Fox Not Prone to Mistakes

John Fox, the choice at quarterback today as USC searches for a victory, has a 5-4 record as the Trojans’ starter.

He will be making his first start since the 1997 UCLA game, when he passed for 258 yards with two touchdowns and two interceptions in a 31-24 loss, connecting with R. Jay Soward for an 80-yard touchdown on USC’s first play from scrimmage.

Fox’s best performance in terms of passing yardage was a 355-yard game against Nevada Las Vegas in 1997, and his best victory was at Notre Dame the same season, 20-17.

His debut as starter came in USC’s 14-7 loss to Florida State in the 1997 opener.

And here’s a statistic that probably appeals to USC coaches after Mike Van Raaphorst’s struggles with turnovers: Fox once had a streak of 90 passes without an interception.

Often forgotten is that Fox was slowed because of an ankle injury much of that season, particularly because he was stoic about it, denying it was a factor although those close to him recall he was in considerable pain.

“It affected him quite a bit,” offensive coordinator Hue Jackson said. “The first two games, he played extremely well. Then the injury slowed him down. He couldn’t plant his foot.”

Van Raaphorst bumped Fox from the starting job after seven games, going 1-1 before an ankle injury sidelined him for the season and Fox returned for the final two games.

Van Raaphorst has a 7-8 record as USC’s starter, but is only 1-4 this season since replacing Carson Palmer.

Palmer, out since breaking his collarbone against Oregon, is 5-3 as the starter.

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Soward, who sat out last week’s game because of a strained hamstring, will try to play today. . . . Freshman receiver Kareem Kelly ranks 10th in the nation in receiving yards with 100.25 yards a game. . . . Brent McCaffrey, who has been slowed because of an ankle injury, will start at left tackle, and guard Donta Kendrick also will start. Guard Faaesea Mailo is available, but backup tackle Trevor Roberts is out because of a broken wrist. . . . On the defensive line, Shamsud-Din Abdul-Shaheed will start ahead of Matt Childers.