He’s Here to Help Those Who Earned It

I know sometimes it appears I am not supportive of USC or willing to give the Trojans credit when they get lucky and win something, so when I get the chance as I have today to make amends, I don’t want to blow it.

That’s why I’ve already placed a telephone call to the San Francisco 49ers on behalf of Coach Pete Carroll to urge team officials to waste no time in replacing Steve Mariucci and hire this guy who performed a modern miracle -- limiting the Trojans to only two losses this past season.

Now knowing the 49ers’ fascination with offense and Carroll’s proclivity toward defense, I pushed hard Wednesday for San Francisco to make it a package deal and take Carroll and offensive whiz Norm Chow.

*

THIS MUST be what it feels like to follow a minor league baseball team, watch someone excel at rock bottom and then get the call to the big show -- everyone enjoying the thrill who has been there from the start. I’m sure we’re all pulling now for Carroll to get the chance to really go big-time.

As you recall, Athletic Director Mike Garrett wanted to hire Dennis Erickson, then Mike Bellotti and Mike Riley before throwing up his hands and asking if any Trojan athletes had a parent willing to help coach the team. Fortunately Carroll had a daughter playing volleyball for USC, so it all worked out.

This is different because the 49ers already know Carroll well. He worked as the team’s defensive coordinator on back-to-back NFC West Division championship teams before accepting a job as New England’s coach.

Carroll also was born in San Francisco, went to high school nearby and coached at Pacific where the 49ers conduct training camp. Talk about your perfect fit. I better call the 49ers back and make sure they pounce on the guy.

*

CARROLL IS telling everyone he hasn’t been contacted, doesn’t expect to be contacted, and is happy at USC. I can’t imagine anyone being happy at USC.

And what more can he accomplish at USC than beating Notre Dame and UCLA in the same season and winning the Orange Bowl with a Heisman Trophy winner throwing the ball? You know it’s going to go sour, he’s going to get a message on his answering machine, and then the next thing you know he won’t be invited to the Tribute to Troy picnic.

Now if you know Carroll, the prevailing opinion that he failed in the NFL and he’s better suited to coaching college kids really rankles the guy.

He believes he has the ability to be a great NFL coach, and in fact has the winning NFL record to prove it. How do I know this? He has mentioned it in the past, which suggests it bugs him, and checking the records, do you know he has the best winning percentage of any coach in Patriots’ history -- including Bill Parcells and Bill Belichick.

(I wonder if 49ers’ guru Bill Walsh knows that -- I better e-mail him.)

*

WALSH IS the Genius, so of course he was way ahead of me. Just read this quote: “Pete is one of those unique, dynamic people with great charisma, who has a gift. I don’t think there’s anybody better.”

Walsh said that two years ago when Carroll was hired at USC, and it appears on page 17 of the Trojan media guide like an advertisement to coach the 49ers when the opportunity presents itself. If Walsh says, “I don’t think there’s anyone better,” I don’t imagine they will talking to anyone else.

And I’m pretty sure we know how Walsh’s 49ers’ sidekick Terry Donahue feels about this: Anything to help UCLA -- so I think we know who will be placing the first call to Carroll to leave USC and coach the 49ers.

*

I CALLED Carroll, but didn’t hear back from him. Do you think his secretary is under orders not to pass on messages? I know why Carroll isn’t returning my calls, but if Donahue tried Carroll, I can only imagine what he’s thinking. I hope he doesn’t get frustrated and call Dennis Green.

Now I’m hearing Garrett had a meeting Wednesday with Carroll. Could this be a preemptive strike -- putting more money in Carroll’s pocket, or calling on O.J. Simpson to do some arm-twisting behind closed doors?

I don’t know, I’m finding it difficult to be supportive of USC. I’m beginning to think everyone is working against me when all I want to do is help and reward Carroll for a job well done.

*

GARRETT RETURNED my call, and while I always look forward to our little “no comment” chats, I had turned my cell phone off to talk uninterrupted with Clipper center Michael Olowokandi. It’s one of those tough decisions I have to make daily in this job.

*

THE LAST time I chatted with Olowokandi he said he was impervious to criticism. So I called him a “big stiff,” and he scored two points in the next two games. I went to chat with him again before playing Minnesota, and you should have seen the look on Coach Alvin Gentry’s face.

Now personally I like Olowokandi; I just think his performance most of the time is less than inspiring. He disagreed when I told him that, and I said, “Go out tonight and make me eat my words.”

So he went out, scored the first two points of the game and then scored again -- in the third quarter. I went home so he’d have a chance to maybe score again.

*

TODAY’S LAST word comes in e-mail from Psykorot1:

“Can you help Dodger shortstop Cesar Izturis hit better left-handed?”

Not unless he’s traded and bats against Darren Dreifort and Kevin Brown.

*

T.J. Simers can be reached at [email protected]