While Pete Carroll was coach of the USC Trojans, he kept notes on what he would do differently if he got another shot to be a head coach in the NFL. The former New England Patriots and New York Jets head coach was convinced a pro football team could win with compassion rather than anger.
Entering his fourth season running the Seattle Seahawks, Carroll might have reached his goal. The Seahawks are one of the favorites to win the Super Bowl and ESPN The Magazine showed that Carroll got to the brink through motivating the players rather than yelling at them.
Carroll has an assistant who runs a meditation class, a roster that has bought in to daily yoga classes and a head trainer in Sam Ramsden who is now called "director of player health performance," using GPS devices and interviewing nutritionists.
It's all part of the power of positive thinking that drives Carroll's camp. Even offensive coach Tom Cable -- the fierce former head coach of the Oakland Raiders -- said this team fits him just right.
Not every player buys into Carroll's philosophy. Those who don't -- like quarterback Matt Flynn -- find themselves gone quickly.
But it doesn't hurt when the franchise quarterback, Russell Wilson, said Carroll's outlook is what breeds a winning atmosphere.
-- Bill Bradley, contributing editor
