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 Hotline 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 Tomey
Players: DE Tedy Bruschi, TB Ka’Deem Carey, LB Ricky Hunley, NT Rob Waldrop
Also considered: S Chuck Cecil, CB Darryll Lewis, CB Chris McAlister, WR Dennis Northcutt, LB Scooby Wright
Comment: 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 Cooper
Players: OL Randall McDaniel, QB Jake Plummer, DE Terrell Suggs, DT Will Sutton
Also considered: S David Fulcher, LB Vernon Maxwell, DE Derrick Rodgers, OL Juan Roque, LB Pat Tillman
Comment: 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.
