Smith Signs a Contract Extension : USC: Coach will stay on. His original contract was to expire after this, his fifth season.

Two days before the USC football team will begin practicing for its fifth season under his direction, Larry Smith announced Saturday that he has signed a multi-year contract extension to remain as coach of the Trojans after his original deal expires at the end of this season.

“I’m happy about it,” Smith said. “I feel very good about it, my family feels good about it and I think my (assistant) coaches feel good about it. I hope the players feel good about it.”

In its first four seasons under Smith, USC was 35-12-2, including a 26-3-2 record in Pacific 10 Conference games. The Trojans reached the Rose Bowl in their first three seasons under Smith and were 8-4-1 last season.

Terms of the contract were not released.

Curtis Conway, expected to alternate with Reggie Perry at quarterback, is still reluctant to make the move from wide receiver. He met twice with Smith this summer to discuss the situation.

Said Smith of their most recent meeting: “Curtis told me, ‘Coach, I know the team needs me at quarterback and I’m prepared to go out and practice as a quarterback, but I want to be on the field as much as possible and all I can ask is, ‘If I can handle it, will you let me (play) wide receiver when I’m not playing quarterback?’

“My answer to him was, ‘We will practice and see how it works out. I can’t guarantee it because at the end of two weeks, you may be our best quarterback and that means you could play every play at quarterback.’ ”

Conway, hesitant to make the switch because he says it may hinder his chances of playing professionally, was moved last spring after former USC quarterback Todd Marinovich made himself available for the NFL draft.

He is still expected to return punts and kickoffs.

Trojan Notes

USC will open its season against Memphis State Sept. 2 at the Coliseum. . . . USC will again field a young team. Only six seniors--fullback Scott Lockwood, offensive tackle Michael Moody, offensive guard Derrick Deese, cornerback Calvin Holmes and linebackers Kurt Barber and Matt Gee--are listed as starters.

David Webb has been moved from outside linebacker and is listed No. 1 at defensive tackle. A 6-foot-4, 225-pound junior, Webb is small for a defensive lineman, but Coach Larry Smith said he made the move to give the Trojans more speed. Smith added: “We lined up and voted on our top 11 (defensive players) in the spring and David Webb was one of our top 11.”

David Apolskis, listed No. 2 at offensive guard after moving from center, will miss at least four weeks of practice and may be out for the season after undergoing emergency abdominal surgery last week, Smith said. . . . Reserve offensive tackles Andre Abrams and Keith Siscel will miss the season following shoulder surgery. . . . Reserve fullback Rory Brown, injured in the final scrimmage of spring practice, could return by midseason.

Adam Swaney, a reserve defensive lineman who was with Todd Marinovich last January when the former USC quarterback was arrested in Newport Beach for cocaine possession, has left USC. Swaney was suspended by Smith after being cited for marijuana possession. . . . Joe Barry, a 6-1, 235-pound linebacker from Boulder, Colo., has transferred to USC from Michigan and will retain two years of eligibility after sitting out this season.