Pete Carroll has been the head coach of the Seahawks long enough that it’s easy to forget he had a pretty successful chapter in his coaching career before coming to Seattle.

Carroll: Seahawks leaning on Geno Smith, DK Metcalf to lead down stretch

At age 59, Carroll made the move to the Seahawks in 2010 after nine seasons leading USC, where he amassed a 97-19 record, including 7-2 in bowl games, and back-to-back national championships in 2003 and 2004.

Now 71, Carroll has been in Seattle four seasons longer than he was in LA, with a 126-80-1 record, nine playoff appearances, and a Super Bowl trophy under his belt with the Seahawks.

There was an interesting opportunity to compare and contrast those two versions of Carroll prior to the Seahawks’ Week 15 game against the 49ers, as Kirk Herbstreit was on the TV call. Now in his first year as an NFL color commentator for Thursday Night Football on Amazon Prime, Herbstreit covered Carroll’s time in the college game closely during his previous gig, as he was a longtime fixture on ESPN’s College Gameday and NCAA coverage.

Thursday morning on Seattle Sports’ Brock and Salk, Herbstreit was asked about his observations after getting to talk to Carroll 13 years after he left USC.

“As far as his personality and his energy and his juice, man, it’s the same guy. Same exact guy that that we used to cover when he was at SC,” Herbstreit said.

Based on Herbstreit’s comments, it’s pretty clear how much respect he has for Carroll and what he’s gone on to do in Seattle.

“Obviously we all change as we grow and get age. I’ve always loved him, I’ve always had a really good relationship with him going back to his days when he was rolling at SC,” Herbstreit said. “We were around them so much, it seems like it was every other week we were either doing a Gameday with USC or calling a game with him. For whatever reason, we’ve just always connected.

“I really love his energy and I think it’s real, and I think his players feel it.”

That led Mike Salk to ask Herbstreit why it seems Carroll doesn’t age, which resulted in a question being thrown back.

“Do you think it’s his approach to life?” Herbstreit responded. “We can kid, but I’m telling you, man – take football out, just talk to him about life. Just talk to him about anything and he’s just one of those guys who’s over the top, finding positive energy in life. And I think (that’s what happens) when you live your life every single day, every minute like that.”

You can hear the full conversation with Herbstreit in the podcast player below or at this link.

Carroll: Seahawks have had ‘hard year’ on D but showing progress

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