Hackett Searching for News

USC Coach Paul Hackett keeps scrounging for details on Notre Dame’s quarterback plans, but the Irish are saying only that backups Arnaz Battle and Eric Chappell will both play, and Coach Bob Davie isn’t expected to name a starter for Saturday’s game at the Coliseum until tonight or even Saturday.

“I keep trying to get scuttlebutt from South Bend,” Hackett said. “Other than them practicing in the stadium with crowd noise, I’m not getting much.”

Starting quarterback Jarious Jackson’s knee injury has made USC the favorite against the No. 9 Irish, but it also has made scouting difficult, without much film of the seldom-used backups.

“We have to guess,” said Hackett, whose hunch is he’ll see Battle first. “We don’t have the information we would normally have.”

But, really, what’s the big suspense?

“They’ll run the ball,” Hackett said. “They’ll just pound it. I don’t think they’ll change.”

Both quarterbacks run the option, and they play behind an offensive line that has given up only nine sacks, with a ground game that ranks 13th in the nation, averaging 221.5 yards a game.

Running back Autry Denson, who two weeks ago became Notre Dame’s all-time leading rusher, averages 113 yards.

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Receiver R. Jay Soward, whose ability was limited by an ankle sprain against UCLA, probably will be about 90% this week.

“It’s not fully back,” Soward said, “but I’m getting to where I can start changing speeds when I see the ball in the air. That’s a big part of my game.”

That burst of speed is what the Trojans are looking for, and they hope they’ll get it on special teams as well.

“Returns, I’ll be doing everything,” Soward said, “and you’ll see me more on punt returns than all season.”

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Though some scenarios make it probable USC will play in the Sun Bowl on Dec. 31 in El Paso, USC is lobbying to play in the Holiday Bowl on Dec. 30 in San Diego--potentially against Nebraska--if UCLA and Arizona are taken by Bowl Championship Series games and the Trojans beat Notre Dame on Saturday. “We’ve got a solid shot,” said Daryl Gross, USC associate athletic director. . . . Safety Darnell Lacy was thrown out of practice by an angry Hackett on Thursday after Lacy scuffled with reserve tight end Pat Swanson. . . . A USC pep rally with a $15 admission will be held tonight from 6:30 to 8 at the Courtyard Marriott in Marina del Rey, hosted by the L.A. West Trojan Club. . . . A Notre Dame party with a $10 admission is being held at 8 p.m. at Arcadia on the Santa Monica Pier, hosted by the Notre Dame Pacific Palisades Alumni Club.