USC’s O’Hara Hurt During Scrimmage : Starting Quarterback Suffers Torn Ligaments in Right Knee

Pat O’Hara, who waited three years to win the starting quarterback job at USC, might have lost it before the first snap of the season.

O’Hara, a junior, suffered torn ligaments in his right knee in the opening minutes of a scrimmage Friday afternoon at UC Irvine. He was scheduled to undergo arthroscopic surgery this morning to determine the extent of the injury.

No estimates were given for the amount of time O’Hara will be sidelined.

“The worst part is for the kid himself,” Trojan Coach Larry Smith said.

“No matter what our situation is, he’s the guy who worked hard and has been patient. It doesn’t seem fair, but that’s life.”

O’Hara was fading to his left, looking for receiver Marlon Washington, when defenders David Webb and J.P. Sullivan moved in. Offensive lineman Michael Moody, taking on both players, inadvertently blocked Sullivan into O’Hara.

As understudy to Rodney Peete, O’Hara, a junior, had thrown seven passes in his USC career, all last season, completing five.

And he’s the experienced member of the group.

Todd Marinovich, who figured to be the No. 2 quarterback, is a freshman.

The third-string quarterback, junior Shane Foley, has only been on the field as a member of the special teams, with two tackles to show for his efforts.

The other quarterback, Reggie Perry, is also a freshman.

Marinovich will almost certainly be the starter when USC begins its season Sept. 4 against Illinois.

Smith, starting his 14th season at the collegiate level, said he could not remember losing a quarterback so close to an opener.

In Friday’s scrimmage, Marinovich completed 18 of 27 pass attempts for 167 yards, Foley six of 11 for 62 and Perry two of four for 57 yards, including a 47-yard touchdown play to Travis Hannah.