Before the Pac-12 disappears: Our picks for each school’s football Mt. Rushmore (players and coaches)
In one month, the Pac-12 will cease to exist in recognizable form. At the close of business on Aug. 1, the 10 departing schools will end their membership in the century-old conference, leaving Washington State and Oregon State behind to rebuild the league (or turn out the lights).
To commemorate the occasion — and give readers something to ponder over the holiday week — the Hotline presents our Mt. Rushmore selections: The greatest players to grace the field for each Pac-12 school.
Important disclaimers:
— We selected four players and included the names of five more who were given consideration. In truth, we considered more than nine. For some schools — hello, USC — our initial list was more than 15 deep.
— Performance in the NFL was not part of the calculation.
— Nor did we consider players who competed before their schools joined the Pac-12. For example, Mike Haynes is one of the greatest cornerbacks who ever lived, but his Arizona State career came before the Sun Devils entered the conference.
— Kickers and punters were excluded.
— Not every Mt. Rushmore selection is a record-holder for his school. Statistics mattered, but so did subjective criteria like impact and legacy.
Here we go …
Arizona
Coach: Dick TomeyPlayers: DE Tedy Bruschi, TB Ka’Deem Carey, LB Ricky Hunley, NT Rob WaldropAlso considered: S Chuck Cecil, CB Darryll Lewis, CB Chris McAlister, WR Dennis Northcutt, LB Scooby WrightComment: Arizona was a defensive juggernaut for many years under Tomey, and our selections reflect that existence. Cecil made the greatest play in school history, a 106-yard interception return against ASU, and is plenty worthy of Mt. Rushmore status. We mulled Rob Gronkowski’s inclusion, but his college production was limited.
Arizona State
Coach: John CooperPlayers: OG Randall McDaniel, QB Jake Plummer, DE Terrell Suggs, DT Will SuttonAlso considered: S David Fulcher, LB Vernon Maxwell, DE Derrick Rodgers, OT Juan Roque, LB Pat TillmanComment: Plummer and Suggs were obvious picks; the others were pondered at length. Tillman’s total legacy is monumental because of his military service and death. But his on-field performance in Tempe, while first rate, didn’t quite match the four listed on Mt. Rushmore in our estimation.
Cal
Coach: Pappy WaldorfPlayers: TE Tony Gonzalez, RB Jackie Jensen, QB Joe Kapp, RB Chuck MuncieAlso considered: DE Andre Carter, RB Marshawn Lynch, CB Deltha O’Neal, OG Les Richter, QB Joe RothComment: That’s right: No Aaron Rodgers. Or Steve Bartkowski. Or DeSean Jackson. (The bar in Berkeley is higher than you might expect.) With regard to Rodgers specifically, he had one superb season, in 2004, after transferring from junior college and before turning pro. Our selections performed to that standard and had longer college careers.
Colorado
Coach: Mike MacIntyrePlayers: LB Jimmie Gilbert, LB Nate Landman, WR Paul Richardson, WR Lavish ShenaultAlso considered: CB Chidobe Awuzie, TB Jarek Broussard, CB Travis Hunter, TB Phillip Lindsay, CB Isaiah OliverComment: Not many options for CU due to the school’s limited time in the conference and the paucity of elite players, which was reflected in the lack of success. (The Buffaloes were bowl-eligible twice in 13 seasons.)
Oregon
Coach: Rich BrooksPlayers: TB LaMichael James, QB Marcus Mariota, WR Ahmad Rashad, CB Mel RenfroAlso considered: QB Joey Harrington, CB Alex Molden, DT Haloti Ngata, OL Penei Sewell, OL Gary ZimmermanComment: We viewed Mariota, Rashad and Renfro as clear picks for Mt. Rushmore and gave James a slight lean for the fourth spot. Cornerback Kenny Wheaton was considered as the author of the defining play in school history (his interception against Washington in 1994), as was Justin Herbert. We considered both Mike Bellotti and Chip Kelly for the coaching position.
Oregon State
Coach: Tommy ProthroPlayers: QB Terry Baker, WR Brandin Cooks, TB Steven Jackson, DT Stephen PaeaAlso considered: WR Vern Burke, WR Mike Haas, QB Sean Mannion, CB Jordan Poyer, TB Jacquizz RodgersComment: If you’re unfamiliar with Baker, know that he won the 1962 Heisman Trophy. Burke was a star in the early 60s, as well. The other selections reflect OSU’s success over the past quarter century. We also considered quarterback Derek Anderson, tailback Ken Simonton and defensive lineman Inoke Brecterfield.
Stanford
Coach: Pop WarnerPlayers: QB Frankie Albert, QB John Elway, WR Ken Margerum, QB Jim Plunkett,Also considered: QB Andrew Luck, TB Christian McCaffrey, DE Bill McColl, FB Ernie Nevers, WR Troy WaltersComment: Few schools can match the Cardinal’s star power across all positions and even fewer can match the Cardinal’s lineup of quarterbacks. We considered Bob Whitfield and Toby Gerhart, among others, along with John Ralston, Bill Walsh and David Shaw for the coaching position.
UCLA
Coach: Terry DonahuePlayers: QB Gary Beban, S Kenny Easley, RB Jackie Robinson, LB Jerry RobinsonAlso considered: QB Troy Aikman, RB Freeman McNeil, LB Don Moomaw, OL Jonathan Ogden, WR JJ StokesComment: A heavyweight lineup of players, for sure. Easley and Jerry Robinson were three-time consensus All-Americans, and Beban won the Heisman in 1967. While obviously better known for breaking baseball’s color barrier, Jackie Robinson’s best sport in college was, in fact, football.
USC
Coach: John McKayPlayers: TB Marcus Allen, TB Reggie Bush, S Ronnie Lott, OT Anthony MunozAlso considered: OG Bruce Matthews, WR Keyshawn Johnson, RB Charles White, LB Richard Wood, OT Ron YaryComment: An impossible task given USC’s incredible tradition. Several Heisman winners did not make the cut; nor did coach Pete Carroll, despite his decade-long dynasty. And we should mention our standards for inclusion, while modest, leave no room on Mt. Rushmore for anyone accused of double murder.
Utah
Coach: Kyle WhittinghamPlayers: CB Jaylon Johnson, DT Star Lotulelei, RB Zack Moss, QB Cam RisingAlso considered: DE Bradlee Anae, OL Isaac Asiata, DT Leki Fotu, LB Devin Lloyd, DE Nate OrchardComment: The Utes had an impressive list of candidates considering their short stay in the conference (13 seasons), with linemen accounting for a high percentage of the players under consideration. Whittingham was not only Utah’s best coaching candidate but the only coaching candidate as he prepares for Year 20.
Washington
Coach: Don JamesPlayers: DE Steve Emtman, RB Hugh McElhenny, QB Michael Penix Jr., OL Rick RedmanAlso considered: RB Napoleon Kaufman, OL Lincoln Kennedy, S Lawyer Milloy, QB Marques Tuiasosopo, WR Reggie WilliamsComment: Only one selection, Penix, played for the Huskies during the Pac-12 era. Most other names should be familiar to fans who have tracked the conference over decades, but perhaps not Redmond, a two-time consensus All-American. Warren Moon’s exploits and legacy were rooted more in his pro career than his time at UW.
Washington State
Coach: Mike PricePlayers: C Mel Hein, QB Ryan Leaf, TB Reuben Mayes, QB Jack ThompsonAlso considered: QB Drew Bledsoe, TB Steve Broussard, DT Rien Long, DE DeWayne Patterson, S Lamont ThompsonComment: No specialist made a stronger case for inclusion than WSU’s Jason Hanson, arguably the best placekicker in conference history. And we gave serious thought to the late Mike Leach as the Mt. Rushmore coach, but Price had a longer tenure in Pullman and took the Cougars to the Rose Bowl, twice.
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