USC's Mitch Mustain dealing with academic eligibility issues

USC quarterback Mitch Mustain is attempting to resolve academic issues that could affect his eligibility for the coming season, Coach Pete Carroll confirmed Monday.

Carroll would not specify the issues and said there was "no timeline" or deadline for Mustain to resolve them. The Trojans report for training camp Aug. 7 and open their season Sept. 5 against San Jose State.

Asked if Mustain would be eligible if USC played tomorrow, Carroll said, "We don't have a game tomorrow." Mustain could not be reached for comment.

Mustain, a fourth-year junior who transferred to USC from Arkansas in 2007, finished spring practice third on the depth chart behind sophomore Aaron Corp and freshman Matt Barkley.

Mustain has said he would not consider transferring and that he's close to graduating from USC. If Mustain were ineligible, senior Garrett Green would become the No. 3 quarterback.

Mustain left Arkansas after a tumultuous 2006 season during which he went 8-0 as a freshman starter. He had hoped to challenge Mark Sanchez to become the Trojans starter in 2008, but he spent most of the season as a back-up and was third on the depth chart behind Sanchez and Corp for the Rose Bowl last January.

Sanchez's departure for the NFL created a spring practice competition to become his successor. Corp played nearly error free, and Barkley showed uncommon arm strength and poise for a first-year player, leaving Mustain third.

-- Gary Klein

Photo: Quarterback Mitch Mustain goes through the paces during spring practice at USC. Credit: Kirby Lee / US Presswire

Comments

[gerrrg]

Mustain must be one of the most talented 3rd string quarterbacks in the nation. Kinda tells you how talented the guys in front of him are, and how tough the competition is.

[Dann]

Seems like Mustain just couldn't get comfortable playing in a pro-style versus a spread offense. I wonder if his need to study a new system took away from the time he needed to study for classes.

[Shaun H.]

Who cares about USC football??? LSU Tigers all the way baby!!!!

[kyarukirai]

I guess he couldn't take ballroom dancing or basket weaving? How about having those cheating tutors take tests for him? How smart can he be if he can't even maintain eligibility at the University of $poiled Children?

[mike]

"I guess he couldn't take ballroom dancing or basket weaving? How about having those cheating tutors take tests for him? How smart can he be if he can't even maintain eligibility at the University of $poiled Children?"

your right. matt lienert earned a degree from USC by taking basket weaving 47 times. that makes since. and cheating tutors, where'd did you get that one from? sounds too me like someone is insanely jealous. grow up tool

[Joe]

"Mustain must be one of the most talented 3rd string quarterbacks in the nation. Kinda tells you how talented the guys in front of him are, and how tough the competition is."

Sure. And USC will still drop a game against Oregon State, Standford, or UCLA. Get over yourself.

[rick manning]

I sure hope that Mitch hits the books. He will be a factor this year, if he cankeep his head in the game.

Idiot 1: LA Times doesn't stand for Louisiana - get a clue.
Idiot 2: SC has higher academic standards than a school like, say, UCLA.

[Will]

Wow Mike, if you got your education at USC, I'm going to have to question the English department based on your post alone.

But, as for the article...it doesn't sound like Mustain is all that "close to graduating". Especially if he's failing enough to have his football eligibility in question. Its not as if he's trying to keep an academic scholarship. Just another failure on his part, I suppose.

[TheDude]

Is this yet another victim to "throw under the bus" to make us all think they are doing things right over there? They must be right on the verge of getting slammed, why even mention this now? He has all summer to make it right! Something stinks more than ususal in trojanland!

[Dave]

You mean even USC couldn't make this guy eligible? Wow, I'm sure Mike Garrett and Company will find a way to make Mitch eligible, because afterall, you can't spell scum without USC. XD

[alejandro gonzalez]

USC HAS FOUND A WAY TO BLOW GAMES AGAINST WEAKER OPPONENTS THE PAST FEW YEARS UCLA, STANFORD, OREGON STATE-THE CLOCK IS WINDING DOWN ON THE SO CALLED DYNASTY IN SO. CAL AND I CANT WAIT FOR THIER DEMISE- A LOYAL UCLA FAN

[Keith]

"cheating tutors, where'd did you get that one from?"

How about this newspaper. (http://articles.latimes.com/2001/aug/24/sports/sp-37580) The USC athletic department is dirty and its only a matter of time before the NCAA finally hammers them for having no institutional control in the wake of the Reggie Bush, O.J. Mayo, etc. scandals. So, yes, it is ridiculous that Mustain can't stay academically eligible at a school that has proven in the past that it will do anything possible (not just legal) to ensure that their players remain on the field.

[dave]

ATTENTION UCLA KOOL AID DrInkers
ALL AMERICAN LINEMAN at UCLA. 70's could not read or write. (no need to mention name here; its not a secret
I know of no other all american who could not read orwrite.

[The Smarter School Across Town]

Mike clearly graduated from USC. Five times. Get a real education dude - then someone will actually hire you.

You’re (your) right. matt Leinart (lienert) earned a degree from USC by taking basket weaving 47 times. that makes sense (since). and cheating tutors, where (where'd) did you get that one from? sounds to (too) me like someone is insanely jealous. grow up tool

[USC Alum]

The haters reading (and posting remarks!) to the this article doubtfully will understand this, but I'll share it with them anyway: I love your absurd remarks and pure, unabated JEALOUSY of USC, my alma mater. Keep them coming!

USC is a great academic institution, with a gorgeous campus, in a terrific location in the heart of the City of Angels (haters please insert idiotic, racist comments here). We've also got a successful alum or two out there, and a decent football program!

FIGHT ON, haters!

[t thomas]

I am always stunned at ucla fans obsession with USC and the generally nasty tone. You know what thye say about glass houses.

[Gary]

Wow, the jealous, vindictive, little loser babies from Westwood and beyond really came out for this one. And how about the little squirt calling Mustain's troubles "just another failure". Let's see a list of HIS successes: toilet-trained at 25, finished teething at 27, graduated elementary school at 30. Tonight I shall give thanks that I'm not a "loyal UCLA fan".

[Dick Diamond]

Academic issues? Academic issues? Shocking! Absolutely shocking! As shocking as USC players 50 years ago going weekly to a dentist to get cash stuffed in $300 envelopes. Yes, I got this from a QB at SC circa 1950-1965.
Why not call it what it is. Can't make grades. Oh well, they're not the only school in the US that does this. Like they said about a Central America dictator years ago (I'm paraphrasing). He's an SOB, but he's our SOB.(the dictator). Football player--he may not be bright, but he's our dumb jock.

[david]

Mustain was 8-0 as a freshman at Arkansas? Please. All he did was hand the ball off to DMac and Felix Jones. I could have been 8-0 with those primos in the backfield.

[Ryan]

Since when is losing one game last year evidence of a "demise?" If that is evidence of winding down, then where does that leave a team that lost eight? I'm pretty sure it means you are totally irrelevant. Note the absence of capital letters; the point still gets across.

[marcus]

USC is a great academic institution, with a gorgeous campus, in a terrific location in the heart of the City of Angels (haters please insert idiotic, racist comments here). We've also got a successful alum or two out there, and a decent football program!

Ranked 102nd by the Times of London. USC Caught cooking the numbers two weeks ago for USNWR. Campus is a joke looking like 1930's WPA projects, in the middle of a ghetto . As Rivals .com said "gangs still a problem st USC"

[Call Me Daddy]

For "The Smarter School Across Town" - I sure hope you didn't pay for your education. "Since" as you tried to correct Mike is not the preposition,adverb or conjunction. he is talking about "Sense" like common sense of which you seem to have very little. Also for your information, "Too" means also so it doesn't really fit either. I guess a high school education is all you need to make a UCLA grad look stupid.

[Silverlake Bruin]

Only at SC can you be on track to graduate and close to failing out at the same time.

What a pathetic athletic department. Wondering when the times will finally do some real reporting and figure out that Pete Carroll is not doing anything differently than Tim Floyd did.

[COMMON CENTS]

I saw Mustain in a bowl game against Wisconsin and thru a mixup had to sit right behind the Arkansas bench. It was only one game, but he just didn't seem to be that outstanding as per the hype. He had (2) great runners behind him who kept Arkansas in the game, but as far as his arm and just getting out of trouble.....he looked very average.

[Deb]

Keith, in case you missed it, that article is dated 2001 and refers to incidents that occurred about ten years ago. Pete Carroll wasn't coaching at USC then.

Virtually every school in the NCAA has had issues - known or otherwise - at one time or another, including UCLA. Cherry-picking something from a decade earlier to try to make a point about the present is pointless.

As for Mitch's issues, we don't know what they are at the moment. He's also still a young man. And he's done nothing whatsoever to you.

Hope a ride on the clue bus.