Iowa blitz could crash USC party

Written by JOSEPH PERSON

jperson@thestate.com

Posted on 01.01.09

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How will USC QB Stephen Garcia fare vs. Iowa?

More than 300 total yards, at least 3 total TDs

200-299 total yards, 1-2 TDs, no more than 1 turnover

150-199 total yards, 1-2 TDs, 1 or more turnovers

Under 150 total yards, more turnovers than TDs

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Outback Bowl

WHO: Iowa (8-4) vs. USC (7-5)

WHEN: 11 a.m., Jan. 1

WHERE: Raymond James Stadium, Tampa, Fla.

TV: ESPN (channel 26 in Columbia, HD channel 950)

RADIO: WNKT-FM 107.5, WISW-AM 1320

LINE: Iowa by 3.5

TV, radio notes

Sean McDonough will do the play-by-play, Chris Spielman will offer analysis and Rob Stone will be on the sidelines. The game can be heard on WNKT-FM 107.5 and WISW-AM 1320 with Todd Ellis and Tommy Suggs in the booth and former USC and NFL star Duce Staley on the field.

TAMPA, Fla. – With a freshman quarterback playing at home, USC coach Steve Spurrier expects Iowa to bring the house at Stephen Garcia in Thursday’s Outback Bowl.

The Hawkeyes are not a big blitz team, as evidenced by their 17 sacks and 1.42 sacks-per-game average that is tied for 93rd among 119 teams nationally.

But with Tampa native Stephen Garcia making just his third career start, Spurrier would not be surprised if Iowa defensive coordinator Norm Parker turns up the heat.

“Norm Parker is a good, solid fundamental coach,” Spurrier said of the former Vanderbilt defensive coordinator. “But they’ve got their zone blitzes and corner blitzes. They’ve got all that, also. And I’ve got a feeling they’re going to use a little bit more of that.”

USC struggled with its pass protection during the regular season, giving up more sacks (38) than every SEC team but Arkansas. Spurrier hopes a month of practice and video review will help Garcia.

“He’s had a whole bunch (of repetitions),” Spurrier said. “Hopefully, he will go play like he knows what’s going on and get the ball out of his hand and not get lost too much and play a good solid game.”

Old home week. USC media relations director Steve Fink is accustomed to setting up interviews, not conducting them. But Fink, an Iowa native who grew up rooting for the Hawkeyes, has done several interviews with reporters from his home state this week.

Fink, a 1982 graduate of Northern Iowa, remembers listening to the Hawkeyes’ broadcasts as a kid and attending his first game while in college. Fink, whose wife also is from Iowa, said the state is similar to South Carolina in some respects.

“There are two major universities with no professional sports so you follow one of two schools,” he said. “You’re either a Hawkeyes’ fans or a (Iowa State) Cyclones’ fan. I liked the Hawkeyes.”

“But not this week,” he added.

Early to bed, early to rise<.strong>. With Thursday’s 11 a.m. kickoff, Spurrier did not want his players staying up too late New Year’s Eve. Team buses are scheduled to depart the hotel for Raymond James Stadium at 8:15 a.m.

“You just get up a little earlier. Try to get our guys to bed a little earlier,” Spurrier said.

Spurrier spoke to Oklahoma coach Bob Stoops, his defensive coordinator at Florida, about preparing for an early start because the Sooners have had a couple of 11 a.m. kickoffs. USC began its bowl practices around 11:30 a.m. to get acclimated.

He said it. “No, I won’t go that long at all. Again, four to five years I always operate on. I think I’ve been saying about the last 10 years, but I do believe I mean it this time,” – Spurrier on the three-year extension given to Penn State coach Joe Paterno, who turns 82 on Sunday

Extra points. An NFL advisory committee told USC cornerback Captain Munnerlyn he likely would be picked in the first three rounds of April’s draft if he leaves school early, according to a source close to the player. Munnerlyn is one of five USC juniors who asked the NFL for an evaluation. …

With a win Thursday, the Gamecocks would match Penn State as the only schools to win all three of their Outback Bowl appearances. …

USC also would move above the .500 mark all-time: The Gamecocks enter the game with a 528-528-44 record in 115 seasons.

Reach Person at (803) 771-8496.