University Southern California Trojans
USC Names No. 1 Quarterback
June 21, 1999 | Football
April 14, 1998
LOS ANGELES--Sophomore Mike Van Raaphorst has won the No. 1 quarterback job at USC for the rest of spring football practice and entering fall drills, new head football coach Paul Hackett announced today.
Hackett said that Van Raaphorst will get half of the snaps during the remainder of spring practice, which ends April 25, while juniors John Fox and Quincy Woods will share the other half of the snaps. "The whole competition has been very close from the beginning, but we picked Mike because of his grasp of what we're doing and the way he has handled things," said Hackett. "Now we'll see how Mike responds and how the others respond.
"Certainly, this could carry over into the fall, but it will depend on how the rest of spring practice goes and on how the new freshmen (Carson Palmer and Jason Thomas) do when they arrive in the fall. "So for now, that's where it is. Where it goes, I can't tell you. We've got to keep an open mind."
Said Van Raaphorst: "In my mind, it's far from over. I've just got to keep working hard and getting better. I'm happy with what has been going on in the spring, but I see lots of things I need to improve on, mostly fundamental things. But already today it felt easier getting into a rhythm than when all three of us were trading off snaps."
Van Raaphorst appeared in 5 games last fall, including starting twice in the middle of the season, before an ankle sprain sidelined him for USC's final 2 contests. Overall, he completed 21-of-46 passes (45.7%) for 218 yards and a TD with 2 interceptions. His older brother, Jeff, was a record-setting quarterback at Arizona State who was the MVP of the 1987 Rose Bowl, while his father, Dick, was a kicker at Ohio State and then with the San Diego Chargers in the 1960s and another brother, Bill, was an offensive lineman at San Diego State in the mid-1990s. Fox started 9 times in 1997, completing 153-of-280 passes (54.6%) for 1940 yards and 12 TDs with 8 interceptions. He already ranks 15th on USC's career passing list. Woods appeared as a reserve in 5 games last season, hitting 4-of-9 passes (44.4%) for 22 yards and 1 interception.
USC opens its 1998 season on Aug. 30 in the Pigskin Classic against Purdue in the Coliseum.
