[SamAtoms1980]

Don't forget that during the 2007 media day, Harbaugh referred to U.S.C. as "one of the greatest teams in college football history."  A remark that definitely left Carroll nonplussed.  His response, as I remember, was something like, "You've got to love Jim, don't ya?"

IMO the reason Harbaugh gave Carroll so much trouble psychologically, was not the damage Harbaugh did to the reputation of U.S.C. directly, but the way Harbaugh brought an attitude and an M.O. to Stanford, and what he stood for, that was the perfect antithesis for the attitude Carroll brought to U.S.C. and what he stood for.  Carroll could see, just about from the get-go, that Harbaugh would be at the very least a major thorn in his side, and a challenge to the Trojan Empire, more likely sooner than later.  The Greatest Upset Ever was the first shot, until it was over it never even occurred to Carroll that he would lose that game, and it supremely backed up Harbaugh's attitude of having no fear.  Although Harbaugh was overpowered in the 2008 game, he still showed as much defiance as he could.  After the pummeling Harbaugh delivered to U.S.C. in Los Angeles in 2009, and with the T.r.o.j.a.n.s. in the shadow of the NCAA hammer, Carroll had had enough.  The icing on the cake was that not only did Harbaugh follow Carroll to the NFL, he landed with him in the NFC West, one year after Carroll did.  He may have escaped from NCAA sanctions, but his attempt to avoid Harbaugh proved futile.

[SamAtoms1980]

Don't forget that during the 2007 media day, Harbaugh referred to U.S.C. as "one of the greatest teams in college football history."  A remark that definitely left Carroll nonplussed.  His response, as I remember, was something like, "You've got to love Jim, don't ya?"

IMO the reason Harbaugh gave Carroll so much trouble psychologically, was not the damage Harbaugh did to the reputation of U.S.C. directly, but the way Harbaugh brought an attitude and an M.O. to Stanford, and what he stood for, that was the perfect antithesis for the attitude Carroll brought to U.S.C. and what he stood for.  Carroll could see, just about from the get-go, that Harbaugh would be at the very least a major thorn in his side, and a challenge to the Trojan Empire, more likely sooner than later.  The Greatest Upset Ever was the first shot, until it was over it never even occurred to Carroll that he would lose that game, and it supremely backed up Harbaugh's attitude of having no fear.  Although Harbaugh was overpowered in the 2008 game, he still showed as much defiance as he could.  After the pummeling Harbaugh delivered to U.S.C. in Los Angeles in 2009, and with the T.r.o.j.a.n.s. in the shadow of the NCAA hammer, Carroll had had enough.  The icing on the cake was that not only did Harbaugh follow Carroll to the NFL, he landed with him in the NFC West, one year after Carroll did.  He may have escaped from NCAA sanctions, but his attempt to avoid Harbaugh proved futile.