USC football: Charlie Weis says comments about Pete Carroll were taken out of context
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Former Notre Dame Coach Charlie Weis said today that comments he made about USC Coach Pete Carroll in an interview published by an Internet website were taken “totally out of context.”
In a question-and-answer session posted Saturday by IrishIllustrated.com senior editor Tim Prister, Weis is quoted as saying:
‘Let me ask you this question: You guys know about things that go on in different places. Was I living with a grad student in Malibu, or was I living with my wife in my house? You could bet that if I were living with a grad student here in South Bend, it would be national news. He’s doing it in Malibu and it’s not national news. What’s the difference? I don’t understand. Why is it okay for one guy to do things like that, but for me, I’m scrutinized when I swear. I’m sorry for swearing; absolve my sins.”
Early this morning, Weis contacted The Times and said he was having a “totally subjective” conversation with several reporters that was an aside to the formal interview. During that conversation, Weis said, he was speaking about Internet rumors and how they adversely affect the lives of coaches and their families.
“In no way was I trying to take a shot at Pete,” Weis said in a phone message. “What we were talking about was how the rumor mill can affect people’s lives. When I was asked a specific question like that, I responded like, ‘This is the same crap that I’m talking about.’ You start saying things like this and one thing, this guy does this and I do that and all of a sudden the Internet takes it all over the place.
‘So, in no way was I trying to take a shot at Pete. I feel if I offended Pete, I will run Pete down and apologize. ... In no way do I have any idea what’s going on in anyone’s life other than the fact that rumors on the Internet can affect coaches’ lives in a very, very negative fashion.”
Later, in a telephone interview, Weis said, “In no way would I be disrespectful to that guy,” and “All I know is that he kicked the crap out of me five times.”
Weis said he had left a phone message for Carroll.
Weis’ comments regarding Carroll were removed from the interview, which can be found here.
Prister declined to comment.
When informed of the original post by a USC official, Carroll had told The Times, ‘It’s untrue, it’s irresponsible, and it’s incredible he’d be talking about me like that.’
[Updated at 11 a.m.: Carroll said today that he had spoken to Weis.
‘I talked to Charlie and he wants to set the record straight,’ Carroll said. ‘He apologized profusely for being represented wrongly. I’m not commenting anymore.’]
-- Gary Klein