Trojans May Have Gotten Bad Water

USC not only had a bad day in New Jersey last Sunday, the Trojans may have had some bad water too.

At least a third of the players and several of the coaches became ill with stomach flu-like symptoms Monday and Tuesday. The water they drank during the warm, humid afternoon game from covered tubs was shower water from their Giants Stadium locker room.

“Seems like the guys who drank the most water got the sickest,” said quarterback Matt Koffler.

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Quarterback Brad Otton, held out of Wednesday’s drills because of a muscle pull in his shoulder, threw without discomfort in a two-hour, 10-minute practice.

His backup, Koffler, sat out Thursday’s practice because of a back injury, incurred during a weight-room workout.

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Special emphasis was placed on a new pursuit drill, with secondary players and linebackers sprinting for the sideline, as if in hot pursuit of a back like, say, Penn State’s Curtis Enis.

Middle linebacker Taso Papadakis left practice early because of a tweaked knee, and tight end Junior Rickman left because of a hand injury.