Knee Injury Ends Season for Dennis

Hershel Dennis’ frustrating season ended Thursday when USC’s junior running back suffered torn ligaments in his left knee during a scrimmage.

Dennis will miss the top-ranked Trojans’ Orange Bowl game against No. 2 Oklahoma on Jan. 4 and is expected to have surgery within a month.

Dennis, 20, started every game in 2003 but lost his place in the tailback rotation during training camp, after he was suspended for nearly a month for violating team rules.

Dennis returned before the Trojans’ third game but played sparingly behind sophomores LenDale White and Reggie Bush. He finished the regular season with 116 yards and one touchdown in 28 carries.

“He’s had such a hard year -- my heart goes out to Hershel,” Coach Pete Carroll said. “Competitively, the other guys on the team made it difficult for him to get back in. And now, to get hurt right at the end, it’s a shame.”

Dennis was injured when he was tackled while running with the ball along the right sideline at Howard Jones Field.

Dennis cried out in anguish on the ground before trainers tended to him and carted him off the field to a hospital.

Though Dennis has not played much, his injury could leave the Trojans potentially short-handed against Oklahoma.

White did not practice this week because of a sprained right ankle.

He said he “definitely feels more urgency,” to return when the Trojans resume practicing on Monday.

“I wanted to cry for him,” White said.

“For everything that he went through this year already.... Now, to have go through this again.”

*

Carroll said Wednesday that Ed Orgeron would not take any USC coaching staff members with him to Mississippi.

But during a Thursday news conference introducing him as the Rebels’ new coach, Orgeron was asked about potential offensive coordinators and he responded, “I have some ideas in mind.... In fact, I was on the phone with him, describing the facilities. He’s at Southern Cal. We should know more in a couple days.”

Receiver coach Lane Kiffin, who was given the title of passing game coordinator before the season, said after practice that he was not leaving USC. “I feel real good about where I’m at and where we’re going,” Kiffin said.

*

Daryl Gross, a senior associate athletic director at USC, will be named athletic director at Syracuse today.... Idaho Coach Nick Holt, who coached linebackers at USC from 2001 to 2003, visited practice.... Carroll stopped practice temporarily to allow Lance Cpl. George Benitez of La Puente to present the Trojans with a guidon from U.S. Marine Corps’ Regimental Combat Team Unit 7 that is in Iraq. The battle flag is inscribed with “Trojans.” ... Starting right guard Fred Matua did not practice because of back spasms, Carroll said. Receiver Jason Mitchell sat out because of a hip strain.