USC FOOTBALL
Injuries and a player suspension prompt Trojans to plunge even deeper into youth movement. Lineback Tre Madden could become the latest freshman to be pressed into starting role.
 USC kicker Andre Heidari celebrates the Trojans' 31-17 victory over Notre Dame on Oct. 22. The freshman has converted on 13 of 15 field-goal attempts this season. (Jonathan Daniel / Getty Images / 22) |
By Gary Klein
Nine years ago, it was considered out of the ordinary. Now it's common practice.
When USC traveled to Colorado in 2002, freshman Winston Justice started for the first time at offensive tackle. A player only a few months removed from high school took on an assignment thought to require much more seasoning.
On Friday, USC revisits Folsom Field ? this time for a Pacific 12 Conference game ? with first-year freshmen starting at offensive guard, receiver and kicker. Another is prepared to make his starting debut at linebacker.
The Trojans also have first-year freshmen rotating in at middle linebacker, tailback and on special teams.
And two redshirt freshman linebackers lead the team in tackles.
"It's going to be great for our future," Coach Lane Kiffin said.
Will it be good for this month?
The Trojans will find out starting Friday against a struggling Colorado team, then down the stretch against Washington, No. 6 Oregon and UCLA..
USC is coming off an emotional 56-48 triple-overtime loss against Stanford. The Trojans, 22-point favorites, will be without several starters for all or part of the game because of injuries and a suspension.
After a shortened week of preparation, USC's youthful lineup will try to regain a winning edge in an environment that could be difficult because of chilly conditions.
"An abnormal game," Kiffin said. "Kind of the unknown."
USC has several older players who experienced the crucible of starting as freshmen, quarterback Matt Barkley, receiver Robert Woods and cornerback Nickell Robey among them.
"You get more comfortable," Woods said of the benefits he has enjoyed as a sophomore. "The game slows down."
USC's current youth movement was born of necessity, at least according to Kiffin, who rarely misses an opportunity to allude to the former coaching staff's subpar recruiting.
"This is not the way you want to do it because they're going to make mistakes," Kiffin said of starting young players. "If you have too many of them out there, they make too many mistakes."
Andre Heidari hasn't made many.
The freshman from Bakersfield has converted 13 of 15 field-goal attempts, including a 50-yarder against Stanford. Heidari was prepared to make another 50-yard kick at the end of regulation against the Cardinal, he said, but officials ruled that time had expired.
"I was definitely in the zone to make it," he said. "I was just so focused. I think it was my time."
Unlike kickers in the past who came to USC as walk-ons, Heidari was given a scholarship by special-teams coach John Baxter.
When USC traveled to Colorado in 2002, freshman Winston Justice started for the first time at offensive tackle. A player only a few months removed from high school took on an assignment thought to require much more seasoning.
On Friday, USC revisits Folsom Field ? this time for a Pacific 12 Conference game ? with first-year freshmen starting at offensive guard, receiver and kicker. Another is prepared to make his starting debut at linebacker.
The Trojans also have first-year freshmen rotating in at middle linebacker, tailback and on special teams.
And two redshirt freshman linebackers lead the team in tackles.
"It's going to be great for our future," Coach Lane Kiffin said.
Will it be good for this month?
The Trojans will find out starting Friday against a struggling Colorado team, then down the stretch against Washington, No. 6 Oregon and UCLA..
USC is coming off an emotional 56-48 triple-overtime loss against Stanford. The Trojans, 22-point favorites, will be without several starters for all or part of the game because of injuries and a suspension.
After a shortened week of preparation, USC's youthful lineup will try to regain a winning edge in an environment that could be difficult because of chilly conditions.
"An abnormal game," Kiffin said. "Kind of the unknown."
USC has several older players who experienced the crucible of starting as freshmen, quarterback Matt Barkley, receiver Robert Woods and cornerback Nickell Robey among them.
"You get more comfortable," Woods said of the benefits he has enjoyed as a sophomore. "The game slows down."
USC's current youth movement was born of necessity, at least according to Kiffin, who rarely misses an opportunity to allude to the former coaching staff's subpar recruiting.
"This is not the way you want to do it because they're going to make mistakes," Kiffin said of starting young players. "If you have too many of them out there, they make too many mistakes."
Andre Heidari hasn't made many.
The freshman from Bakersfield has converted 13 of 15 field-goal attempts, including a 50-yarder against Stanford. Heidari was prepared to make another 50-yard kick at the end of regulation against the Cardinal, he said, but officials ruled that time had expired.
"I was definitely in the zone to make it," he said. "I was just so focused. I think it was my time."
Unlike kickers in the past who came to USC as walk-ons, Heidari was given a scholarship by special-teams coach John Baxter.
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