ESPN 30 for 30 Trojan War: TV Schedule and USC Football Documentary Preview

Pete Carroll has done a fine job as head coach of the Seattle Seahawks. Since taking over the team in 2010, the Seahawks have gone 50-31 (as of October 11) with two Super Bowl appearances and one win in the big game. 

He's transformed the team his way, drafting players like the overlooked Russell Wilson, cobbling together one of the league's great secondaries and getting big, brutish football players to buy into techniques like yoga and mindfulness. 

Barring a dynastic run for the ages, his achievements with Seattle won't ever be quite as transcendent as what he accomplished as head coach of USC from 2000-2009.

Carroll's tenure at USC is the subject of Trojan War, the latest documentary from ESPN's critically acclaimed 30 for 30 series, which airs on Tuesday, October 13 at 9 p.m. ET on ESPN.

Directed by Aaron Rahsaan Thomas, the film will explore the glamour, glitz and eventual scandal that characterized the most dominant college football program of the 2000s, with a particular focus on the 2006 Rose Bowl national championship game against Texas, one of the greatest college football games of all time, per ESPN.com.

Under Carroll, the Trojans finished in the Associated Press Top Five year after year, put together a 34-game winning streak and won one national championship (2005), with the latter two accomplishments being vacated following the NCAA's investigations into rule violations surrounding Reggie Bush. 

CHRIS CARLSON/Associated Press

Bush, currently with the San Francisco 49ers, declined to participate in the film despite repeated requests, according to Scott Wolf of the Los Angeles Daily News: 

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Bush reportedly was asked by former USC wide receiver and “Trojan War” producer Keyshawn Johnson “40 times” to participate in the film, which chronicles the Pete Carroll era, including the NCAA violations involving Bush.

Surprisingly, former USC assistant Todd McNair did participate, but did not discuss NCAA violations. McNair is currently suing the NCAA and was a key figure in sanctions. He has not coached since 2009.

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With key figures regarding the NCAA violations unwilling to talk, it's perhaps little surprise that this portion of the film suffers, as Awful Announcing's Ben Koo noted in a lukewarm review of the documentary:

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The film leaves about ten minutes in the end to look at the fall of the USC dynasty and it’s totally hollow. I wasn’t looking for an HBO Real Sports investigation, but viewers will be left going 'They keep eluding to stuff happening, but I forgot what the deal was.' Trojan War doesn’t mention any of the names of people or companies involved in the scandal....

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Regarding Carroll's departure for the NFL ranks around the time of the scandal coming to light and its investigations, former USC running back LenDale White does at least get in one good shot at his former coach.

“He bailed as fast as he possibly could,” White says in the film, per Wolf. “Some guys may not get up here and say that, but I feel that he just left on the university.”

LENNY IGNELZI/Associated Press

With the scandal relegated to mostly an afterthought, this film might turn out to be an especially fun ride for USC fans, and even nostalgic for Longhorns acolytes looking for something to lift their spirits in this trying season under head coach Charlie Strong.

The Rose Bowl game was a bonkers shootout between two legendary programs. Bush, White, Matt Leinart, Vince Young, Rey Maualuga, Jamaal Charles, Michael Griffin, Aaron Ross, etc.—it was a truly special collection of talent involved in that contest.

Variety's Brian Lowry also notes the film spends plenty of time discussing how Carroll played up the Hollywood vibes in recruiting to USC and the problems that may have created:

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The general assessment is that Carroll filled an appetite for showbiz flair in Los Angeles — which had lost its pro football teams — but 'created a monster,' as USC player-turned-broadcaster Petros Papadakis puts it, in terms of turning his players into stars and surrounding them with the trappings of celebrity, with sideline stalwarts like Will Ferrell and Snoop Dogg. 

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It will be interesting to see what, if any conclusions the documentary draws about the culture under Carroll and the program's subsequent fall from grace. There are a great many characters worth exploring from that era of Trojan football. 

USC had all the big names and a virtual monopoly on great football in the Southland area with rival UCLA a mediocre outfit for much of that time period. Bush, Leinart and others were truly celebrities. It made for some sublime football. Whether or not it was all in fairness and worth the trouble is a debate that could reignite after the premiere.