Booty Stays Where He Is

Freshman quarterback John David Booty took the majority of snaps during USC’s bye-week practices, but he was unable to wrest the No. 2 position from junior Matt Cassel, Coach Pete Carroll said Sunday.

“He didn’t take that away from the other guy, but he did well and he benefited from it,” Carroll said after the Trojans returned from a two-day break and completed an evening practice.

USC, which moved up a spot to No. 3 in the Associated Press poll because of Oregon’s upset of Michigan, began preparing for Saturday’s Pacific 10 Conference opener at California. Starting quarterback Matt Leinart got the majority of work, and Cassel, Booty and junior Brandon Hance shared the rest.

Carroll said that Cassel would be the first quarterback off the bench if Leinart were injured or faltered. He did not rule out the possibility of Booty’s ascent to the starting job if Leinart were out for a prolonged period.

“We’re not going to burn a year [of Booty’s eligibility] for a couple of reps, or burn the year to kill the clock at the end of the game,” Carroll said. “But if the situation adjusts, and we have to go on a long-term basis, than we’ll just reevaluate.”

Booty said he was not disappointed.

“I just have to keep working, and who knows?” he said. “There are still a lot of games left. I’m not worried about it.”

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USC’s No. 3 ranking is the Trojans’ highest since late in the 1988 season.... Sophomore fullback Brandon Hancock (high ankle sprain) participated in team drills and will play against Cal, Carroll said.... Senior cornerback Kevin Arbet will have foot surgery today