At Top of Their Game

After an off-season of controversy and upheaval that might rival any in the program’s storied history, USC finally can direct its energy and attention to actually playing a football game.

Tonight, the top-ranked Trojans start their quest for a second consecutive national title when they play Virginia Tech in the Black Coaches Assn. Kickoff Classic at FedEx Field.

Coach Pete Carroll has been looking forward to the matchup since December, when arrangements were completed for the first big game of the 2004 college football season.

“It seems like it’s taken forever to get here,” Carroll said Friday.

USC, ranked No. 1 in both the Associated Press and ESPN/USA Today preseason polls, is a heavy favorite against Virginia Tech, unranked in a regular-season game for the first time since 1998.

USC is trying to become the first school since Nebraska, in 1994 and 1995, to repeat as national champion. The Trojans also hope to join Florida State’s 1999 team as the only squads to go wire to wire atop the AP poll.

Those feats, however, cannot be achieved until January.

“We’re only thinking about one thing -- coming out and playing well against Virginia Tech,” quarterback Matt Leinart said.

Players and coaches welcomed the opportunity to travel across the country after an off-season and training camp characterized by side issues.

Four players affiliated with the 2003 national championship team, including starting offensive lineman Winston Justice, were arrested during a span of about three months after the Trojans had defeated Michigan in the Rose Bowl. Justice was suspended from school for two semesters and is not playing this season.

In February, All-American receiver Mike Williams criticized teammates in the campus newspaper, then left school to turn pro.

Then Whitney Lewis, who was scheduled to start in Williams’ place, was ruled academically ineligible before the start of training camp.

On Aug. 17, Los Angeles police announced an investigation into an alleged sexual assault that may involve a member or members of the team.

The next day, Carroll suspended running back Hershel Dennis for violating team rules. And on Thursday, just as the team was preparing to leave for the airport, the NCAA informed USC that it had rejected Williams’ bid to regain eligibility.

Friday, after the Trojans had completed a short, spirited practice at the University of Maryland, Carroll said the most recent events had not distracted his players.

“We worked through it, dealt with everything and we’re ready to go,” Carroll said.

USC faces a Virginia Tech team coming off an 8-5 season, which included a victory over then-No. 2 Miami and a loss to California in the Insight Bowl.

The Hokies, in the their first season in the Atlantic Coast Conference, feature quarterback Bryan Randall and have been known for opportunistic special teams during Coach Frank Beamer’s 17 seasons.

“They do all kinds of crazy things and they block a lot of kicks,” USC defensive tackle Shaun Cody said. “If we play our game, hold them down on defense and move the ball on offense, we should be fine.”

Virginia Tech fans are expected to fill most of sold-out FedEx Field, where the Washington Redskins play their home games, but the Trojans have recent experience dealing with large, hostile crowds in openers. Last season, they traveled to Auburn and shut out the Tigers, 23-0, in Leinart’s first game as the starter.

Tonight, the questions surrounding the Trojans include an inexperienced receiving corps and a new offensive line.

Sophomore Chris McFoy will start at receiver in Williams’ spot, with freshman Dwayne Jarrett his backup.

“All of these guys have been coming along -- they just need a chance to go out there and show what they can do,” said sophomore flanker Steve Smith, who caught 17 passes and scored two touchdowns last season.

Beamer did not sound too excited about the Hokies’ prospects against the Trojans when he spoke to reporters during a conference call this week.

“I think this is such a talented team that the numbers change but the ability stays about the same,” he said. “You know you’re going to have great players across from you, whomever is in there.”