As Game Nears, Players Say Focus Isn’t Getting Soft

USC reached the halfway point in its Orange Bowl stay, and players said the constant stream of activities has not dulled their preparation for Thursday night’s game against Iowa.

“We’re practicing better than we have all year,” All-American safety Troy Polamalu said after Sunday’s workout. “Everyone is having fun, but we’re keeping our focus.”

The Trojans rode personal watercraft and played volleyball among other activities during an afternoon beach party in Fort Lauderdale. They spent part of the evening at an amusement park.

Kyle Williams, a 6-foot-6, 280-pound freshman lineman who is redshirting, said he enjoyed racing against 6-6, 305-pound tackle Winston Justice on personal watercraft.

“Winston was going so slow, I was just doing circles around him,” Williams said after the players returned to their hotel Sunday night.

Last year, USC played horribly in a 10-6 loss to Utah in the Las Vegas Bowl.

But Coach Pete Carroll blamed the performance on a poor game plan, not distracted players.

Carroll said Sunday’s practice was the best of the week, and praised the Trojans for their concentration.

“They’re doing what they’re supposed to do,” he said.

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Carroll said Iowa’s tall offensive line poses challenges for USC defenders, especially with shifty quarterback Brad Banks operating behind it.

“They’re not the biggest or heaviest, but they’re certainly looming factors,” Carroll said.

“We need to play faster than they do. We need to use our speed.”

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Ed Orgeron, USC’s defensive line coach and recruiting coordinator, said South Carolina Coach Lou Holtz did not speak to him on Saturday regarding the Gamecocks’ defensive coordinator position.

Holtz, who attended practice, has not chosen a defensive coordinator to replace Charlie Strong, who left South Carolina this week to fill the same position at Florida.

“I’m happy here,” Orgeron said. “There’s good things in my future with this program.”

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Receiver Grant Mattos missed part of practice after slightly straining an abdominal muscle.... The Trojans are scheduled to attend tonight’s NBA game between the Miami Heat and Atlanta Hawks.