Rested Trojans Hit Road Today

After two days off, USC players and staff will reconvene this morning and depart for Florida to begin final preparations for the Jan. 2 Orange Bowl against Iowa.

The Trojans will leave Los Angeles International Airport at noon on a chartered flight that is scheduled to arrive in Fort Lauderdale about 8 p.m. EST. Iowa also is scheduled to arrive today in Florida.

Earlier this week, Coach Pete Carroll said about 12 to 15 players from other states or areas outside Southern California would be allowed to travel to Florida on their own.

Along with daily practices, USC players will go on a range of outings in the Miami area. They will visit a hospital, take a chartered fishing trip, go to an amusement park and attend an NBA game between the Miami Heat and Atlanta Hawks.

“It should be a lot of fun,” senior linebacker Mike Pollard said. “But the main reason we’re going down there is to win a ballgame.”

*

All-American safety Troy Polamalu looked like his old self during practices leading up to the break.

In USC’s practice on Monday, he intercepted a pass during a mock game and eluded several tacklers as he traversed the field from sideline to sideline.

Polamalu said there is still residual discomfort from the high right-ankle sprain that he suffered on Oct. 5 against Washington State. But he has benefited from the reduced workload since the regular-season finale against Notre Dame on Nov. 30.

“When you’re out there trying to make a play, you don’t think about anything other than that,” Polamalu said. “I think I’ll be more than ready when it’s time for the game.”

*

Freshman linebacker Oscar Lua, who had knee surgery on Tuesday to repair a torn anterior cruciate ligament, was scheduled to be released from the hospital Wednesday. Because of discomfort, Lua was held overnight and will probably be released today. Lua is expected to miss spring practice but be ready for training camp in August.

*

USC is the second Pacific 10 Conference school to play in the Orange Bowl. Washington defeated Oklahoma, 28-17, in the 1985 game.... Neither USC nor Iowa has won a game in Florida. Both are 0-4. USC lost to Miami in 1966, Florida in 1982, Auburn in the 1987 Citrus Bowl and Florida State in 1998.