Usc To Start Freshman Qb When Trojans Take On UW

The USC quarterback battle John Fox so easily won in August has been lost in October.

Fox, who has struggled recently, will be replaced by redshirt freshman Mike Van Raaphorst for Saturday’s game against No.7-ranked Washington.

USC coach John Robinson said both quarterbacks will play, but Van Raaphorst will start, his first as a college player. Fox had the flu Thursday and did not practice.

“John has done really well, but there have been parts of games where he has lost focus,” Robinson said.

USC (4-3, 2-2) has won four of its past five, but Fox has been replaced in each of the Trojans’ past three games by Van Raaphorst for at least one series.

Nebraska fans slow to help

As utility crews restored power to blacked-out neighborhoods in Lincoln, Neb., one hotel manager said Thursday that a call to have college football fans give up their rooms this weekend might have come a bit early.

An estimated 13,000 customers in Lincoln remained without power on Thursday after a snowstorm snapped trees and power lines last weekend.

No. 1 Nebraska plays Oklahoma on Saturday. On Wednesday, Mayor Mike Johanns and Lt. Gov. Kim Robak appealed for fans holding weekend hotel reservations to cancel them, saying it would free up space for residents whose homes remained without power.

Some motel managers said Thursday that few fans have appeared willing to comply. As Lincoln residents returned to their homes, at least one manager said the request may have become irrelevant.

SLO says give us Liberty

Sam Rutigliano, the former Cleveland Browns coach, has been snug in the same role at this Lynchburg, Va., school for nine seasons and his current team may be his best. He will know better Saturday when the Flames (6-1) take on Cal Poly San Luis Obispo (7-0).

These teams are Division I-AA independents, which means they struggle to fill schedules and thus this rare East-West match. Liberty’s only loss was in overtime to Hampton, the Mid-Eastern Conference leader. Cal Poly is one of only five undefeated teams remaining in I-AA, the others being Bucknell, Dayton, Southern and Villanova.

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