Hackett Ready for ‘What’s My Line?’

The most certain thing about the beginning of the Paul Hackett era at USC is that the Trojans have a football game in less than three weeks. They play Purdue on Aug. 30 in the Pigskin Classic at the Coliseum.

But between the opening of USC’s first training camp today at UC Irvine and the Purdue game, there are a lot of questions to be answered for a team trying to regain respect after back-to-back six-win seasons.

USC has a pretty good idea who its quarterback will be--Mike Van Raaphorst--a fair idea who he might hand the ball to, and a whole lot of questions about who’s going to start on the offensive line.

“Our major job in Irvine is to establish the offensive line,” said Hackett, who might have three new starters on a line that recently lost Joel Sugg, who gave up football because of back problems.

One thing the Trojans won’t have against Purdue is wide receiver R. Jay Soward. Hackett suspended him last spring in part for academic shortcomings, and recently confirmed Soward won’t play in the first game.

“I didn’t really think he was going to go through with it, but I guess he’s very serious,” Soward said. “It gave me a chance to grow up and take care of my responsibilities. I came out with a 3.0. I figured maybe he could have let me play, then I figured he can’t go back on his word.

“I’m very happy with the way things are going. There’s a new attitude, a new outlook on everything.”

That includes jewelry and earrings. An unadorned Soward said they’re no longer allowed.

At quarterback, Van Raaphorst, a sophomore, beat out junior John Fox, last year’s starter for nine games, as well as Quincy Woods in the spring. Now he has to fend off highly touted freshmen Carson Palmer and Jason Thomas--who were both promised a shot at competing for the job but must learn the complex offense--as well as the latest charge by Woods and particularly Fox, who Hackett said had “a spectacular summer.”

At running back, Chad Morton, the junior with the big-time speed, has a leg up on Malaefou MacKenzie, Petros Papadakis, Jabari Jackson and freshmen Sultan McCullough and Frank Strong.

One player missing from camp is wide receiver Windrell Hayes, a recruit who has been facing felony charges in a bad-check scam. Hayes is expected to plead guilty to a reduced misdemeanor charge this week, potentially clearing the way for him to join the team.

Practices at UC Irvine’s Crawford Athletic Complex are open daily through Aug. 22 except for this Saturday and Aug. 19, which are closed practices.