Kennedy Pola is a former USC fullback and linebacker from the mid-1980s. He helped the Trojans beat Ohio State in the Rose Bowl. He knows all about the tradition and heritage, about playing UCLA for the Victory Bell and Notre Dame for the jeweled shillelagh, about the eight national championships and four Heisman Trophies. He knows about the fight song and marching band and white horse, about Tommy Trojan and Saturday afternoons in the Coliseum.
"Expectations will always be high here because of all those things," Pola said. "When I played here, we didn't win every game. We were just expected to. That will never change.
"That's why I think he will do so well here. I've been around some damn good coaches, but what excites me most about him is his energy. He has so much energy ... He goes about his job like he's the one who will be playing in the games."
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At first glance, becoming the head coach at tradition-rich USC is a dream job. However, when you look closely, one can see that the job can be a nightmare. There were 25 Division 1-A coaching vacancies following last season, and none was harder to fill than the USC job.
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Pete Carroll won't, of course. But the first-year coach has plans to rediscover all that tradition.
And a lot more wins.
A prominent Internet sports site recently listed what it believes to be the nation's most overrated college football programs the last decade. The No. 1 choice: USC.
Pac-10 media picked the Trojans to finish sixth in 2001. This happens when you make one Rose Bowl in 11 seasons, when your previous coach is dismissed after a 19-18 three-year stretch, when you treat the football like a plague, when you give away points like Mrs. Fields does samples, when you have lost 11 conference games the past two seasons.
So it becomes Carroll's objective now, his challenge, his every breath to restore greatness to a storied program that is, in some ways, suddenly quite average.
"Our sights are set high on doing something special and returning USC to a winning tradition," Carroll said. "I know we have a great, proven staff. We'll see how good we are. We'll see if this team comes together like I think it will.
"I'm not going to make any bold predictions, except to say we'll be very competitive and very aggressive. The strength of this club will come from its attitude and willingness to play together and to play hard. That will give us the best chance to reach our potential."
He is the former New England Patriots and New York Jets coach who was named to succeed the fired Paul Hackett on Dec. 15, whose next game will be his first as a college head coach. Carroll signed a five-year contract worth around $6 million and, oh-by-the-way, was reportedly USC's fourth choice for the job.
He will double as defensive coordinator and meets weekly with a committee of team leaders. One night in January, Carroll summoned his players to the Coliseum for a surprise tug-of-war and motivational speech.
He goes about his job like he's the one who will be playing in the games.
"He is a very sincere person," said junior quarterback Carson Palmer. "He has a very disciplined approach, but he's someone we can all talk to about anything and he has definitely shown a lighter side. I think he's a great fit to help improve the program."
There is no question Carroll set ego aside when assembling a staff. Best example: Norm Chow.
He convinced the longtime BYU offensive coordinator to guide Palmer, running back Sultan McCullough, wide receiver Kareem Kelly and a host of other talented and yet still inconsistent players. In 2000, Chow's first and last season at North Carolina State, freshman quarterback Philip Rivers threw for 3,054 yards and 12 touchdowns.
"A lot of head coaches would have been threatened by a person like Norm Chow," said Pola, who coaches special teams. "But that's what is different about (Carroll). He never puts himself above anyone. He wants people around who he believes can help this program win."
Carroll arrives three years after turning down the USC job because of timing, but not the most popular choice initially for some boosters and alumni. But more than a skeptical fan base, he must first overcome a team that was at times horrible under Hackett. Defense and special teams were arguably some of the worst in school history last season, when USC racked up penalties and turnovers like some businessmen do frequent flyer miles.
Clock management? The Trojans for some stretches were a 2-year-old keeping time.
"We will be good when we are good, but my goal is to win now," said Carroll, who turns 50 on Sept. 15. "For a guy like me, for things I like to do, this is a golden opportunity. I'm confident about our abilities and our willingness to meet challenges."
He better be. Tradition and heritage and expectations are like chronic back pain.
They never really go away.
Ed Graney covers college football for the San Diego Union-Tribune.
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