Dear Pete,
There is unsettling news in the air concerning your most likely departure of USC football for Seattle and the NFL. I cannot begin to understand or know how to even see how this is possible. Did we not give you everything in Southern Cal? You were the most celebrated coach at USC in decades, most honored and renowned in NCAA sports and would be on anyone's top 10 list of "Most Amazing Football Coaches Ever" in the NFL and NCAA, USC fans have traveled everywhere to see your Trojans and to greet the team with support and smiles (my dad and I included), not to mention: was your 4 million USD/a year salary and living in Rolling Hills not enough to keep you here with USC? Is being at USC so bad that you would jump ship so quickly, without even considering the impact your decisions will have on us--the fans, the future of USC football--the high school prospects who will most likely reconsider their commitment to the USC 2010 football program and opt for Notre Dame or worse, even UCLA?
As a long time Trojan, I was one before I even thought about college and as events would turn out down the road, I headed off to Carnegie Mellon instead of USC for my undergraduate years but my heart was never far from Trojan sports.
In 2001, when you first arrived at USC, we were all ready for a change, hopeful you would be "the one" finally to lead us back to football glory so synonymous with USC Trojans. We even trekked out to the Las Vegas Bowl with a handful of other fellow Trojans and cheered the team on despite the eventual dismal loss to the Utah Utes.
And from then on, the dynasty at USC really took off. Your energy on and off the field and your kindness towards fans like us made us feel like family, I have many pictures from our visits to the SC campus where you always made time for a photo opt with the little Chinese girl and her Dad. I still remember the first time we spoke and you told me you knew of Carnegie Mellon, when I mentioned I went to school there, and had driven past many years ago...I texted my best friend at the time about meeting you and having a picture taken and he nearly dropped his phone!
Thanks to you, I met Reggie Bush and Lendale White, Patrick Turner, John David Booty and many others, all who were very pleasant, well-mannered and down to earth football superstars. Your guidance and your approach to the game left a lasting impression on each of these players and their families, something even another talented Coach on paper may never be able to.
My dad and I came to practices on campus, scrimmages at the Coliseum, together, we've traveled to Miami, Hawaii, Ohio State, Oregon, Washington, Stanford, Berkeley, Arizona and Virginia---not to mention the numerous trips to the Coliseum for the much anticipated home games. We are not the only ones, we have met others who travel to every away game and dedicate football season as USC travels season.
My friends know once September comes around each year, there is no Saturday day or night life if USC is playing. When USC games were not broadcasted here in the east coast, I'd follow my Trojans on ESPN Gamecast on my computer from my dorm room at CMU. Post-college, I would trek out to the Crystal City Sports Bar in Crystal City, VA to watch with fellow USC fans. At times, I would even venture off to sports bars at night (despite my Dad's concerns) closer to home and sit for hours watching solo, often times being the only USC fan in the place as others got drunk while watching UFC and other games. I've followed your groomed Trojans into the NFL and track each one at each team religiously. My boyfriend who thought he loved the NFL/Football thinks I'm crazy and isn't sure still how I am the biggest fan he knows who didn't even go to USC.
And by the way, I am not sure why you would leave us now, despite the mediocre season last year, it was still a winning record, we still went to a bowl game and won. Are you leaving us because of the NCAA allegations? Why not stay and fight this through together? We are family aren't we? At least I thought we were. I've always believed in you and have never thought that you were involved in any of these allegations about misconduct within the USC football program. Stay and prove everyone else who isn't a believer--wrong.
Oh and what happens to "A Better LA"? I thought you were committed not just to Southern Cal, but to Southern California--to LA. I've watched 60 Minutes and other programs featuring your philanthropic efforts and showing that "other side" of Pete Carroll. You were dedicated, you had an impact, your energy and positive personality resonated in these kids. Guess you'll be starting "A Better Seattle" and just leaving us?
With Regards,
Cory
PS: Seattle fired their coach after 1 year and clearly blindsided him, if the same happens to you, I cannot promise a welcome mat for you back at USC.
PS#2: Seattle has nothing on LA...weather, culture, and football...the Seahawks are no USC.
PS#3: You've made UCLA very happy at the moment, and all those UT Longhorns, and SEC haters. With Urban Meyer and Tebow gone, I really thought you'd look at 2010 as the offseason to regroup, train, bring on a different Offensive Coordinator, and make 2010 football season the best ever and lead us back to National Championship status!
Here are some pictures of the memories I will always have and treasure, but wish would not have ended like this. You never had to leave like this, we gave you everything.
At USC:
With Lendale White :)
With Reggie's Parents at Practice :)
With John David Booty pre-game :)
With Patrick Turner: hope you ended up getting your J12 Patrick!
At the Games:
Pre-Orange Bowl 2005 Excitement!
At the Orange Bowl 2005, I even took on Oklahoma fans for you!
Incase you cannot see in this picture, we won...by a lot!
Marching with the SC Band
Pre-game at Rose Bowl 2008
Inside Rose Bowl 2008: USC vs. Illinois
Victory is ours: USC Rose Bowl Champs 2008!!!
USC @ Ohio State 2009
We risked our lives to come to Ohio State to watch USC play...seriously one of the more crazy fan base we've encountered!
An Ohio State fan is trash talking a little USC kid during this march towards the stadium...I kid you not, I thought this 30+ Ohio State woman was going to smack the kid for holding the Trojan victory sign and wearing USC gear on her territory
We made friends though at the USC Ohio State game...some others not featured in pics, but we left with a victory and a sigh of relief for surviving this experience!
The Coliseum is our home, and we always thought it would be yours too...
Your motto is: "Always Compete, Win Forever"
I always thought it was "Win Forever...with USC" but I guess not.
Well, wherever I was: USC was not far behind...
And while I am sad to see you go (if you do), USC Football was a legacy even before you, but with you we had hoped to make that a permanent imprint on doubters (especially here in the east coast and SEC)
Fight On!
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