USC Trojans Football: Matt Barkley Gives a Holiday Present to the Fans

Whew, it has been quite a last couple of days for the Trojans.

Yesterday, USC received an abundance of good news when they signed a couple of real nice recruits—including 5-star safety Gerald Bowman—and found out that NFL-eligible junior safety T.J. McDonald will return.

Today Santa delivered the best gift that Trojans fans could ever hope for...quarterback Matt Barkley will return for his senior season.

For the Trojans, this couldn't be better news.

After a 2011 season that saw Barkley guide USC to a 10-2 record and a No. 5 ranking in the AP, the sky is the limit for a young Trojan team just coming into their own for the 2012 season.

And now they will have their unquestioned  leader back at the helm.

For those who have followed the young man from Mater Dei High School, his decision to come back—while agonizingly excruciating to wait for—shouldn't have come as too much of a surprise.

The only thing that matches Barkley's physical talent is his intelligence, integrity and single-minded focus on his team (and teammates).

Saying that he "still had unfinished business to attend to," Barkley gave the ultimate commitment to his team by turning down the millions of dollars that the NFL was waving at him.

With the speculation running rampant regarding his decision today, Barkley left little doubt as to where his loyalty rests.

Having weathered the storm of the NCAA's sanctions against the Trojans and with the knowledge that for the first time since his freshman season USC is bowl eligible in 2012, Barkley made a decision that followed his heart and not his business acumen.

Of course, it didn't hurt knowing that USC will return a fabulously talented team in 2012 either.

With a offensive line returning all but one starter (even though that one starter is All-American Matt Kalil) and the nation's best wide receiver duo in Robert Woods and Marqise Lee, Barkley saw the chance to do something truly special in 2012.

Without Barkley, the Trojans would have been a Top 10 team going into next year; With him, a good argument could be made for USC being No. 1.

Without Barkley, the Trojans are still a very good team; With him, they should be great.

So as the holiday season approaches, legions of Trojan fans should be especially grateful for the gift of return that Matt Barkley bestowed upon them.

Thank you Matt Barkley.

Oh, and thank you too Santa.