USC expects capacity crowd for game against Hawaii

After a day off for the start of fall semester classes, USC players begin game-week preparations for Hawaii, one of three home games that USC already has announced as sellouts.

Trojans quarterback Matt Barkley expects Saturday’s atmosphere at the Coliseum to be similar to what it was during much of the Pete Carroll era, when the Trojans regularly played before capacity crowds at home and on the road.

“Those are games that I grew up going to,” he said recently. “You look up and everyone’s just rocking.”

Capacity for USC home games is 93,607.

Barkley has played in front of crowds of more than 90,000 four times in his USC career.

As a freshman in 2009, he guided the Trojans to an 18-15 victory over Ohio State in front of 106,033 at Ohio Stadium. The Trojans lost to Stanford, 55-21, in front of 90,071 at the Coliseum.

Last season, the Trojans lost to Stanford in triple overtime, 56-48, in front of 93,607 at the Coliseum. Nearly a month later, USC defeated UCLA, 50-0, in front of 93,607 to end the season.

Barkley is 8-3 in games played in front of capacity crowds.

“I thrive on that atmosphere, when it’s just packed and all eyes are on you and you’ve got to perform,” he said.

Barkley said he remains calm regardless of crowd size.

“I don’t get hyped up as it is,” he said. “I get energized from it. I don’t get overly psyched.”

Walker prepared

Aundrey Walker is ready for the spotlight.

The 6-foot-6, 300-pound sophomore will start at left tackle and try to protect Barkley’s blind side.

Walker succeeds Matt Kalil, the fourth overall pick in the 2012 NFL draft, with the responsibility of keeping secure USC’s most valuable commodity. Last season, Kalil did not surrender a sack.

“I’m not really too worried about the spotlight,” Walker said. “I’m just here to block for Matt Barkley and the team.”

Walker was sidelined for much of training camp because of injuries but pronounced himself fit for the opener.

“I’m back to normal,” he said. “As a player and a starter you want to be out there and help the team in any way possible. I did everything possible to get back on the field.

“I had the right mind-set going into it.”

Walker is the least experienced member of an offensive line that includes right tackle Kevin Graf, right guard John Martinez, center Khaled Holmes and left guard Marcus Martin, all returning starters.

gary.klein@latimes.com

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