Holt set up game and switched sides

It sounded like a great idea at the time.

As far as Nick Holt is concerned, it remains so.

Holt was in his second year as head coach at Idaho in 2005 when USC athletic administrators called and asked whether the Vandals would like to play the Trojans this season.

“I thought it was a great opportunity for Idaho,” said Holt, USC’s linebackers coach from 2001 to 2003. “Instead of traveling to the SEC or the Big East for a money game, why not just come down with an easy plane ride to a place we recruit, and play in the Coliseum. It was a no-brainer.”

Holt, however, left Idaho after the 2005 season. He had accepted a job as an assistant with the St. Louis Rams before USC Coach Pete Carroll persuaded him to rejoin the Trojans’ staff as defensive coordinator.

“Who would have ever known I would be back?” Holt said. “I didn’t foresee that, but life works in mysterious ways.”

Dennis Erickson succeeded Holt at Idaho but has since become head coach at Arizona State.

On Saturday, first-year Idaho Coach Robb Akey and his team will face the top-ranked Trojans, who are six-touchdown favorites.

The following week, the Vandals play Cal Poly San Luis Obispo.

Holt said Idaho players would look forward to playing the Trojans.

“Who gets a chance as a college football player to play the best team in the country in one of the best venues in the country?” Holt said. “I’m sure their kids are as excited as heck at playing USC.”

USC’s depth chart for Idaho features no real surprises, though a few starting positions have yet to be determined.

Chauncey Washington, C.J. Gable, Stafon Johnson, Allen Bradford and Broderick Green are listed as possible starters at tailback. Washington, however, is doubtful because of a shoulder sprain.

Other undetermined spots: Charles Brown, Drew Radovich or Thomas Herring at right offensive tackle; Kyle Moore or Everson Griffen at one defensive end; Josh Pinkard or Cary Harris at cornerback.

Sophomore Averell Spicer is on track to have an expanded role in the defensive-line rotation after a productive training camp.

Spicer, 6 feet 2 and 290 pounds, backs up nose tackle Sedrick Ellis.

“He’s really come alive as a pass rusher,” Carroll said.

Spicer was a dominating defensive end at Rancho Cucamonga High and played in seven games last season as a redshirt freshman. He said he was finally feeling comfortable playing in the interior.

“I’ve been doing it for a while now and I know my stuff,” he said. “Nose guard is a lot different than anything I did in high school. At nose guard you’re guaranteed to take two hits every play.”

USC resumes practice today after taking Sunday off. . . . Carroll has said freshman running back Joe McKnight would try to practice this week in an attempt to be ready for the opener. McKnight has missed 10 days because of a stretched knee ligament.

--

gary.klein@latimes.com