Preparations Begin Amid a Big Chill

With less than two weeks remaining until the Las Vegas Bowl, the USC coaches gave their players a taste of what’s in store against Utah.

The Trojans treated their Friday evening session, marked by chilly winds and a rain-soaked field, as the first day of game week preparations. “We made some mistakes on both sides of the ball like you do when you install a game plan,” Coach Pete Carroll said.

Players said they weren’t given anything too unusual.

“We didn’t really add much,” receiver Keary Colbert said. “We’ll just use all the little things we’ve been doing all season.”

Colbert ran patterns for the entire practice, his first extensive action since he played with sore ankles against UCLA. His left ankle remains tender, wrapped in tape and a brace, limiting his movement, but the sophomore said he did not want to miss another day.

“I don’t want to wing it when the game comes,” he said. “I want to know the plays and I want to know what I can do if I’m playing in pain.”

Offensive lineman Norm Katnik and defensive tackle Shaun Cody, both with injured knees, also practiced, although Cody worked only sparingly. Both players expect to be ready by Christmas Day.

The process of putting a game plan in place will continue through two more practices this weekend and into a final scrimmage Monday, Carroll said. The team is scheduled to have a few days off before reconvening in Las Vegas on Thursday afternoon.

Tailback Sultan McCullough, who has been running this week, did not want to take a chance on injuring his surgically repaired abdominal muscles in the cold weather Friday. McCullough is slowly regaining strength after being out of action since midseason. Still, he refused to extinguish a slim hope of recuperating in time for the bowl game.

“Anything can happen,” he said. “The sooner the better.”

But Carroll said the junior is not expected to play. Cornerback Chris Cash, who suffered a broken kneecap late in the season, has been ruled out.