TrojanWire

Pete has spoken: Sanchez to Start

1–2 minutes

October 11, 2007

Move that Booty over. The Pete has spoken and the word is Sanchez. Yes, shortly after wrapping Thursday’s practice, Pete Carroll confirmed what had long been expected. Mark Sanchez will make his first career start this Saturday against the Arizona Wildcats, while Booty recovers from a broken finger on his throwing hand.

As reported on SI.com:

“We’re counting on him to play a heck of a game,” Carroll said of Sanchez, a 6-foot-3, 225-pound redshirt sophomore. “He had a great week. He’s been around this offense for years. I know how excited he is — I’ve got to calm him down…He’s ready for this. He’s waited for this. He’s been in games.”

Sanchez says:

“I’m excited about the opportunity,” Sanchez said. “I’m approaching it the same way I have all week, with focus and preparation. The coaches have prepared me well for this.”

6 responses to “Pete has spoken: Sanchez to Start”

DeTrojan

October 11, 2007 at 7:52 pm

Good work Sanchez. We’re behind you 100. Just play smart, you got it!

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Mike

October 12, 2007 at 1:53 am

Thats just awesome!!! sanchez is 1 of the best quarterbacks in the country!!! i dont really feel that bad for booty!! maybe he just couldnt handle all that pressure of being the quarterback of the “greatest team in history”. It’d be nice to see him back though. Hope it works out for booty and the trojans in the end. However sanchez is just too good. My cousin is one of his friends so i got to meet him once and he’s just an awesome guy. Really sharp and confident. He’ll do great things for the trojans and us, the loyal fans.

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Ozneb

October 12, 2007 at 2:09 pm

Mark Sanchez is the future Quarterback, Good choice Pete Carroll! Here we come… Fight On !!!

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Bring On Sanchez!

October 12, 2007 at 4:20 pm

In response to the questions regarding Booty playing October 13th, Carroll said, “He can throw the football a little bit. We’d love for him to not have to play.”

I think many of us Trojans have felt this way since Booty took the helm in 2006. If you put Booty on any other team he would lead them to ruin, thanks to all of the other talent and great coaches in the program USC as been able to avert total disaster under Booty. Trojans will rejoice when the Backwater Bayou Booty era is over, keep him on the bench, bring on Sanchez, at least if we lose under Sanchez we can attribute it to his inexperience and the number of injuries the team has, then look forward to the fact that Sanchez will be even better next year. Booty has had 5 years to figure things out and he is still a mediocre QB at best, send the swam rat back to the bayou, maybe he can get a job cleaning the stadium after the Saints games and perhaps Reggie may be able to show him some charity and get him a job as water boy, or towel boy in the Saints locker room.

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DJ

October 13, 2007 at 9:15 am

Sanchez has completed 2-of-3 passes for 23 yards with one interception this season and is 5-of-10 for 86 yards and one touchdown with two interceptions in his career. And that’s during “bench clearing” time when games have already been decided. Not exactly glowing stats to hang your future on just yet. Today he’s going up against first string seasoned starters. Big difference.

Do I think he’s capable of leading the Trojans to great things? Yes! He’s got all the physical attributes to be successful. However, at this point in time, it’s just POTENTIAL! He’s done NOTHING! What happens if his receivers don’t catch the ball today? Will he be bashed in the media like JDB has this week?

Let’s not forget, in the final seconds of the Stanford game with SC driving for a potential game winning FG, JDB threw a perfect pass to Patrick Turner. Oooops, right through the hands. End of story.

Every player on this team has great POTENTIAL. That’s why PC and staff recruited them. Living up to that potential and playing at their highest level has not been done. Today is a “gut check” and “soul searching” for this team.

Can each player today say they have given their BEST EFFORT?

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Trojan#84

October 13, 2007 at 9:25 am

I do believe that JDB can perform at a high level. My big problem with him right now is his stubbornness. The second he broke his finger he should have come out. The team comes first, we have great talent and you have to trust the man behind you. If we had lost then, at least Sanchez would have gotten some experience and game time to start preparing him.

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