In typically empowering and motivating fashion, Coach Carroll forged the lessons of the past with the hope of the future to restore a positive mentality for the present as the Trojans begin preparations for the Dec. 26 Emerald Bowl against Boston College.
"We have to capture where we are and take it to the top," Carroll told his players in a hushed Heritage Auditorium. "Our mentality needs to shift to capture this thing. Our gears have to shift.
"I'm not waiting until after the bowl. I want it starting now."
Carroll discussed the teachable moments from this season while also pointing to the team's impending realities, such as the Emerald Bowl in 19 days and what that will mean to the future of the program. The steps the players take now will blaze a trail for where the team will soon be.
"Re-" was a common prefix throughout Carroll's talk, as it's all about re-creating what had produced seven straight conference titles, BCS bowl appearances and 11-win seasons.
"How far can we take this? Ain't nothing to hold us back but us," Carroll said. "I want to restart this thing now."
But how will that rebirth happen? Carroll had an answer.
"I can only think of one way to go about this -- let's go for it, all out," he said, referring to the Emerald Bowl. "Let's make this everything we can make it. Let's max it out.
"The challenge is there; we've got a hill to climb. But we can rise to the opportunity."
Coach Carroll speaks to his players during this afternoon's team meeting, the first since Saturday's loss.
