Otton Gets Nod As Starting Qb In Usc Opener
Brad Otton will start at quarterback for Southern California on Saturday when the seventh-ranked Trojans open their season against San Jose State at the Los Angeles Coliseum.
Earlier in the week, USC coach John Robinson wouldn’t say whether Otton or Kyle Wachholtz would start against the Spartans.
On Thursday, Robinson selected Otton, who transferred from Weber State.
“Brad Otton will start and we will divide playing time in the first half between Brad and Kyle,” Robinson said. “We’ll decide on playing time in the second half based on the way the game is going.”
Otton, who transferred to USC in 1994, completed 55 of 92 passes for 787 yards and six touchdowns last season as a backup to Rob Johnson, who has since graduated.
Wachholtz returned this season after being academically ineligible last year.
Hope for Alabama
It’s highly unlikely, but there’s still a chance Alabama could play in a bowl game this season.
The NCAA recently handed down a stiff sentence against the Tide football program for rules violations. Among the penalties were three years’ probation, scholarship reductions and a bowl ban this season.
However, the school is appealing the postseason ban and the final year of scholarship cuts. And if the appeal drags on past the end of the season, Alabama would be eligible to play in a bowl because the sanctions don’t take effect until the appeal is decided.
Early start
You’ve heard of “Breakfast at Wimbledon.” Now there’s a counterpart in college football: “Brunch at the Air Force Academy.”
The Falcons’ home game against Wyoming will start at 10:30 a.m. local time Saturday. Air Force’s home opener last week against BYU started at the same time and for the same reason - so that ESPN could televise the game in its 12:30 p.m. Eastern time slot.
“We’re not on television that much, so we couldn’t pass up the opportunity,” Air Force spokesman Dave Kellogg said.
Home of streakers
Teams from Pennsylvania hold the two longest current winning streaks in Division I.
Penn State’s 17-game streak is the longest in Division I-A, while the University of Pennsylvania’s 21-game streak is the best in Division I-AA.
Penn State opens its season Saturday at home against Texas Tech. The University of Pennsylvania’s first opponent is Dartmouth on Sept. 16.