Hackett Concerned About Heat

USC has been trying to emphasize conditioning and in-season weightlifting under new Coach Paul Hackett, and the first test is Sunday--when temperatures during the 11:30 a.m. game against Purdue might reach 100 degrees in the Coliseum.

“I think we’re in shape,” said Hackett, who was troubled by the late-game letdowns he saw in last season’s game tapes. “We’ll only know in the fourth quarter if the heat wears us down. We’ll have to play a bunch of people, particularly on the defensive side.”

A couple of offensive players who are clearly in better shape are right guard Travis Claridge and tailback Malaefou MacKenzie, who’ll share time behind Chad Morton. Each has lost about 20 pounds.

One question in Hackett’s mind is how the Trojans will acclimate to the heat, after getting a bit of a break practicing in the coastal climate at Irvine.

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Cornerback Daylon McCutcheon didn’t take part in USC’s light practice Friday because he hasn’t been feeling well, but is expected to be fine for Sunday.

“I’m OK,” said McCutcheon, who believes he has been bothered by allergies. “Honestly, about the whole time we’ve been [in Irvine], I’ve been kind of sick. It’s nothing big. This just gives me a day’s rest. I haven’t been sleeping well, and my eyes have been swollen. Oh, yeah, I’ll play. I’ll start, without a doubt.”

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Captains for the Purdue game are safety Rashard Cook, receiver Billy Miller, kicker Adam Abrams and scout team linebacker Rocky Seto.