Did USC's national title hopes just go up in smoke?

[George S. Patton]

ESPN is reporting QB Mark Sanchez disclocated a knee cap in Friday's practice. That's not good.

[White Helmet]

Enter Mitch Mustain

[Eddie P]

Thats dissapointing to hear. From all accounts, Sanchez was a really good guy.

[J.T.supporta]

ESPN is reporting QB Mark Sanchez disclocated a knee cap in Friday's practice. That's not good.

up in smoke? i think not...

patton, they have a back up QB who hasnt lost a game since his junior year in HS. MM is ready to take this team to the top. Only 2 losses in the past 4 years of him playing football

[HB Pony Dad]

ESPN is reporting QB Mark Sanchez disclocated a knee cap in Friday's practice. That's not good.

LA Times report::cry:

Mark Sanchez's knee injury muddies waters at USC

http://www.latimes.com/sports/la-sp-san ... 9706.story

Preseason polls are just hype to sell interest for the media giants.

USC is thin on the OL and Middle Linebacker as well:

Another article from today's LA Times:

Injuries make USC thin at middle linebacker

http://www.latimes.com/sports/college/f ... 7732.story

"The sight of Sanchez being carted off came as a shock to the receivers, the players who have perhaps the closest on-the-field connection to him.

For at least the next few days, they will be acclimating to new faces behind center with the first unit.

"All of them do something different," senior receiver Patrick Turner said.

Turner said that sophomore Mitch Mustain has experience and a strong arm, and redshirt freshman Aaron Corp has the mobility to be creative if the play breaks down.

"We've just got to bring them along and get them caught up to what we're doing on the first-team offense," Turner said.

Damian Williams played receiver with Mustain at Arkansas.

"We're still in the acclimatization period, so we're just trying to get used to the plays," he said. "Mitch is learning. Corp is learning. We've got to keep moving."

Coach Pete Carroll said the incident should remind all the backups on the team that they must be ready.

"I had the opportunity to say exactly that," Carroll said. "This is a classic opportunity for someone to step up . . . just like it is for some of the other guys at other spots."



This is a prime example of how good recruiting can hopefully maintain a program when injuries occur.

I personally like Mitch Mustain and thought the Arkansas letter campaign was very distasteful.

BTW If there are any grammatical or spelling errors remember I'm a University of Success and Charm grad:

"Pay your fees, Get your degrees"

[ponyte]

HB Pony Dad, you are finally catching on to the self parody so prevalent on this board. Now if you would just display some cynicism, the transition to Pony fan would be complete.

I agree that M Mustain was treated rather poorly. In Arkyland, the Beloved Razorbacks are near deities and any hint of disloyalty brings unimaginable wrath from the faithful. That is what happen to Mustain. The kid was thrown into a situation where the offense was in shambles and he wasn't ready for the college game. He survived long enough for Arkansas to discover and use McFadden to his full potential. USC is lucky to get a kid that has played in a very strong conference and has had a year to mature and learn the system. I suspect USC will be just fine with Mustain.

[HB Pony Dad]

HB Pony Dad, you are finally catching on to the self parody so prevalent on this board. Now if you would just display some cynicism, the transition to Pony fan would be complete.

I agree that M Mustain was treated rather poorly. In Arkyland, the Beloved Razorbacks are near deities and any hint of disloyalty brings unimaginable wrath from the faithful. That is what happen to Mustain. The kid was thrown into a situation where the offense was in shambles and he wasn't ready for the college game. He survived long enough for Arkansas to discover and use McFadden to his full potential. USC is lucky to get a kid that has played in a very strong conference and has had a year to mature and learn the system. I suspect USC will be just fine with Mustain.

Mitch is as big as Sanchez but he likes to run instead of staying in the pocket.

Sound Familiar Pony Fans?

DYK Until 1912, USC students (especially athletes) were known as Fighting Methodists

[RGV Pony]

\

DYK Until 1912, USC students (especially athletes) were known as Fighting Methodists

damn ACLU

[mrydel]

Somewhere Mother Mustain is hugging her voodoo doll with the pin in the knee.

[OC Mustang]

HB Pony Dad, you are finally catching on to the self parody so prevalent on this board. Now if you would just display some cynicism, the transition to Pony fan would be complete.

I agree that M Mustain was treated rather poorly. In Arkyland, the Beloved Razorbacks are near deities and any hint of disloyalty brings unimaginable wrath from the faithful. That is what happen to Mustain. The kid was thrown into a situation where the offense was in shambles and he wasn't ready for the college game. He survived long enough for Arkansas to discover and use McFadden to his full potential. USC is lucky to get a kid that has played in a very strong conference and has had a year to mature and learn the system. I suspect USC will be just fine with Mustain.

Notwithstanding what you point out about being thrown into the deep end of the pool at Arkansas (very true), Mustain behaved like a primadonna at Arkansas, and his mother behaved like a raving lunatic. She's the parent at little league games that I, as a coach, want for her so not to be there because she makes coaching unbearable. If he shows that kind of selfish, political crap at USC, they should take their lumps and bench the kid and his mom.

That said, if he behaves, and more importantly, if his mother stays silent, he can take that year at Arkansas in the SEC, witness to all that speed, and use it at USC to fill-in for Sanchez. I saw Mustain play on television, and I saw Sanchez play live and in color in high school at MV. My money's on Sanchez, if he's healthy. So frankly, I hope he gets better quickly. If not, I'll grit my teeth until Mustain and his mom show their a$$e$.

[OC Mustang]

Somewhere Mother Mustain is hugging her voodoo doll with the pin in the knee.

[ozfan]

Guys this far away I have been out of the loop about NCAA football. What is the gist of what happened with Mustain at Razorback land.

[mrydel]

Guys this far away I have been out of the loop about NCAA football. What is the gist of what happened with Mustain at Razorback land.

He was benched after being undefeated as a starter, but still very inexperienced. He showed a glimpse of brilliance in a late drive against USC in the opener, entering a college game for the first time in his career. Of course USC was ahead by about 50 points at the time. Then UA won their next few games with Mustain starting but he never really perfromed well individually. McFadden was the star. Eventually, thinking they needed to pass more, Nutt replaced Mustain with the original 1st teamer, Casey [deleted]. That is where the problems began. The fans split against Nutt for his decision. Some loyal to him and others ready to kill. Then Mustain's mother got involved by meeting with Nutt and telling him what she thought and a new division was formed entailing the Malzahn supporters (Mustains HS coach who was hired as OC at UA many believe just to get Mustain and 2 of his super star teammates), and the Nutt supporters. Then Nutt's wife sent a nasty email to a friend bad mouthing Mrs. Mustain for her involvement, and it became public. Anyway it was very soap operaish. Bottom line was Mustain transferring to USC after his former HS teammate Daimian Williams(?) had already transferred. The 3rd kid stayed at UA and should play although has a serious neck injury at this time.

The whole fiasco was very prevalent in the Nutt firing and there is still a split amongst the Razorback fans today. It is a beauty to behold.

[SMUfiji43]

The Trojans will be just fine. Even if Mustain doesn't play, I think Aaron Corp could be one of the best QB's they have had a in a few years. He is 6'4 and runs like a deer which was apparent in the California state championship 2 years ago. He also had the best spring game, which isn't a real indicator of anything, but the skills are there

[Stallion]

Poor ole USC. They've got Scout teamers more highly recruited than all of SMU QBs combined. They lose Sanchez rated by some as the No. 1 QB in the 2005 Class-they bring in Mustain rated by some as the No. 1 QB in the 2006 Class who will then have to fight for his job next year with-yes-a kid some rate as the No. 1 QB in the 2009 Class. As mentioned their third string QB Corp really sucks-he was the No. 3 QB in the 2007 Class. Of course, Sanchez replace John David booty who some claimed was the No. 1 QB in his class who replaced two Heisman Trophy winners in Matt Leinart and Carson Palmer. Boo-Hoo. The loser of this year's battle and all the previous QB battles over the last 10 years will henceforth be called a "recruiting bust" by the Captain despite the fact that USC is only allowed to play with one football just like all the rest of the teams in the NCAA.

CAUTION: There is no proven scientific relationship between USC's recruiting success and performance on the field. In fact, even with all those great players they have lost a couple of games over the years.