Freshman Andre Heidari has a powerful leg, although he remains unproven in games.)
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By MICHAEL LEV
LOS ANGELES ? USC coach Lane Kiffin praised the leg strength of his new kicker, Andre Heidari, who has range beyond 50 yards. But Kiffin added this caveat about the freshman from Bakersfield:
"He's never done it, just like the last guy hadn't. Until we get in there, we'll never know."
The next field goal Heidari attempts in a college game will be his first. He never has kicked in front of 90,000 fans either, but he has some idea what it will feel like when USC opens the season Sept. 3 against Minnesota.
"I've been talking to the guys about it. They said it's crazy in the Coliseum. It's just crazy wherever you go," Heidari said Friday. "I'm just going to have to get used to it. I'm looking forward to it. ... Just block it out and try to do your thing."
Heidari has displayed both strength and accuracy during the Trojans' fall camp. His predecessor, Joe Houston, made 10 of 16 field-goal attempts last season but was just 1 of 4 from 40 yards and beyond. He did not attempt a field goal from 50-plus.
How Heidari fares early in the season probably will determine how much confidence Kiffin shows in him from long distance. Heidari has plenty of self-confidence after working with special-teams coach John Baxter since the start of spring practice.
"The other day we looked at some video. We saw the first day of spring when I first got here. I'm a totally different kicker," said Heidari, who enrolled in January. "It doesn't look like the same guy."
HADEN ON NCAA
There's a widely hold notion that USC isn't doing anything in response to the NCAA, despite the perceived unfairness of the governing body's ruling in the school's infractions case.
USC athletic director Pat Haden gets asked that very question all the time: "Why aren't you doing something?"
Here's what he said on that subject Friday:
"We're not idiots. The university has looked at every alternative. Period."
Haden couldn't specify what further action, if any, USC would take.
NOTES
Three important starters ? left tackle Matt Kalil, safety T.J. McDonald and receiver Robert Woods ? returned to duty after missing time because of injuries. ... Middle linebacker Chris Galippo (shoulder) worked in individual and 7-on-7 drills but again was held out of contact. ... Safety Drew McAllister missed about half of practice after injuring his left hand. ... Redshirt sophomore Simione Vehikite, who had been playing linebacker, worked with the fullbacks.
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