Callahan Is Latest Test of NFL-Tinged Streak

During his five-plus seasons at USC, Pete Carroll is undefeated when matched against opponents coached by other former NFL head coaches or coordinators.

Carroll’s teams defeated those coached by June Jones (Hawaii), John Mackovic (Arizona), Dennis Erickson (Oregon State), Mike Riley (Oregon State), Gary Crowton (Brigham Young) and Charlie Weis (Notre Dame).

Carroll will try to keep his perfect record intact Saturday when USC plays Nebraska, coached by Bill Callahan, in the Trojans’ home opener at the Coliseum. Callahan was the Oakland Raiders’ offensive coordinator from 1998-2001 and head coach in 2002 and 2003. The Raiders went to the Super Bowl in the 2002 season.

Carroll said Sunday that he does not derive extra incentive from going up against former NFL coaches, but he clearly enjoyed last season’s chess match with Weis, which produced one of the most dramatic victories in USC history.

Carroll said he respects the background Callahan brings to Saturday’s matchup.

“He’s going to ask his guys to do real sound fundamental things,” Carroll said. “He’s going to game-plan you real well.

“I’ll have to look real hard at the stuff he would pick up about us and clean it up.”

USC (1-0), which had an open date, dropped one place to No. 4 in the Associated Press media poll but moved up a spot to No. 2 in the coaches’ poll.

Nebraska (2-0), a 56-7 winner over Division I-AA Nicholls State, is ranked 19th in both polls.

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USC’s coaching staff took full advantage of the open date to watch high school players.

“This is a big weekend for us in terms of recruiting,” Lane Kiffin, the Trojans’ offensive coordinator and recruiting coordinator, said last Friday.

NCAA rules prohibit coaches from speaking publicly about recruits until they have signed letters of intent. Carroll said he also watched parts of the Penn State-Notre Dame and Ohio State-Texas games as well as those involving Mississippi, Oregon, Syracuse and UCLA.

Carroll also watched Reggie Bush’s first regular-season game with the New Orleans Saints. The Heisman Trophy winner had 141 total yards in a season-opening victory over the Cleveland Browns on Sunday. He rushed for 61 yards in 14 carries, caught eight passes for 58 yards and returned three punts for 22 yards.

“He was all over the place, they used him just right,” Carroll said.

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The Trojans have several pending injury issues that could affect the lineup against Nebraska. Hoping to return from injuries are middle linebacker Oscar Lua (hamstring strain), cornerback Kevin Thomas (high ankle sprain) and tailback Chauncey Washington (hamstring strain).... No decision has been made about which tailback would work with the scout team this week, according to Carroll. Freshman Stafon Johnson drew the assignment before the opener and did not play against Arkansas. “We might rotate guys,” Carroll said.

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gary.klein@latimes.com