Personally, I think this is the first step towards him being replaced as AD.  Good article on ESPN today about the whole Kiffin/Orgeron/Sark fiasco and how USC tried to hang on to the Carroll years way too long.

http://espn.go.com/college-football/story/_/id/14010323/usc-athletic-dir...

http://espn.go.com/college-football/story/_/id/13937182/pete-how-usc-hop...