COLLEGE FOOTBALL DAILY REPORT : USC : Injury to McGinest Concerns Smith

USC Coach Larry Smith said the ankle injury suffered by linebacker Willie McGinest two weeks ago against Penn State is similar to the injury that all but ended former Trojan tailback Ricky Ervins’ season in 1990.

Ervins was injured in USC’s fourth game and had only two carries the rest of the season.

“They keep telling me, ‘Two or three weeks,’ ” Smith said of McGinest’s status. “But at this point in time, I’m very pessimistic. When I see him out there sprinting on the sideline, then I’ll know we’re pretty close. Then I’ll become an optimist.”

McGinest did not play in last Saturday’s 32-25 loss to Arizona State and is listed as doubtful for Saturday’s game against Oregon at Eugene.

Oregon’s Sean Burwell, who led the Pacific 10 with 300 yards rushing after two games, is listed as doubtful for the game because of a sprained ankle. Injured Wednesday in practice, Burwell did not travel with the Ducks to Salt Lake City, where they lost Saturday to Utah, 24-17. . . . Daryle Smith, who led Oregon with six interceptions last season, has been suspended from the team indefinitely by coach Rich Brooks for disciplinary reasons. Smith is a senior from Los Angeles.