With spring practice set to begin in two weeks, USC quarterbacks Mitch Mustain and Mark Sanchez are preparing for what is regarded as the most high-profile position battle in college football. Times reporter Gary Klein spoke with each player about the impending showdown. Today: Mustain, a third-year sophomore who redshirted last season at USC after starting eight games during a controversy-filled 2006 season at Arkansas.

Question:They call this a competition and say it's going to be a competition. Do you view it that way?

Answer: I certainly think I'll get a fair shot, but I don't think it's ridiculous to say that Mark's the leader. For good reason he is. I consider him the leader in the race and I think Aaron [Corp] does and I know the coaches do. But I think it is wide open and I think we'll all get a fair shot at it.

Q: How do you overcome that? If there's a leader, a guy who's been here, what do you think it's going to take to win the job?

A: I definitely have to get better and I have to be consistent in what we do. Know what we do, know how to run it, know how to execute it without making mistakes. I think that will be the biggest thing, if I can continue to improve and be consistent.

Q:If you're consistent and Mark doesn't have a terrible spring, are you prepared for the fact that you may not win the job?

A: Mentally I am. Who knows? It's definitely something coming in a year ago that I accepted. I knew it was going to be a probability and so I prepared myself for that. In that case I'll be the backup and continue to get better. Not hope for the worst for Mark but definitely be ready if my opportunity comes up.

Q: Before you made your decision to come to USC, you cited Matt Cassel and said even USC's backups were successful. You said that if you came out here and did not end up starting it would still be worth it. Do you still feel that way?

A: I think it's set in on me a little more now how hard that is to do -- to be able to sit back for the three years I have left. But at the same time I'd definitely agree with that even more now than I did. I love the school, I've had a great time and I love the program and so I would definitely not have any problem sticking around and continuing to get better and wait for my shot.

Q: Do you feel like you have gotten better?

A: Most certainly.

Q: In what way?

A: Every way. I feel like I've kind of gotten back to my game a little bit and been able to get back into my mind-state without having to deal with everything. And I definitely feel like once we reach the field and I'm able to kind of roll with my mistakes and roll with the punches and not have to evaluate so much I'll be able to just play and learn. I'll be even better off.

Q: What's your relationship like with Mark?

A: I haven't sensed any animosity. I think we get along fine. He's helped me picking up the game, learning the play sheet, so I don't have any animosity for him and I haven't sensed any from him. And so I think it's been fine.

Q: What did you learn from watching John David Booty last year? What do you take from what he went through?

A: He had a rough year, for certain, and you know a lot of it I think was out of his control. Any time you have an injury that affects you like that does it's going to be tough. . . . I think a lot of people were kind of ready for Mark anyway and so I can't imagine having that pressure on myself. The biggest thing I take is just the way he rolled with it. And I think he did a great job just keeping his mouth shut and to keep on playing. And to finish the way he did was awesome. I was impressed watching the Rose Bowl and thinking back on the year he had. Just how he finished, kept his attitude. He didn't change at all during that whole time. He talked the same, he acted the same, he treated everybody the same and I know that was tough for him. If I put myself in his shoes it would be hard to deal with.

Q: How are you able to show leadership and assume that role on the team?

A: I've definitely been more vocal. I wasn't during the season just because it really wasn't my spot. I was just kind of sitting back, hiding and really just trying to develop relationships with the other guys. Now I'm kind of able to step up and be a little more vocal having the experience that I do. It was at a different school but I have it. And so it's enabled me to kind of step up. Not in the sense that Mark has. He's definitely, like I said, the guy that's going to get us organized in practice and stuff like that. But to be able to know what's going on to be able to vocalize that and get people where they need to be.

Q: What do you think is Mark's best attribute?