Lord of the rings

09-23-2005

By Tom Shanahan, San Diego Hall of Champions

Willie Buchanon’s annual June treks to Wisconsin, the land of the Green Bay Packers and Big Ten football, date back to the Oceanside High alum’s NFL playing days. The All-American cornerback and first-round draft pick from San Diego State was the 1972 Defensive Rookie of the Year.

He’s invited every summer to play in the Lombardi Classic, a golf tournament fund-raiser in honor of Vince Lombardi, the Packers’ legendary coach for whom the Super Bowl Trophy is named.

But in 30-plus years of appearances, the Breitbard Hall-of-Famer has never enjoyed the Lombardi Classic as much as the last two years.

That’s because Buchanon flashes USC national championship rings on loan from his son William, a fifth-year senior wide receiver for the Trojans also from Oceanside High.

“I show them to everybody back there, especially all those Big Ten people,” says Buchanon, his voice flowing with a joyful mix of parental and West Coast football pride. “There are a lot of Wisconsin, Michigan and Ohio State fans back there.”

USC is off to a 2-0 start in defense of back-to-back national championships as the Trojans open Pac-10 play Saturday at Oregon.

William Buchanon’s first four seasons at USC have been marked by a redshirt year, injuries and switching back and forth between cornerback and wide receiver since he came out of Oceanside as one of the West Coast’s top recruits.

The grandson of a pastor who founded the Shiloh Church of God and Christ in Oceanside, his grandfather’s influence is heard in his words as he explains his patience.

“There have been real good receivers that have come through here,” he said. “I take the time to learn from them and we help each other out. I’ll get on the field when it’s God’s will, and hopefully I’ll put some points on the board.”

But Buchanon doesn’t second-guess his decision to attend USC, even though his father’s alma mater, San Diego State, lacked depth at wide receiver the last two years.

“I could have gone somewhere else and caught a bunch of balls, but I’m happy with my decision to come here,” Buchanon said. “I love Pete Carroll and the program he has built here. I’ll accept whatever role they have for me here.”

Buchanon arrived at USC in the fall of 2001 as a 6-foot-3, 162-pounder who ran 40-yard sprints of 4.43seconds, but he has gained 32 pounds while still improving his speed. His 40-yard sprint time of 4.26 seconds in the spring is second on the team only to running back Reggie Bush, the junior All-American and Heisman Trophy finalist from Helix.

Although Buchanon hasn’t seen much playing time, at a school such as USC, even backup players have earned jobs in the NFL.

New England Patriots backup quarterback Matt Cassel spent his college career backing up Heisman Trophy winners Carson Palmer and Matt Leinert, but he was a seventh-round draft pick this year. The best example, of course, is Rod Martin, a linebacker with the Oakland Raiders in the late 1970s and early 1980s.

NFL scouts have taken notice of Buchanon’s physical maturity and improved speed. They’ve been checking with Buchanon’s other Coach Carroll, Oceanside head coach John Carroll, while performing their usual background work in preparation for the 2006 draft.

As a junior in 2004, Buchanon played wide receiver in 12 games, catching four passes for 15 yards.

Earlier in his career, injuries to the secondary necessitated the move his redshirt freshman and sophomore years, but Buchanon’s talents are better suited for offense than defense.

“The competition here is tough, but that makes us better,” Buchanon said. “We want to be the most dangerous receiving corps in America. We have the talent and we push each other to be on the field.”

Buchanon also has two Orange Bowl rings and a Pac-10 ring to go with his two national championship rings.

Although William loans his national championship rings to his father for his trips to Wisconsin, he gave his father his two Orange Bowl rings.

“I feel my Dad has been a major part of my football development,” Buchanon said. “I wanted to give them to him.”