LOS ANGELES -- Lane Kiffin's reprimand and $10,000 fine from the Pac-12 Conference for criticizing game officials could be a distraction for a banged-up USC team that can't afford any, even against 1-8 Colorado.
But the controversy swirling around the Trojans coach could have the opposite effect: It might bring the team closer together.
The message Kiffin relayed to the team Tuesday morning, according to quarterback Matt Barkley, was this: "We're a family. We're sticking up for our family. We're staying tight. We're a unit."
Kiffin said he addressed his punishment from the league with the players, who "had some conversations that I won't make public." His theme with the media was "moving forward."
"I am sorry that all this happened," Kiffin said. "And I have learned from this. I have learned that, regardless of questions, I can't answer anything that has to do with a call during the game or any conversation that an official has with me. From here on out, I won't be able to respond to anything."
True to his word, Kiffin declined to answer several other officiating-related questions.
MCDONALD'S CHALLENGE
Safety T.J. McDonald, whom the Pac-12 suspended for the first half of Friday's game at Colorado for hitting a defenseless opponent in the head, is trying to figure out how to alter his game to avoid similar penalties in the future.
It's no easy task. McDonald doesn't want to be flagged, but he doesn't want to lose his aggressiveness either. On the play in question, a fourth-quarter pass to Stanford receiver Chris Owusu, McDonald led with his shoulder but struck Owusu in the helmet.
"I'm not going to change me being aggressive, but I have to change the way I go about it," McDonald said. "It'd be selfish of me to make my team pay 15 yards every time, especially in a crucial point in the game like that. So I've got to figure out a way to just make sure I can still be physical but stay within the rules of football."
After talking it over with his dad, former USC and NFL safety Tim McDonald, and his coaches, McDonald said he would try to wrap up next time instead of going for the blow-up hit.
Redshirt junior Drew McAllister will start at free safety Friday while McDonald sits out.
NOTES
Tailback Marc Tyler (shoulder) and linebacker Dion Bailey (concussion) did not practice and have not been cleared to return. Freshman Tre Madden (Mission Viejo High) would start at Colorado if Bailey can't, Kiffin said. ... Tailback George Farmer (ankle) remained out. ... Fullback Rhett Ellison, defensive end Wes Horton, safety Jawanza Starling and cornerback Torin Harris did minimal work. ... Left tackle Matt Kalil (Servite) missed the end of practice because of an undisclosed injury.
Contact the writer: mlev@ocregister.com
usc trojans ucla bruins matt barkley lane kiffin robert woods rich neuheisel marc tyler
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