Carroll On Hazelton
Pete Carroll commented on Vidal Hazelton's transfer.
``We'll do everything we can to help him,'' Carroll said. ``This is a very difficult program and it's not for everybody. He's up against some really good players. (Assistant coach) John Morton was always fighting for him (for playing time). We tried the best we could. Sometimes guys take your spot away.''
Based on the coaches comments, it really sounds like he just could not cut it at USC, even though he did start the season opener. Sorry to say and it might not be fair, but at a program like USC, injuries can cost you your career. Especially if you have not established yourself as a big play guy that can produce game in and game out.
WOW...First BG now VH...who is next? A. Spicer? Trey Henderson? We already lost the Shaquelle Evans commit and I hear Alshon Jeffrey is next..
This opens up so many problems...think of the recruiting tool! "Why go to USC? You will sit on the bench for 2 years and transfer...like Vidal hazelton, Broderick Green, Jeff Schweiger, Jamere Holland..
Second, VH was the #1 WR in his class..something should of been done to keep him around. PC seems to care less...he said "Yeah it's a tough program some guys don't make it.." Geez...he is not a walk on. I know he dropped alot of passes but you gotta give someone a chance.
Well maybe I will visit my brother in Michigan and watch him play for Penn st. which is where his father always wanted him anyway.
I predict the next out the door is MM...Here's my question...with B. Green gone and B. Carswell possibly following, who will be the RB in 2010? M. Tyler and...?
At least Morton and Pete showed some class. Sarks comments were bush league. It always looked like Hazelton was working his tail off trying to block. Bet dad had alot more to say about Sark then we know.
Here's my thought--
I am going to toss out 3 names: Mozique McCurtis, Desmond Reed, Hershel Dennis.
How often did we see these guys playing? Alot..Reed scored the TD off the GG pass, McCurtis gave up the game winning TD vs. Stanford...even though Dennis and Reed both have 2 torn up knees and McCurtis was a marginal player, at best, 1 star JUCO transfer. Why did they get playing time, and VH did not? Freakin' Mozique couldn't even cover a Stanford WR and cost us the game/season/NC... why was he even on field?
I think Ol' Pete plays a lot of games with favorites, and obviously didn't like VH...Here's another name; Thomas Herring. Huge 4 star OL #5 in his class per scout.com..and...still sitting on the bench 4 years later. E. Moody? Alex Parsons?? I mean, come on, the guy was a DE in high school and just started playing O line at USC and he should start?? How about Eric Wright and Eugene Germany? The coaching staff knew they were poor attitude kids but kept them around anyway until they got burned by it..
Well the end result is that less less people are going to commit to USC...
You can't blame Carroll...he's always preached competition and never guarantees anything to anyone. Pete will play the players who give him the best chance to win, unless there's off the field issues.
Hazelton's dad has been a pain in the butt from day one and got too involved. From declining to sign off on Vidal's commitment letter to going directly to the media with his complaints of the coaching staff, this program certainly doesn't need the distraction of Vidal's dad.
bushwhite, while I empathize with you and agree that you're correct on some of your assertions, I think big time recruits not panning out is just the nature of the college football beast.
I'm not sure it's that much of a recruiting deterrent for Pete to let these guys walk. If anything, his accommodating nature lets recruits know that they can move on if it doesn't work out.
Also, I think Percy Harvin was the #1 receiver that year... and I'd expect CJ Gable and whatever RB they recruit in the meantime to share the backfield with Tyler.
Fight on!