USC coaching search: NFL head coach could be interested in Trojans job, per former GM
By SDS Staff
Published:
USC’s coaching search got the carousel spinning in September with Clay Helton’s dismissal. Could an active NFL head coach leave the pros for one of the top college jobs?
Former Bills GM and Steelers executive Doug Whaley recently opined that Mike Tomlin may be interested in the Trojans job.
“Six letters for Steelers fans to be very concerned about…LSU, USC,” Whaley said on 93.7’s “The Fan Morning Show.” “Think about that. Both institutions can out-pay the Rooney’s. Their alumni base has enough money to give Mike Tomlin whatever he wants.”
Whaley thinks the recruiting situations at the two programs could appeal to Tomlin.
“Now you go to USC. Another fertile recruiting base,” Whaley said after discussing LSU’s recruiting. “A historically prominent program that’s down. Another alumni base that can pay whatever. Then you start talking about revenue streams off the field. Commercials, movies. For me, if you’re talking about maximizing your ability to generate revenue, as an agent I’m saying, ‘We’ve got to listen to this coach.’”
Whaley opined that the chance to win both a Super Bowl and college football national championship could appeal to Tomlin.
“Granted you can put your name in there as a Hall of Famer like Bill Cowher with the Steelers. But did Bill Cowher win a Super Bowl and a National Championship? That’s transcending just Steeler legacy. You’re talking football legacy. The lure of the football ecosystem in totality, not just the NFL.
“Back in the day, the NFL set the ecosystem and it was a trickle down effect. Now it’s a trickle up effect. Look at our game. It’s infiltrated by what’s happening in college. Now you can say I dominated both.
Just saying.
“Money. Full control. And legacy. That talks. You did it in the pros and you did it in college. Not many people can say that. Not many people can say I’m going to be in the Pro Football Hall of Fame as a coach and the College Football Hall of Fame as a coach. That’s legacy.”
Saturday Down South reports and comments on the news around the Southeastern Conference as well as larger college football topics.
