Mustain To USC

by Paragon SC on Apr 19, 2007 1:23 AM PDT in USC Football Comment 14 comments

From the LAT

Quarterback Mitch Mustain, who started eight games for Arkansas last season, will transfer to USC, a source said Wednesday.

Mustain, 6 feet 3 and 205 pounds, had been contemplating transferring to either USC or Tulsa. He visited USC in February and also watched the Trojans scrimmage at the Coliseum this month.

Mustain could not be reached for comment. Coach Pete Carroll declined to comment.

Mustain passed for nearly 900 yards and 10 touchdowns in 2006. He will not be eligible until the 2008 season, when he is expected to compete with Mark Sanchez and Aaron Corp for playing time. Former Razorback receiver Damian Williams, who transferred to USC in January, also will be eligible in 2008

While this isn't an "official" announcement it's one more layer peeled off the onion of a story that has been brewing for a while now. I'm sure Mustain's observations at the Trojan Huddle a couple of weeks ago were the last pieces of the puzzle he needed to make his decision. Of course an official announcement would be nice to hear but this is as close as it will get for the time being.

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Pete Carroll's phone records aren't FOIA-able...

...so what's Mustain going to do for leverage when he can't beat out Sanchez or Corp for a starting position?

by DC Trojan on Apr 19, 2007 7:00 AM PDT reply actions 0 recs

Harsh

You're kidding, right? Mustain didn't have anything to do with that nut Nutt's phone records being revealed.

by Defender90 on Apr 19, 2007 10:02 AM PDT reply actions 0 recs

many blogs are running with that story

I haven't seen a mainstream article saying that Mustain was one of those who filed a FOIA request, but it's been bouncing around the blogosphere:

http://thewizardofodds.blogspot.com/2007/04/mustain-filed-request-for-information.html

http://www.everydayshouldbesaturday.com/?p=3327#comments

(The second one is worth checking out if only for the Photoshop/MSPaint artwork that EDSBS has been using for the Nutt/Mustain updates)

by Boy Howdy on Apr 19, 2007 10:16 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

perhaps a little harsh

Boy Howdy had the cites on claims that Mustain was one of several individuals to request phone records via FOI in Arkansas.

I'll grant you that they are nuts enough down there that someone could have faked it.

I know that it's never a bad idea to have an extra good QB in the mix in case of injury but it's not like SC gets a lot of experience from his transfer. And I have unfounded doubts about how much Mustain can really cope with the Carroll competition of all against all.

by DC Trojan on Apr 19, 2007 10:31 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

Carroll could use someone to push..

...Sanchez next year. It can only make USC better if he and incoming freshman Aaron Corp can keep Sanchez on his toes. I know PC won't just hand anyone the job, but he's been know to be loyal to his players, especially the QBs. If Mustain can't beat out Sanchez, then he or Corp will undoubtedly redshirt, and then battle each other once Sanchez leaves.

Fight On!

USC Sports Talk, contributor http://uscsportstalk.blogspot.com

by mel kiper fan on Apr 20, 2007 2:38 AM PDT reply actions 0 recs

I'll buy that...

<nm>

by DC Trojan on Apr 20, 2007 7:11 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

So if I read it on the internets, it's true?

From what I've read, I'm more on the side of believing Nutt lied to Gus Malzahn about his plans for the offense only to get Mustain to commit. The fact that Nutt hired a "co"-offensive coordinator following their bowl game and only told Malzahn about it after the fact speaks to his integrity as far as I'm concerned. Malzahn left for Tulsa but took the high road and hasn't said one word to the media about the events at Arkansas.

Mustain's mom prolly didn't need to be as prominent in the news stories, but I'm sure she just wanted to do right by her child. As far as Mustain himself, I am willing to give him (and PC) the benefit of the doubt and assume that he knows he will be competing for the job here and that he doesn't have a problem with that.

by Defender90 on Apr 20, 2007 10:45 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs

I am not 100%

in favor of this move my Mustain or Carroll for that matter. I just think he's better off not coming to USC and USC is better off not bringing him in. Nothing personal. Its a shame that his talent would get bogged down on the bench at USC when it could be used better somewhere else. While I admire his confidence for realizing the competition and not being scared of it. I don't quite understand this. However, in hindsight, if he beats out Sanchez and lead our team to a 2nd straight national title (the 1st being this season), I would have loved the move by Mustain and USC. Naturally.

by joey on Apr 21, 2007 3:57 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs

It's kind of like Broderick Green

He's never going to play, but he can dream.

by SuperBruinMan on Apr 22, 2007 11:37 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

And if he's the backup at USC

You never have to play against him. Which is pretty much the only way you can rationalize all those RBs you got.

by SuperBruinMan on Apr 22, 2007 11:39 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

Did you not notice our Spinal Tap Drummers?

Mustain was responsible for 6 points in a 50 - 14 loss for Arkansas, which is not bad for a freshman but not fearsome. To your point about playing him: unless a) he stayed with the Hogs, b) Arkansas didn't drop off from last season, and c) Arkansas in fact ended up in a bowl game with SC, the chances of facing him were slender.
Every time we turned around last season, a fullback was having some horrendous improbable injury. It's only prudent to have a slight oversupply of running backs.

by DC Trojan on Apr 23, 2007 7:18 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

Plus

All those running backs want to be associated with a winning program, nee dynasty. We love guys who have the balls to think they can break through the depth chart and make their marks. That's a better bet than thinking you can shine at a schizo after-ran program where the team seems to vote week-to-week on whether they will show up to play - must need dramamine to stave off the nausea from those yo-yo pendulum swings.

by Defender90 on Apr 23, 2007 1:13 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

All those running backs

did come here to compete and they are ALL athletes. Coming out of high school, these guys want to prove they are the best. USC didn't recruit them so they wouldn't have to play against them. McKnight would have gone to Ole Miss, Tyler would have gone to Texas or Notre Dame(who we already own), and Green would have went to Arkansas who we just played back to back. These guys can play anywhere on the field they are so talented. While USC tries to stack its roster with the best talent, people like you are worried about whether they are gonna play or not. These kids aren't stupid, if they make it at USC, they are gonna have a Reggie Bush like contract waiting for them. Besides, its not like they were gonna enroll at UCLA and we would have to play against them or something. That was probably uncalled for , but so is alot of what I say.

by joey on Apr 23, 2007 11:23 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

Notre Dame sucks

My point was that there are about 8 RBs at USC who were recruited as such (so Bradford doesn't count- though he would have otherwise gone to UCLA), and even if half of them can play other positions that still leaves a lot. And even if they enroll at a place like Texas or Arkansas, there are always bowl games. Also, McKnight may have gone to LSU, which would put him in the same boat as the others.

by SuperBruinMan on Apr 23, 2007 5:17 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs