WILL TAR HEELS RE-PETE THEIR MISTAKE? WITHOUT CARROLL, CAROLINA IS BLUE.

Byline: SCOTT WOLF 

North Carolina fired Coach John Bunting earlier this week, which is ironic because sixyears ago USC coach Pete Carroll tried to get the Tar Heels job that eventually went to Bunting.

Imagine the reaction in North Carolina if it was widely known that Carroll struck out in his attempts to interview for the job.

``They never called me back,'' Carroll said. ``I never got a smell.''

When North Carolina showed nointerest, Carroll pursued the USC job and the rest his history.

But at the time, he thought North Carolina would be a perfect place to resurrect his career.

``It was one of my favorite places in the country,'' he said. ``It's in a great conference. I always thought highly of North Carolina.''

But North Carolina did not think as highly of him. Of course, he did not exactly have a sterling reputation back then, having been out of work for a year after being fired by the NewEngland Patriots.

``They had no reason to like me,'' Carroll said.

Instead, North Carolina hired Bunting, a former Tar Heel player, who is 25-42 in six seasons. That's not quite as impressive as winning 51of your past 53 games and two national championships, as Carroll has done at USC.

The closest Carroll came to an interview at North Carolina was speaking to a booster who passed his number along to the athletic department. It didn't cause a ripple and soon Carroll lobbied for the job at USC, where he wasn't exactly a popular choice either, at least initially.

``I was just someone who was an assistant for three years at North Carolina State, that was my only connection to the state,'' Carroll said. ``I wasn't surprised they didn't call me.''

Even some of Carroll's associates reminded him this week about the North Carolina job, however.

``I don't think they've written anything about it before,'' a friend of Carroll's said.

It should be noted North Carolina is handling this search differently. The university hired Chuck Neinas, the former executive director of the College Football Association, to help assist with the coaching search.

``I don't hire anybody, but I can transmit accurate information between the parties,'' Neinas said. ``Each project has a little different twist, but basically what I can do is assist the university by researching a slate of individuals that they might want as a coach ... and that might want to coach for them.''

Add Carroll: Apparently, Carroll is a popular topic in the ACC. Virginia coach Al Groh is feeling the heat from Cavaliers fans with a 3-5 record, but Groh said few coaches have job security.

``Unless you're (Ohio State coach) Jim Tressel or Pete Carroll, everybody's seat is a little warm,'' Groh said.

Streaks: Stanford, which has lost 10 consecutive, is one defeat away from matching the school record. At least the Cardinal won't have a chance to lose this weekend, since it has a bye Saturday. But getting even one win won't be easy, because Stanford's final four games are against USC, Washington, Oregon State and Cal.

[e-mail]

[phone]

CAPTION(S):

3 photos, 6 boxes

Photo:

(1) John Bunting got the North Carolina coaching job over Pete Carroll in 2001, but he was fired earlier this week.

Grant Halverson/Getty Images

(2) Florida State coach Bobby Bowden will retired and Virginia will fire coach Al Froh after the season.

Getty Images

(3) Boston College quaterback Matt Ryan celebrates his teams' win over Florida State.

Phil Coale/Associated Press

Box:

(1) THEY SAID IT

(2) THE LIST

(3) THE RUMOR MILL

(4) BY THE NUMBER

(5) THIS WEEKEND'S BEST BET

(6) DAILY NEWS/CBS 4/KCAL 9 SPORTS CENTRAL POWER