College Football: UCLA, USC Start Season With Something To Prove
USC at Hawaii (Aloha Stadium)
Tonight (Thursday) at 8pm PT on ESPN
UCLA at Kansas State (Bill Snyder Stadium)
Saturday (9/4) at 12:30 PT on ABC
Both UCLA and USC have something to prove in 2010…
Coach Rick Neuheisel is in his third season as the UCLA head coach. It’s time for him to make a move to the top of the PAC-10. He and offensive coordinator Norm Chou have installed “The Pistol” offense this year and improvement in the running game is expected. UCLA had a Top 10 recruiting class this season and is making a move to take some of SC’s stake in the City of LA back. NFL departures and preseason injuries have left this team with some question marks. A tough game on the road at Kansas State on Saturday will be a good indicator of where this young team is in it’s development.
At USC, the goal is simply to win games. Coach Lane Kiffin inherits a team who has been devastated by the NCAA sanctions handed down (from the Reggie Bush era) to it and cannot play in the postseason for 2 years. The focus will be making some noise on the field and not losing any more ground to UCLA and it’s other West Coast foes. Sophomore Quarterback Matt Barkley should shine in LA this season. Tonight’s game in Hawaii is part of ESPN’s opening night of college football.
