Carroll: No Interest in NFL

With annual rumors swirling regarding NFL teams’ interest in him, USC Coach Pete Carroll said Thursday that he was not interested in returning to pro football.

“I’ve kind of been involved with that for a few years now and it’s really not that big a deal to me,” Carroll said of speculation about his future. “Like always, I’ve said whenever that kind of stuff comes up, it’s nice that somebody’s thinking about you, if that’s the case.

“But I’m not interested. I’m really pleased to be where I am and doing what we’re doing and I’m having the time of my life.”

Carroll turned down a chance to coach the San Francisco 49ers after the 2002 season and has been pursued on some level by NFL teams after each of the last two seasons.

Carroll’s name has recently been linked to possible openings with the Minnesota Vikings, Houston Texans and New Orleans Saints.

“I know about as much about that as I know about the BCS,” he said.

Carroll was head coach of the New York Jets in 1994 and the New England Patriots from 1997 to ’99.

Asked if he was interested in the NFL, Carroll said, “No.”

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Running back LenDale White went through a full practice and said the thigh bruise that slowed him earlier in the week was no longer a problem.

He said he used a portable muscle stimulator at home to help heal the bruise and disperse stagnant blood.

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Virginia Tech wore modified uniforms designed by Nike for its game Thursday night against Boston College. USC also was approached about wearing a modified uniform in one of its games but declined. “We wouldn’t want to step out of normal tradition,” Carroll said.