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Practice Squad
LOS ANGELES -- Though coach Pete Carroll says he's committed to staying at Southern California, he seems intrigued by the ideas of Miami Dolphins owner Wayne Huizenga.
Carroll said Tuesday that he had a compelling, four-hour meeting with Huizenga in Costa Rica over the weekend.
Carroll said he was not offered the Miami coaching job, and stressed in a campus news conference that he has never come close to thinking he would leave USC.
"I'm thrilled to be here," he said. "As I've been the whole time, I haven't wavered. I know that being curious about it has helped me appreciate what we have here.
"I absolutely expect to be here."
But he did say Huizenga has an unusual approach for an NFL owner.
"This was the one instance I've come in contact with that has all the elements I have talked about," Carroll said. "[Huizenga] has structured a program where the head coach has the entire say, from top to bottom.
"It's a one-voice program. I don't think there are any other situations like that in the NFL."
Carroll formerly coached the New York Jets and New England Patriots before coming to USC, and has often said he preferred coaching in the college ranks because he had complete control.
Carroll returned earlier in the day from Costa Rica, where he had been vacationing since No. 4 USC beat No. 8 Michigan 32-18 in the Rose Bowl on New Year's Day.
Huizenga met with Carroll in Costa Rica on Sunday. The Dolphins have been without a coach since Nick Saban abruptly resigned last week to take the Alabama job.
Carroll said Tuesday that he had a compelling, four-hour meeting with Huizenga in Costa Rica over the weekend.
Carroll said he was not offered the Miami coaching job, and stressed in a campus news conference that he has never come close to thinking he would leave USC.
"I'm thrilled to be here," he said. "As I've been the whole time, I haven't wavered. I know that being curious about it has helped me appreciate what we have here.
"I absolutely expect to be here."
But he did say Huizenga has an unusual approach for an NFL owner.
"This was the one instance I've come in contact with that has all the elements I have talked about," Carroll said. "[Huizenga] has structured a program where the head coach has the entire say, from top to bottom.
"It's a one-voice program. I don't think there are any other situations like that in the NFL."
Carroll formerly coached the New York Jets and New England Patriots before coming to USC, and has often said he preferred coaching in the college ranks because he had complete control.
Carroll returned earlier in the day from Costa Rica, where he had been vacationing since No. 4 USC beat No. 8 Michigan 32-18 in the Rose Bowl on New Year's Day.
Huizenga met with Carroll in Costa Rica on Sunday. The Dolphins have been without a coach since Nick Saban abruptly resigned last week to take the Alabama job.
