Written by USC blog contributor, Andie Hagemann
Fall Camp is nearly over and the Trojans have begun preparations for the season opener in eight days.
Fall Camp is nearly over and the Trojans have begun preparations for the season opener in eight days.
- USC did not wear pads in today's practice. Practice was also much shorter and focused on drills with the first team and the scout team.
- Kiffin announced today that LB Marquis Simmons and CB Brian Baucham are both eligible. CB Isiah Wiley was ruled ineligible. Wiley started the second half of the 2011 season. While appearing in 10 games, Wiley had 39 tackles and a fumble recovery.
- DE Wes Horton, CB Torin Harris and TE Randall Telfer did not practice today.
- Throughout Fall Camp, the offensive line has had to deal with injuries, forcing Max Tuerk and Nathan Guertler to step up. OL John Martinez stated that the offensive line will be ready for Hawaii even though newer faces have been in the mix. "The freshman came in, like Max [Tuerk] and Zach [Banner], and I can already tell that these are really smart guys," Martinez said. "They've caught on to the little things and what to do in certain situations. We're on a good foot right now."
- Earlier in Fall Camp, Kiffin said that OL Kevin Graf will remain on the right side rather than filling in at left tackle. Graf prepared to play on either the left or the right side. Graf's ability to play either side is a huge advantage to the USC offensive line and may be needed later in the season. "You just have to be prepared for both, which I was," Graf said. "I worked both left and right and I was ready for whatever side that they put me on."
- The Trojans will see a familiar face on the Hawaii sideline on Sept. 1-Norm Chow, USC's former offensive coordinator (2001-2004). "We honestly haven't talked about Coach Chow," Graf said. "I know him pretty well as he coached my brother [Derek Graf] when he was here. Now we are starting to watch film on Hawaii and focusing on their defense."
- Tonight the Trojans will travel to a hotel and treat tomorrow's practice as a mock game.
- Here is Kiffin's post-practice presser...
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