USC offense may take a coaching hit

[scottie]

http://insider.espn.go.com/ncf/features/rumors

FB Stanley Havili says he will be back at USC in 2009, putting off an NFL payday for another year. (Mel Kiper has him rated as the top junior FB.)

However, Pete Carroll could be searching for an offensive coordinator for the fourth time in five years. Since Norm Chow left for the Tennessee Titans before the 2005 season, the Trojans have gone through Lane Kiffin (two seasons), Steve Sarkisian (two seasons) and Jeremy Bates (finishing his first season as Assistant Head Coach of the Offense, though John Morton is technically the Trojans' O-coordinator). Carroll says he would not be surprised if NFL teams come calling on Bates after the season.

"That could certainly happen," Carroll said. "He's highly regarded and he's done enough work in the league that guys know."

One distinct possibility: If Mike Shanahan, Bates' former boss with the Denver Broncos, takes a a job this offseason, Bates certainly would be one of his first calls.

[TripletDaddy]

This is Pete-speak for "I'm looking for someone else."

There has actually been a few rumors of Pete hiring Weis as the OC. This, of course, would be a horrible idea, but it has some panache, no doubt.

SC fans were less than enamored with Bates this season. Oregon, Stanford, and Washington fans were likely very enamored with Bates this season.