University Southern California Trojans
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Heritage Association Spotlight: Carson Palmer
April 20, 2018 | Football, Trojan Athletic Fund, Features
The Heritage Association Spotlight was created to profile USC student-athlete alumni who give back to the University.
The Heritage Association had the pleasure of catching up with former USC football player and Heisman winner Carson Palmer at the 65th Annual Heritage Golf Classic with Clay Helton in Newport Beach.
"It's hard not to come out to [Pelican Hill] and have a good time," he says. "I had the experience of a lifetime at USC, so it's the easiest thing to want to come back to events like this."
Born in Fresno, Calif., Carson began his passion for football early on. By the seventh grade, he showed remarkable strength and was even brought under the wing of quarterback legend Bob Johnson. Following a successful high school career, Carson started to field offers from several Division-I universities including Notre Dame, Colorado, and Miami. But for Carson, only one offer mattered.
"Every kid grows up, whether or not they were recruited, wanting to go to USC. I was no different," says Carson. "It's in Los Angeles, there's the marching band, the coliseum, all of the history USC has… to play football as a Trojan really was a dream come true."
Carson would begin his USC football career in 1998, successfully competing as the Trojan's starting quarterback for four years. By the end of his fifth and final season, Carson held a total of 72 passing touchdowns, 49 interceptions, 927 completions, 1,569 attempts, and 11,818 passing yards. In 2002, Carson was voted the winner of the Heisman Award—the first ever quarterback from USC to win the award.
In 2003, Carson began his career in the NFL as the #1 pick in the NFL draft pick and was selected by the Cincinnati Bengals. He would later transfer to the Raiders and finally move to the Arizona Cardinals. But, no matter what team Carson found himself on, he always represented the USC name.
"There was a couple rough years there where USC wasn't going to any bowl games, but there were still a lot of players being drafted in the first and second rounds," says Carson. "But, while there weren't a ton of guys in the league [from USC], there was still a ton of respect for the University, which I was really blown away by. After a game, I would talk to the players or the coaches on the field who had been a part of USC at one point, and the level of respect they held for the school and what it meant to them to be representing USC in the NFL—it was really cool to be a part of that."
For Carson, the Trojan spirit was something he carried throughout his career as a professional athlete.
"I took great pride in being a Trojan," he states. "There are so many men and women that came before me and wore the USC uniform. There's such respect around the University on a national level. So, to meet and play with guys from all over the country and hear that they loved USC was so meaningful. I know not everyone had the opportunity to play for the Trojans and that makes me feel blessed.
Long after his career as a professional athlete, Carson continues to embody the spirit of a Trojan, giving back to the University in any capacity. "It comes with the territory," he says. "USC did so much for me! It's where I met my wife and where I take my kids for games or to see the campus. My family truly started at USC, so, it's only been natural to give back to my extended Trojan family."
As for current USC student-athletes, Carson has one word: enjoy.
"I just think that when you go to college, everyone tells you it's going to be the best time of your life, and then it just happens— classes, tests, papers, and lifting — it can fly by," he continues. "Life is never the same after you get out of college. Whatever field or market you go into, enjoy every second of it and take advantage of everything USC has to offer its students and student-athletes. Don't sleep through it, don't complain about it — everything is part of the process, so enjoy and know that USC is really preparing you for life after college."
If you are a member of the USC student-athlete alumni community, or would like more information about the Heritage Association, please click here!
The Heritage Association had the pleasure of catching up with former USC football player and Heisman winner Carson Palmer at the 65th Annual Heritage Golf Classic with Clay Helton in Newport Beach.
"It's hard not to come out to [Pelican Hill] and have a good time," he says. "I had the experience of a lifetime at USC, so it's the easiest thing to want to come back to events like this."Born in Fresno, Calif., Carson began his passion for football early on. By the seventh grade, he showed remarkable strength and was even brought under the wing of quarterback legend Bob Johnson. Following a successful high school career, Carson started to field offers from several Division-I universities including Notre Dame, Colorado, and Miami. But for Carson, only one offer mattered.
"Every kid grows up, whether or not they were recruited, wanting to go to USC. I was no different," says Carson. "It's in Los Angeles, there's the marching band, the coliseum, all of the history USC has… to play football as a Trojan really was a dream come true."
Carson would begin his USC football career in 1998, successfully competing as the Trojan's starting quarterback for four years. By the end of his fifth and final season, Carson held a total of 72 passing touchdowns, 49 interceptions, 927 completions, 1,569 attempts, and 11,818 passing yards. In 2002, Carson was voted the winner of the Heisman Award—the first ever quarterback from USC to win the award.
In 2003, Carson began his career in the NFL as the #1 pick in the NFL draft pick and was selected by the Cincinnati Bengals. He would later transfer to the Raiders and finally move to the Arizona Cardinals. But, no matter what team Carson found himself on, he always represented the USC name.
"There was a couple rough years there where USC wasn't going to any bowl games, but there were still a lot of players being drafted in the first and second rounds," says Carson. "But, while there weren't a ton of guys in the league [from USC], there was still a ton of respect for the University, which I was really blown away by. After a game, I would talk to the players or the coaches on the field who had been a part of USC at one point, and the level of respect they held for the school and what it meant to them to be representing USC in the NFL—it was really cool to be a part of that."
For Carson, the Trojan spirit was something he carried throughout his career as a professional athlete.
"I took great pride in being a Trojan," he states. "There are so many men and women that came before me and wore the USC uniform. There's such respect around the University on a national level. So, to meet and play with guys from all over the country and hear that they loved USC was so meaningful. I know not everyone had the opportunity to play for the Trojans and that makes me feel blessed.
Long after his career as a professional athlete, Carson continues to embody the spirit of a Trojan, giving back to the University in any capacity. "It comes with the territory," he says. "USC did so much for me! It's where I met my wife and where I take my kids for games or to see the campus. My family truly started at USC, so, it's only been natural to give back to my extended Trojan family."
As for current USC student-athletes, Carson has one word: enjoy.
"I just think that when you go to college, everyone tells you it's going to be the best time of your life, and then it just happens— classes, tests, papers, and lifting — it can fly by," he continues. "Life is never the same after you get out of college. Whatever field or market you go into, enjoy every second of it and take advantage of everything USC has to offer its students and student-athletes. Don't sleep through it, don't complain about it — everything is part of the process, so enjoy and know that USC is really preparing you for life after college."
If you are a member of the USC student-athlete alumni community, or would like more information about the Heritage Association, please click here!
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