Pete Carroll Raids the USC Staff...Again!

He’s baaack! 

It’s Petey once again taking a hatchet to the USC staff. 

No, he didn’t slice Monte or Coach O or Aaron Ausmus from Lane Kiffin’s staff.  They’re still with us—for now.  Instead, he went after the USC Blog—The RipsIt Blog.

Carroll made editor Ben Malcolmson an offer he couldn’t refuse.  Now Ben, who did one absolutely fantastic job at RipsIt, is on his way to Seattle where he will take over the Seahawks' blog.

I wish Ben all the best in the world.  But for Pete’s sake, isn’t anything sacred anymore?

Who will Petey go after next, Tim Tessalone?

So, um, Tennessee fans, let me ask you a question. 

Do you know where your blog editor is right now? Make sure he or she has no desire to head west.  Someone you know could be calling real soon.

Also, if the rumor that Bryce Brown could be headed west turns out to be true, is it possible that Aaron Douglas will be sure to follow?

Actually, I hope neither one lands at USC.  I know a lot of Trojan fans will disagree with me, and that’s okay.  But it’s not a matter of "winning is everything."  Win at all costs. 

Mike Garrett has caused enough animosity by going after Lane Kiffin in the first place. 

No, it wasn’t a bad choice.  Kiffin is a terrific young coach, and I’m sure he will have a great deal of success down the line.  But it was a bad situation and a horrible predicament for Tennessee with Signing Day so close.

Adding a Brown and/or a Douglas to USC’s roster will only cause more unnecessary animosity.  It is up to Garrett to draw the line. 

Speaking of drawing the line, with spring practice at USC set to begin today, it appears that Lane Kiffin is getting some heat from Trojan fans for drawing the line on admittance to practice.

They are not too happy about opening day of practice essentially being closed to the public. 

Kiffin announced today that only players’ families, media, and Cardinal and Gold donors would be admitted to practice.  What has their ire up is the fact that Kiffin says it is a continuation of Carroll’s policy.

While it is true that occasionally Carroll did close an important practice session to the general public, I can’t remember him closing opening day of spring practice. 

The move, however, may only be temporary as Kiffin stated that the Athletic Department would be developing an admittance policy for future practices. 

Nevertheless, it sounds as though that may involve a little more than merely showing a driver’s license or other ID as was the case during the Carroll era.

Even though Kiffin is attempting to make it look as though it is not a departure from the way Carroll ran practices, it is a departure.  And I’m glad.

I don't have the kind of money to join the Cardinal and Gold and Bleacher Report is not considered a viable media concern by the USC Athletic Department.  

So, I guess I'm not going to get to see any practices.  Still, I laud Kiffin on being his own man and doing things his way.

It may also be a sign that by tightening the admittance policy for practices, USC is showing the NCAA that they are doing everything possible to keep agents and their representatives away from the players.

If that’s the case, then I’m all for it.