Turf Draws Mixed Reviews

Top-ranked USC will not depart for Hawaii until next week, but on Thursday the Trojans began to acclimate themselves to the conditions they will encounter at Aloha Stadium.

USC practiced for the first time on the FieldTurf that was installed at the campus track facility last spring.

The surface drew mixed reviews.

“I played on this in high school so it’s regular for me,” running back LenDale White said. “It’s more fun to play on. It ain’t dead and it’s going to be here a long time too.”

Running back Reggie Bush was less enamored.

“It’s going to take some time to get used to playing on it,” he said.

Linebacker Oscar Lua, who returned after missing two days of practice because of an ankle injury, said “everything felt nice and peachy,” and that the artificial surface was easier on his ankles.

“It’s a lot hotter -- a lot of the heat comes up,” he said. “Coach [Pete] Carroll had it soaked to get a little humidity going. It was a little warm out here, but that’s what we expect in Hawaii.”

USC will return to the natural grass at Howard Jones Field today, but Carroll plans to have the Trojans practice on the turf possibly two more times before they leave for Hawaii next Thursday.

“For the skill guys who are running, the footing is a little bit different -- they don’t dig in quite as much as they do on a practice field. So they have to make a few adjustments,” Carroll said. “It’s not an issue at all, but it’s great that we have the opportunity, it’s great to have the facility so that we can get that done.”

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Heisman Trophy-winning quarterback Matt Leinart is escorted off the field each day by a campus security officer who keeps autograph-seekers at bay.

Bush, a Heisman finalist, jokingly complained that he still must run the gantlet.

“I don’t how Leinart gets out of here before me,” he said. “He won the Heisman last year and he gets out of here before me. Get me in the locker room.”

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Most of the starters gave way to younger second- and third-unit players during team drills as the coaching staff continued to assess the readiness of first-year players.

“They all know this is their opportunity to take a step forward,” Carroll said.

Freshman linebacker Rey Maualuga took some repetitions with the first unit and Carroll said linebackers Luthur Brown and Kaluka Maiava also have impressed.

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Senior linebacker Dallas Sartz is listed on the watch list for the Butkus Award, presented annually to the nation’s top linebacker. Chris Claiborne is the only USC player to win the award, in 1998.