Hackett Will Turn Up Volume

With the forecast calling for scattered showers in Corvallis, Ore., this weekend, USC prepared for its game against Oregon State by practicing with wet footballs on Wednesday.

This afternoon, the Trojans are scheduled to experience another environmental hazard--crowd noise.

Earlier this week, Coach Paul Hackett said he did not plan to put loudspeakers on the practice field because it gave people headaches. But after reading reports of an expected sellout at Reser Stadium, he changed his mind.

“They say it can get noisy so let’s prepare ourselves,” he said. “I’m going to bring [the speakers] out here and crank it up.”

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As if rain and noise weren’t enough, Saturday’s game will mark the only time this season that USC plays on artificial turf. Middle linebacker Zeke Moreno is not looking forward to it.

“It’s fine as far as running,” he said. “But those . . . rug burns.”

Team officials looked throughout Los Angeles for an artificial field on which to practice but found none. Instead, USC will spend a little more time than usual at Reser Stadium on Friday.

“We’ll try to practice at a much higher tempo than we do on a normal Friday because we have to find out how our feet will work on the turf,” Hackett said.

That means Moreno will spend extra time wrapping his knees and elbows.

“You can get scars,” he said.

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It is not clear whether offensive lineman Trevor Roberts and defensive linemen Lonnie Ford and Bernard Riley will be healthy enough to play Saturday, but all three will make the trip.

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Center Eric Denmon and tailback Petros Papadakis were elected offensive team captains in a vote among the players. Lineman Ennis Davis and Moreno will serve as defensive captains.