The Aftermath Of Pete Carroll: "This [Athletic] Department Is In Flames"

USC AD Mike Garrett has a twisted legacy.

He made USC "Tailback U" when he won the school's first Heisman. He's also made some dubious coaching hires (see Paul Hackett, and John Robinson II), but eventually redeemed himself with the lucky hiring of Pete Carroll in 2001.

At last, USC had its Golden Boy coach that could restore the rich history of USC football, albeit it took Trojans fans a full year to accept him into their loving arms. "In Pete We Trust," they said, after Carroll took the men of Troy marching into the Orange Bowl with Heisman-winner Carson Palmer and spanked the Iowa Hawkeyes in the second half for USC's first BCS bowl win.

Today, however, is a new era in USC football and Garrett is at the center of all ire in Los Angeles. Garrett is sporting a major bulls eye.

It's not Pete Carroll whom LA is mad at—most fans wish him the best of luck, and knew, sooner or later, he would move on to a more challenging job. It's Mike Garrett and his official decisions that are getting pelted at with balls of fury, and it started with the basketball program.

USC's basketball coach Tim Floyd resigned after too much pressure with the OJ Mayo investigation. Floyd, to this day, has maintained his innocence over giving any money to any player while as a head coach.

Just recently, Garrett announced severe self-imposed sanctions on the basketball team, including no post-season play, forfeited wins, and reduction in scholarships. The timing of this was peculiar—it came one week after a San Diego court ruled both Pete Carroll and Reggie Bush will be deposed in the Lake vs. Bush lawsuit.

Running back Joe McKnight is under the microscope for allegedly driving a car that is not owned by him, but instead, Scott Schenter, who is alleged to have sports marketing relationships.

McKnight claims the car is his girlfriend's, and the alleged marketer claims he is not a fan of USC football at all—he's a Washington Huskies fan. Nevertheless, McKnight was not cleared to play in the Emerald Bowl and has now declared himself available for the NFL draft.

The problem in all of this is Garrett's arrogant attitude toward the NCAA. "I don't think SC falls down. We're too good. We do things well," Garrett said, responding to question about whether or not there is a looming dark cloud over the program. "We've had a great history, 11 national championships, we've produced a lot of excellent student-athletes and I don't think that will stop."

"We're too good?"

The implication is there—Garrett feels the NCAA won't touch USC because of its importance in college football. Trojans fans might have felt more at ease if Garrett had reiterated that USC has done everything possible to maintain a high level of integrity in its athletics programs, and that the department is in full control.

What exactly does USC's 11 Nattys have anything to do with possible NCAA sanctions?

What makes this whole situation more acidic is a report from the LA Daily News' Scott Wolf, who reported that Carroll was told to take the job with the Seahawks by Mike Garrett. If Garrett knew about the possible Seahawks opening, which allegedly had been in the mix for Pete for almost a month, what has he done in December to line up possible coaching candidates?

Isn't one of the AD's primary responsibilities to try and retain a coach that has had enormous success at a school? Why would an AD tell a coach to take another job?

Moreover, from last Friday until today, there has not been a peep from Garrett regarding how he was going to try and hang on to this solid recruiting class. Nothing but silence during this critical time.

Recruits were texted yesterday about Carroll leaving. Texted.

With President Steven Sample set to retire this August, Mike Garrett is for all intents and purposes, a lame-duck AD. It is common knowledge among boosters and alum that Garrett will "retire" shortly after Sample leaves. He's out.

Could this be why Garrett is apparently so lackadaisical with his decision-making?

While no one is insinuating that Garrett is sabotaging the program, his efforts as the big cheese are starting to smell very Limburger-like.

Hammer the basketball program even though the former coach says he did nothing wrong.

Fail to get McKnight cleared for the Emerald Bowl, thus making his decision to forego another year at USC all the easier.

Tell Pete Carroll to take the Seahawks job.

Fail to recognize this critical period in recruiting and how important it is to reach out to recruits and try to maintain some semblance of stability.

Ignore the press for an official statement over the weekend, the very entity that many recruits rely on for up-to-date information.

As of 10 A.M. Monday, no release of any official statement on Carroll's departure.

Accept the resignation of Pete Carroll, who allegedly gave it earlier than planned as to prevent a further drop in recruiting, yet not do anything with it.

Complete, utter silence.

While Garrett's head is stuck in the sand, an official in the athletic department, according to Scott Wolf, said, "this department is in flames.''

In flames? Of course it is.

Because while all this was going on over the weekend, Garrett was apparently at Berkeley enjoying a Trojans basketball game against Cal. Unless he's there to try and woo Jim Harbaugh (50 minutes south of the game), this reeks of complete lunacy.

The irony is ridiculous beyond words. Go to a game that is now meaningless, after throwing the hoops program under the bus, yet ignore the crashing walls of the football program, which is the bread and butter of USC athletics.

While Trojans fans can wring their hands over how this whole thing unraveled, they can be reassured that Garrett is only at USC for seven more months.

But the reality is that he is still in charge of hiring the next head coach. Will his search yield a great new hire, possibly saving his imminent retirement?

Or will USC begin its "burn, baby burn" status of years' past?

Finally, will Pat Haden be the new AD at USC?

Can I get an "Amen"?

  

* Garrett quote courtesy of Mark Saxon, ESPNLosAngeles.com