Monte Burke on MEN OF TROY: Pete Carroll’s USC, Reggie Bush, and the End of Amateurism

Brian O’Leary interviews author Monte Burke about his book MEN OF TROY: The Epic Afternoons, Wild Nights, and Enduring Legacy of Pete Carroll’s USC Trojans (Grand Central Publishing, published January 13, 2026). Burke traces his own path into college football and writing, contrasts the atmosphere of college football with the NFL, and explains why coaches like Carroll and Nick Saban make compelling subjects. We discuss USC’s unique Los Angeles moment with celebrity-laced practices, the program’s rise under Carroll, and how the Reggie Bush scandal exposed flaws in college football’s amateurism model and helped foreshadow NIL-era changes, while sanctions punished players like Matt Barkley who had no role in violations. The conversation revisits defining games (the “Bush Push” and the Texas title loss), Carroll’s coaching style and staff, Pac-10 ripple effects, and ends with Carroll’s fishing life and Burke’s favorite fisheries. *** Buy MEN OF TROY at Amazon: https://amzn.to/47p8Mjs Find Monte Burke: https://www.monteburke.com/ *** Segments: Meet Monte Burke Growing Up With Football Why College Saturdays Rule From Saban to Carroll USC Takes Over LA Modern Era and Amateurism Reggie Bush and NIL Shift Sanctions Fallout on Players Inside Pete Carroll Interviews NCAA Politics and USC Anger Party Culture Backfires Agents Invade Heritage Hall Six Inches From Immortality Reggie Missing On Fourth Down Pete Carroll Defends The Call Carroll Legacy In Shadow Recreating Iconic Games USC Rivals And Pac-10 Shift Coaching Tree And Lane Kiffin Kiffin Pressure And Enemies Trout Fishing And Calming Down Raiders Job And Roster Reality Angling Talk And Farewell *** Find Brian D. O’Leary: 𝕏: https://x.com/briandoleary YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@briandoleary Substack: https://briandoleary.substack.com/