Trojans Expect Difficult Travel

If air travelers are being asked to arrive as early as three hours before departure to get themselves and their baggage through tighter airport security checks, imagine what it’s like for dozens of football players and their equipment.

On a normal Friday before a road game, USC practices at midday, then leaves campus by bus 40 minutes before departure time. The bus drives through a back gate at Los Angeles International Airport, crosses the tarmac and pulls right up to a chartered plane.

“I’m not sure they’re going to let us do that now,” spokesman Tim Tessalone said.

On Monday, while the team did not practice, the athletic department was busy contacting airport and airline officials for information on how to get 60 players, 15 coaches, trainers, equipment managers, administrators and various boosters on board a flight to Eugene, Ore., later this week.

They might heed the experience of the New York Mets, who had to arrive hours before their flight for a Monday game in Pittsburgh.

At the same time, tailback Malaefou MacKenzie was dealing with his own travel plans. His father died last week, but the senior has not been able to get to Samoa for services. He ultimately arranged a flight for today.

MacKenzie, who missed the first two games of the season with a knee injury, is not expected to be with the team this week.

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The re-sodded turf at Howard Jones Field is expected to be ready today, so USC players will return to their practice environs after a less-than-satisfactory visit to adjacent Cromwell Field on Sunday.

Coach Pete Carroll scheduled a night practice to get his players ready for the 7:15 p.m. kickoff at Oregon but didn’t count on difficult lighting at the track facility. There were dropped passes and players squinting.

“It’s really tough to see the ball,” quarterback Carson Palmer said. “For some reason, the reflection is kind of weird out here and there’s a little bit of a fog, so I think guys are having trouble.”

More lighting was added to Howard Jones Field last season.

The turf needed work because the Trojans spent summer training on campus rather than at UC Irvine.

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First, Oregon administrators promoted Joey Harrington for the Heisman Trophy by unfurling a 100-foot poster of the quarterback on a building across from Madison Square Garden in Manhattan. Now there is a green billboard featuring running back Maurice Morris along the 405 Freeway near LAX.

USC players don’t seem offended.

“Nobody really cares about it,” Palmer said. “I guess not a lot of people know about Oregon and their program, so I guess they’re just trying to get some recognition.”