Don't believe the hype yet, but the Pac-10 has to start somewhere. The conference took such a figurative and literal beating last season that a turnaround can't possibly be pinned on one game, but Hackett will try. The Trojans are just 14-11 in Paul Hackett's first two seasons as coach. It sort of compounds the issue of the game. It's refreshing to see some bravado, even cockiness from the Pac-10 program.
Bluster beats blowouts when quality is lacking.
That can't mask the fact that Hackett, like the rest of his West Coast peers, has his own problems. The Trojans are 14-11 in his two seasons. It is a high risk, high reward approach to getting well. Southern Cal didn't have to take on Penn State considering Colorado and Notre Dame are already on the schedule. The omens are worse.