Who is Max Browne? The short answer: Max Browne is THE MAN. (THE MAN? I’ll get to that in a moment). The longer answer: Browne is the five star QB prospect from Sammamish, WA, who just committed to USC’s 2013 recruiting class earlier this month. Per standard operating procedure, Browne is set to graduate fall 2012 and enroll at USC in January. The smart money says the true freshman will be able to take over for Matt Barkley right away.
As a Notre Dame fan it makes me a little envious. Not that we missed out on this QB in particular, rather that Browne will become part of a more than decade long string of stability at the QB position at USC. The current golden era of Trojan football began when Carson Palmer took the helm, blossoming his final year as a starter. Already by Palmer’s senior year, Matt Leinart was firmly ensconced as the heir apparent. Three year back-up, but hyped recruit, John David Booty would be next in line. Five star prospect Mark Sanchez was ready to go after him. In each case, EVERYONE knew who was going to take over following graduation, injury, or early exit for the NFL. The only slight bobble in the passing of the torch was the one game reign of Aaron Corp, but Matt Barkley was able to step right in and take over by his second game as a true freshman. Now Barkley is set to give way to Browne for probably three (or more) years of stability. Barring injury or other misfortune Max Browne will be THE MAN…
Now, not every program can be as fortunate as USC has been in this regard. But this type of stability is huge. It’s trite and hackneyed to observe that no position on the football field is more important than QB, but it’s also the truth. Just consider all the benefits of having an unquestioned leader firmly in place at the top of the QB depth chart. This player is THE MAN. Having THE MAN is like an anchor that steadies the entire team. With THE MAN every aspect of your program just works better. THE MAN gets more reps in practice with the first team instead of splitting them during competition. Recruiting works better because coaches can point to THE MAN as an established starter and prospective recruits can envision themselves blocking for or catching throws from THE MAN. Unless THE MAN is a complete Delta-Bravo there are no divided loyalties in the locker room over the benching of one player over another. THE MAN is a natural leader of men able to rally his team and will them to victory. (Women want him. Other men want to be him.) The media benefits from having THE MAN are enormous. THE MAN will come under intense scrutiny and handle it with class but in the bigger scheme of things media in general love THE MAN. Let me repeat: media love THE MAN. Coaches and players alike face fewer frustrating questions from the media about “who will be THE MAN on this team?”
On the flip side, when you do not have THE MAN reps in practice get allocated suboptimally. When you do not have THE MAN the entire offensive unit has trouble establishing an identity. Without THE MAN players can have favorites. When you do not have THE MAN recruits will wonder if THE MAN will emerge or not (though QB recruits can be given the promise of being THE MAN right away.) As far as pressure from outside the program, not having THE MAN generates a much more skeptical, nay, even hostile milieu of media and fans alike. When you do not have THE MAN the coaching staff is second guessed to a far greater extent than otherwise (there will always be second guessing, but we’re talking about a whole different level). When you do not have THE MAN, all that anyone wants to talk about is the fact that you do not have THE MAN.
This weekend’s annual Blue Gold Game marks the third straight season the Irish enter without having THE MAN. Even with other questions marks (especially at cornerback) I can’t think of a more urgent need for the program to address than finding THE MAN. Please, Coach Kelly, please find THE MAN. This weekend, if at all possible.
