USC's Wealth of Talent and the Future of the Pac-10

I think we can all agree this was a pretty low year for the Pacific-10 conference. Especially if you are from my neck of the woods: the state of Washington.

At the beginning of the year it was always going to be USC challenging for the Pac-10 title, Rose Bowl, and the National Title, while the rest of the nine teams duked it out for that coveted second spot.

Let's face it, that's the only chance for a Rose Bowl the rest of the teams have assuming USC is playing for National Championships.

They are loaded, but the problem is they know it, and thus lose that single game they overlook.

Would, however, USC's title credentials hold a little more credit if perhaps some of their talent on the bench was starting against them. Look no further than the running back situation. 

With three players running for over 600+ yards this season, its hard not to be impressed. But just think if guys like Joe McKnight (pictured above) was playing for one of the other teams in the conference. He'd be a 1000+ yard rusher season in and season out. 

Joe McKnight, CJ Gable, Stafon Johnson; all those guys are studs who could easily rush for twice what they got, but the allure of playing for USC got them what they got.

Up in Washington, we got excited when Chris Polk, a four-star running back, de-committed from USC to play for Washington. He hurt his shoulder, but was named the starting back before play had even begun.

A lot more of the guys who sit on the bench, and may see little playing time at all would start multiple years on other teams in the conference.

The Pac-10 is always going to be looked down upon while it is still USC and the Pac-9, and the team that will be hurt the most by that will be USC, always.

Obviously Pete Carroll has been able to sell that just being a part of USC is better for your resume than playing for any of the other schools in the conference.

It seems almost incomprehensible still, though, that a young student-athlete wouldn't want to play the majority of his college years. 

The schools are not without football traditions, and all the schools are beautiful campuses. Plus, you will get a great education from any of them.

A lot of the best players on the West Coast are from southern California, and it's understandable that they want to stay home.

Yet, at the same time, there are three other schools within just a couple hours driving radius; UCLA, Arizona State, and Arizona. Plus, two more are just a short hop up I-5 to the Bay Area.

Oregon has beautiful facilities, and Oregon State has Mike Riley and some of the best coaches in the country. Washington is in Seattle and has the second-best pedigree in the Pac-10. Washington State...well...it's rustic? (Sorry Cougar fans, you've won three of the Apple Cups I've been in school for, and I'm still mad about it)

My point is, there is no reason that kids shouldn't want to play for the other schools in the conference, it's just they've been crippled by USC hording the talent.

Obviously it goes without saying that its a "chicken or the egg" kind of situation, Did USC horde the talent and then the Pac-10 got bad? Or did the Pac-10 just never get good and recruits started only looking to USC.?

From a Washington standpoint, I feel that it is interesting to point out that USC's current rise has as much to do with Pete Carroll and nationally ranked recruiting classes every year as it does with the demise of the other great power in the conference, Washington.

The next couple years are going to be interesting in the development of the Pac-10. Cal and Oregon have been emerging as consistent threats for a couple years now. Arizona State made a run for it last year before collapsing this year, and Arizona made a run for it in its rival's place.

Oregon State is always going to be in the mix as long as Mike Riley is at the helm. The athletic department would be wise to give him and his coaches a large payday, lest they be poached by other programs. 

Washington and Washington State are probably going to be the whipping boys for a couple years, but two youthful coaches could start to make things happen for their teams.

There is great young talent out there in the Pac-10, especially at running back. Jacquizz Rodgers and Jahvi Best are already nationally recognized players. Don't expect the Pac-10 to be down forever.

However, USC, come on, share the wealth, let the rest of us have a taste of the pie. In the end, I don't think you will regret it.