Mustain is in the drivers seat
by Paragon SC on Nov 26, 2010 8:00 AM PST
in USC Football
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PrintBelieve what you want, but Mitch Mustain is going to start tomorrow.
Lane Kiffin can say its a game time decision, which is simple gamesmanship, or hedge his bets in the press but if Barkley isn't practicing he isn't playing...it is simple as that.
No game, no record and no amount of pride is worth risking further injury to NEXT years starting QB. Especially if you have a more than capable fifth-year senior who has some starting experience.
Mustain took 90 percent of the snaps with the first-team offense on Tuesday and Wednesday, with walk-on John Manoogian getting the others. Tuesday, Barkley stood on the sideline in a gray hoodie, his hands grasping crutch handles, his left ankle in a walking boot. By Wednesday, the boot was off, but his left ankle was still heavily taped.
Yeap, no question he is starting...
At this point Barkley has progressed as far as he was going to this season. There is no post-season for the team so now it is just about getting better, working out the kinks and finishing the season by beating our two rivals.
Don't get me wrong I want 'SC to win and I think they will but all the energy being wasted on whether or not Barkley starts is pointless...he is done for the season. I am just more interested in rallying behind Mustain than worrying about what won't happen.
Mustain has been great in his time USC. I can't remember Mustain ever complaining about the situation he faced. And when faced with the opportunity to transfer after the NCAA handed down their ruling Mustain held tight knowing his opportunity to start was slim. That says a lot about him.
He has handled it all extremely well...
"You always look forward to it actually happening however slim it may be," he said. "If this is it, then I'll be ready to go for it.
"It's what I've been playing for, what I've been practicing for, what I stuck around this year for."
[...]
"I don't care if it's a minute before, the year before or whatever," he said. "Whatever changes, however many times it changes before, I'll be ready."
This is Mustain's swan song so I hope he makes the best of it. I hope he shows us all what we wanted to see from him. He may not have been given the fairest chance to compete for the job under the previous staff but all that doesn't matter now...this is his time.
I have every confidence that he will do well...
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Nice write up
I think every Trojan who has followed Mustain’s time at USC will be pulling for him. For me, it will be especially enjoyable to watch him starting with Marc Tyler. Both guys made the comittment to remain Trojans knowing that they would battle up the depth chart for playing time. Hard work and great attitude don’t always pay off in CFB, and it’s something to apprecite when they do.
Mitch I'm Proud You Are A Trojan
It’s rare to have a QB: 1) with the potential Mitch had – Notre Dame would have killed to get a QB like Mustain in the past 3 years 2) have a talented QB not get the chance to be a starter and 3) have this talented QB stick around the school where he knows he probably won’t start.
Whether Mitch throws 6 TDs or 6 INTs I admire his commitment to be a Trojan and I’m proud of him. I hope he gets the Matt Cassel type of chance to be an NFL QB even without starting at USC.
It's cool whoever is healthy and maybe being on sideline for last 2 gmes will give Barkley a better perspective.
Barkley has only been a watcher one game in the last 5 years he needs this to grow, USCs season really doesn’t hold any keys so it really doesn’t matter if they win out. Know don’t get me wrong, I do want to beat the jeck out of Notre Dame and Fucla.
Lets face it USC fans and supporters the Bruins are superior in all aspects of life, heck I here they can wipe their Butts with their mind.
by so.cal.native1952 on Nov 26, 2010 9:38 AM PST reply actions
I hope the Coliseum is ROCKING!
The Fighting Rash’s QB, Rees has already started in Yankee Stadium and won. But, he’ll be playing in OUR stadium and no offense but, OUR field is more “hallowed ground” than any newfangled cave serving outsourced coffee and hot dogs.
So let’s give this lucky 2-game phenom THE TREATMENT! As well, here’s hoping Lane Fucking Kiffin learns from last week’s game: he must “coach” the game, and not the opposing coach. OSU’s Coach Riley stuck to his gameplan and just willed his players to make the plays they had to in order to dictate the pace and rhythm of that game. Coach Kiffin tried adjusting our gameplan when he really didn’t have to. Barkley going down didn’t help much, but from that point forward- Kiffin did what Coach Carroll errantly did a few times when he was our coach- he altered the gameplan to fit our key replacements when our starters went down. Why? The same players he sees in practice are the same players who’ve digested that week’s gameplan. I understand “strengths & weaknesses” of certain players at certain positions, but DAMN! These kids know full well going in what’s required to beat their opponents.
Just let ’em play, Coach! A little less ego and a little more confidence already.
That said, Fight On Trojans!
Beat the Irish!
In case you ever asked this offseason, could it get any worse?. . .In short, the answer is yes. (Joey Kaufman- Conquest Chronicles)
by BixBeiderbecke on Nov 26, 2010 10:56 AM PST reply actions
Right On
Mitch is the man. He didn’t complain, he didn’t take the free ride out of town, He stayed the course. He certainly knows what it means to FIGHT ON. I hope Matt heals up and has a record setting year in 2011; let’s all get behind MM to finish 2010 at 9-4, beat the Domers and the bRuins, and maybe stir some interest by the pro scouts. We should be proud of the example he has set. I feel good about this, MM will finish his college career 10-0 as a starter
FIGHT ON MITCH.
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"You can't sanction heart, and you can't sanction the will to win" - USC QB, Matt Barkley
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