USC football: Lane Kiffin says Trojans must remain physical

USC remains under NCAA sanctions that limit the Trojans to a maximum of 75 scholarship players, 10 fewer than the standard annual limit.

But Coach Lane Kiffin, who will have about 70 scholarship players this season, said the Trojans cannot practice with fear of depleting the roster with injuries.

“We’ve got to play, we’ve got to get physical and we’ve got to tackle,” Kiffin said ____ Thursday’s 102-play scrimmage at the Coliseum. “If things happen, they happen.

“I think we learned our lesson from that last year, of trying to protect ourselves so much. And having that mindset of ‘Oh boy, we got through the day and nobody got hurt.’

“That’s probably not the right mindset to have.”

USC, which finished 7-6 last season, plays its opener Aug. 29 at Hawaii.

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