USC Seems to Have Special Something

Special teams?

The label hardly seemed adequate Sunday for the kickers and other specialists who played such key roles in USC’s 29-5 victory over Penn State in the Kickoff Classic at Giants Stadium.

On a day when quarterback Carson Palmer showed the rust of a 10-month layoff and the Trojan offense rarely got untracked, “our special teams were sensational,” USC Coach Paul Hackett said.

It was an apt description.

Free safety Frank Strong set the tempo early, blowing through the line untouched to block a punt by David Royer less than three minutes into the game. The ball eventually settled into the arms of Sandy Fletcher, who carried it six yards into the end zone for a touchdown.

Playing in a stadium filled mostly with Penn State fans among the Kickoff Classic record crowd of 78,902, the Trojans were energized.

“It was just electric on the sideline because it was something we talked about in the team meetings,” Hackett said. “We said, ‘Let’s try to block it to start with. Let’s try to surprise them.’ ”

It was a big play, but hardly the last contribution from the special teams:

* David Newbury, a major question mark after missing nine of 20 field-goal attempts last season, was perfect in three attempts--from 47, 27 and 44 yards.

* David Bell put all of his kickoffs into the end zone, and some beyond, leaving Penn State with poor field position.

* Cornerback Kris Richard, in his first game returning punts, ran one back 24 yards in the fourth quarter, setting up Newbury’s last field goal as the Trojans, who last season twice squandered 21-point leads, kept the pressure on the Nittany Lions until the final seconds.

“Great day for the special teams,” said Newbury, vowing that it won’t be the last. “Special teams aren’t going to be responsible for losing games this year. We’re going to be a force.”

Assistant coach Ed Orgeron had emphasized kick blocking during overtime practice sessions throughout camp, and when Penn State lined up to punt for the first time, the extra work paid off.

“I’ve got to give credit to the players,” Orgeron said. “They have worked hard. They came 20 minutes early, and they stayed 10 minutes late, and we put our best players on special teams.”

On Sunday, none came earlier than Strong, who seemed to reach Royer almost before the snap from center Eric Rickenbach.

“As soon as the ball was snapped, I was already going,” Strong said. “I anticipated the snap, and I got there just in time.”

Said Orgeron: “We knew the center was going to block him, and I thought it would be hard for the center to snap the ball and block a quick guy like that. We knew the faster we got off the ball, the harder it was going to be for him to get up and block him.”

The play sparked the Trojans, who built a 23-3 halftime lead, then were reminded during the break that squandering big leads won’t be tolerated this season.

“We came in here, the coaches looked us right in the eye and said, ‘Not this year,’ ” Richard said. “Each player looked each other in the eye and said, ‘Not this year.’

“If we have a strangle on them, as gruesome as it may sound, we have to continue to choke. That’s what winning is about.”

Winning also is about consistency, a trait to which Newbury aspires.

“I want to gain everybody’s confidence around here,” he said, “and let them know that when we cross the 35 we can get three points.

“It really bothered me, looking back on last year. I knew I was better than that. I never had a season that bad. It hurt to read the papers and magazines saying that I should be replaced. It motivated me, and so I tried to have the best game and show my teammates that I’m back.”