Southern Cal Loses Starting Quarterback to Non-Contact Knee Injury

For all the worrying coaches do about protecting quarterbacks in the offseason and in practices, the fact remains that ~~collision-~~ contact-related injuries aren't nearly as catastrophic as non-contact, plant-grimace-and-collapse injuries.* Sure, you don't want your QB's ribcage caved in, but bones heal quickly and correctly. Torn ligaments, on the other hand, end seasons before they begin.

Pete Carroll was reminded of this duality today, as head QB in charge Mark Sanchez crumpled in a heap during stretching drills and was carted off the field. The AP is using non-specific, CYA terms like "apparent knee injury," but this certainly has all the symptoms of a torn ligament or patellar dislocation.

If it's a dislocated kneecap, that's not so bad; last year, their center Kristoffer O'Dowd suffered the same injury, and he "only" missed four games. ACL tears, of course, are a bit more severe.

For now, USC will turn to Arkansas transfer and former super-recruit Mitch Mustain, who never should have left Metallica. Mustain left Arkansas in the wake of some vague scandal, and did so in such a negative light that programs like Louisville and Oklahoma actually publicly balked on his transfer. But kid can throw, and while USC awaits Sanchez's fate, it's Mitch's game.

And yes, that's right, stretching drills. SbB expresses amazement that there's such a thing as a "carioca" drill in football and links to some Fred Astaire video, but surely I can't be the only one who remembers this drill from high school. It's not that obscure. As stretches go, it's actually kind of fun.

*Giant honking ruin-my-argument exception: Concussions.

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Arkansas running back Michael Smith picks up yardage in the red-white game in Fayetteville, Ark., in this April 26, 2008 photo. Smith is the projected starter for the Razorbacks under new coach Bobby Petrino. (AP Photo/April L. Brown)

Penn State football quarterbacks Paul Cianciolo, left, Pat Devlin, center, and Daryll Clark drop back to throw during practice in State College, Friday, Aug. 8, 2008. (AP Photo/Carolyn Kaster)

Penn State guard Rich Ohrnberger, second from left, reaches out and fixes coach Joe Paterno's hair during team photos in State College, Friday, Aug. 8, 2008. Left is kicker Kevin Kelly (23) and right is Tony Davis (11). (AP Photo/Carolyn Kaster)

Penn State quarterback Daryll Clark (17)throws during practice as quarterback coach Jay Paterno, background right, watches at right during practice in State College, Friday, Aug. 8, 2008. (AP Photo/Carolyn Kaster)

Penn State football coach Joe Paterno scratches his head during a news conference in State College, Friday, Aug. 8, 2008. (AP Photo/Carolyn Kaster)

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