USC Coach Pete Carroll Has Trojans Ready For Another Title Run While His A Better LA Brings Peace To The Streets

From the day that USC hired head football coach Pete Carroll in the spring of 2001, the City of Los Angeles has not been the same.  While his achievements on the field are staggering, it’s his contributions to the community, with A Better LA, that change neighborhoods and save lives!

Between the hash marks:  Three times (2003, 2004, 2005) the Trojans have played in the National Championship Game. Carroll’s squads have been crowned the champs twice (shared the title in 2003 and won the outright title in 2004) and have won over 85% of their games.  They are on the verge of their eighth straight:   PAC-10 championship, Top 4 finish in the AP poll and BCS bowl game.

A BETTER LA, founded by Carroll, is a 501(c)(3) comprised of local leaders from the private, non-profit, social service, faith-based, education and law enforcement sectors. They are committed to supporting Los Angeles communities in their goal to reduce violence by empowering change. Their first target area is in South Los Angeles.  Carroll’s goal from the beginning has been to empower people and communities from within to facilitate change, foster growth and create a sustaining lifestyle of non-violence.

Hollywood Icon Magazine has been privileged to work with A Better LA (and the wonderful Jaime Carroll, Pete’s daughter) on a few of their video projects.  During this time, we have experienced the heart of this organization and are truly impressed by their desire to bring positive change to the city of LA.  The most exciting part of it all is that there is always opportunity to be a part of this change.

How can you be in?  A Better LA has two events coming up this month that anyone can be a part of:

Both events are on Saturday, August 29th.

Community Day in the Park

11AM to 5 PM

Algin Sutton Park

800 S. Hoover St., Los Angeles 90044

BBQ, sports, pool games, bounce houses and music

Community Block Party and RUACH Church Opening Celebration

9AM to 5 PM

The parking lot at Imperial and Western

11603 Western Ave, Los Angeles, 90047

Food vendors, games for kids and music

Anyone interested in volunteering please email abetterla.volunteering@gmail.com

Back to the gridiron for a moment…  The 2009 Trojans are in a position to put the exclamation mark on their legacy as the college football team of the decade.  Having lost eight defensive players to the NFL draft, including  their entire linebacking core, this season will test the team’s reputation of being the school who is able to recruit and reload in an instant, without rebuilding.

USC’s offense welcomes back nine starters from a group that averaged 38 points and 455 yards per game in 2008.  The challenge lies at quarterback, where Mark Sanchez is now fighting for a starting job in the New York Jets squad instead of going to class in LA. Current starting Quarterback Aaron Corp is out for up to two weeks with a knee injury, which is opening the door for true freshman phenom Matt Barkley to get more reps.  The offensive line and the vaunted running back by committee (Stafon Johnson, Allen Bradford, C.J. Gable and Joe McKnight) should bring enough stability to once again be dominant.

Note:  Center Kristofer O’Dowd dislocated his kneecap last week, but should be back within three weeks.

Cal will start the season ranked nationally in the top 15 and is expected to challenge USC for the conference title. Cal gets the Trojans at home on Oct. 3  Oregon should be the other team contending for the Rose Bowl birth, while new UCLA Bruin head coach Rick Nieuheisel, reviving Westwood in his second campaign, could surprise.  After opening up the 2009 campaign with a home warmup versus San Jose State (September 5) USC visits Ohio State on September 12 in a contest that has immediate national championship implications.

If Coach Carroll’s Twitter account is any indication, his almost 40,000 followers would agree… it’s going to be another big year at the Coliseum.  While you are cheering on the football team, take a minute to pick up the phone and volunteer some of your time at A Better LA.

http://www.abetterla.org/About/PeteCarroll.asp