USC Football Sanctions A Fitting End To Pete Carroll Era

It’s funny how things play out.

One day Pete Carroll is happily coaching football at USC, leading them to nine successful seasons and two national championships. The next day he’s snagging a head coaching position with the Seattle Seahawks. It just happens to be around the time allegations begin popping up about violating recruiting rules and possible sanctions.

Coincidence? I think not.

Especially when he previously stated he had given up on ever returning to the NFL. College sports were his thing.

Known for his pleasant disposition, high-energy and laid-back approach, Carroll may have been an inspiration to those fans watching from the outside. But all this combined could have easily caused a lack of discipline, leading players and coaches to slip up and make those recruiting mistakes.

He’s been known to pull off elaborate pranks during practice to supposedly lighten the mood and reward the players. For example, he had a defensive end arrested by the Los Angeles Police Department during a team meeting for physically abusing an offensive lineman. But what is this teaching them?

It’s one thing to have fun, but it’s another to go too far. He was suppose to be setting an example of following the rules and teaching the players if you don’t follow them you need to take responsibility for your actions, not run away to Seattle.

So is the NCAA really doing the right thing by laying the sanctions on these players who weren’t even there when the missteps occurred?

After all, the guy probably most responsible for the sanctions, Pete Carroll, is getting off scot-free.