Oregon finally makes return to the Coliseum

It’s been awhile, just over six years to be exact, since Oregon last played USC at the Coliseum.

The Trojans were the home team in 2000, but then began an Oregon odyssey because of Pacific 10 Conference scheduling quirks.

USC traveled to Eugene, Ore., in 2001 and 2002, did not play the Ducks in 2003 and 2004, and played at Eugene last season.

On Saturday, seventh-ranked USC will finally play Oregon again on its home turf.

“I’m sure it will be kind of fun for them,” Coach Pete Carroll said Tuesday. “It obviously is nice to not have to go up there so we are pleased that this matchup has finally turned around and we get to play these guys at our place.”

No. 21 Oregon has 41 Californians on its roster, including receiver Jaison Williams from Culver City High, defensive end Darius Sanders (Lynwood High), receiver James Finley (Manual Arts), running back Jeremiah Johnson (Dorsey) and linebacker A.J. Tuitele (Wilmington Banning).

Oregon Coach Mike Bellotti said many of his players watched games at the Coliseum or played there in high school, but none have played for the Ducks in the historic stadium.

“We will walk the field, I will show them it’s 100 yards, has goalposts at both ends, hash marks and all that stuff just to try and take away some of the mystique of it,” Bellotti said.

Oregon can derail the Trojans’ Rose Bowl and Bowl Championship Series title-game hopes with a victory. The Ducks also aim to gain on the recruiting front in Southern California.

“It is the best hotbed of college football talent in the nation, we all know that, we all recruit there, so obviously any opportunity to win there, especially against SC or UCLA, is going to make a difference to kids,” Bellotti said. “We are also on national television so that kind of opportunity will resound.”

*

USC’s John David Booty has passed for 19 touchdowns with five interceptions and is averaging a conference-leading 245.8 passing yards a game.

On Tuesday, the fourth-year junior was named a semifinalist for the Davey O’Brien Award, presented annually to the nation’s top quarterback.

“I know this is a great system,” said Booty, who is second in the conference in total offense and passing efficiency. “If you do well in it and just stay in it, the sky is the limit.”

*

Injured fullback Ryan Powdrell last week told The Times that he was heading to the NFL because USC officials informed him the NCAA was unlikely to grant him a sixth year of eligibility.

Injured tailback Hershel Dennis, also a fifth-year senior, is more optimistic about playing for the Trojans in 2007.

Dennis sat out the 2005 season after major knee surgery. He re-injured the knee during spring practice and is sitting out again this season.

“Hopefully, I get the year back,” he said. “My mission doesn’t feel complete without it.”

Dennis, however, will not allow himself to believe his return in inevitable.

“I’m preparing myself every day as if I’m going to the NFL because you never know,” Dennis said.

*

Troy Van Blarcom said he would kick today despite hip and groin soreness. Only one of Van Blarcom’s six kickoffs against Stanford reached the end zone. “I don’t want to say I was overly psyched, I just rushed to the ball,” he said. “For some reason, I couldn’t get myself out of it.” ... Receiver Chris McFoy, who broke bones in his shoulder area against Washington State, is practicing, but he was not cleared to play against Oregon. Fullback Stanley Havili (leg) said he was cleared to return next week.... Linebacker Kaluka Maiava was held out because of back soreness but said he would practice today.

gary.klein@latimes.com