LOS ANGELES (AP) — With four new assistant coaches and no starting quarterback, Southern California has started work on erasing memories of last season’s disappointment.
The Trojans held their first spring practice Tuesday night, going through drills under new defensive coordinator Clancy Pendergast and offensive coordinator Clay Helton. Lane Kiffin revamped his staff in hopes of fixing a team that went 7-6 last season and lost the Sun Bowl despite a talented roster and a preseason No. 1 ranking.
Kiffin doesn’t expect to choose a successor to four-year starting quarterback Matt Barkley any time soon. Sophomores Max Wittek and Cody Kessler and incoming freshman Max Browne are competing to replace the most prolific passer in Pac-12 history.
USC also must learn an entirely new defense under Pendergast, who effectively replaced Monte Kiffin.
