for you, is beyond me. I could maybe see something in the works if a team like New England or Indianapolis came calling, but I'm pretty sure they're set in their ways, at least for awhile. But Atlanta? Trying to build a team around Chris Redman, Joey Harrington and Warrick Dunn? I don't think so. The loss of Michael Vick hurt this team's image immensely and its going to take a few years to try and get back to the team that went to the NFC Championship in 2004. Until then Pete, enjoy the warm sun beating down on your face. Because if you take this Job in Atlanta, I predict tough times are on the horizon; and the outlook does not predict a very happy ending.
Picture Courtesy of: http://i.a.cnn.net/si/2007/scorecard/02/14/truth.rumors.nfl/petecarroll.jpg
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