Team Honors Senior Players

USC underclassmen lined up at the end of practice on Monday and formed a tunnel for seniors to run though as they made their final exit from Howard Jones Field.

The traditional send-off followed a midfield meeting during which Coach Pete Carroll acknowledged the seniors’ contributions to restoring the Trojans to national prominence.

“There will never be another class like them that started this thing off and took it to this level,” Carroll said.

Today, the top-ranked Trojans leave for Miami where they will play No. 2 Oklahoma in the Orange Bowl on Jan. 4 at Pro Player Stadium.

“The real part that’s changed in Trojan football has been out here on this practice field,” said senior defensive lineman Shaun Cody.

Cornerback Kevin Arbet, a sixth-year senior who sat out most of two seasons because of foot problems, said he would miss the camaraderie he enjoyed within the practice complex gates.

“I’m kind of sad,” he said. “I’ve been here so long, it’s going to be a hard adjustment.”

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Cody and tight end Alex Holmes have motivation for playing at Pro Player Stadium.

Cody could not play in the 2003 Orange Bowl against Iowa because of a knee injury.

“This time, I get to be part of the action,” Cody said. “Instead of watching the halftime show, I’ll be in the locker room, so that should be better too.”

Holmes caught three passes for 27 yards against Iowa, but suffered a back injury on a pass play that forced him to redshirt in 2003.

“I’m going back to the scene of the crime,” Holmes said. “I’m sure I’ll go check out that spot where I got hurt during the walkthrough.”

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Several out-of-state players said they were happy to return to Southern California after visiting family during the Christmas break.

Tight ends Dominique Byrd and Nick Vanderboom, for example, left behind sub-zero conditions in Minneapolis. “It was minus-6 when we landed,” Vanderboom said.

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Junior punter Tom Malone said he would wait until after the Orange Bowl to decide whether to turn pro. Malone graduated from high school a semester early to enroll at USC in the spring of 2002. He is just a few units short of earning his degree in political science.... Running back LenDale White (high ankle sprain) performed a few light agility drills and will practice Wednesday. Defensive lineman Manuel Wright (high ankle sprain) also did some light drills with trainers.... Carroll said no players would miss the Orange Bowl trip because of academic issues. Freshman tight end Fred Davis again missed practice on the day following a break. Asked if any players would not make the trip for disciplinary reasons, Carroll said, “As of right now, everybody is going.”