COLLEGE FOOTBALL DAILY REPORT : USC : Smith Says Aztecs Got Lucky, Too

USC Coach Larry Smith is not among those who believed that the Trojans were fortunate to escape from their opener with a 31-31 tie against San Diego State--even though Aztec kicker Andy Trakas missed field-goal attempts of 30 and 55 yards in the last 54 seconds.

“No, I didn’t feel lucky to get a tie because there were some things that happened in that game (where) they were lucky to get a tie--even (to) get a damn chance to kick the field goal,” Smith said of the Aztecs. “We didn’t get a single officials’ call in the second half. . . .

“A football game is give and take, both ways. There are breaks for you, breaks against you. We got a lot of breaks against us in the second half. So they missed a couple of field goals. Well, tough. You’ve got to make those. If you don’t, you don’t deserve to win.”

Trakas has a history of missing crucial kicks.

Two years ago, during a 30-28 loss to Miami, he missed three fourth-quarter field-goal attempts. Last season, he missed a fourth-quarter conversion that was the difference in a 21-20 loss to Air Force and, with the Aztecs holding a seven-point lead, he missed a 41-yard field-goal attempt with less than three minutes to play in a 52-52 tie against Brigham Young.

Not equal off the field:

A source said that USC was paid more than $400,000 to play San Diego State in a game that was billed as the Ralph’s Holiday Classic. San Diego State was paid $225,000.