Mark Sanchez

With tears in his eyes, a USC student announced that after attending classes for four years and receiving his bachelor's degree, he was leaving campus to pursue his life's work. At which point, his beloved professor publicly scorned him for it. What's wrong with this picture? Nothing, apparently, if you are Pete Carroll. Everything, perhaps, if you are Mark Sanchez.

So what's the pressure on USC's Mark Sanchez going to be like now that he's playing quarterback for the New York Jets? Boomer Esiason can give him a hint. Fifteen years ago after an especially disappointing loss to Miami, Esiason, then the Jets' quarterback, was making the seven-mile drive from the Meadowlands back to Manhattan. While he was slogging through stop-and-go traffic at the entrance to the Lincoln Tunnel, the car next to him was violently rear-ended.

Pete Rose probably wouldn't bet on Derek Jeter's someday supplanting him as baseball's all-time hits leader, but the New York Yankees shortstop is ahead of Rose's record pace. . . . By the way, the Dodgers' all-time hits leader is Hall of Famer Zack Wheat , who played his last game in 1927; the Angels' is Garrett Anderson . . . . The L.A. Dodgers' all-time hits leader is Willie Davis . . . . Andre Ethier's 20th home run in Dodger Stadium this season left him 20 ahead of teammate James Loney . . . . Vladimir Guerrero and the Angels, in the midst of a three-game series at Boston, are the only team in the majors that has drawn fewer than 26,000 fans per game on the road.

There appears to be some confusion out there. Jim Shute e-mails to say, "It will be easier if you [would] just print, 'I HATE USC' in your LA Times articles. It would cut to the chase and get your point across faster." And this from Mauricio Barba : "Your obvious bias in favor of SC football is nothing more than sickening. You take shots at Neuheisel every chance you get while praising Carroll as the greatest coach ever. The funny part is everyone sees through it and it makes you look foolish."

The only surprise about the outcome was the timing, not the decision. Mark Sanchez finished USC's quarterback competition Tuesday in the same place he started it -- as the acknowledged leader. The Trojans still have three spring workouts left, including Saturday's scrimmage at the Coliseum, but the coaching staff did not want to wait any longer in selecting a successor to John David Booty.

After USC coaches tabbed him as the starting quarterback early last week, Mark Sanchez was not about to leave the decision open to summer debate. Sanchez, a fourth-year junior, finished spring practice Saturday by passing for three touchdowns during the Trojans' annual scrimmage at the Coliseum. "I think the team really feels my energy and my confidence, so that will help team morale going into the summer," Sanchez said after the 97-play controlled scrimmage.

CORVALLIS, Ore. -- USC might have lost more than a game Thursday when Oregon State upset the top-ranked Trojans, 27-21, at Reser Stadium. Senior linebacker Rey Maualuga suffered a knee sprain in the fourth quarter and will be examined further today. Junior safety Taylor Mays was forced to leave the game after suffering a chest injury that caused him to cough up blood. Senior linebacker Brian Cushing suffered a broken bone in his hand and guard Zack Heberer suffered a toe injury.

USC quarterback Mark Sanchez suffered a bone bruise in his left knee against Oregon and "has a chance to play" this week against Arizona State, Coach Pete Carroll said Sunday. Sanchez was injured in the third quarter of USC's 44-10 victory when he was sacked by former Mission Viejo High teammate Nick Reed. He left the field for one series but returned and played into the fourth quarter.

After watching practice from the driver's seat of an equipment cart Monday, USC quarterback Mark Sanchez sounded hopeful, if not completely optimistic, that he would be able to play Saturday against Arizona State. "I'd be upset to be on the sideline but very supportive," said Sanchez, who suffered a bone bruise in his left knee against Oregon. "Hopefully, it doesn't come to that."

Two knee injuries, two recoveries. For the second time this season, USC quarterback Mark Sanchez has shaken off a knee injury to remain in the starting lineup for the eighth-ranked Trojans. Sanchez, who overcame a dislocated left kneecap in training camp, showed what is becoming trademark resilience Thursday by completing a full practice five days after suffering a bone bruise in the same knee against Oregon.