Sources: Falcons want to interview USC's Carroll for head coaching vacancy

Some people never learn: (If this is a duplicate thread I apologize in advance, but for the record a search of Pete Carroll turned up nothing of the sort.)
ESPN - Sources: Falcons want to interview USC's Carroll for head coaching vacancy - NFL (http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/news/story?id=3187424)
Sources: Falcons want to interview USC's Carroll for head coaching vacancy

By Len Pasquarelli
ESPN.com

ATLANTA -- Having so far limited their search to current NFL assistants, the Atlanta Falcons (http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/clubhouse?team=atl) may be about to move outside the box and significantly raise the profile of candidates for their head coaching vacancy.
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http://assets.espn.go.com/photo/2008/0101/ncf_a_carroll_200.jpg (http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/news/story?id=3187424#)
Multiple sources told ESPN.com late Tuesday night that the Falcons are pursuing Pete Carroll for an interview. If Carroll agrees, and the logistics can be arranged, the Southern California coach could huddle with Atlanta owner Arthur Blank by the weekend. Carroll, who has previously been a head coach in the NFL with the New York Jets (http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/clubhouse?team=nyj) and New England Patriots (http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/clubhouse?team=nwe), would certainly become the biggest name on the list of Atlanta candidates.

Carroll, 56, recently completed his seventh season at Southern California with a resounding victory over Illinois in the Rose Bowl. He has led the Trojans to two national championships and compiled a 76-14 record. The 14 defeats have been by an average of just 4.1 points.

Southern California was 11-2 this season and many observers felt that, had it not been for injuries, the Trojans might have vied for the national title. Carroll's .844 winning mark at Southern California is the best in the nation among active coaches with at least five seasons of experience.
Over the past few seasons, there has been rampant speculation that Carroll might be lured back to the NFL, but he has rebuffed all overtures to return to the pro game. Conventional wisdom is that Carroll would only consider an NFL job if he had full control over the football operation. That likely would not be the case in Atlanta, where Blank is seeking a new general manager as well as a head coach.

LOL...I guess they didn't learn from the last hire eh?

He was a bust in the NFL so why even bother?

He would be crazy to leave the situation he has to go to Atlanta. They may be the worst team in the league next year, and in USC he has a lifetime contender. Still, I wouldn't be surprised to see Blank offer him 10 mil a year, which would awfully tough to turn down.

Umm you can live in SoCal or Atlanta? That right there is reason enough to stay where he is.

Actually, Atlanta would be a good fit for Carroll if he so chooses to go. He's an excellent talent scout, and with new management, he could bring in young talent to build the franchise back up. Not sure if his coaching style will re-translate to the NFL, but Atlanta would have nothing to lose in hiring Carroll.

Never learn is about right. If I'm a Falcons' fan, I'm on suicide watch right now.

If I'm Carroll there's no way I'm leaving USC. Not for the ATL job at least.

I hope he takes it, that's one more coach WE can't hire.

I thought I had heard that Singletary was a virtual lock for ATL.

LOL...I guess they didn't learn from the last hire eh?

He was a bust in the NFL so why even bother?

These are two different scenarios. Carroll is an EX-NFL coach. He coached the Jets back in 94 to a 6-10 record, and coached the Pats from 97-99 to a 27-21 record. Pete Carroll knows how to win at the NFL level. Petrino did not. There are basically no similarities between Carroll and Petrino other than they were both coaching in college before they were hired (assuming Carroll accepts a position with atlanta). Also, Carroll is THE most successful college coach, unlike Petrino.

For the record, Carroll would be a complete moron to accept a position with Atlanta, that ship isn't even sinking...it's sunk.