Orange County Register

Music fan and occasional USC football coach Pete Carroll saw “This Is It” late Thursday night, and it’s safe to say he gives the Michael Jackson film two enthusiastic thumbs up.

Carroll spent 2 1/2 solid minutes talking about the movie after USC’s walk-through here in Eugene on Friday, calling it “remarkable,” “amazing,” “incredible,” “extraordinary” and “awesome.” (When Carroll likes something, he really, really likes it.)

Carroll said anyone could relate to the film’s message, which he described as “the extraordinary pride that he (Jackson) brought to his work, his depth of caring. He competed so hard to make it exactly, perfectly right. That kind of focus and ability to perform, and the natural ability to improvise and create, it’s what great athletes do; it’s what great performers in all different arts do. He’s a master, and it was really fun to watch. I saw it from many different angles.”

Carroll then moon-walked away into the Eugene night.

(OK, that last part didn’t actually happen. But we’re all expecting a “thriller” Saturday night, right?)

More from the USC blog:

• USC football: Trojans missing some pass catchers
• USC at Oregon: And the winner is …
• USC football: RoJo will return kicks against Oregon
• USC football: McCoy will not play against Oregon
• USC football: Third downs no longer producing frowns
• USC basketball: The freshman class that could have been
• LIVE: Pac-10 Media Day
• USC basketball: Trojans picked to finish ninth in Pac-10
• USC basketball: Where will Trojans land in Pac-10 poll?
• USC football: Are the Trojans the best in the Pac-10?

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