USC vs. Stanford: The battle of the coaches

“What’s your deal?!”

With those words, the college football world was in on a feud that’s withstood the test of time between USC and Stanford.

It started Nov. 14, 2009, when former Stanford coach Jim Harbaugh attempted a two-point conversion late in the game (it failed) as the Cardinal ran up the score to defeat USC, 55-21, in the Coliseum.

The 34-point loss was USC’s worst at home since 1966.

Former USC coach Pete Carroll met Harbaugh midfield for the post-game handshake and the two exchanged pleasantries that didn’t seem so pleasant.

“What’s your deal?” Carroll asked. “You all right?”

Harbaugh responded, “Yeah, I’m good. What’s your deal?”

Carroll and Harbaugh have since taken their rivalry to the NFL, but not before USC Coach Steve Sarkisian and Stanford Coach David Shaw were able to take it over.

Last season Sarkisian, then at Washington, accused Stanford of faking injuries to slow down his team’s up-tempo offense.

Stanford won the game, 31-28.

Shaw denied Sarkisian’s allegations and the two never agreed on the subject.

But both said this week that they’ve moved on.

In fact, together with their wives, they bonded in Hawaii this spring.

“We’re in a good place,” Sarkisian said.

But that doesn’t mean a new issue won’t arise.

“There may be a disagreement or two on Saturday as well,” he said.

If only the fans are so lucky.

Grab your popcorn and, in the Hawaiian spirit, maybe even a Mai Tai.

Sarkisian vs. Shaw, Part 2, could be on the way.

Questions about USC? Email me at LNThiry@gmail.com or tweet @LindseyThiry and I will answer questions in a weekly USC Now mailbag.