STARTING POINT

The USC defense spent the last few nights watching horror films--otherwise known as highlights of Penn State quarterback Rashard Casey.

Casey running left, reversing field and outracing the Indiana defense for a 31-yard touchdown. Casey avoiding four tacklers, spinning twice and going 34 yards for a score against Illinois.

These alarming scenes gave pause to a group of USC defensive linemen and linebackers who usually like to think of themselves as fearless.

“With Casey you can’t go flying in there,” linebacker Markus Steele said. “You can’t go in there loose because, if he gets outside, it’s a chase.”

The outcome of today’s Kickoff Classic between No. 15 USC and No. 22 Penn State could pivot on this duel: Can the Trojan defense contain the explosive and improvisational quarterback?

But that’s not the only question in this game. USC quarterback Carson Palmer is playing for the first time in almost a year. The Penn State defense begins the season with nine new starters.

“There’s a lot of uncertainty,” Penn State linebacker Eric Sturdifen said. “I think there will be nervousness on both sides.”

The most clear-cut situation is when Penn State has the ball. The Nittany Lion offense begins with a traditional ground game and tailback Eric McCoo, who led the team in rushing the last two seasons.

“The coaches don’t let us forget that,” Steele said. “We have to stop the run.”

Casey adds a quick-strike factor. In addition to his scrambling, he led the Big Ten Conference in passing efficiency last season and spent the summer working on that aspect of his game.

“He’s more patient in the pocket and he’s reading coverages better,” Penn State Coach Joe Paterno said. “There are going to be times when he should run, and he has the ability to take off and hurt people. But he’s not anxious to do that anymore.”

USC answers with a defense that hopes it is a year wiser, and tougher, than the squad that blew 21-point leads in two games last season. The front seven is stocked with seniors such as Steele, middle linebacker Zeke Moreno and tackle Ennis Davis.

They know what they must do: Plug the middle against McCoo, limit Casey’s long gains and provide enough of a rush to support a somewhat less-experienced secondary.

When USC has the ball, the scenario is less evident.

Palmer expects to be a little nervous after sitting out most of 1999 because of a broken collarbone. Hackett would love to take the pressure off him by sticking to the ground.

In other words, he would like to play the smash-mouth football for which Penn State is famous.

But the offensive line doesn’t figure to be that dominating, and USC’s best bet may be to use speedy tailback Sultan McCullough and receivers Kareem Kelly and Marcell Allmond to attack the edges of the young Penn State defense.

Last season, the Nittany Lions had the luxury of designing schemes that funneled the ballcarrier toward All-Americans Courtney Brown and LaVar Arrington. But with those two--and seven other starters--gone, Paterno isn’t sure where the strength of his defense lies.

Or if it even has a strength.

“The thing that I am most concerned about is the fact that we have very, very little experience in a lot of key positions,” Paterno said. “If you don’t line up properly or don’t do some things right smack on the money, you are going to get hurt and get hurt big.”

Penn State can only hope that two proven veterans, linemen Justin Kurpeikis and Jimmy Kennedy, will shore up a group of players who were understudies last season.

That’s what Sturdifen means when he talks about the uncertainties of this opening game.

No one knows if USC can play the East Coast’s physical brand of football. No one knows if Penn State will be distracted by Casey’s legal problems--the quarterback faces charges in the beating of an off-duty police officer outside a bar last summer.

And, if the game comes down to a last-second field-goal attempt, neither team has a proven kicker. A scary thought.

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Trojan center Eric Denmon pays no mind to the polls. Page 10

GAME DAY Page 10

(BEGIN TEXT OF INFOBOX / INFOGRAPHIC)

USC BY THE NUMBERS

76-23-8: USC’s record in season openers

2-0: USC’s record in season openers under Paul Hackett

14-11: USC’s record under Hackett

0-1: USC’s record in bowl games under Hackett

4: Years since USC won a conference championship

11: Years since USC finished ranked in the Top 10

USC vs. Penn State

Nittany Lions lead series, 4-3.

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Date Site Result Jan. 1, 1923 Rose Bowl USC 14, Penn State 3 Jan. 1, 1982 Fiesta Bowl, Sun Devil Penn State 26, USC 10 Stadium, Tempe, Ariz. Sept. 15, 1990 Coliseum USC 19, Penn State 14 Sept. 14, 1991 Coliseum USC 21, Penn State 10 Sept. 11, 1993 Beaver Stadium, State Penn State 21, USC 20 College, Pa. Sept. 10, 1994 Beaver Stadium, State Penn State 38, USC 14 College, Pa. Aug. 25, 1996 Kickoff Classic, Giants Penn State 24, USC 7 Stadium, East Rutherford, N.J.

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