In just a month, the Pac-12 will cease to exist in any recognizable form. At the close of business on Aug. 1, the 10 departing schools will have completed their membership in the century-old conference, leaving Washington State and Oregon State to take on the task of re-establishing (or disbanding) the league.
To mark the occasion and give our readers something to think about during the holiday week, Hotline is showcasing its Mount Rushmore selections — the greatest players to have played for Pac-12 schools.
Important Disclaimer:
- We selected four players and considered five more names. In fact, we considered more than nine. Some schools, like USC, had initial lists of more than 15 players.
- Performance in the NFL wasn't included in the calculation.
- We also didn't take into account players who competed before their schools joined the Pac-12. For example, Mike Haynes is one of the greatest cornerbacks of all time, but his career at Arizona State took place before the Sun Devils joined the conference.
- Kickers and punters were excluded.
- Not all players selected for the Mount Rushmore Award are record holders for their school. Statistics are important, but so are subjective criteria like impact and tradition.
Here we go …
Arizona
coach: Dick Tommy
player: DE Tedy Bruschi, RB Kadeem Carey, LB Ricky Hanley, NT Rob Waldrop
The following is also taken into consideration: S Chuck Cecil, CB Daryl Lewis, CB Chris McAllister, WR Dennis Northcutt, LB Scooby Wright
comment: Arizona has been a defensive powerhouse for years under Coach Tommy, and our selection reflects that. Cecil deserves Mount Rushmore honors after his 106-yard interception return against Arizona State, the best play in school history. We also considered Rob Gronkowski, but his college career was limited.
Arizona
coach: John Cooper
player: OG Randall McDaniel, QB Jake Plummer, DE Terrell Suggs, DT Will Sutton
The following is also taken into consideration: S David Fulcher, LB Vernon Maxwell, DE Derrick Rogers, OT Juan Roque, LB Pat Tillman
comment: Plummer and Suggs were obvious choices, but others were considered at length. Tillman's legacy is immeasurable due to his military service and death, but while his on-field performance in Tempe was first rate, in our estimation he falls short of the four names inscribed on Mount Rushmore.
Cal
coach: Puppy Waldorf
player: TE Tony Gonzalez, RB Jackie Jensen, QB Joe Kopp, RB Chuck Muncy
The following is also taken into consideration: DE Andre Carter, RB Marshawn Lynch, CB Delta O'Neal, OG Les Richter, QB Joe Ross
comment: That's right. No Aaron Rodgers, no Steve Bartkowski, no DeSean Jackson. (Barkley's standards are higher than you'd think.) As for Rodgers, he transferred from junior college and had one great season in 2004 before turning pro. The players we selected performed by that standard and had longer college careers.
Colorado
coach: Mike McIntyre
player: LB Jimmy Gilbert, LB Nate Landman, WR Paul Richardson, WR Laviska Chennault
The following is also taken into consideration: CB Chidobe Awuzie, RB Jarek Broussard, CB Travis Hunter, RB Phillip Lindsay, CB Isaiah Oliver
comment: CU didn't have many options. The school's limited stay in the conference and lack of quality players was reflected in its lack of success (the Buffaloes were bowl eligible twice in 13 seasons).
Oregon
coach: Rich Brooks
player: RB LaMichael James, QB Marcus Mariota, WR Ahmad Rashad, CB Mel Renfro
The following is also taken into consideration: QB Joey Harrington, CB Alex Molden, DT Haloti Ngata, OL Penei Sewell, OL Gary Zimmerman
comment: We thought Mariota, Rashad (then known as Bobby Moore) and Renfro were obvious candidates for the Mount Rushmore, and we were leaning slightly toward James at No. 4. Cornerback Kenny Wheaton, like Justin Herbert, was considered the architect of one of the defining plays in school history (his interception against Washington in 1994). For the coaching position, we considered both Mike Bellotti and Chip Kelly.
Oregon
coach: Tommy Prothro
player: QB Terry Baker, WR Brandin Cooks, RB Steven Jackson, DT Steven Paea
The following is also taken into consideration: WR Verne Burke, WR Mike Haas, QB Sean Mannion, CB Jordan Poyer, RB Jacquis Rogers
comment: For those unfamiliar with Baker, he won the Heisman Trophy in 1962. Burke was also a star in the early '60s. The other selections reflect OSU's success over the past 25 years. Quarterback Derek Anderson, tailback Ken Simonton and defensive lineman Inoke Brechterfield were also nominated.
Stanford
coach: Pop Warner
player: QB Frankie Albert, QB John Elway, WR Ken Margerum, QB Jim Plunkett
The following is also taken into consideration: QB Andrew Luck, RB Christian McCaffrey, DE Bill McCall, FB Ernie Nevers, WR Troy Walters
comment: Few schools could match the Cardinals' star lineup at every position, and even fewer could match their quarterback lineup. For the coaching position, Bob Whitfield and Toby Gerhart were considered, along with Jon Ralston, Bill Walsh and David Shaw.
University of California, Los Angeles
coach: Terry Donahue
player: QB Gary Bevan, S Kenny Easley, RB Jackie Robinson, LB Jerry Robinson
The following is also taken into consideration: QB Troy Aikman, RB Freeman McNeil, LB Don Moomaw, OL Jonathan Ogden, WR JJ Stokes
comment: They certainly had their share of heavyweights: Easley and Jerry Robinson were three-time All-Americans, and Bevan won the Heisman Trophy in 1967. Of course, while he's best known for breaking baseball's color barriers, Jackie Robinson's favorite sport in college was actually football.
U.S.C.
coach: John McKay
player: RB Marcus Allen, RB Reggie Bush, S Ronnie Lott, OT Anthony Munoz
The following is also taken into consideration: OG Bruce Matthews, WR Keyshawn Johnson, RB Charles White, LB Richard Wood, OT Ron Yary
comment: An impossible task, given USC's great traditions — several Heisman Trophy winners were not considered, as was coach Pete Carroll, who built a decade-long dynasty — and, it should be added, even the modest selection criteria leave no room for a double murder suspect on Mount Rushmore.
Utah
coach: Kyle Whittingham
player: CB Jaylon Johnson, DT Star Lotulelei, RB Zack Moss, QB Cam Rising
The following is also taken into consideration: DE Bradley Anae, OL Isaac Asiata, DT Leki Fotu, LB Devin Lloyd, DE Nate Orchard
comment: Utah had an impressive list of candidates considering its short tenure in the conference (13 seasons), with linemen making up a large percentage of the candidates. Whittingham was not only Utah's best coaching candidate, but also the only one preparing for his 20th year.
Washington
coach: Don James
player: DE Steve Emtman, RB Hugh McElhenney, QB Michael Pennis Jr., OL Rick Redman
The following is also taken into consideration: RB Napoleon Kaufman, OL Lincoln Kennedy, S Lawyer Milloy, QB Marques Tuiasosopo, WR Reggie Williams
comment: Only Pennis was selected, and he played for the Huskies during their time in the Pac-12. Most of the other players should be familiar to fans who have followed the conference for decades, but Redmond, a two-time All-American, may not. Warren Moon's accomplishments and legacy are rooted more in his professional career than his time at UW.
State of Washington
coach: Mike Price
player: C Mel Hein, QB Ryan Leaf, RB Reuben Mays, QB Jack Thompson
The following is also taken into consideration: QB Drew Bledsoe, RB Steve Broussard, DT Lien Long, DE Dewayne Patterson, S Lamont Thompson
comment: No expert made a stronger case for the selection than Washington State's Jason Hanson, arguably the best kicker in conference history. There was serious consideration for the late Mike Leach to coach Mount Rushmore, but Price had the longer tenure in Pullman and led the Cougars to two Rose Bowl appearances.
