USC embracing hype as spring practice opens

Published Mar. 3, 2015 11:03 p.m. ET

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The hype is welcomed at USC -- head coach Steve Sarkisian made that clear last month while discussing his most recent recruiting class.

Are the Trojans really a top-five team in the country heading into the 2015 season? There are some publications that believe so. And more may agree after the Trojans hauled in the nation's No. 1 recruiting class.

Sarkisian's predecessor, Lane Kiffin, tried to shy away from the expectations of a preseason No. 1 ranking in 2012. Oh how the times have changed.

The second-year USC head coach addressed the big expectations with his team before it took the field Tuesday for the first of 15 spring practices. However, the acknowledgement of the outside expectations isn't one of arrogance inside the program but instead a realization they exist.

The Trojans finished the 2014 season with a 9-4 record, tied for second place in the Pac-12 South. The season finished with a win over Nebraska in the Holiday Bowl.

Sarkisian will have 16 returning starters this season -- eight on the offensive side of the ball, seven on the defensive side and one specialist.

The roster has holes that will need to be filled, particularly on the defensive line with the departure of All-American Leonard Williams and in the backfield with the absence of Buck Allen -- both of whom departed early for the NFL. The senior leadership of linebacker Hayes Pullard also will be missed.

"We need to figure out who's going to fill those roles," Sarkisian said Tuesday following spring practice No. 1.

The good news is, regardless of the outside expectations, the team doesn't have to be ready for a game at the conclusion of the next 14 practices.

"We don't play a football game for six months," Sarkisian emphasized. "The key for us is to focus on today."

The advice comes with members of the team having already experienced what it's like to be paper champions -- hyped up throughout the course of an offseason.

"We have a lot of talent here (but) that's every year with 'SC," redshirt senior running back Tre Madden said.  "My career here has been ups and downs. We (finished) 10-2 my freshman year so I've seen the height of 'SC and then I've seen the low parts. Just having that knowledge and wisdom we can pass on to the young guys."

So, while the expectations are welcome, they must also be handled with care.

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