Los Angeles – Pete Carroll’s announcement that he signed an extension to stay as Southern California coach didn’t surprise as many people as quarterback Matt Leinart’s decision to stay a year ago. But the sentiment is the same.
“I would like to think that Matt and I have come together a little bit in our thinking,” Carroll said. “If you listen to what Matt said when he stayed a year ago, he wasn’t ready to leave the team and he loved what he was doing. There was so much fun to be had, he didn’t want to give it up. And the money didn’t matter.”
In his fifth year, Carroll is 54-9 and USC has won a school-record 34 straight games. The top-ranked Trojans (12-0) are a Rose Bowl win over second-ranked Texas (12-0) on Wednesday from an unprecedented third straight national title.
While terms of the extension weren’t disclosed, the 54-year-old Carroll makes a reported $3 million a year. Notre Dame coach Charlie Weis received a 10-year extension in October worth $3.5 million annually.
Recruiting troubles
USC’s NCAA compliance department is looking into the football program’s relationship with Papadakis Taverna, a Greek restaurant in suburban San Pedro where Carroll takes recruits in hopes of securing an oral commitment.
Recent stories in the Fort Worth Star-Telegram and on CBSSportsLine.com reported John Papadakis, the restaurant owner and former USC linebacker, gives passionate speeches to recruits about becoming a Trojan.
According to The Associated Press, Papadakis is considered a “representative of athletics interests” by the NCAA and is prohibited from speaking to recruits about USC.
Injury report
USC linebacker Keith Rivers, who had a game-high 12 tackles in the win at Notre Dame, has been slowed by a hamstring injury the second half of the season. He didn’t play against Stanford or in the regular-season finale against UCLA.
However, he is expected back at 100 percent by Wednesday.
Cornerback Terrell Thomas, who started the first two games before a knee injury, is practicing, but Carroll said he is not ready.
Texas running backs Selvin Young and Jamaal Charles have recovered from various nicks late in the season.
