Troy fecta: USC will win its third straight national championship with a glut of talent that's downright offensive

Sure, Pete Carroll and Mack Brown are beloved and respected coaches now, but that hasn't always been the case. Take a stroll down memory lane and see how they've fared in the headlines over the years ...

Carroll

Carroll, Jets can't believe how far they've fallen

--Newsday, December 19, 1994

Carroll just isn't ready for prime time as a boss

--Massachusetts Telegram and Gazette, November 17, 1999

For Pete's sake USC, why did you do it?

--Los Angeles Times, December 16, 2000

The Carroll legacy will be far too much to bear

--Los Angeles Times, October 21, 2001

Carroll sells; He has quickly convinced skeptics he's the perfect coach for USC

--Los Angeles Times, November 29, 2002

Sorry, Pete, we were wrong

--Los Angeles Times, December 30, 2003

With simple formula and fresh approach, Carroll builds a potential Trojans dynasty

--Los Angeles Times, January 6, 2005

Brown

Tulane fans give Mack Brown a bitter sendoff

--UPI, December 20, 1987

Brown laughs last; coach lifts North Carolina program from joke status to a contender

--Los Angeles Times, August 29, 1993

No growls on hill, just roars at Brown; 'Money Talks' most residents say about coach's departure

--The Herald Sun, Durham, N.C., December 5, 1997

Want suggestions, Mack? Here are 23

--Austin American-Statesman, October 12, 2000

It's another failure for 'Coach February'

--Fort Worth Star-Telegram, December 2, 2001

Horns didn't have a chance; Second-half collapse punctuated by Brown's questionable calls

--Dallas Morning News, December 31, 2003

Eyes of Texas shine brightly on Brown

--The Sunday Oklahoman, October 9, 2005

Block heads

Bob Stoops was so dumbfounded last year, he could barely mutter a response. It was one mistake in a sea of problems and really led to only one of many touchdowns.

But, oh, was it big.

When Oklahoma wideout Mark Bradley muffed a punt and gave Southern California the ball at the Sooners' 6 late in the first quarter of last season's Orange Bowl--it was 7-7 at the time--he may as well have opened the 55-19 can of whoop-ass himself.

"The momentum change," Stoops said after last season's loss, "is as damaging as the points you give up."

Now, consider this: Since 2000, no team in the nation has blocked as many punts, field goals and extra points as Texas. The Longhorns have blocked 43 kicks in that span and annually are one of the nation's best at the most overlooked factor of the game.

Texas coach Mack Brown plays starters on special teams and at times will break down those units' game tape himself. If one special teams play can turn a game, what could one or more do for an underdog (Texas) against a team (USC) that has, for the most part, played unevenly on special teams all season?

"They don't kick too many field goals, and they don't punt too often," says one Pac-10 coach. "If you can stop them early and force a punt or two and (block) one of them, you might chip away at their confidence. You might start a roll."