A slate-gray sky and a peculiar chill greeted the Southern California Trojans as they walked to practice Monday. It was all keenly symbolic, if you’re into ominous portents. But the Trojans evidently don’t do ominous well.
A steady drone of chatter nearly drowned out the whistles during warm-ups. When the pre-stretching crescendo of claps wasn’t loud enough, they restarted it. And afterward, ever so imperceptibly, was that a shaft of light shining on a small patch of gauze wrapped around a finger?
Because John David Booty, starting quarterback and preseason Heisman Trophy candidate, plans on throwing Tuesday, fractured middle finger and all.
“If I’m throwing, I’m going to play [Saturday at Notre Dame],” Booty said. “That’s where I’m at in my mind. That’s where I have to be. It’s coach’s decision, not mine. But if I can throw and be effective, then I want to play.”
It actually won’t be that straightforward, but it’s something for USC, given that the Men of Troy have become the Men of Triage. In fact, though the underlying reasons may be different, the Trojans’ opponent this week can sympathize with the issues at hand.
Quarterback issues? Offensive line questions? A bit of disconnect with preseason expectations? It’s the litany that has led to a rash of facial tics a couple of thousand miles away in South Bend, Ind.
“I know it looks like we’re struggling with injuries and stuff like that, but we’ve got guys coming back too,” Trojans coach Pete Carroll said. “We’re going to keep on moving through it, just like we have.”
There is a central difference with Notre Dame, of course: But for a galling, historical upset loss to Stanford two weekends ago, USC is winning through its travails, 5-1 entering the weekend.
Then again, the latest triumph was by seven points, at home, against middling Arizona, with Booty sidelined and first-time starter Mark Sanchez throwing two interceptions before recovering with a key late scoring pass. USC managed just 276 yards of offense, its worst showing since 2004.
For all the attendant pressures in his situation, Sanchez looked like a 6-year-old Monday, merrily bounding around the practice field, playing one-handed pitch-and-catch with teammates. Booty, meanwhile, idled and gnawed a mouthful of chaw to soothe his edginess.
“Oh, man, I can’t stand it,” Booty said of the lack of action. “It drove me crazy Saturday.”
Carroll said Sanchez would begin practice Tuesday as the No. 1 quarterback, putting Booty on a wait-and-see plan. The same goes for an offensive line that is banged up like a demolition derby car is dinged.
Of the line starters in the season opener, two could be classified as healthy this week. Center Matt Spanos tore his triceps in the preseason, returned, but now plays with a handful of stitches. Kristofer O’Dowd, the original replacement at center, dislocated a kneecap. On Saturday against Arizona, All-American tackle Sam Baker (hamstring) and guard Zack Heberer (shoulder) were casualties.
After tweaking his hamstring in the second quarter Saturday, Baker’s replacement would have been sophomore Charles Brown … except Brown was already out for the game with an ankle injury. “I’ve never seen anything like this,” Baker said.
The Trojans have allowed just 10 sacks in six games, though seven of those have come in the last two weeks. At any rate, Carroll won’t even bother to worry about the unit’s cohesiveness. He’s more concerned with its existence.
“We’re just trying to get guys out there right now,” Carroll said. “They’ve been such a small group anyway that they’ve all rotated [in] and played and stuff. You’d like to have all of that continuity, but we’re not even in that mode.”
Maybe it will be Booty at quarterback against the Irish, maybe it will be Sanchez. Maybe the Trojans will have their fifth offensive line combination in seven games.
They leave for South Bend on Thursday, and what USC looks like after that is really anyone’s guess.
“On we go,” Carroll said.
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bchamilton@tribune.com
