College Football Report : Weekday Update : USC : Marinovich Battles Flu

Sophomore Todd Marinovich, competing with senior Shane Foley for the starting quarterback position, missed Monday’s practice because of flu, Coach Larry Smith said.

Earlier Monday, Marinovich asked the sports information office not to schedule him for any interviews this week.

Marinovich’s absence Monday will not affect his competition with Foley, Smith said.

“A lot of time on Monday or Friday, I don’t care who the player is, if he’s feeling under the weather, I just tell him to go home,” Smith said. “It’s important (to practice), but I’d rather have them get home and get some rest.”

With the bowl lineup apparently set, eight of USC’s 13 opponents this season are headed for postseason games.

The Trojans are 3-0 against their nonconference opponents that have attracted bowl bids--Syracuse, Penn State and Ohio State--but 0-2-1 against their Pacific 10 Conference foes that will participate in postseason games--Washington, Arizona and California.

Still to come are games against No. 1-ranked Notre Dame at the Coliseum Nov. 24 and against Michigan State in the John Hancock Bowl at El Paso on New Year’s Eve.