USC Might Add a 12th Game

USC is considering playing host to the Black Coaches Assn. football game Aug. 26 at the Coliseum.

But before the Trojans agree to a 12th game, school officials want to know who the opponent is and if that opponent can be named by next week.

“We’re not opposed to a 12th game,” said Daryl Gross, associate athletic director. “There are definite benefits; we can get more practice time for our new football staff and we can make a minimum of $600,000.

“But we have to be smart about this and do what’s in the best interest of the future of the program. We have the new staff and a team that can have the kind of improvement that people will see at the end of the year. Sometimes you don’t want to take a risk in the beginning if it doesn’t make sense.”

Mike Flanigan of the Princeton, N.J.-based Gazelle Group, a sports marketing company in charge of organizing the game, said several teams have been contacted “but there’s nothing we can really tell you right now.”

Last year’s BCA game between Georgia Tech and Virginia Tech was postponed because of a lightning storm, then canceled because the schools could not agree on a makeup date.

Besides eight Pacific 10 Conference games and its annual clash with Notre Dame, USC has scheduled San Jose State--for now the season opener Sept. 1--and Kansas State on Sept. 8.