27 September 2007 | 12:23 am
Wednesday notes: Galippo may be done for year
The focus in practice on Wednesday was once again on the Trojan linebackers, who have lost another member, perhaps for the season. Here are the latest developments:
- Despite his best efforts to return, CB Cary Harris was not cleared by doctors and is officially out for the Washington game.
- Freshman LB Chris Galippo has an injured back, and it is serious enough that he is definitely out for the Washington game, and will have an MRI on Thursday to determine the severity of the injury, which may necessitate surgery. If he is unable to return this year, he may be eligible to obtain a medical redshirt for this season. Galippo first experienced back pain in high school last season, but it has become much more severe this week.
- Fellow freshman LB Malcolm Smith (hip) has yet to practice this week.
- Thomas Williams seems to be set as the starting strong-side linebacker on Saturday, although injured starter Clay Matthews (shoulder, hand) should also see playing time behind him. Matthews was held out of Wednesday’s practice as a precaution, but should return tomorrow. Keith Rivers had been shifted to SLB earlier in the week, but returned to his normal weak-side position on Wednesday. And if you were still holding out hope that Brian Cushing (ankle) would return soon, note that he will not make the trip to Seattle.
- On the good news front, OL Matt Spanos (triceps) was able to practice Wednesday and will make the trip to Washington if he has no problems during Thursday’s practice. He still needs official clearance from a doctor as well.
- The OC Register remarked on RB Joe McKnight’s impressive practice, noting (and quoting Carroll) that he has looked extra fast this week.
- Pete Carroll had all the players kneel on the field at the conclusion of practice and delivered a rare on-field pep talk/address to the squad.
- You won’t see the Huskies in their usual purple uniforms on Saturday. All Things Trojan reports that Washington will wear throwback uniforms to honor their 1960 team, which won the national championship. Back then, the team wore blue jerseys.
Wednesday Insider: Spanos on the verge (Rivals, $)
Wednesday Practice Report (WeAreSC, $)
Galippo is latest to be hurt (LA Times)
Back injury sidelines Galippo (OC Register)
USC not likely former Notre Dame tight end Reuland’s destination (Daily News)
Cushing could miss more than one game (Daily Trojan)
Uni Wash (All Things Trojan)
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With the injuries to Cushing, Matthews, and Galippo, this seems like a great opportunity for Luther Brown and MIke Morgan, two big time recruits who went through their own injury problems, to finally step up and make things happen. I also really want to see Mozique and Shareece grab their opportunities by the throat because I’ve never been 100% convinced that Cary Harris is the end all at his position. This team needs to get healthy over the next 4 games, which is the least-taxing of the schedule - against Washington, Stanford, Arizona, and Notre Dame, SC should be nothing less than 3 touchdown favorites. The key date for this team to be clicking and hitting on all cylinders is Oct 27 - at Oregon. If the team’s not healed up and humming by that point, it’ll be a tough year.
so says Marc, September 27th, 2007 at 2:05am