New Seating System to Debut

In response to a dangerous situation at USC’s first home football game, school officials will implement a revised system for student entry into the Coliseum for today’s game against Washington.

The student entrance at Gate 28, located on the Northeast side of the stadium, will open 2 1/2 hours before kickoff. There also will be more security personnel and a larger entryway to a series of wider switchback chutes that lead to the gate, said John Henderson, assistant athletic director of game management.

USC adopted the changes in the aftermath of the Sept. 16 game against Nebraska. USC had sold 12,000 spirit cards, which allow entrance and non-reserved general admission seating to various sporting events, but reduced the number of student seats from 12,000 to 8,000. Fearing they would not get in, more than 9,000 card-holders jammed the entrance to Gate 28, creating a crush of bodies. There were reports of minor injuries and at least one arrest.

USC announced last week that it will change its student ticket policy for next season and make reserved season tickets available to all undergraduates.

The school also increased student-ticket seating for this season to 9,200.

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Will Collins is hoping for smoother snapping after the Trojans narrowly avoided a potential game-altering mistake last week at Washington State.

On USC’s final possession, punter Greg Woidneck leaped high for a ball that might have bounced into the end zone if he had been unable to grab it.

“I started analyzing it and thought to myself, ‘You know, I’ve got to control this one,’ ” said Collins, a junior from Laguna Beach. “I tried too hard for it to be perfect. It came out of my hands and I was like, ‘Uh-oh.’ I thought I had launched it.

” ... The guy made an amazing catch. I love the kid.”

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Today’s game is one of only two early afternoon games USC will play in the regular season.

Quarterback John David Booty welcomes the change.

“Sometimes you get too jacked up early in the morning and you waste a lot of energy during the day sitting in a hotel,” he said. “Now, you just kind of get up and go play.”

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gary.klein@latimes.com

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Keys to the Game

1 Leading men. USC quarterback John David Booty showed last week that he could engineer long drives and come through with clutch throws. He has completed 68% of his passes, with 10 touchdowns and only two interceptions. Washington quarterback Isaiah Stanback is a strong runner and improved passer who produces two-thirds of the Huskies’ yardage each game. He plays behind five offensive linemen who have been on the field for every snap this season.

2 Secondary importance. USC’s cornerbacks and safeties are still smarting from last week’s performance at Washington State, where Alex Brink picked apart the Trojans, who were penalized three times for pass interference. Washington’s receivers are not as formidable, but Sonny Shackelford has caught five touchdown passes. If USC split end Dwayne Jarrett remains sidelined as expected, flanker Steve Smith could have another big game. Washington is ranked last in the Pac-10 in pass defense.

3 Field position. USC has benefited tremendously from Troy Van Blarcom’s kickoffs, most of which have resulted in touchbacks. Van Blarcom suffered a groin strain in practice this week. If the sophomore cannot blast the ball to the end zone, Stanback could have a shorter field to work with. Washington punter Sean Douglas ranks fourth nationally, averaging 46.9 yards a kick.

-- Gary Klein