6-Points: USC 49, Hawaii 10

• Marqise Lee - The sophomore wide receiver scored the first touchdown of the season 14 seconds into the game.  He finished with 10 catches for 197 yards plus a 100-yard kickoff return for a second TD.  And yet, both he and Lane Kiffin were disappointed by a couple of dropped balls, which only underscores how high Lee has set the bar.  "Our expectations are higher than how he played today," said Kiffin, who reiterated that Lee could be the greatest WR in USC history.
  

• Hayes Pullard - In his first start at middle linebacker in place of the injured Lamar Dawson, Pullard seemed like he was everywhere, including five tackles and a pick-six in the first half.  However, he explained that his touchdown was a little bit fortuitous.  "It wasn't my play to actually make.  I was supposed to be in the backfield blitzing." The sophomore made a fashion statement with his cardinal-colored mohawk for game one. (Photo by John McGillen)
  

• Matt Barkley - Another perfectionist.  He completed 23 of 38 passes for 377 yards and 4 TDs without an interception or sack, but the senior graded the offense in the C range.  "It was bittersweet.  We could've scored at least 100 points in the first half it feels like," said Barkley.

• Sackmasters - The defensive line was the most unproven unit entering the game, and DE Wes Horton's absence due to injury did not help matters.  The kids did more than alright though as the defense tallied six sacks led by DE Morgan Breslin, who starred in his first college game with a sack and two tackles for loss.  Fellow debutants DE Greg Townsend and DT Leonard Williams recorded the first sacks of their Trojan careers.  "A lot of question marks there...but it seems like they made a lot of plays up front," Kiffin said.  "I was very proud of those guys."
  

• The Negatives - The 2012 Trojans have greater goals in mind than winning the season opener.  To that end, the coaches will harp on three major areas of improvement: penalties, dropped balls and the run game.  The USC offense struggled with procedural penalties (false starts and delay of game calls) as well as drops from Lee and Robert Woods.  The offense lacked the desired balance as the three running backs combined for 92 yards on 21 carries (4.4 yards per carry).  "We've got a lot of work to do and I think our players know that too," said Kiffin.  "We can't do what we did today against some other teams that are going to be on our schedule."
  

• Welcome to the Show - Of the 61 Trojans that played tonight, 26 made their USC debuts.  "I am excited to get to this film to be able to see some kids that had not played a lot," Kiffin said.  Besides the defensive line, QB Max Wittek was a perfect 3/3 in his first collegiate appearance, while FB Soma Vainuku (2 catches for 23 yards and a forced fumble), S Josh Shaw (interception) and LB Anthony Sarao (sack) also shined. 

Extra Point...

• Kicking Quandary - PK Andre Heidari injured his right leg in the first quarter, and Kiffin was told that the sophomore was out for the rest of the game.  Without Heidari, Kiffin resorted to going for two after touchdowns and using walk-on Craig McMahon on kickoffs.  However, Heidari felt good enough to drill a 28-yard field goal as time expired to end the first half.

RB Silas Redd bounced back from an early fumble to score his first Trojan touchdown on a 31-yard scamper.  Here are his thoughts on the opener...