Former USC QB Mark Sanchez stopped by campus today to film a PSA (more on that in the next post), so we took the opportunity to get his take on another young Trojan signal-caller, Matt Barkley.
"He's got all the tools and he's got a great attitude, so I'm just really pulling for him. I'm really excited for him and I wish him the best," Sanchez said inside the Annenberg auditorium.
Sanchez drew parallels between their experiences last year.
"The Sanchize" burst onto the NFL scene in the "Big Apple" before turnovers plagued his midseason form. Meanwhile, Barkley was crowned a superstar after leading USC past Ohio State on a last second drive before growing pains caught up with him at times during the conference schedule.
"Similar situation to where I am at now, you learn so much just by playing. I was so happy for him, so proud of him because of the way he played last year, even the way he played in the bowl game, just like the way I was trying to play in the playoffs," said Sanchez, who led the New York Jets to the AFC Championship Game.
"We had very similar years last year, ups and downs. Both of us would agree that we threw too many interceptions but that's a part of playing your first year."
Sanchez expects Barkley's experience to pay off going forward.
"It's so fun for him and I'm so happy to see him go through this with four years to start here. He will be so well prepared for the next level."
As for his beloved Trojans, Sanchez is not jumping on any gloom and doom bandwagons.
"They'll be fine. They'll be fine. People need to realize it's still SC. They've still got great players and they'll be just fine."
"He's got all the tools and he's got a great attitude, so I'm just really pulling for him. I'm really excited for him and I wish him the best," Sanchez said inside the Annenberg auditorium.
Sanchez drew parallels between their experiences last year.
"The Sanchize" burst onto the NFL scene in the "Big Apple" before turnovers plagued his midseason form. Meanwhile, Barkley was crowned a superstar after leading USC past Ohio State on a last second drive before growing pains caught up with him at times during the conference schedule.
"Similar situation to where I am at now, you learn so much just by playing. I was so happy for him, so proud of him because of the way he played last year, even the way he played in the bowl game, just like the way I was trying to play in the playoffs," said Sanchez, who led the New York Jets to the AFC Championship Game.
"We had very similar years last year, ups and downs. Both of us would agree that we threw too many interceptions but that's a part of playing your first year."
Sanchez expects Barkley's experience to pay off going forward.
"It's so fun for him and I'm so happy to see him go through this with four years to start here. He will be so well prepared for the next level."
As for his beloved Trojans, Sanchez is not jumping on any gloom and doom bandwagons.
"They'll be fine. They'll be fine. People need to realize it's still SC. They've still got great players and they'll be just fine."
what really caught my eye on this post was the green screen believe it or not. i enjoy getting into the media aspect of athletics since i am not such a physically inclined person myself. thanks for the blog!
I believe that when certain up and coming athletes are supported by the fans, they should not push the young fans that look up to them aside for a photo shoot.
He could have put a couple of minutes aside to say hello and sign a few youth fans memorabilia items.
These certain youth fans look up to him as a successful athlete and they were not given that moment that may have influenced there lives forever.
When fans are your biggest supporters..athletes should take time to them.