CARROLL: RECRUIT'S WORDS GOT 'TWISTED' MAINTAINS MCKNIGHT, BUSH HAD NO CONTACT.

Byline: SCOTT WOLF 

Staff Writer

USC coach Pete Carroll said Friday he is "not fazed" by a university investigation into whether NCAA rules were broken in the recruitment of star tailback Joe McKnight because "nothing happened so we won't get penalized."

McKnight caused a controversy during his news conference to announce he signed with USC on Wednesday, when he suggested he picked the Trojans after he listened to a conversation between Carroll and former tailback Reggie Bush.

Before he signed, McKnight was concerned about possible NCAA penalties against USC involving allegations Bush received improper benefits from agents.

Carroll said Friday he was looking for a tape of McKnight's news conference because he was concerned the tailback's comments were "twisted."

McKnight followed up his initial comments and said they were mistaken.

"The way he says what he said, his words might have been twisted," Carroll said. "They never talked and never had a conference call or speakerphone conversation. Joe knows that.

"I'm not worried about it one bit. There are phone records to show it never happened and if it comes down to it, they will find that out."

Under NCAA rules, former players are forbidden to speak to recruits because they are considered boosters or representatives of the university. USC's compliance office is investigating the matter.

Carroll said he considered setting up a conference call with Bush and McKnight during a home visit in Louisiana last week but was told by his staff such a conversation was against the rules. Instead, Carroll said he spoke to Bush.

"When Joe was trying to get ahold of me, he wanted to know what was going on, so I talked to Reggie and asked for some details and got him up to date," Carroll said. "That conversation with Bush (and McKnight) never existed. Reggie and everyone will tell you it didn't happen."

Carroll said he blames Louisiana State fans for the controversy, because they are unhappy McKnight left the state and chose USC.

"The LSU people are going crazy with it," he said. "Everyone down there is raising a stink. There's nothing to worry about. It absolutely did not happen."

Although the incident drew national attention Friday, even if a conversation took place, NCAA sources said it likely would be considered a secondary violation, which does not result in significant penalties.

McKnight, who is from River Ridge, La., was rated the No. 1 tailback in the nation by Rivals.com. His commitment helped give the Trojans a recruiting class that was ranked the nation's best by several national services.

[e-mail]

[phone]

CAPTION(S):

2 photos

Photo:

(1) Joe McKnight dons a USC hat on national signing day, which might have angered LSU fans, according to Pete Carroll.

Alex Brandon/Associated Press

(2 -- color) McKNIGHT