As the 2009 NFL Draft approaches and potential picks are evaluated and analyzed around-the-clock in the sports media world, it has occurred to me that the University of Southern California has to be the greatest sports publicity machine ever.
USC junior quarterback Mark Sanchez has entered the draft, forgoing his senior season. Virtually all draft experts agree Sanchez will be selected within the first 10 picks and some believe he could go as high as four.
That is astonishing when you consider that Sanchez played only ONE season at USC. A highly recruited high school player, Sanchez was red-shirted as a freshman, battled injury and sat behind other QBs until getting his shot this past season – which he made the most of.
Sanchez threw for 34 touchdowns during the season, second most in school history (behind Matt Leinart’s 38 in 2003). He led USC to a 12-1 record and a No. 2 final ranking in the Coaches Poll (No. 3 in the AP Poll). In his final game, Sanchez was named MVP in the Trojan’s Rose Bowl victory over Penn State.
There’s no question Sanchez is a talented QB with an NFL-caliber arm. But with just one collegiate season under his belt he gets drafted in the top 10? What’s even more surprising, to me at least, is that it’s understood by everyone that he’s a top 10 pick and not one “expert” has questioned whether Sanchez is a risk.
Keep in mind many players, especially QBs, with three or four great collegiate seasons were drafted high and turned out to be major busts.
So why is Sanchez not a risk in the experts’ eyes? Three words: U-S-C.
The USC football program is not only a factory for future NFL players but a publicity magnet, second to none with launching its athletes to the top of the sports and celebrity media world.
Head Coach Pete Carroll and the sports information staff have built a public relations engine called the USC Trojans. Obviously being located in Southern California contributes to the Hollywood-like atmosphere around the program. But it’s more than that. When players sign with USC and achieve success on the field they become rock starts.
Remember all of the off-the-field hype QB Matt Leinart received during his time at USC (2003-05)? He was already regarded by the media (sports and entertainment) as a big-time celebrity. Same could be said about RB Reggie Bush. Bush broke off a dozen or so great runs as a freshman and was instantly catapulted to the national stage.
So now look at Sanchez. After his one very good season at USC (albeit surrounded by the top lineman, running backs and receivers in the country) he’s been featured in ESPN profiles, newspaper articles, Sports Illustrated and other sports publications.
Just like Leinart, Sanchez is the beneficiary of playing for college football’s version of Hollywood. The Trojans’ football program garners more national media attention and interest than any other program – by far.
If Mark Sanchez played just one season for Miami, Alabama or Oklahoma, and posted the same numbers he did at USC, not only wouldn’t he be a top 10 draft pick he’d probably stay in school and play a senior season - and maybe get drafted in the first round the following year.
No college football QB has probably meant more to his program than University of Florida’s Tim Tebow. In just his second collegiate season in 2007, Tebow broke the Southeastern Conference records for both rushing touchdowns and total touchdowns for a single season and became the first sophomore to win The Heisman Trophy. The following year Tebow led the Gators to a National Championship.
If Tebow left Florida as a junior and entered this year's NFL Draft, he most likely wouldn’t be picked in the first or second rounds. Even with his exceptional college QB resume, Tebow is staying in Gainesville for his senior season.
One more example about the PR power of USC football – QB Matt Cassel.
Cassel was drafted out of USC by the New England Patriots in the seventh round of the 2005 draft without ever starting a college game at QB. While at USC, Cassel posted a career passing mark of 19-for-33 for 192 yards, with no touchdowns and one interception.
The reputation of USC football is so exceptional that the legendary Bill Belichick made Cassel the only QB in NFL history to be drafted and start a pro game without ever starting a college game.
The funny thing is, after writing all of that, I’m praying my New York Jets make a deal to move up in the draft and grab Sanchez on Saturday.
So I guess I drink the USC Kool-Aid too.
I fully agree USC is an image juggernaut, but I'm surprised you didn't mention the area where this most benefits them - recruiting. Year after year they get top players despite already being loaded at a given position. The Cassel example only will make this happen more. A high school kid can go to USC and think "even if I don't start I can go to the NFL because I was at USC."
ReplyDeleteIt will be interesting to see what happens to Mitch Mustain. (A little background - he was 9-0 as a freshman starter at Arkansas in 2006 after being the Gatorade & USA Today National Player of the Year in HS. After his freshman season he transferred to USC.) Mustain is now 3rd on the depth chart with 2 lower classman ahead of him. Will Mustain also see some NFL love like Cassel despite not playing?