There Almost Was a Hart Transplant

With school starting in a few days at USC, quarterback Billy Hart said Thursday that he seriously considered transferring this week but decided to stay and compete for a backup role.

Hart, a 6-foot-2, 200-pound redshirt sophomore from Mission Viejo High, has taken far fewer snaps than any other scholarship quarterback during training camp.

Sophomore Matt Leinart, who will start the Aug. 30 opener at Auburn, has received the majority of work in team drills. Junior transfer Brandon Hance, junior Matt Cassel and freshman John David Booty have shared almost all the rest.

“I want to be a Division I quarterback,� Hart said. “Unless I left, I knew pretty much all of the opportunity and hope for that would be gone.

“But it’s a tough decision -- not a decision I want to make in three or four days -- so after the season I’ll see how it goes.�

Hart, 20, also is a member of the Trojan baseball team and is projected as a starting outfielder next season. He turns 21 in November, making him eligible for the June baseball draft.

Hart said he has not abandoned hope of playing a significant role for the Trojan football team this season.

“We’ll see what happens,� he said. “It’s a long season.�

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Starting tailback Hershel Dennis did not participate in either practice on the final day of two-a-day workouts because of a sore right ankle.

The condition also limited Dennis’ activity Wednesday.

“It’s been bothering me a little bit, irritating me, but it’s nothing serious,� Dennis said.

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The Trojans were bused to a downtown hotel after the afternoon practice. They were to spend the night there, then simulate a game-day routine today before a situational scrimmage.

Coach Pete Carroll said the exercise is intended for newcomers, so they will not be distracted when the Trojans travel to Auburn.

“We want to take all the young guys through this procedure and have them watch the upperclassmen that have been through it and give them a sense of the serious nature and how we do it,� he said. “With so many of those guys being close to playing the first game, we want to try and do the whole procedure for them.�

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John Robinson, whose second stint as Trojan coach ended with a messy firing after the 1997 season, is scheduled to return to USC tonight for the school’s annual “Salute to Troy� that will honor the Trojans’ 1978 and 1953 teams.

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Freshman cornerback Eric Wright and freshman safety Terrell Thomas had surgery for hamstring and shoulder injuries, respectively, and will redshirt this season, Carroll said.... Running backs Chauncey Washington and Jody Adewale and offensive lineman Fili Moala did not practice for a second day in a row because they have not been certified by the NCAA Clearinghouse.... Sophomore fullback Brandon Hancock remained hospitalized because of an infection in his right knee.... Freshman fullback Whitney Lewis (knee) participated in the first part of the afternoon practice. Carroll said Lewis probably would rest today so he would be ready for the start of preparation for Auburn on Sunday.