Trojans Ready to Come of Age

As they prepared for the start of training camp today, USC football players on Sunday pointed to senior leadership as a key to improving the Trojans’ national profile and bettering last season’s 6-6 finish.

USC, ranked 19th in the USA Today/ESPN coaches’ poll and 20th in the Associated Press media poll, will spend the next three weeks preparing for its Labor Day opener against Auburn at the Coliseum. The Trojans will don full pads for the first time Thursday.

All-American safety Troy Polamalu cited the growth and collective experience of quarterback Carson Palmer, receiver Kareem Kelly and running back Sultan McCullough--all fellow seniors--as a reason for optimism.

“We all know how to be successful,” Polamalu said. “All we need to do now is bring it all together

where we can make our whole team successful. Having

that leadership is a big advantage.”

Experience alone won’t be enough to overcome a schedule regarded as one of the most challenging in the nation. After playing Auburn, the Trojans travel to Colorado and Kansas State before opening their Pacific 10 Conference schedule against Oregon State.

Several players said last season’s performance, including a 10-6 loss to Utah in the Las Vegas Bowl, could work to the Trojans’ advantage.

“We don’t have the right to be cocky,” sophomore defensive lineman Shaun Cody said. “Last year we had a suspect year.

“But I think we’re going to surprise a lot of people. They aren’t going to see us coming and I think that’s where we’re going to sneak up on people.”

Familiarity with second-year Coach Pete Carroll also should aid the Trojans, who have not had a winning season since 1998.

“He expects nothing less than the Rose Bowl from us,” Palmer said.

The main competition during training camp will probably come at running back and cornerback.

Seniors McCullough, Justin Fargas and Malaefou MacKenzie are vying to become the Trojans’ workhorse in the backfield. Last season, USC averaged a conference-worst 87.7 yards a game.

McCullough, who gained 1,163 yards as a sophomore, rushed for 410 yards in the first six games in 2001 but missed the rest of the season because of a strained abdominal muscle. Fargas transferred to USC after three seasons at Michigan, redshirted last season and was impressive in spring drills. The NCAA granted MacKenzie a rare sixth year of eligibility after injuries and the death of his father wiped out his 2001 season.

“I’m not concerned about the competition between us,” Fargas said. “We’re trying to get better as a group. As long as we push each other, we’re all going to help with our main focus--winning.”

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Junior Marcell Allmond, attempting to make the switch from receiver to quarterback, is nursing a calf injury suffered during a workout. Allmond also is having soreness after being struck by a car last week, Carroll said.... Sophomore offensive lineman Joe McGuire will miss the season while recovering from shoulder surgery. Sophomore defensive lineman A.J. Single will undergo shoulder surgery this week and will miss the season.... Two highly regarded recruits from Long Beach Poly High, safety Darnell Bing and defensive tackle Manuel Wright, did not qualify for admission to USC.... Junior Sandy Fletcher has switched positions, moving from wide receiver to safety.... Defensive end Austin Jackson and cornerback Justin Tolliver left the team during the off-season.

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*--* Trojan Schedule Date Opponent 9/2 Auburn 9/14 at Colorado 9/21 at Kansas St 9/28 Oregon St 10/5 at Wash. St 10/12 California 10/19 Washington 10/26 at Oregon 11/9 at Stanford 11/16 Arizona St 11/23 at UCLA 11/30 Notre Dame

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