Memo to USC Beatwriters: Stop Crying for Aaron Corp

Reports surfaced last night that backup USC quarterback Aaron Corp was going to transfer to the University of Richmond.

Corp, who was supplanted by freshman Matt Barkley, only played three games. Corp's only start this season came at the Trojans' loss at Washington, during which he was only 13-of-22 passing with 110 yards and one key interception.

Many columnists have argued for Corp, often complaining he unfairly lost his starting job in fall camp and was not properly prepared by head coach Pete Carroll for the Washington game.

I'm here to say "give it a rest."

Nearly every time Corp is mentioned in southern California media, the writer or host mentions something along the lines of, "Corp was the starter coming out of spring practice."

Big deal.

Its not as if Corp was a Matt Leinart coming back for his senior year but getting replaced by a Matt Barkley playing the role of a John David Booty. That would have been a reason to complain, and of course, never would have happened.

Corp had exactly zero starts prior to this season.

This does not make you a returning starter as so many writers have tried to cast him as. Yes, Pete Carroll said coming out of spring ball that Corp was the No. 1 quarterback. The simple fact of the matter is, Barkley vastly improved from the springtime to the fall practices. Coupled with Corp missing over a week of practices due to a knee injury, it was imperative the Trojans have a starting quarterback ready to go, especially with a road game at Ohio State looming in week two.

Now many will argue that Mark Sanchez missed time in the fall camp in 2008 prior to the season opener at Virginia. The difference, however, is that Sanchez had real game experience the year before when he started three games for an injured Booty, including a road game in Oregon at Autzen Stadium. 

Corp could claim none of this experience.

Which leads me to the second argument the commentators make—that Carroll did not give Corp the confidence he needed to succeed at Washington because he did not name him the starter early in the week. 

These writers and pundits back up their argument by mentioning how Carroll gave confidence to prior quarterbacks such as Leinart and Booty by naming them a clear starter so they did not have to watch their backs over their jobs.

The difference here is USC, under Carroll, had never gone into a game week not knowing if the starting quarterback would be able to go as they did at Washington.

Anyway, who cares?

Who did Corp think was going to start if Barkley could not recover from his shoulder injury suffered at Ohio State?

Also, since Barkley was already Pete Carroll's regular starter, what was he to do if Barkley healed in time for the game but he had already named Corp the starter? If he were to then start Barkley, now he's lying to Corp.

Corp's performance against the Huskies was dismal. The Trojans did not lose because of him, though; fumbles by Stafon Johnson and Stanley Havili certainly contributed, as did the inability to contain Washington's Jake Locker. It's just that Corp certainly did not help a whole lot.

Beside his interception—on a key second-half drive, no less—he repeatedly was unable to hit receivers in key situations. On USC's final drive facing a third-and-long, he underthrew tight end Anthony McCoy by a good 10 yards, sealing the Trojans' fate.

Did this happen all because Corp was not named the starter early in the week?

At this level of college football, you need to be a competitor. If he was upset at Carroll for not being the starting quarterback, go out and prove something about it. If your attitude is to mope and show no enthusiasm (let alone athletic ability), obviously the coach made the right decision.

There is a similar episode in Los Angeles sports history that most fans are aware of where a backup filled in with amazing result.

UCLA point guard Tyus Edney hurt his wrist prior to the 1995 national championship game against Arkansas. It was not known whether Edney would be able to start or even play in the game. Turns out, Edney started but was only able to play a couple of minutes, so little-used sophomore backup Cameron Dollar played the rest of the game at the point.

How did Dollar do? Six points and eight assists as UCLA defeated the Razorbacks, 89-78, to win the title.

Now UCLA coach Jim Harrick knew there was a good chance Edney would be unavailable, just as Carroll did with Barkley. Since Dollar was not used to playing important minutes, should not have Harrick named Dollar the starter so he would "have the confidence" to perform in the game?

Look at Dollar. Did he go into the game displaying the "woe is me" look that Corp showed the whole game?

As it was, Dollar, despite not knowing what his role would be, was able to help lead a team in an NCAA championship game. Corp was able to contribute to a loss at eventual eighth-place Pac-10 Washington.

Now Corp will be headed off to Richmond, where he will have the chance to play two more years and pull a Joe Flacco. USC's offense will be in the hands of the sophomore Barkley, backed up one more year by Mitch Mustain and eventually prized recruit Jesse Scroggins.

In the next couple of days, we will again hear the Aaron Corp litany. Just face it, folks—Corp did not deserve the job, proved he could not handle it, and, instead of taking responsibility, whimpered about "not being named the starter."

USC is in good hands with Barkley (and hopefully a new offensive coordinator). Hopefully Corp will have learned lessons on competitiveness and intensity, not to mention gained some arm strength and has a successful career in Virginia as a Spider.

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You can follow my random thoughts on the sports world on Twitter at @plh55.