Cougars’ History Has Trojans Wary

PROVO, Utah — USC is ranked No. 1 going into tonight’s game against Brigham Young, and the Trojan coaching staff is well aware that BYU once knocked off a defending national champion here.

Norm Chow was BYU’s co-offensive coordinator and quarterback coach in 1990, when the Cougars defeated Miami, 28-21. Ed Orgeron, USC’s defensive line coach, was on Miami’s staff.

“I never let Ed forget that,” Chow said. “That was a fun time.”

Not for Orgeron.

“I remember the fans being rabid and I remember us not respecting [the Cougars] like we should have,” Orgeron said.

Orgeron said respect for the opponent would not be a problem for the Trojans tonight.

“We’re a lot different at USC,” he said. “We’re closer, geographically, to BYU. [At Miami] we didn’t know anything about them.”

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USC punter Tom Malone is looking forward to kicking in Provo’s thin air.

Malone, an All-American last season when he averaged 49 yards for 42 kicks, is averaging 43 yards for nine kicks this season.

“I still haven’t found a rhythm,” Malone said. “I want to get back into that and get back to where I was last season.”

BYU punter Matt Payne ranks sixth nationally, averaging 46.2 yards for 13 kicks.

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Senior safety Greg Farr made the trip after the NCAA granted his petition to restore a year of eligibility.

Farr, a former walk-on transfer from Palomar College who was awarded a scholarship during training camp, did not play in the first two games this season after USC compliance officials discovered he had been in for a few plays on special teams during a 2002 game at Colorado.

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The weather forecast for tonight calls for windy conditions and a 60% chance of showers and thunderstorms. Temperatures could be in the 40s or 50s.