Mozique McCurtis: A Name of USC Infamy
A small news item today about USC cornerback Mozique McCurtis quitting football so he can focus on academics -- to try to get ready for law school.
Thing about Mozique? He will be remembered only for something bad.
It was McCurtis who played ugly, brain-dead defense on the fourth-and-goal play from the 10 vs. Stanford in the Coliseum ...
He was turned around in the end zone and beaten by Mark Bradford, who caught a touchdown pass from Tavita Pritchard with 39 seconds to play -- the score that beat the Trojans 24-23 and cost them a shot at the national title.
I'm sure McCurtis made all sorts of small contributions to the program during the three years of eligibility he used up. Well, I assume he did. Because he never really worked his way into meaningful action. Until that Stanford game, when injuries at cornerback (Shareece Wright among them) ... forced the Trojans to use McCurtis in nickel coverage. And be the guy in the spotlight on the decisive play.
Sorry. That's how I will remember the guy. Like Zenon Andrusyshyn of UCLA missing the extra point in the 21-20 loss to USC -- 40 years ago. Like Scott Norwood missing the 47-yard field goal in the Super Bowl.
Some guys just get stuck with a mistake. A millstone around their necks. For life. Mozique McCurtis is one of them. It's sad, but there you are.
Comments
The only "infamy" here is the sportswriter's! No support for a young man who makes a good and solemn education life decision. Just the writer's own braindead remark that makes it seem as if this play were USC's only mistake in a game they clearly blew as a team. This article should draw a 15-yard penalty for unsportsmanlike conduct--and ejection from the game. Shame!
Posted by: Gary | January 25, 2008 7:30 PM