Pete Carroll was the coach at USC and at the game when De'Anthony Thomas, who calls himself Black Mamba, made his debut at Crenshaw High School in Los Angeles. Thomas’ first play made an impression.
“I was standing on about the 15-yard line," said Carroll, who on Friday night coached the Seattle Seahawks against Thomas and the Kansas City Chiefs. “He had been a phenomenally renowned Pop Warner player. It’s his first game ever he’s playing at Crenshaw. He’s on the other side of the field, covering the opening kickoff. They kick the ball off, he boots it around back here, and the guy is running, and I’m standing right on the sideline, and I’m watching, and he’s flying.