Southern California came into Sunday's game with something to prove.
It wanted to enter the season with a winning mark.
It wanted to restore the Trojans' tradition.
It wanted to make a statement for Pac-10 football.
The Trojans got what they wanted.
"One of the things we talked about as a team is that this would help us take a step nationally," USC football coach Paul Hackett said Sunday after defeating the Nittany Lions 29-5 in Giants Stadium.
"There are some great things going on at USC — there is a building process going on.
"There are young people who are coming alive in USC football.
"They want to be treated and talked about like the teams of old at USC. They know that the only way to do that is to get out of your conference and you play well against strong opponents. And then when you get in your conference, you make a march and you make a run at the Rose Bowl. And that is always our goal — to be a competitor for the Rose Bowl."
Nowhere to run
Penn State's tailbacks appeared to be one of the Nittany Lions strengths.
But that did not appear to be the case after Sunday's performance.
In 22 rushing attempts, Penn State could manage six yards on the ground on the afternoon.
"Most importantly, we stopped them from running the football and that is what we knew we had to do," Hackett said.
"They could not run the football against us because then they are in control of the game."
That had something to do with Penn State's offensive line, which featured Kareem McKenzie as the one returning starter from last season with the unavailability of Jordan Caruso. It also had something to do with linebacker Zeke Moreno and the Southern California defense holding firm, garnering six tackles for loss and two sacks.
"We never had any cohesion offensively," Paterno said.
Sunday's game brought up reminders of the Lions' contest against Michigan last season when Penn State managed to gain seven yards on the ground in a 31-27 defeat at the hands of Michigan.
Passing questions hard to answer
The running game was not the only attack that seemed to be grounded.
Penn State could not take to the air, though, after wide receiver Eddie Drummond suffered a sprained right knee.
Paterno said Sunday Drumond could miss a few weeks. Penn State Sports Information Director Jeff Nelson said yesterday Drummond is "doubtful" for the Toledo game and is not certain how long Drummond will be out.Paterno is expected to address Drummond's health at his weekly teleconferece today.
In Drummond's absence, Penn State quarterback Rashard Casey completed seven of 24 passing attempts for 106 yards on the afternoon.
Dropping out
Penn State, dubbed as No. 17 in the ESPN/USA Today Coaches Poll before Sunday's game, is no longer in the Top 25 after Sunday's defeat.
Colorado is the new addition to the Top-25 survey and will face Southern California this week. The Trojans, No. 16 before the win, now stand at No. 13 in the nation.
Record playing
The following are Kickoff Classic records set Sunday:
Attendance — 78,902. The Giants Stadium contest had its fourth sellout in Kickoff Classic history. Three of those sellouts took place in the four games the Lions have played.
Penn State has played in a record four Kickoff Classic games and has drawn more than 70,000 fans each time. Last season's attendance was 73,037, the only other time more than 70,000 have come to the game when Penn State was not competing.
Field goals — 3. Trojans place kicker David Newbury made his mark in Sunday's game with his three boots through the uprights. He netted three kicks — 43-, 27- and 44-yard boots. That tied a Kickoff Classic mark set seven times, the last which took place in the 1998 game when Florida State kicker Sebastian Janikowski made three attempts against Texas A&M.
Newbury also made two extra points, including a try from 15 yards further out after the Trojans were penalized for excessive celebration following their first touchdown. But Newbury missed the point-after-touchdown attempts after Troy Polamalu's 43-yard interception return for a touchdown.
Polamalu's feat had been accomplished in two other Kickoff Classic games.
Odds and ends
Linebacker Neal Wood has officially returned to the team, playing on the special teams unit and the game's opening kick-off. He wore No. 54 and was listed as Charwan Wood on the roster.
Eighteen true freshmen were listed on the roster. Both true freshmen quarterbacks, Zac Wasserman and Zack Mills, dressed and took pregame warmups. They did not play. Wasserman was No. 9 coming into the game, but wore No. 16.
Former Penn State quarterback Kerry Collins, who plays in the Meadowlands for the New York Giants, was in attendance at Sunday's game.
Collins played the first quarter Friday in the Giants final preseason game.
