USC Trojans: Inquiring Minds would like to know…

The days roll by and between games, fertile minds (and even mine) sometimes pass the time wondering about things only because we have too much time on our hands.

Having admitted to this sad situation, here are some questions that have passed through my bored and unproductive head:

What does Pete Carroll have against Mitch Mustain?

As last week’s “Debacle in Seattle” played out in front of my incredulous eyes, my thoughts kept racing back to the erstwhile transfer from Arkansas and for the life of me, I could not imagine Mustain being any worse than the effort brought by Aaron Corp.

It seems as though Mitch Mustain has either played or practiced his way deep into Coach Carroll’s doghouse because Mustain has never been in any serious conversation Carroll has had regarding the quarterback position.

So what gives? Is Mustain that bad or is there something else going on?

It can’t be for a lack of effort on Mustain’s part. For crying out loud, the young man has even volunteered for punting duty after witnessing Billy O’Malley’s woeful efforts.

God forbid anything happens to Matt Barkley, but if it does, Coach Carroll, how about giving Mustain a shot?

Typically, I would never question Pete Carroll, but since I already have I might as well go all out…

Hey Pete, where has C.J. Gable been?

I know that last week he was hurt, but what about the other two weeks and spring and fall scrimmages?

I understand that you said during fall practices that you knew what he and Stafon Johnson could do and you wanted to see what the other backs and Joe McKnight were capable of.

Fair enough, but you also said that ball protection was of paramount importance, which is why you sat Gable in the first place.

So why do you keep trotting McKnight out there when he fumbles as much or more than Gable or anyone else?

Be it far from me to question Coach Carroll, but it seems there might be a bit of a double standard here.

Pete Carroll’s criteria for playing time seems a bit convoluted, which brings me to my last query regarding the Coach:

Given the fact that Ronald Johnson is out, how nice would it be to have Vidal Hazelton right now?

Hazelton, who transferred last year when his playing time was cut dramatically after an injury, had over 50 receptions as a freshman.

Vidal Hazelton, though not the burner that Johnson is, would have been a nice part of the rotation and would have been a better bridge to get over Johnson’s injury than anything the Trojans have now.

Please understand, these are musings from an avowed rabid fan of both the Trojans and Pete Carroll.

Perhaps I do indeed have too much time on my hands…but this inquiring Trojan mind would like to know.