USC Coach Pete Carroll Encourages Voting, Refuses To Take BCS Polls

USC football coach Pete Carroll might expect loyalty to the Trojans from this players, but he adopts a more bipartisan approach when it comes to politics. Recently, Carroll has been discussing the election with the team and encouraging members to vote.

According to the LA Times:

USC Coach Pete Carroll refuses to participate in the coaches' poll that is a component of the Bowl Championship Series standings formula, but he said Monday that he was thrilled to cast a vote in the presidential election.

 

Asked why he declines one opportunity and participates in the other, Carroll grinned and said, "This is the real deal."

USC is No. 7 in the BCS standings. With his team preparing for Saturday's game against No. 21 California, Carroll took time during a team meeting to encourage players to vote.

 

"It's just an extraordinary election in our lifetimes," Carroll said. "I tried to make it topical for the last month or so, to have fun with it, so when we get to this date we can talk about the importance of voting."

 

Several players said Carroll's nonpartisan pitch to vote resonated.

"It's life outside of football so I think it's a good thing," junior running back Stafon Johnson said.

Yes, life outside of football can be a good thing. Especially when it’s voting.