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Aug. 27, 2010
Complete Release in PDF Format 
The No. 14-ranked USC football team, with Lane Kiffin making his Trojan head coaching debut, will help kick off the 2010 college football season--and a long Labor Day weekend--when it travels to Honolulu to face Hawaii in an ESPN nationally-televised Thursday night game. The Trojans have yet to lose in 6 tries against Hawaii (they've scored 60-plus points each of the past 3 meetings) and have lost just once in 30 games against WAC teams. Troy has won its last 12 openers and its past 16 non-conference games. It's the first of a school-record 7 road outings for the Trojans this year. USC plays 13 contests in 2010 (and no more), as they cannot participate in a bowl game because of NCAA penalty. It's also the first USC game under the new administration of president C.L. Max Nikias and athletic director Pat Haden. Kiffin inherited a team that went 9-4 last season (USC's worst showing since 2001), finishing with a win in the Emerald Bowl. He has a fairly thin roster (only 74 scholarship players) because of, among other things, roster defections once the NCAA sanctions were announced. Although some key skill guys from last year are now in the NFL, the 2010 Trojan offense figures to be improved over last year's fairly-pedestrian version. It will be guided by QB Matt Barkley, a true sophomore starting his second season. The running back corps is deep, with the likes of TBs Allen Bradford, Marc Tyler and C.J. Gable and versatile veteran FB Stanley Havili (USC's most prolific pass-catching fullback ever). WR Ronald Johnson appears poised for a big senior year while leading a relatively young, but promising, receiving corps. C Kristofer O'Dowd anchors a talented offensive line that lacks much depth. USC's defense, which started last season off strong before surrendering unusually high yardage and scoring figures, also should be ramped up in 2010. The front 7 appears to be the heart of the Trojan defense, with a line led by the likes of DT Jurrell Casey and DE Armond Armstead and LBs Malcolm Smith, Chris Galippo, Devon Kennard and Michael Morgan. CB Shareece Wright is the only veteran in an otherwise-green secondary, but he's a good one. Hawaii head coach Greg McMackin's squad, 6-7 last year, features an aerial attack offense that was third nationally in passing and 14th in total offense in 2009. QB Bryant Moniz throws to veteran WRs Greg Salas (an All-WAC first teamer with 106 catches and 8 scores last fall who was fourth nationally in receiving yards and sixth in receptions), Kealoha Pilares and Rodney Bradley. The Warrior defense features 7 returning starters, including the entire secondary led by S Spencer Smith, whose 6 interceptions last fall ranked 11th nationally. Following the football game, the Top 10-ranked USC women's volleyball team will compete in a 3-day tourney in Honolulu, including a Sunday match versus No. 5 Hawaii.
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