Lua, Maualuga Still Wait for Decision From Carroll

The suspense, apparently, was getting to Oscar Lua.

The fifth-year senior started 11 games for USC at middle linebacker last season and led the Trojans in tackles. But since spring practice, he has been locked in a battle with sophomore Rey Maualuga.

With the Sept. 2 opener against Arkansas nearing, Lua requested a meeting with Coach Pete Carroll after Thursday’s practice.

“I just wanted to see where I stood,” Lua said after emerging from Carroll’s office in Heritage Hall. “He just said, ‘Wait it out. It’s not game-time yet.’ ”

Carroll said throughout spring practice and training camp that Lua and Maualuga would play this season. Lua, who overcame two knee surgeries, is the trusted veteran who knows the defense and all of the calls. Maualuga, a 6-foot-3, 250-pound sophomore, is less experienced but has taken most of the first-unit snaps the last few weeks.

Lua acknowledged Thursday that his election as a team captain last week made starting even more important.

“A team captain that wouldn’t be starting would be kind of strange,” Lua said. “I have been competing so long and so hard for the position, if I lose it, it’s like getting kicked in the dirt.

“I’ll never stop fighting, though.”

The middle linebacker competition is one of several being waged.

Carroll said he had not decided whether Kevin Thomas or Cary Harris would start opposite Terrell Thomas at cornerback.

“We’ll wait it out till next week,” Carroll said. There’s no reason to make a judgment on that now.”

Carroll said Saturday’s practice would be game situations and the “last big test,” for the freshman running backs who are competing to start the opener.

C.J. Gable, Allen Bradford and Emmanuel Moody have been working with the first-team offense, Stafon Johnson with the scout team. The focus will be on “how well they know their stuff ... do they continue to get our assignments down,” Carroll said.

Kickers Troy Van Blarcom and David Buehler have been competing to handle kickoff duties. Carroll said both would travel for the opener and that a decision would be made in Fayetteville, Ark.

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Ron Barker, the Pacific 10 Conference’s associate commissioner for enforcement, said an investigation into former running back Reggie Bush’s relationship with a fledgling sports marketing company while he was playing for USC was in “a holding pattern” because of threatened lawsuits.

Brian Watkins, an attorney representing the founders of the sports marketing company, has said that he planned to file a civil suit against Bush and his family for $3.2 million. Watkins said Thursday that he was still preparing the suit.

Both sides have been wary of giving investigators information that could be used in court. Anything said to investigators might reach opposing attorneys.

Barker declined to offer specifics about the investigation or a timeline for its completion, but said, “After a period of time goes by, if no lawsuits are filed, I think the NCAA will then make a decision on where it wants to go with this.”

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Carroll said running back Michael Coleman did not practice because he had to attend traffic court.... The Trojans will practice today and Saturday, then take Sunday off.

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Times staff writer David Wharton contributed to this report.