Pete Carroll Raised the Bar for USC Forever

Ryan and RJ discuss why Pete Carroll's USC dynasty continues to shape expectations for the Trojans more than two decades later. Since 1980, USC has finished in the AP Top 5 just seven times, with five of those finishes coming during Pete Carroll's tenure. Ryan and RJ explore how that remarkable run became the benchmark for what fans believe USC football should be, while also acknowledging how different today's game is- from coaching to recruiting, the transfer portal, and NIL. They also reflect on the unique atmosphere surrounding USC football in the early 2000s. With no NFL team in Los Angeles at the time, the Trojans became the city's team, drawing celebrities, national attention, and creating an energy that made USC the center of the college football world. Their conclusion: The Men of Troy by Monte Burke is a must-read for anyone who wants to understand what made that era of USC football so special.