Larry Smith to Give USC Football a New Start Today

Larry Smith, USC’s new football coach, will find out what kind of a team he inherited when spring practice begins today.

Smith has 13 starters--7 on offense and 6 on defense--returning from the team that finished with a 7-5 record last season under Ted Tollner.

USC will work out for 20 days until April 17, with a week off for spring vacation.

“I think we’ll have a good team,” Smith said. “On paper, we look like we have good experience returning, particularly at linebacker, quarterback, wide receiver, running back and in the defensive line. Beyond that, I don’t know much about the team yet.”

Two returning starters, quarterback Rodney Peete and flanker Randy Tanner, will split their time between spring practice and baseball.