Let The Controversy Commence

After a commanding performance in the 2007 Rose Bowl, John David Booty was the preseason Heisman candidate. Not a candidate, the candidate. In some circles, he had almost been anointed before the season started. The two-time Trojan team captain was clearly BMOC (Big Man On Campus).

Some meager performances, a broken finger, a disastrous upset, and two consecutive wins by plucky fill-in Mark Sanchez have changed things.

Watch the video to see what Pete Carroll had to say about his two signal callers immediately after the Notre Dame game, then vote on which one you want to see start at quarterback next week in Oregon. And feel free to debate the pros and cons in our comments section.

Comments

[PK-IN-THE-MESA]

Nice game against Irish, but did you notice no picks by other team=shoutout for defense. Its not Booty is a bad QB but he tends to throw picks that turn into points for other teams, his ints. are mostly early in drive and the defense pretty much just came off field. So MR. booty if you happen read this if you get the start please be aware of the field position you are in when Sark tells you to pass because not only do trojan fans watch these games NFL scouts do too.

[Kristian Lewis]

I just read on todays USC Report in the LATimes that Sanchez had a custom mouth piece made in the colors of the Mexican flag with an eagle and a snake on it. This to him represents hope to people who are "Mexican like me". I am pretty sure that Sanchez is an American citizen. If he doesn't have any pride in being an American, I am sure the University of Jaurez will allow him to transfer. I hope he is as good at futbol as he is football. If on the other hand he meant to say that hopes to be an inspiration to American citizens of Hispanic decent or American citizens who are children of Mexican immigrants, than I have no problem with his statement, but wonder what the academic requirements of USC have become when such a high profile student fails to express himself accurately in the press. Have pride in your country, not your parents. If your parents country was so great, you would still be there.

[Adam Rose]

I've noticed some of the custom mouth pieces. Several players have USC ones. But I digress ... In Gary's article, Sanchez is quoted as saying, "It's not a Mexican power thing or anything like that. It's just a little bit of pride in our heritage. Hopefully, it inspires somebody and it's all for the best." So his intent is clear, even if his semantics are debatable. "Mexican" is often an ill-defined term in public discourse, especially in Southern California. It may not be 100% PC, but from an academic or cultural standpoint it may not be innacurate, either. For further clarification, you may want to Ask A Mexican -- Gustavo Arrellano of the OC Weekly and LA TImes: http://www.ocweekly.com/columns/ask-a-mexican/ask-a-mexican/14715/

[Bobak]

To people who share the views of Kristian Lewis:

I hope you levy the same sort of rhetoric on people from Ireland who celebrate St. Patrick's day by playing up being Irish, or people from Little Italy who fly Italian flags.

If you are willing to take things that far, the response is even easier: America is founded on diversity, and its the melting pot that makes us interesting. Just because you've lost track of your family heritage doesn't mean others should abandon theirs.

[Michael Teniente]

There should be no controversy as to who is the quarterback for the Trojans is: Mark Sanchez.

Booty started out as number 1 and the Trojans were number one. Now we're number 12 in the BCS standings.

That's Booty's doing. The Trojans aren't about who's football team it is. The Trojans are about finding a way to number 1 or number 2 to play for the championship.

The Trojans have their backs to the wall right now. In other words they have to run the table. Starting with Oregon this week to move up in the standings. We have a good shot the way college football is going. We have Oregon, California, and Arizona State to play. All ranked teams. We sweep them and get a little help and we might make to number 2 and play in the Championship game, yet still.

There's no way Booty can just come into the scene and think the jobs his when our backs our to the wall, having to run the table and all.

The Oregon game is going to tell us everything.

I say Mark Sanchez is the guy until he can't get the job done. And that might be as soon as this Saturday. Until then it's Mark Sanchez.

mike

[Bill Baldwin, Jr.]

I have a question about a rumor and if someone can clear it up, I would appreciate it. I read either here or on the Daily Trojan website that Booty was seen at a posh club yukking it up with buddies late on the night of the Stanford game. Is there any truth to this story or is it b.s.? I must admit the picture it conjures up has swayed my judgment of the senior QB, that and his overall performance this season.

Notwithstanding the above, based on what I've seen the past two weeks, Mark Sanchez should get the start on Saturday. Pete Carroll is a great coach and a fair man, and so I believe he sees the same thing. If, however, Pete chooses to go back to the senior, well, I have to support Carroll's decision. I don't have to like it, but I will support it right up to the moment Booty starts missing receivers, getting pulled down from behind because he's too slow to avoid a sack, or tosses one of his trademark wounded ducks to, ah, one of the Ducks.
Then, I'll have to hope, Pete Carroll will put Sanchez in and let him lead the team.

[Adam Rose]

The rumor was posted in many places, including here. I picked it up initially from a piece by Sports Illustrated's Arash Markazi, who happens to be a former Daily Trojan writer. I saw Arash in the press box right after the Stanford game, but I cannot recall if he went to Les Deux and saw Booty, or if he was using a secondary source. Either way, I had no reason to doubt the report at the time, nor do I now (though I'm annoyed I can't find the link to his writeup anymore).

[Jordan]

I think that if John Davis Booty starts up at Oregon, USC will lose the game and the chance and hope of USC going to the BCS National Title Bowl is gone for this year and you know that Carroll would never hint to the fact that the problem in the loss to Stanford was JOHN DAVID BOOTY!

GO SANCHEZ!!!

[Stephen]

Either way, neither one of these guys have played in Autzen Stadium which is far and away the loudest and toughest place to play. In another article, Sanchez said that Notre Dame prepped him well enough for Autzen...he is in for a big surprise. As long as the SC offense is on the field, they will not be able to hear eachother, they will be confused, the linemen wont be able to communicate and Oregon will get in either one of their faces. I think go with the guy that will get up fight when he gets clocked, because at Autzen, that is what happens to quarterbacks. Sanchez hasnt been rocked yet. If Sanchez starts, SC will dig a big hole against the toughest offense in the country until SC gets used to the crazy environment at Autzen...Notre Dame is like playing on High School Field compared to Autzen.

[Adam Rose]

Just confirmed Arash was at the same club that night and saw him there, then posted it in his blog: http://fannation.com/blogs/post/65375

[24-23]

Get it right. 1492, Columbus invaded "America" (as it was named by foreigners; and, these original people are not "Indians.")
Today, people who speak Spanish are invading "America;" it was never
their land; they committed genocide on these original people. Get it right.
This is political football. (USC style--or not).
PS: Why can one university call itself "The Fighin' Irish;" and another university cannot call itself "The Fighin' Sioux?"
The Ladoka were never "Sioux;" "Sioux" was French slang for "Cut Throat."
Need I say, Get it right. Leland Stanford was never an "Indian;" but, after a few belts, his face did become "Cardinal." And, we won't get into what a "Trojan" is/was. Why can we call the Washington football team "Redskins;" but, we can't call the Cleveland football team _________?
It depends on whose football ox is being gore-d (with apologies to the Global Warming Cult and to the they guy that invented the internet.
24-23.

[24-23]

I am not a Trojan (or Sanchez) "mouth piece."

[PK-IN-THE-MESA]

Hey slap your faces: this was suppose to be a vote of which KID QB could run the offense and somebody makes race thing about it. If you can't except that we are all americans then you i guess this it not the place for you, my great grandfather fought at gettysburg and he really didn't have a choice since he arrived from Ireland and was put into union army. He could of turned around and went back but that wasn't his way,he aws here to stay and help build a nation that is going today not the greatest but when going gets tough we all ban together and there is still hope.

PS: Marks father is a orange co. FIREMAN he might be saving someones home at this moment.

[Roger]

Last time I checked wearing a custom mouthpiece isn’t enough to renounce someone’s citizenship. No one I know calls themselves Mexican-American but instead Mexican including yours truly. It is like someone referring themselves as Chinese-Asian. Just a little geography lesson for all of you there are about 35 countries in America.

That being said as a Bruin fan I hope Sanchez losses every game he plays in except when SC plays Notre Dame.