Signature Win?

In my story for today’s paper, I mentioned that quarterback Matt Barkley lacks a signature victory in his career. Some of you mentioned the Ohio State game last season. I did not count it because the defense set up one touchdown and on the game-winning drive Joe McKnight did a lot of the work (and Stafon Johnson scored the winning TD).
Maybe Washington was a chance but Lane Kiffin repeatedly mentioned the third-down incompletion that forced Joe Houston’s missed field goal and then there was the incompletion to an open David Ausberry in the end zone.
Stanford? That was a good case with the last-minute touchdown to put USC ahead. But USC lost that game so it cannot count. I’d add that on a key drive in the fourth quarter there were two bad incompletions to Ronald Johnson (each was at fault on different plays) and it looked like USC was sunk until the Trojans forced a fumble.
So I’ll leave it here to debate if he does have a signature victory or not?

30 thoughts on “Signature Win?

  1. I’d say the Cal game. It’s not MB7’s fault that the defense couldn’t keep it close.

  2. I was in the stands that night in Columbus and I would definitely call it a signature win.

    The crowd and the environment was as loud and intimidating as anything I have ever experienced. I am sure if you asked any of the 106,000 Buckeye fans in attendance (largest OSU crowd ever), I expect they would say they were on the other side of a special performance by MB7.

  3. Totally agree with kconway. I was there too. Ohio Stadium was electric. Barkley led the team to victory in that game, in spite of an injury that forced him to miss the Washington the next week. He completely silenced a stadium of 106,000 fans. And frankly, he has never lived up to that game since…

    Booty and Sanchez never had a win in an environment like that during their careers. Barkley’s victory at Ohio State was way more impressive than the Rose Bowls that Booty and Sanchez won.

  4. his signature win was getting the starting job in the first place. Mitch wouldn’t have let UW win.

  5. Here’s my question: has Barkley ever come from behind to win in a big situation? How many fourth quarter winning drives has he had? I’m sorry, I think he’s a great QB who is getting better, but at this point I don’t think he has ever delivered when the game is on the line.

  6. So when Barkley does just enough for the team to win, it’s not enough. When the team doesn’t win because the defense lets them down, Barkley hasn’t done enough…

    You’d sure make a great wife one day Scott.

  7. I have to disagree with Wolf on this one. Barkley was the starting QB in one the best game USC has taken part in since losing in the Rose Bowl to Texas. In only his second start Barkley took the team down the field for the winning score. I don’t care if the score was 18 to 15. That was clutch. He will have more signature wins when USC gets the talent level back up and starts competing with the big boys again (hopefully next season). And any win over UCLA or Notre Dame is signature in my book! Fight on!

  8. How about being the first true freshman to start at quarterback for USC? I’m sure there are a few quarterbacks, current and past, that would like that signature “win.”

  9. I hate to say it, but I’m probably in Wolf’s camp on this. Yeah, Ohio State was close to being a signature win, but I also felt that Barkley didn’t do anything great to win the game. Stanford was a great game for him, and it’s too bad the defense (and the time keepers) sucked.
    And BoscoH, you can’t count a victory against a mediocre opponent.

  10. He has as many Signature Wins halfway thru his sophomore season as Carson Palmer & Matt Leinert…..and with alot worse Defensive Help.

  11. Brothers and sisters, yesterday I had a Long Dark Brunch of the Soul. Sitting there at Harold & Belle’s after church, while Deacon Cornelius and Sister DeeDee were laughing about what we were going to do with our share of the Cadre’s winnings from the Oregon game, I felt an emptiness inside.

    Bucket’s posts over the weekend looked like the work of a teenager up all night on Red Bull and vodka. Yoda the space dwarf was just as bad. What is the Cadre in this for? Gambling and drinking in Sin City? It can’t be the football — Bucket and crew barely even mentioned UCLA’s loss to Arizona.

    When USC lost to Arizona last year, I thought that was God sending me a message to get off the USC bandwagon, but what if I was wrong? What if God was just telling Pete to go back to the NFL?

    As far as UCLA football, the message I’m receiving from God loud and clear is that the Bruins’ program is a dysfunctional joke. How can UCLA players be getting arrested and testing positive for drugs, and yet they still can’t win games? Criminal issues are supposed to be a sign that success on the field is just around the corner!

    I prayed on it, and this morning I reviewed some of the trash-talking on this blog, and the scales fell from my eyes. Bucket said, “We are the Cadre, we are Legion,” quoting Mark 5:9, the words of the very demon cast out by Jesus himself!

    This Cadre is not about the Lord — this Cadre is about gambling, Star Treks, and nastiness! I will have none of it henceforth!

    Cadre, I renounce you!

  12. Will he ever get a signature win at SC, since they will be mediocre for the rest of his tenure.

  13. @Ohio State 09: On the game winning drive, yes McKnight made some great plays, but Barkley made a few great throws and pushed ahead for a couple QB sneaks as well. For a true freshman to lead that drive with ZERO mistakes at the Horseshoe in his FIRST road game is signature.
    @Notre Dame 09
    @Cal 09
    And OF COURSE! Neuheisel calls TIMEOUT! Barks throws the deep BOMB to embarrass the bRUINs!!!
    This year
    @Stanford (“defense let SC down” is an understatement)
    Cal ’10

    Barks will get signature wins this season @Arizona, @Oregon State, and of course… OWNING THE ROSE BOWL YET AGAIN!!!

    AUUUUUUUUUUUUUU-WOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!

  14. Urgent memo to Cadre: in the wake of Brother Dupree’s shocking comments, as much as it pains me, I am calling for an immediate Tribunal of Excommunication of Brother Dupree….the charge: Heresy against the Cadre!!!

    The Cadre cannot tolerate such heretical statements against its leadership!!!!

    it is true, the Cadre leadership drinks, gambles and chases women, but how can that be wrong, when it feels so RIGHT?

    the Lord made us as we are, how can violating our true nature be Gods will??

    we will not bow down to the Lord or his minions such as Dupree!!! it is clear they are merely ENVIOUS of the mighty Cadre!!

    the Classy Cadre would rather Rule on our feet in Vegas, than crawl in boring servitude in Heaven!!

  15. In the first place, the wins are team wins. As are the losses. Since some numbskull sportswriters insist on attributing the term “signature win” to an individual player, let’s remind the follicly-challenged scribe that Matt Barkley led his team as a freshman on the road to a win over #8 Ohio State. A win considered a signature win by anyone with basic knowledge of the sport, clearly leaving the hairless wonder in the minority…and still bald.

  16. Let’s see. Blowing off the innane commentary it seems 6 see a signature win for Barkley, 5, including SW, are still waiting for the MB7 signatuare WIN.

    In my opinion, Barkley could and should have turned defeat into victory in both Cardinal and Husky games. He did not get it done. Barkley’s Carrier Calling Card goes something like “The farther my offense gets in the 4th quarter,regardless of the level of competiton, I tend to lose my grip and fail to deliver the necessary ingredients to add to the score. It seems when the opponents make adjustments to counteract what I have been told to do, I become dumdfounded and confused. I lose my confidence when the game is on the line.”

    Barkley’s PAC-10 record = 6-7. His loss to a pathetic UW defense earlier this year is inexcusible. This year Cal has lost all 4 of it’s road games and have won all 4 of their home games. Go figure. Barkley’s Cal win means very little in lieu of…

    Question; Would Mitch Mustain be 6-7 in the PAC-10 at this stage in his carrier??? Hell No!!! In spite of a failing Carroll program, Mustian would have delivered like he delivered in the SEC as a TRUE FRESHMAN.

    All PAC-10 coaches know Kiffin’s play book. They have had 9 years to study it. Our program needs to remove all Carroll relicts and start over. If Barkley someday gets to play for a New Current, Young (?), and Smart OC, we will see a Signaure Win.

    Fight On !!

  17. Some people insist on calling the Trojans won-loss record, Barkley’s won loss record. For the record, our porous defense lost us the Stanford game. Bad clock management –Lane Kiffin– lost us the Washington game.

    As for Mustain, I admire his loyalty to USC. He’s a smart young man unlike that loser Corp — whom WolfSh** trumpeted and has ended his career as a washout at a DII school. But in the few times Mustain has had an opportunity to deliver, it’s been usually three and out. Let’s give him credit for loyalty and pray MB7 never goes down with an injury.

  18. Free_Thinker

    SW has it right! MB7 played like crap on a stick until the last drive in the Ohio State game. We won because the offensive opened up big holes and receivers blocked down field for our running backs.

    Aside: The reason the noise of the Horseshoe crowd was unreal, building from beginning to end, is Mr. Barkley did NOTHING to silence the crowd.

    I have followed Mitch Mustian during his 8 games at Arkansas and since he became elgible at USC. Tell me, maybe I missed something, but when, Free_Thinker, was Mr. Mustain allowed to lead the pre-week practice and START, PLAY, AND FINISH A DAMN GAME? Hay, if Mr. Mustian had been born a raised in Mission Viejo, I am convinced that ALL of the SW Trojan bloggers would have jumped in his pants when he arrived at USC. Don’t give me this “end of game 3 and out” sh*t !

    On subject: yet to record a Signature Win.

    Fight On!

  19. These guys really need to get a life. Or a woman. Both I think they have no clue about.

  20. Bucket, do you think that the Rev. Dupree does not recognize that “Paradise Lost” reference in your post? Your penchant for comparing yourself with the forces of Darkness only reveals your own wickedness!

    I come to this blog to preach the Good News, but as far as the Cadre is concerned, the only good news is that UCLA’s 2010 season is limping to its conclusion!

    DO YOU SEE THE LIGHT?

  21. Where does anyone get off saying Stanford was a good game.

    MB7 continually threw into double and triple team coverage where his receivers made big plays.

    Prior to the fumble recovery in Q4, does anyone recall that sequence of 4 plays where USC turned over the ball and what looked like the game?? Those throws were 10 yards out of bounds.

    Does crunch time mean anything to you USC homers?

    Barkley is THE weak link and it will not get any better. Arizona will roll our Trojans.

    You people must like QB’s who throw rainbow passes up deep to prevent defenses with the game on the line.

  22. @MCHammer — The man’s name is Mustain, not Mustian. The question you really ought to ask yourself is why have they not given him a chance is he is really that great? Perhaps you know better than two NCAA D-1 coaches? One had the last name Carroll and one of the best records ever in college football. Other than that, he certainly did not know how to choose a QB. At least not as well as experts such as you and Wolf.

  23. Signature Win – Part II

    OK folks, consider the source. I doubt blogging for the Daily News is considered big-time journalism.

    When Wolf writes, his opinions are usually indistinguishable from actual facts. This is the same bozo who frequently misspells words, said that Keyshawn Johnson wore #1 and probably ought to take gross factual error as his nom de plume. If Wolf were employed by the New York Times, by now he would likely be getting a pink slip. Too many errors.

    This is the exact quote from Wolfs story in the DN: Kiffin mentioned that former wide receiver Mike Williams wore No. 1. It was also worn by Keyshawn Johnson but Kiffin did not name him.

    Now back to Matt Barkley.

    Some people insist on calling the Trojans won-loss record, Barkleys won loss record. For the record, SC’s porous defense probably lost us the Stanford game. Bad clock management -our coach LK- lost us the Washington game. Otherwise, the victories and losses are a 100% team effort. Pass the praise. Share the blame.

    Matt Barkley is a good young QB who is improving with every game. I cannot wait for rest of season and can only imagine what MB7 will do next year and in 2012!

    Wolf will probably keep making the usual errors and mixing his frenetic opinions with the facts.

  24. I made the point the day Sanchez announced his move to the NFL that, in my opinion, Carroll should have taken the ONLY RECOURSE open to him and that was to tell the world that Mitch Mustain would be his #1 man. It’s simple, it is a matter of experience: Mustain’s both in the USC program and before a live audience as in NCAA Varsity Football game experience. As a TRUE FRESHMAN, he led his Razorbacks to an 8-0 record in the SEC. What in the hell is it you don’t you see? I don’t worship Carroll. After the terrible shape he has left this program in, I consider him to be an ass.

    To put an 18 year old young man in a make or bread game in the Shoe as starting QB is INSANE. After that, road games against UO, Wash, ND, Cal. What is it you don’t see? I have raised 4 sons. No way would I have allowed a coach to pull crap like this with my sons.

    From the beginning, I have witness the inexcusible violent misuse of a young talented athlete by Carroll. MB7 by all accounts of those who appreciated him as a future potential Heismann trophy candidate, should have been given a clipboard an allowed to stand on the sidelines during his first season to be given the chance of get adjusted to college academia, social life, and highest level of college football. His second year, he should be given a chanse to win the starting QB position.

    Yes, he is a young QB whose development has been greatly hindered by pushing him into the frey too early. I have nothing against MB7. He is a remarkable talent that in my opinion has been terribly abused. Not only that, but his offensive coordinators, in my opinion have been nothing but sh*t. I may not have stressed that point enough. Many of the plays MB7 is told to run, even as late as last Saturday, are incredibly stupid.

    Hope I have made my point.

    Fight On!!

    Fight On!!

  25. @MCHAmmer — Hell brother, with all you know, you ought to be the coach. Quick man, call or email Pat! (213) 740-3801 or phaden@usc.edu.

    Let him know you are available and I have no doubt that by next Saturday, we’ll be reading about the QB change you will implement.

    P.S. Be sure to get that Mustain spelling fixed first.

  26. F_T

    Not a coach. Just presenting reasons why my Alma Mater can’t, for the second year in a row, break .500 in PAC-10 Conference Play. Difficult to get used to.

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