University Southern California Trojans
Palmer Poised to Lead Trojans
June 21, 1999 | Football
November 20, 1998
LOS ANGELES - USC freshman quarterback Carson Palmer had perhaps the earliest -- and definitely one of the most difficult -- homework assignments of any of his first-year colleagues in the USC Class of 2002.
Almost a month before his first college class, he received this task: get to know first-year USC head coach Paul Hackett's playbook.
Of course, it's not quite overnight work, but more like a four-year project. The 6-foot-4, 205-pound Palmer has spent the last three months-plus becoming as familiar with Hackett's offense as possible and it is beginning to show.
"You can know the playbook inside and out, but you don't know what it is like to be out on the field and to be under the center until you get out there," Palmer said, "and the experience has really been helpful."
Those experiences started early for Palmer. He began the season as a heralded future star, playing more than the usual backup. Though sophomore quarterback Mike Van Raaphorst was the starter, Palmer got into each of USC's first eight games, seeing considerable time as he became more comfortable with the Trojan offense.
He got his first start against Washington in Troy's ninth game and performed like a veteran, completing 18-of-31 passes for 279 yards, leading USC to a 33-10 win on Homecoming. He followed that up with another solid showing at Stanford, completing 19-of-26 attempts for 203 yards. He is now more of a current star than a future star.
On the season, he has completed 71-of-132 attempts for 1,035 yards, five touchdowns and two interceptions.
"My goal was to come in and play," Palmer said. "I didn't want to redshirt. I didn't think I would start. The playbook was so overwhelming. I didn't think I would get it down in one year."
And he hasn't. According to Palmer, he has been exposed to about 40 percent of it, all of which he has a handle on. But...
"I haven't seen the whole thing," Palmer said. "I think it's as big as the Bible. There's a ton of stuff you have to know. It's not just plays. It has what everyone's responsibilities are on every play, like the running back and the receivers, and it goes over certain situations.
"From week-to-week, it changes. Coach Hackett is the only person who knows 100 percent of the playbook. 'm sure he has the entire thing in a glass cage in his house somewhere.
"There's no such thing as an easy playbook. But his is unique." Palmer, who plans to major in public policy and management, came to USC from Santa Margarita High in Rancho Santa Margarita, Calif., where he was one of the most highly sought-after quarterbacks in the country.
He is now busy as ever as he adjusts to college academics and athletics and counts himself fortunate to have a half hour for lunch between classes and his many hours of football duties. What does he miss most?
Said Palmer: "Playing video games, hanging out with the guys."
This despite the fact it was his buddies who came up his dubious high school nickname "Troy." Sounds good on the surface, but the Troy he's dubbed after is Dallas Cowboy quarterback and UCLA alum Troy Aikman.
"Other than the fact he went to UCLA, I like the way he plays," Palmer said.
One of the first friends he made at USC was, naturally enough, fellow QB Van Raaphorst. Though he has supplanted Van Raaphorst as the starter, he still credits the veteran with much of his success.
"I met Mike on the recruiting visit and thought he was a cool guy," Palmer said. "I got to know him better at training camp at UC Irvine, going through practice and hanging out. He'd always quiz me and tutor me. He knew the offense really well and we became good friends. If anything, this (the quarterback change) has brought us closer. He still helps me as much as ever."
Two people as thankful as anyone for Van Raaphorst's role in Palmer's development are Carson's parents, Bill and Danna. Carson describes both as football zealots who love nothing more than football season.
"My dad and mom live for football," he said. "I don't know what my dad is going to do after the season. After my junior and senior years in high school were over, you could tell he was missing something. I'm sure it will be the same this year."
Bill Palmer still has two more regular season games (plus a bowl) to savor, including Saturday's contest with UCLA.
Carson, for one, is looking forward to the experience. He has played in front of crowds most prep players can only dream about (upwards of 10,000 on occasion), but the next game will be different. "I haven't played in front of anything close to how it will be at the Rose Bowl," he said. "I havent experienced anything like that. I'm looking forward to it."
But probably not as much as mom and dad.
-- By Paul Goldberg, Assistant Sports Information Director
