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Mustain invisible at USC, focused on NFL

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Mark Kriegel

Mark Kriegel is the national columnist for FOXSports.com. He is the author of two New York Times best sellers, Namath: A Biography and Pistol: The Life of Pete Maravich, which Sports Illustrated called "the best sports biography of the year."

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Updated Sep 2, 2009 3:46 PM ET
     
 

LOS ANGELES

Three years ago today, a true freshman from Arkansas distinguished himself in mop-up duty, coming in during the fourth quarter to lead the Razorbacks on an 80-yard touchdown drive against USC. The Trojans still won by a score of 50-14. But Mitch Mustain, among the most decorated high school quarterbacks ever, had proven his point. Mustain was promptly named the starter, and went on to win eight games that season. But coach Houston Nutt's offensive scheme did little — or certainly not enough — to highlight Mustain's magnificence to his prospective employers in what he calls "The League." So he transferred, forsaking Fayetteville for Hollywood, and a shot at the most glamorous and potentially lucrative position in college sports. Under Pete Carroll, USC has become the premiere finishing school for NFL quarterbacks. But three years later, Mustain — who was 8-0 in the country's toughest conference — is a third-string redshirt junior. Though impressive in the summer scrimmages, his snaps are few and far between, as they come behind the true freshman starter, Matt Barkley, and redshirt freshman Aaron Corp, neither of whom has won any college games. Mustain spends most of the practice sessions waiting on the field, his chin strap buckled. "It's tough," he said Tuesday afternoon. "Then again I've been on the other side. I've been the guy." Mustain expresses no resentment about the way things have worked out. At 21, he's more of a pro than a lot of the pros. But the idea of such an able and experienced third-stringer should tell you a few things. First, as ever, it's astonishing to consider what Carroll has built, the amount of sheer talent he's been able to stockpile. Second, there's Carroll's fallibility, or perhaps, self interest. It was just months ago that Carroll told Mark Sanchez, along with the rest of the world, that he wasn't ready for the pros. Not only has Sanchez impressed everybody in earning a starting job with the New York Jets, he has a contract that guarantees him $28 million. So don't condemn the player who takes his shot. He knows how little separates the slots on the depth chart. He knows better than you how rare his chances are. He knows they can be suddenly imperiled with an injury or a coach's change of heart.
The same coach who thinks his fourth-year star isn't ready might be ready for a true freshman. It's not loyalty; it's economic determinism. Sanchez was merely abiding by the precepts of a program whose first commandment is "Always Compete." He believed in himself even more than his coach. More surprising is the guy he beat out just last year. Even as Mustain buckles that chinstrap, waiting for nothing, he still believes, perhaps more fiercely than ever. Three years later, he's entirely unaware that Sept. 2 marks the anniversary of that Arkansas-USC game. Then again, at 21, Mitch Mustain doesn't care much for the past. He's still in it for the future. That's why he came here, for his shot with The League. "I wanted to find a place that I was going to get developed," he said. "I wanted to make sure I knew my stuff, even if that meant fighting through the lineup. This is about the best place I could find." I ask the Trojans' third-string quarterback if he'd do it all over again. "Yup," he said. "I took that risk to be here and it hasn't paid off yet, but there's still a lot of time ... These are long seasons. People get hurt. Things happen. Last year with Mark is a good example. There were several times I was a couple inches from playing the rest of the season or playing the full game at least." What's more, Mustain says he'll remain at USC for the next two years. "For sure," he says. Again, his motivation isn't blind loyalty; it's business sense. "I knew I was going to have to fight Sanchez and others for the job," he said. "But I feel like I got the knowledge to where when it comes around to it in two years I'll be ready. "We're learning stuff here that translates very well into most places in The League. This is a system that prepares us. Any of us in the quarterback room could step in front of NFL scouts on the blackboard." That includes Mustain's backup, Garrett Green, a true senior: "I'm sure he could match the pro guys in terms of knowledge." Mustain might've come here to be the next Carson Palmer or Matt Leinart, but he now takes greater comfort in the example of Matt Cassel. Cassel, who never started a game at USC, has a brand new $63 million contract, $28 million guaranteed. And that's what you need to know about quarterbacks and the college experience. "It's a business," says Mitch Mustain.
Tagged: Arkansas, USC, Houston

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