Coaches Working to Keep Trojans Sharp During Layoff

USC holds its final on-campus practice today with a short scrimmage meant to give the players up-tempo work before they leave for the Las Vegas Bowl later in the week.

“A fake game,” Coach Pete Carroll called it. “They’ll get juiced up and ready to play.”

The team will run about 40 plays in full pads during a session that was postponed until the late afternoon because several players have final exams during the day.

Such scrimmages represent only one of the methods coaches have employed to keep the team focused during the month between the season finale and the Christmas Day bowl game against Utah.

At other times, players have been warned that practices will be videotaped with the camera zeroing in on mini-competitions. Anyone who gets badly beaten or fails to give a full effort may find himself on the big screen in meetings the next day.

“We want to make them get the juices flowing,” Carroll said. “We see who’s winning the one-on-ones.”

On days such as Sunday, when the team practiced in shoulder pads and shorts, assistants such as Kennedy Pola work to boost the intensity.

With numerous high school recruits watching from the sideline, the special teams coach was his usual vociferous self, getting after his players on punt coverage and kickoff return drills. Even though kicker David Davis made a long field goal at the end of the afternoon, Pola shook his head afterward.

“They’re taking pride in what they do,” he said. “They’ve just got to do it better.”

The extra practices afforded by the Las Vegas Bowl give Pola a chance not only to push his players but also to experiment with reserves who might be used on special teams now or in the future.

There was some shuffling Sunday because of an illness suffered by punter Mike MacGillivray, who showed up for meetings but could not make it onto the field. The reserve punters took their turns and reserve quarterback Matt Leinart substituted for MacGillivray as holder on placekicks.

“We used some of the kids,” Pola said. “I’m just looking for try-hard guys.”

After practice, the team had its annual awards banquet. Safety Troy Polamalu was named most valuable player. Jacob Rogers and Lonnie Ford won for best offensive and defensive lineman, respectively. Fullback Charlie Landrigan and defensive back Antuan Simmons shared the award for most inspirational player.