My INSIDE SOURCES say its Del Rio all the way. Just a matter of time now.

From The Star this morning. If Sarkisian winds up in LA, would Locker change his mind?

http://www.kansascity.com/sports/story/1678027.html


USC begins coaching search

Pete Carroll is officially gone. Carroll, the longtime Southern California football coach, will be announced as the next coach of the Seattle Seahawks today, leaving behind a legacy of championships — and an athletic department that is dealing with an NCAA investigation.

In Los Angeles, USC is trying to pick up the pieces while picking out a new coach.

Reports had the Trojans targeting Oregon State coach Mike Riley, but Riley agreed to a three-year contract extension — good through 2019 — with the Beavers late Sunday.

Washington coach Steve Sarkisian also appears to be on the Trojans’ short list. Sarkisian, a former assistant under Carroll, told the Associated Press in a text message that USC had not contacted him.

Then there’s former Chiefs coach Herm Edwards, who, according to the LA Times, has already been contacted about the coaching vacancy.

Freshman quarterback Matt Barkley announced his plans to stay at the school, but USC athletic director Mike Garrett maintained his silent public stance about his troubled department, which sanctioned its own basketball program recently in an attempt to assuage the NCAA.

“I’m working on the next step, and when I finish, you’ll hear about it,” Garrett said.

@SI_PeterKing It's official: Jack Del Rio staying in Jacksonville. 5 minutes ago from TweetDeck

Saw that on jacksonville.com too. Dangit!:#

USC gets ****ed again.

ESPN reported that they offered the job to Jeff Fischer as well.

Herm Edwards to USC is going to be so sweet.

Locker is going to be in the draft yet!

Del Rio will probably be living in LA next year either way.
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Yeah ESPN is reporting that Steve Mariucci is there top person now. I think it would be a great fit. Thoughts?

# Don't forget, Steve Mariucci was offered the Redskins head coaching job two years ago before Washington gave it to Jim Zorn. about 1 hour ago from web
# USC and former 49ers/Lions HC Steve Mariucci have had conversations. Look for those to now continue.

http://twitter.com/Adam_Schefter

Mariucci wouldn't be bad he did pretty well when he took over Cal who was awful at the time.

Del Rio staying in Jacksonville amid USC reports

By MARK LONG, AP Sports Writer 47 minutes ago

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JACKSONVILLE, Fla. (AP)—After conducting his most extensive review in 15 years, Jacksonville Jaguars owner Wayne Weaver decided to stick with coach Jack Del Rio.

At least for another year.

Weaver held a half-day meeting with Del Rio on Tuesday, then said the two would continue their rebuilding project with the Jaguars.

“I believe in Jack, that’s he’s the guy,” Weaver said two days before his 75th birthday. “After going through this process, Jack is the guy that can get us there. The fans have to have enough trust in me to believe that I’m making the right decision for the franchise.”

The announcement came amid reports that Del Rio was a candidate to succeed Pete Carroll at Southern California. Carroll left USC to become the Seattle Seahawks coach. The L.A. Daily News reported Monday that Del Rio, an All-American linebacker for the Trojans in 1984, had been sent a contract to sign.

“Didn’t even talk about that,” Weaver said. “I wasn’t interested in that. I was interested in if Jack wanted to be here and was committed to this franchise and that he shared my vision and my goals for this franchise and how we go forward. That was the substance of the conversations.”

Del Rio said early Tuesday that he had not been offered the USC job, but declined to address the media following his meeting with Weaver. The owner, however, said, “I assure you he’s not going to Southern Cal.”

Instead, Del Rio will try to get the Jaguars to the postseason for just the third time in the last 11 years.

Jacksonville looked like it was on track for a playoff berth in 2009, but the team lost its final four games, faded from contention and finished last in the AFC South for the second straight season. It was a significant setback for a small-market franchise known more for empty seats than postseason prowess.

Many Jaguars fans have expressed frustration with Del Rio, who is 58-57 in seven seasons and has just one playoff victory.

But Weaver blamed the team’s recent struggles on a series of first-round draft busts and poor free-agent signings.

“Over the past seven years, we’ve had our ups and down and we’ve been an average football team,” Weaver said. “We’ve had some good seasons, but if you look at the body of work, we’ve been average. … Had we hit on two or three of those draft choices, we’d be a different football team than we are today. I have to accept responsibility for that.”

Weaver cleaned house last year, parting ways with several veterans and turning control over to new general manager Gene Smith. He kept Del Rio, though, and said he was confident he would turn things around.

Smith and Del Rio took an aggressive approach to revamping the roster. Four rookies started most of the season, and several more played significant snaps.

The result was a 7-5 start that had Jacksonville in line for a wild-card spot. The losing streak ended all the team’s postseason chances.

Weaver acknowledged that he never expected to reach the playoffs with more than 30 new faces on the roster, but made it clear that Jacksonville should be a playoff contender in 2010.

“My expectations are that we’re going to be better than average and we’re going to be competing for the playoffs—not just for next year, but for years to come,” Weaver said. “If you do it the right way, there’s no reason that you can’t compete for the playoffs every year, and I think we’ve got the team in place.”

Weaver also said money had nothing to do with his decision to keep Del Rio. The coach just completed the first year of a contract extension and would be owed nearly $16 million if fired—a huge payout for a team that blacked out nine of 10 home games because of slumping ticket sales.

“Money is never a factor,” Weaver said. “It’s a lot of money. I’m not going to say it’s not, but money is not a factor. I want to win. I want one of those rings.”

And he believes Del Rio can help him get one.

“The definition of insanity is to keep doing the same thing over and over and expect a different result,” Weaver said. “I don’t think we’re at that point.

“We know there’s things we have to do differently and things we have to do a lot better than we have in the past, and I think we’re all on the same page and have our sights on the same goals. I’m excited about where we’re going with this football team.”

I honestly think Herm could wipe up in the college game.

All he'd have to do is recruit and inspire - the man can absolutely do that well.

Game-planning and general scheming would be left to his assistants. If he puts a decent staff together, he could easily keep USC on top, IMO.

Outside of fisher that is the best name I have heard. Mooch is a good coach and high profile thanks to nfln so kids would know him. i think he has the right temperament to make that a smooth transition.