Open Forum

Have you noticed the striking similarities between Mark Sanchez and Todd Marinovich? Both were the only USC quarterbacks who left school early despite not being even remotely ready for the NFL. Both had trouble with the law and had numerous off the field issues. Both had overbearing fathers who were always a presence at practice, presiding over every little detail of their son's lives, dictating what their sons did, yet appeared completely oblivious as to their off the field antics. Aren't the parallels eerie?

I will bet you a soft-serve cone at the Galen Center that Mitch Mustain will be named the starter over Aaron Corp.

Do you think Sanchez will be picked in the 1st round? I'm betting second round to the 49ers.

We love and appreciate Caesar, but are Paul Hackett's contributions undervalued? After all (and correct me if I'm wrong) didn't he recruit Palmer, Bush & Leinart?

Are all of the players in Corp's corner ? And if so, why ?

I have a question, Scott: When can USC get out of its contract with the bozos at 710 radio? They carried this morning's press conference live - until Pete gets about 30 seconds into his portion when they cut to a commercial with Mike Golic, of all people, hawking deodorant protection for his "man suit."

What a joke!

Now that we know exactly how many players are returning next season, how many total new scholarships are available?

Scott could you comment the social life of athletes at USC? Do athletes from their respective sport stay together or are they friendly with athletes from other sports. Are they too isolated from the regular student body outside classroom?

we don't know the exact amount of returning players because of possible academic, medical and transfer issues. Today just resolved the going pro issue.

Pete Carroll appeared legitimately angry at Mark Sanchez during the press conference. I had not seen anything like that from Carroll before. How much do you think Carroll's anger is due to his feeling Sanchez is ungrateful for all the concessions that were made for him by USC, especially by Carroll himself, from his arrest for sexual assault to being named the starting quarterback without a genuine competition? Does Carroll feel Sanchez was ungrateful and is this another example of how Sanchez has long been viewed as having a "me first" attitude which he was long criticized for by the coaches?

Scott, do you think that you might know too much about the inner workings of the USC football program to be a fair, objective, impartial voter for the AP? You know all the dirty laundry of the program. My analogy would be that you know what goes into the making of the sausage at USC where as you just see the finished kelbasa from the other schools.

Was that not the most surreal press conference of the Pete Carroll era? I am guessing Sanchez will not be on Pete's Christmas card list anytime soon?

Will Pete Carroll dislike for MS leaving hurt his draft stock?

Is Pete more upset with MS putting him in a difficult situtation reguarding mustain and coup then he is with MS leaving?

In your opinion, what will be the difference (if any) in the offense this past season with a first-year starting QB, to next season with a first-year starting QB?

The Palmer era was okay but finished great and Leinart era was the best with the help of Reggie Bush until Tim Tebow. John David Booty era was a good quarterback who if not for his injured hand would have played in the National Championship. Mark Sanchez era will be a question mark in my opinion since, what could have been if he had passed more. How do you compare Mark Sanchez career at USC compare to the other quarterbacks form USC?

Scott,

Can you tell me the reasoning behind player's late season transfers? I have been a big Vidal Hazelton fan and was sorry to see him leave. With that said, why in the world would he transfer in late November? It made no sense to me. Damian went down during UCLA and Vidal would have been utilized. Also, you've already burned a red shirt year late in the season, why wouldn't you play out the year, get a third Rose Bowl ring and then transfer?

PC wrote the book on how to handle the media, he is practically peerless at this among college coaches. So what was he thinking at the Sanchez press conference? Why did he let his guard down and show his true emotions in public? Incredible lapse by Ceasar.

Even though this decision appears to be made solely for financial reasons, Sanchez said that he will graduate with his degree this spring. I thought most skill position players drop out and focus full-time on draft & combine preparation. Any idea how he plans on completing his degree now while also preparing for the NFL draft?

How optimistic are you about next years defense after seeing guys like M. Jackson, M. Morgan, J. Casey, D. McAllister etc for a full season? You frequently said that the 2008 defense would be just as good, if not better, then the 2007 defense despite losing 3 first round picks because they would be replaced with more instinctive players. Can the same be said about next years replacements?

How fitting was it that all the way until the very end, Sanchez managed to display what a polarizing figure he was at USC?

A commentor mentioned that you were 15 minutes late to the press conference. Is this true?

I was at the press conference and saw Scott walk in 15 minutes into a 20 minute press conference. He is writing on a subject he saw very little of. Coach Carroll was disappointed, and rightfully so, he feels Mark made the wrong choice, and used it as a teachable moment for the other players in attendance. Mark did what he had to do from a business standpoint. Coach made it clear that Mark will always be welcome and always be a member of the Trojan Family. Scott is just over-exaggerating his ... opinion.

January 15, 2009 12:18 PM

Just to be clear, I copied the prior post from someone else (trjnhrse) who claimed that they were at the press conference.

With Mark Sanchez, Patrick Turner, and Vidal Hazelton all gone from the offense (I mention Hazelton since two seasons ago he was the best receiver and would have played a huge role next years team). How do you see the offense being next year, do you feel that Mustain and Corp will play differently?

Any thoughts on the idea that Carroll is only upset with Sanchez's decision because he has no faith in this past year's backups?

If Mark Sanchez announced he was coming back before Bradford announced his intention, Bradford would have turned pro. Sanchez waited for Bradford and then choose to go. Some USC players who left early like Lofa Tuptu have done well while others who went early like Mike Williams have not been as good. Do you think as member of the media and experience with other players going to the draft that Sanchez made the right decision by turning pro and why? Did he wait too long?

In the final analysis, what did Sanchez really provide for USC in terms of wins? Were any of those games that were won when Sanchez was the quarterback due to Sanchez? I don't think so. Do you really believe any of those wins would have resulted in losses if there had been another quarterback at the helm? Again, I don't think so.

By the same token, there were games when Sanchez was clearly a liability and USC won inspite of him. Then there were games (Oregon in 2007 and Oregon State in 2008) where losses could be blamed on Sanchez and a different quarterback would have resulted in USC wins in those instances.

Rolling back the clock a few years. Had Lofa Tatupu stayed and Matt Leinart left, how do you think we would have done in 2005 with Booty at QB with Bush and the rest of that stellar supporting cast?

Scott, I think you wrote a while back that Mark was way ahead of the other QB's, and then lately you wrote that his leaving wouldn't make that much difference. Could you correct me if I am wrong,and/or clarify just what you meant and why? Thanks.

Was Kennedy Pola ever in the Yes Wing of the Carroll Administration and do you have any thoughts about how this infamous crop of running backs, namely McKnight, might have developed under his (Pola's) tutleage?

(A friend of mine used to work on the equipment staff and has a few great sidelines stories about Bush in tears freshman year after experiencing Pola's outward dissatisfaction with too much juking replacing straight-ahead running and/or lack of protecting the football on carries.)

Re Vidal, was anyone else upset with him besides Morton and Sark; was he considered a malinger? I remember you said this was a long, sensitive subject, but could you elaborate as much as possible without hurting anyone? As it stands now, it just doesn't make any sense that he wasn't allowed to redshirt.

Scott, on a scale of 1-100, with 1 being not at all, and 100 being very severely, how much do you think the loss of Sanchez hurts our team next year? Thanks.

With the scenario of Carl Smith heading to the NFL (we hardly knew you...), do you know if Pete Carroll has considered bring in Pac-10 veteran coach Robin Pflugrad to USC?

Scott,

How common is it for football players to finish spring classes while training for the draft?

Regarding Podium-gate, who is the individual responsible for the error?

How much will Cameron contribute to the BBall program besides another practice body? Is he good enough to play?

Scott,

Mark Sanchez decision to enter the NFL draft went against Pete Carroll, his father, and teammates like Taylor Mays. Do you think if Steve Sarksian was still here that Mark Sanchez would a make a different decision and not enter? Also, what is the feeling from some players about Sanchez leaving them when Taylor Mays stayed to help the team next season?

Do you think Pete Carroll feels stressed more than ever. Here are some things he has encounter his star quarterback has left andnot followed his advice, he loses his offense coordinat/quarter coach/ assisant coach, his defensive coordinator leaves at the last mminute, his new quarterback coach is interviewing for a NFL job, his linebacker caoach was mentioned to UCLA,he loses many stars from his defense, his team is voted number three in the polls after a disaapointing year compared to past ones in opinoins of fans, he loses some players to transfer, UCLA allegedelly is contacting his recruits, more staff changes, and recruiting is going on with some top players possibly decommiting and theres Randall Carroll. So do you think this he most stressed time in Pete Carroll's career, and how is he reacting to it?

Scott,

Can you mention Sanchez's dad and Bob Leinart in the same breathe in terms of making their presence known around practices? Was Mr. Sanchez as vocal as big Bob?

It was reported that Mark Sanchez consulted NFL players possibly including Matt Leinart and Carson Palmer before making his decision.

Do you know who he talked to and what they told him?

Which true freshmen did NOT use this season as a red-shirt?

What do the names Darnell Bing, Mike Williams and Fred Matua have in common?

Scott, what was it about HASIAK that made the Trojans evaluate him lesser than the bruins/bears?

Do you see the CARROLL/SANCHEZ affair having any impact on recruiting? Thanx.