Bowl Bid Produces Auxiliary Benefits

Now that the glow from its first shutout victory over UCLA in 54 years has faded a bit, USC is beginning to savor the more tangible benefits of a win that earned the Trojans an invitation to the Dec. 25 Las Vegas Bowl.

USC held its first December practice since 1998 on Saturday, and while veterans and newcomers worked to hone their games, a handful of recruits milled about Howard Jones Field, getting another look at the Trojans’ operation.

“It’s a tremendous asset to us,” USC Coach Pete Carroll said. “We continue to develop and have time to give more turns to our younger players. It’s also great for our recruiting. We have recruits out here seeing how we coach and what it looks like and giving them a great feel for what they’re getting involved with here.

“It just keeps the good energy about the season going.”

Said quarterback Carson Palmer: “We’ve missed it for a couple of years in a row, but it feels good to get back out here and get working again. I’m new in this offense and it gives me kind of like another spring ball to get more comfortable with it.”

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Reserve tailback Darryl Poston, whose injured knee kept him out of the 27-0 victory over UCLA, practiced Saturday and should be available for the Las Vegas Bowl. ....Tailback Sultan McCullough, who has missed the Trojans’ last five games with a strained abdominal muscle, is scheduled to begin a six-to eight-week rehabilitation process next week.... Carroll said Trojan coaches will install theirgame plan for Utah next week.