Should Trojans' QB Matt Barkley Transfer from USC for Greener Pastures?

"11 National Championships, seven Heisman Trophy winners, Matt Leinart, and Carson Palmer. You have a good chance at being a part of a 12th National Championship and you could win the Heisman Trophy like Leinart and Palmer. Sound good?"

I imagine this was what current USC QB Matt Barkley heard (or something close to it) while he was being pitched to before signing on the dotted line to play for former Head Coach Pete Carroll.

Imagine a timeshare pitch, or a sales pitch from a car salesman, minus the cheesy smile and the empty promises.

Had this been what Barkley heard before agreeing to play for USC, it wasn't far from the truth.

It wasn't far from the truth at the then.

Now? I'm not so sure.

Sure, he could win a Heisman, but if USC fails to have their post-season bowl ban overturned, then winning a National Championship is not even a remote possibility for Barkley.

So, should he stay or should he go?

Let's just say that I'm not jealous of Barkley's current dilemma.

Ok, let's say USC's bowl ban doesn't get reversed.

Where does that leave Barkley?

Besides never being able to hoist that extremely breakable crystal football or playing in any bowl game, even something as lame as the Papa John's Bowl, Barkley's career at USC wouldn't have been in vain.

I mean, it's not as if the NCAA put sanctions on his capacity to develop into a franchise QB in the NFL or on his potential for being a first-round draft pick and having a successful NFL career, right?

Right.

Ok, so you didn't even have the chance to play for a National Title, and you didn't even go to any more bowls after your Emerald Bowl appearance. But, you will be drafted into the NFL and you will see success at the next level.

Is that so bad?

To me, no.

But to all the football players out there, not being able to play in the post-season, especially for a National Championship, is sickening.

Ok, let's say Barkley transfers. Depending on the school, he may or may not win the Heisman or a National Championship. And how well he does in the draft and in the NFL is dependent on him.

So, is transferring a good idea?

It depends.

If you wanna win a National Championship, compete in post-season play, and give fans more ammo to hate the BCS with either your excellent post-season performance, or your disgusting post-season performance, then yes; you should transfer.

If winning a National Championship is important to you, but not everything in the world, and you're more focused on improving your game when you reach the next level, then no; you shouldn't transfer.

Winning a National Championship doesn't ensure you future success, and neither does winning the Heisman.

Barkley is between a rock and a hard place with these sanctions.

Now, I'm not saying that there's a rumor that he's jumping ship or trying to start a rumor, but I am saying that transferring is definitely something that has to be weighing on his mind.

Good luck, Matt.

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