Penn State has been on the minds of the USC players.
So much so that they forgot about opening game opponent Memphis State.
The Trojans (0-1) were shocked by the Tigers 24-10 on Labor Day. Now, USC may have to play the No. 5 Lions (2-0) without its main offensive weapon, tailback Mazio Royster. The Trojans' leading rusher from a year ago suffered a sprained knee on his sixth carry in the Memphis State game.
While USC Coach Larry Smith doesn't expect Royster to be ready to play come tomorrow night's 9:00 kickoff, Royster said he'll wait until tomorrow to make a decision. If Royster is unable to play, Smith has three tailbacks waiting in the wings.
"We're working three people at tailback -- Deon Strother, Estrus Crayton and Dwight McFadden," Smith said. "All three could play."
Smith compared Strother to Royster and said he's a better inside runner than Crayton. Crayton has great speed and can come out of the backfield to be a receiver.
While USC can always produce an adequate tailback, the pressure for the offense lies on the shoulders of sophomore quarterback Reggie Perry. In the Memphis State game, Perry passed for 155 yards and rushed for another 60. His ability to run and throw the ball bring to mind comparisons with Rodney Peete, and Perry said he plans on using his running ability more tomorrow.
"We put a little more option offense in," Perry said. "We're looking to open it up more."
Even though Perry, whose first start was against Memphis State, lacks experience, his receivers don't. Split end Johnnie Morton was the leading returning receiver, and was Perry's favorite target in the opener. Perry connected with Morton five times for 62 yards. Perry also has sure-handed junior Joel Scott and speedster Travis Hannah in his arsenal.
The biggest loss to the USC offense from a year ago may not have been quarterback Todd Marinovich, but kicker Quin Rodriguez. Rodriguez hit 75 percent of his field goals and set numerous school records. Freshman Cole Ford won the kicking job from sophomore Andy Norell in the preseason, and kicked a 29-yard field goal in the opneing game.
The Trojans return five on defense, including the team's leading tackler last season, Kurt Barber. The outside linebacker is an All-Pac-10 and All-America candidate and does not see the Trojans starting their Pac-10 schedule next week without a win.
"I can't see us going 0-2," Barber said. "We did that last year to Penn State, now they have the opportunity to do it to us."
Another All-Pac-10 candidate is safety Stephon Pace. The junior led the team in interceptions with four, including two against the Lions. With the Lions passing and running the ball well in their first two games, Smith is worried about his defense.
"The bottom line is what are you going to defend? You've got the run game, the pass game," Smith said. "If they get both going, you're in deep trouble on defense."
The Trojan pass defense was very lenient last year, yielding over 211 yards-per-game. The Lions threw for 243 yards in last season's 19-14 loss. The Trojans ranked 16th nationally against the rush.
The loss to Memphis State has brought a new entity into tomorrow's game. Both teams were supposed to be undefeated and in the Top 25. Now both coaches feel a little uneasy about tomorrow's game.
Penn State Coach Joe Paterno said, "I think Southern Cal will be much, much more difficult for us to handle because of the Memphis State game."
"When you start a season with a loss, it doesn't help the confidence," Smith said. "The only way we're going to get confidence is to go out and win a game."
Smith senses some urgency on his team to produce a victory. But with a young team, he is not putting emphasis on tomorrow's game.
"This game won't tell us anything," Smith said. "It's going to be a week-to-week thing. That's the way it is with a young team."
Smith said the nation is going to see a different USC team than the one from Labor Day. But as for coming away with a win, he makes no promises.
