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New script in L.A. Palmer looks to reverse USC's fortunes -- with help
Updated: Tuesday April 17, 2001 12:26 PM
Yes, Carson Palmer is still USC's quarterback. And yes, he agrees. "I feel like I've been here forever," says the soon-to-be fourth-year junior. Palmer has been at USC long enough to outlive an entire coaching era, arriving as part of Paul Hackett's first recruiting class in 1998 and ending that season as the Trojans' starting QB. While 2001 will technically be his fourth as a starter, a broken collarbone ended his sophomore season after just three games, thus preserving his redshirt year -- and two more years of eligibility. Now they will be spent under a new head coach and offensive coordinator who couldn't come at a better time to take the up-and-down Palmer's career to a new high. Regarded as the second coming when he originally signed with the Trojans, Palmer did little to lower those expectations by becoming just the second USC true freshman to start at quarterback (the other: Rob Johnson ), and by completing 73.6 percent of his passes before the injury in '99. All of which made last year that much more miserable to bear for Palmer and the Trojans. A five-game losing streak, during which Palmer threw 11 interceptions to only five touchdowns, sent USC on its way to its first Pac-10 last-place finish (5-7, 2-6) -- and Hackett's staff on its way out of town.
And while fans weren't exactly appeased by the hiring of Pete Carroll, who, like Hackett, had a primarily NFL background, it was another hiring that got the wheels spinning. With a three-year, $1 million offer, Carroll was able to lure offensive coordinator Norm Chow from N.C. State, where in just one season he helped turn freshman QB Philip Rivers into an overnight sensation. Previously, Chow was the longtime architect of BYU's famed passing attack. "I really didn't know much about coach Chow until the first day he got here," said Palmer. "When coach Carroll handed out his bio, I was like 'Wow!' -- I had no idea." Indeed, the 54-year-old Chow's resume -- which prompted Carroll to call him, "arguably the best offensive coordinator in the history of college football" -- includes 28 consecutive winning seasons, a national championship (1984), a Heisman Trophy winner ( Ty Detmer ) and four of the NCAA's top 10 all-time pass efficiency leaders (Detmer, Steve Sarkasian, Jim McMahon and Steve Young ). Yet while Chow's successes should give him an ego, his quarterback says, "you'd never know it." Palmer, the 21-year-old SoCal lifer, has spent much of the spring goofing around with the older, decidedly laid-back Chow, who despite two job changes in two years has yet to relocate his home and family from Utah. "He's old-school," said Palmer. "And when I say he's old school, I mean he dresses old-school too. His shorts are up over his belly button, his shirt's tucked into his shorts. ..." One thing that isn't old-school about Chow, though, is his offense. With a mix of timing patterns, short passes and a healthy dose of trickery, the Pac-10 is about to face what the old WAC and last year's ACC have already had to deal with. The goal is to keep the defense constantly flustered and on its toes, wondering whether a halfback pass or double reverse is right around the corner. "The key to it is taking what the defense gives you, and that's what coach Chow tells me," said Palmer. "I've been getting greedy, trying to throw the long ball when there's a guy 5, 6 yards in front of me that's open. He told me I just have to be more patient." Indeed, patience was not one of Palmer's virtues during last year's 18-interception debacle, tying a school record and contributing to USC's minus-19 turnover margin, second-worst nationally. Yet for all the scrutiny Palmer faced last season, Chow himself has had little interest investigating. "I looked at some film, but I looked at it just to know what they were doing," said Chow. "I didn't spend a lot of time evaluating talent because I didn't want to have preconceived notions. As far as what happened last year, that's of no concern to me." Meanwhile, hardly a day goes by that Palmer doesn't think back to last year, the low point coming when Hackett pulled him during a mystifying late-season loss to Washington State. Palmer felt even then, as he does now, that the talent was there for a turnaround. And with weapons like NFL-caliber receiver Kareem Kelly and 1,163-yard rusher Sultan McCullough, who could argue? "We're S.C., we're known as a powerhouse," the QB said. "The guys on the team the last couple years have contributed to losing that cockiness a little bit, we've lost a lot of respect. It's just as much our fault as anyone's for going 5-7 and 6-6. "The good news is I still have two years left to straighten things out."
Welcome Mr. WashingtonKelley Washington is presently listed only as Tennessee's third-string quarterback, but he's sure to be doing more than just clipboard duties come September. When the 21-year-old Washington walked on in January, coaches wondered if he could even play football following a four-year hiatus in the Florida Marlins' organization. Three weeks of practice later, Washington has proven not only he can play, but may be the Vols' most dangerous offensive weapon. Running the offense in a recent scrimmage, the option-style QB dashed five times for 56 yards and two TDs. And Washington's receivers are raving about his rocket arm. But considering starter Casey Clausen (14-of-27, 2 TDs in the same scrimmage) has a solid hold on the QB job, coaches are also trying Washington at receiver, where he caught two passes for 29 yards that day. "Kelley Washington is a guy that is going to make a significant impact somewhere on this team," head coach Phil Fulmer said earlier in the spring. "We will try to keep working him at both positions."
Worth notingTwo-sport star Ronald Curry is ready to become a one-sport star his senior year. "My focus is on football right now," the UNC quarterback told the Raleigh (N.C.) News & Observer. "I want to play pro sports -- something -- so hopefully, I can play in the NFL." ... Virginia will hold its spring game Saturday at its lacrosse/soccer field. Scott Stadium is being used by a certain hometown band to open its U.S. tour. "How can anybody be against Dave Matthews, right?" new Cavaliers coach Al Groh said. ... Purdue returns 10 defensive starters, but it's the 11th that's grabbing headlines this spring. Speedy redshirt freshman CB Antwaun Rogers has picked off three passes in two scrimmages while earning the nickname "Twig" from his teammates for his lanky legs. ... Missouri's already-productive rushing tandem of Zach Gilmore and Zack Abron (1,134 combined yards in 2000) look a step faster this spring, both having trimmed about 15 pounds. ... QB Aso Pogi made the most of his first spring as Oklahoma State's clear starter, going a combined 48-of-70 (69 percent) for 567 yards in his final two scrimmages. ... Michigan State transfer Bradlee Van Pelt is locked in a dead heat with fellow sophomore D.J. Busch for Colorado State's quarterback job. CNNSI.com's Stewart Mandel will offer his latest Offseason Beat notes regularly from now till Kickoff 2001. If you have questions, comments, ideas or scoops for the Beat, click here.
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