Hackett Points Finger at Upperclassmen

USC Coach Paul Hackett, saying “I don’t have any answers about what happened at Notre Dame,” pointed a finger at the Trojan upperclassmen Tuesday in what seemed a risky attempt to resolve USC’s problems.

“We have some veteran players and some senior players who, quite frankly, at this point, are playing at a level that will not allow us to be a true contender in the conference,” Hackett said.

“I mean, we are just not getting the type of performances out of some of the older players that we need to get. That’s the thing that is most disturbing, and that’s the thing that needs to turn around if we’re going to have the kind of year that we think we are capable of having.

“Once again, it’s not that it’s bad, it’s just that it’s inconsistent. For a young player to be inconsistent is one thing. But for an older player, a veteran, senior-type player, [they should be more consistent.]

“That’s about the only thing, after looking at it, I can really come up with.”

Not everyone is buying it.

“I don’t agree with that,” said receiver Windrell Hayes, one of only five senior starters. (R. Jay Soward, Travis Claridge, Chad Morton and David Gibson are the others.) “Everybody has to step up their game, whether you’re an upperclassman or a freshman.

“I take offense at that because I am on the field with those players. I know how hard everyone is going. You don’t go out to mess up. I take offense to it, and I’m pretty sure some of the team does too.”

Linebacker Markus Steele, a junior, was one who didn’t.

“It’s a fair statement,” he said. “I figure the upperclassmen should want to win more than anybody. . . . The upperclassmen should be leaders.”

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The most recent medical evaluation on Carson Palmer’s broken collarbone was “very good,” Hackett said, and under an ideal healing schedule he could begin throwing in three weeks, though a decision on redshirting still must be made. . . . Frank Strong , whose playing time at tailback had been limited because of fumbles, has moved to safety. “Anything for the team, especially right now,” Strong said. . . . Tuesday’s practice had the flavor of training camp, with a grueling conditioning session of “up-downs” at the end. “We’ve lost three games in the fourth quarter. We ain’t gonna lose any more in the fourth quarter,” said Hackett, who has closed practice today and Thursday to the media. . . . Sophomore safety DeShaun Hill, out with back problems, has become a redshirt candidate.