Re-Pete for Trojans?

The Heisman Trophy is on display at Heritage Hall and most Orange Bowl rings have been tucked away for safe keeping.

No one associated with USC’s football program expects to add a sixth Heisman statuette to the Heritage Hall lobby this season, but another bowl championship series game appearance is possible.

USC has not played in the Rose Bowl game since the 1995 season, and Coach Pete Carroll reiterated that New Year’s Day in Pasadena remains the Trojans’ primary postseason goal.

Unless, of course, USC earns a shot at playing for the national title in the Sugar Bowl.

The Trojans, ranked No. 8 in the Associated Press and ESPN/USA Today coaches’ polls, could at least put themselves on the road to New Orleans when they play at No. 6 Auburn in their opener Saturday.

“If we win that game, it sets us up for a pretty good run,” senior cornerback Marcell Allmond said.

Last season, USC played the toughest schedule in the nation with an experienced team. Fifth-year seniors -- there was even a sixth-year running back, Malaefou MacKenzie -- were in key positions. One of them, Carson Palmer, became the first Trojan quarterback to win the Heisman and was chosen first in the NFL draft.

This season’s 12-game schedule -- there are three bye weekends -- does not appear as arduous, though the Trojans must play it with an almost entirely new backfield.

After Auburn, USC plays Brigham Young and Hawaii at the Coliseum, where the Trojans have won nine consecutive games.

After a bye, they open Pacific 10 Conference play on the road at California, travel the next week to Arizona State and then play host to Stanford before back-to-back games at Notre Dame and Washington.

Three of USC’s last four games are at home, including the final two against UCLA and Oregon State.

For now, the Trojans are focusing on Auburn.

“It’s going to set the tone for the season,” quarterback Matt Leinart said. “If we lose, it’s not like we’re going to hang our heads. But if we win that game, people are definitely going to start talking about USC.”

A position-by-position look at the Trojans:

Quarterback

Leinart, a redshirt sophomore who has not thrown a pass in a game at USC, gets first shot at succeeding Palmer. The 6-foot-5 left-hander from Mater Dei High is throwing better and practicing with more confidence since he was anointed at the end of spring drills.

Junior Matt Cassel, Palmer’s seldom-used backup last season, has the most experience in USC’s system.

Junior transfer Brandon Hance started nine games for Purdue in 2001 before transferring to USC.

Freshman John David Booty was slowed because of a back injury during training camp, but he is regarded as the program’s quarterback of the future and will play.

Redshirt sophomore Billy Hart is perhaps the most mobile of the quarterbacks.

Running Back

Sophomore Hershel Dennis, who gained 198 yards in 49 carries last season, is the only returning tailback and will start the opener.

Freshman Reggie Bush, a breakaway threat, will get plenty of playing time at tailback and as a kick returner. Freshmen LenDale White and Chauncey Washington also will play.

Starting fullback Brandon Hancock probably will miss the opener because of a high ankle sprain, so junior Lee Webb will start. Freshman Whitney Lewis was switched from receiver to fullback to take advantage of his size, speed and pass-catching ability out of the backfield.

Tight End

Alex Holmes was expected to start for a second consecutive season, but back problems make his status for the season questionable.

Sophomore Dominique Byrd will start and alternate with 6-foot-8 junior Gregg Guenther.

Wide Receiver

Senior flanker Keary Colbert, who caught 71 passes for 1,029 yards and five touchdowns last season, needs 66 catches to tie Kareem Kelly’s school record of 204.

Sophomore Mike Williams, with 81 catches for 1,265 yards and 14 touchdowns in 2002, was a freshman All-American and the Pacific 10 Conference freshman of the year.

Freshman Steve Smith, from Woodland Hills Taft High, replaces Kelly and has enough talent to duplicate Williams’ honors. Sophomore Justin Wyatt, redshirt freshman Chris McFoy, sophomore Greig Carlson, senior D. Hale and junior Jason Mitchell also will play.

Offensive Line

If three returning starters can overcome injuries that plagued them through training camp, this unit will be a strength.

Senior Norm Katnik (knee) is the center, senior Lenny Vandermade (foot) and redshirt freshman Fred Matua are the guards and senior Jacob Rogers (foot) and sophomore Winston Justice are the tackles.

Senior Nate Steinbacher and redshirt freshman Kyle Williams have worked at tackle and junior college transfer John Drake can play guard or tackle.

Centers Ryan Kalil, Sam Baker and Drew Radovich -- all freshmen -- also are ready to play.

Senior Eric Torres, who started at four positions last season, is expected to return from a foot injury in late September.

Defensive Line

One of the best units in the nation last season could be even more dominant.

Junior end Kenechi Udeze, senior end Omar Nazel and junior tackle Mike Patterson are returning starters. Junior tackle Shaun Cody, who started six games before suffering a season-ending knee injury, is back.

Sophomore LaJuan Ramsey will rotate at both tackle positions and sophomore transfer Frostee Rucker will rush in passing situations.

Linebacker

Strong-side linebacker Matt Grootegoed, a junior, was All-Pac-10 last season and recorded a team-best 81 tackles.

Weak-side linebacker Melvin Simmons was second in tackles with 71 and is a vocal leader.

Sophomore Lofa Tatupu, a transfer from Maine, replaces Mike Pollard at middle linebacker. Junior Daniel Urquhart and sophomore Oscar Lua, who had knee surgery in December, back up Tatupu.

Sophomore Dallas Sartz has worked as a backup on the strong and weak sides.

Secondary

Allmond started the final seven games on the right side last season. Senior Kevin Arbet, who redshirted last season because of a foot injury, will start on the left side.

Junior college transfer Will Poole will play in passing situations and could challenge for a starting role. Junior Ronald Nunn and sophomore William Buchanon, who both started games before Allmond’s emergence, provide depth at cornerback.

Junior Jason Leach, Troy Polamalu’s backup last season at strong safety, moves to free safety to make way for freshman Darnell Bing. Sophomore Mike Ross backs up Bing.

Special Teams

Junior Ryan Killeen became the starting kicker in the third game last season and made 16 of 23 field-goal attempts and 47 of 49 extra-point tries. Killeen, who held off a training-amp challenge from walk-on Mario Danelo, also kicks off.

Sophomore punter Tom Malone averaged 42.1 yards last season.

USC ranked last in the Pac-10 in punt returns (7.2 yards) and kickoff returns (17.5), and ninth in kickoff-return coverage (24.1) in 2002.

Arbet, an all-conference special teams player in 2001, will return punts and kickoffs against Auburn, although Bush is expected to emerge as the Trojans’ big-play threat. Sure-handed sophomore Greig Carlson might see situational duty.

Coaching

Carroll and offensive coordinator Norm Chow adjusted quickly and effectively to almost every challenge last season and the Trojans blew out most of their last seven opponents in the second half.

Ed Oregeron, the defensive line coach and recruiting coordinator, was promoted to assistant head coach after being wooed by the San Francisco 49ers.

Kennedy Pola coaches running backs and coordinates special teams, but responsibilities for each unit have been divided among the assistant coaches.

Tim Davis is coaching the offensive line alone after sharing responsibility last season with Keith Uperesa, who was not retained.

Steve Sarkisian (quarterbacks), Lane Kiffin (receivers), Nick Holt (linebackers) and Greg Burns (secondary) are back, along with Rocky Seto (safeties), who was promoted to full-time status after serving as an on-field graduate assistant the last two seasons.

Dennis Slutak (kickers and punters) succeeds Seto as a graduate assistant, joining Brennan Carroll (tight ends), who is in his second season.

Greg Carlisle is in his third year as strength and conditioning coach.