USC coach Pete Carroll: Mark Who?

This morning, Pete Carroll was telling the world that he thought Mark Sanchez should have stuck around USC for another year.

This afternoon, the Trojans' head coach was telling the players who are sticking around that Sanchez turning professional rather than coming back to play another year wasn't important.

Here's some of what Carroll had to say during a team meeting that ended about 5 p.m., according to the USCRipsIt blog at petecarroll.com:

"You think I’m uncomfortable in this situation right now? Hell no, because we’ve been through this for years. We’re going to be great, because of you guys in here.”

And, as for the impact that the departure of Sanchez will have on the USC program?

“This is about opportunity. This has happened a million times here. It doesn’t matter who goes; it matters who stayed. This is all about seizing the opportunities you get. Everything you do counts. If you want to go, go get it. The competition is on."

Check out latimes.com/sports and All Things Trojan for more coverage of today's USC developments.

-- Greg Johnson

Photo: USC coach Pete Carroll during today's Mark Sanchez news conference at Heritage Hall. Credit: Kirby Lee / Image of Sport-US PRESSWIRE