Miami Nice for Surprised Trojans

USC players and coaches awoke Sunday morning with sweet thoughts about their place in the bowl championship series picture.

The Trojans believed they were bound for New Orleans and a Sugar Bowl date with Southeastern Conference champion Georgia.

But Orange Bowl organizers opted to defy what passes for convention in the BCS, and made a game that pits fifth-ranked USC (10-2) against third-ranked Iowa (11-1) on Jan. 2 at 5 p.m. PST at Pro Player Stadium in Miami.

“Going to Miami is a little bit of a shocker,� senior offensive lineman Zach Wilson said.

It will be the first Orange Bowl appearance for USC and Iowa, co-champions of the Pacific 10 and Big Ten conferences, respectively. Iowa Coach Kirk Ferentz called it a Rose Bowl-style matchup on “the wrong coast.�

USC Coach Pete Carroll said he was looking forward to playing the Hawkeyes in the only bowl game on Jan. 2.

“It just seems like one more great spotlight moment for us,� said Carroll, whose team opened the season with a prime-time game against Auburn and finished it in prime time against Notre Dame.

“I don’t think we’ll be awed by it. I think we’ll feel comfortable in the setting even though it’s a long way from home.�

Junior cornerback Marcell Allmond said Trojan players did not have a preference between the Orange and Sugar bowls.

“We have a BCS bid; you can’t be choosy,� he said. “A bowl is a bowl and I’m happy to be in one of the biggest. I just want to play football.�

USC was assured of a BCS bowl when top-ranked Miami defeated Virginia Tech on Saturday and advanced to the national championship game against Ohio State in the Fiesta Bowl, thereby solidifying the Trojans’ hold on the No. 4 spot in the BCS rankings. The Sugar Bowl appeared to be the Trojans’ probable destination after Washington State secured the Rose Bowl berth with a victory over UCLA.

But Orange Bowl organizers could not resist a matchup between teams ranked fourth and fifth in the BCS standings and featuring Heisman Trophy candidates. USC quarterback Carson Palmer, Iowa quarterback Brad Banks and certain attendance by tens of thousands of sun-starved Hawkeye fans helped sway Orange Bowl officials to act on a provision in the BCS agreement that allowed them to take USC and Iowa as at-large teams.

“We didn’t realize the Orange Bowl would exercise their option to go and get us,� Carroll said. “The fact that they did, I think, was a big-time move by them. It’s pretty special.�

USC is 6-2 against Iowa, but has not played the Hawkeyes since defeating them, 55-0, in 1976.

The Trojans, who have a seven-game winning streak, meet an Iowa team that has won nine consecutive games since a nonconference loss to Iowa State on Sept. 14.

The Hawkeyes have not played since defeating Minnesota on Nov. 16.

“We had a great opportunity for our team to relax and enjoy what they worked so hard to accomplish over the course of the regular season,� Ferentz said. “We got back to work this past Monday. I’m confident that we have a good plan and if we follow it, we’ll be ready to go when the New Year comes around.�

Carroll, who coached defensive backs at Arkansas when the Razorbacks upset Oklahoma in the 1978 Orange Bowl, said the Jan. 2 game would allow most Trojan players to spend the holidays with family. USC will probably depart Los Angeles for Florida on Dec. 26.

“We’ll be the only game in town and, hopefully, we’ll put together a game that will be the best game of the New Year’s holiday,� Carroll said. “I hope everyone celebrates this season by going with us and spending New Year’s in Miami.�

Said Allmond: “We have enough senior leadership to go in there and handle our business. This is another chance to show people what USC is all about.�

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Freshman linebacker Oscar Lua suffered a torn anterior cruciate ligament in his right knee and will have surgery in the next week or two, Carroll said. Lua, who backed up senior Mike Pollard, was hurt during practice Saturday. He will attempt to return by training camp in August. Carroll said weakside linebacker Melvin Simmons could back up Pollard.... Those interested in purchasing tickets and/or travel packages to the Orange Bowl can do so online at USC’s Web site: www.usctrojans.com. Tickets also can be purchased through the school’s ticket office. Information: (213) 740-4672.