LOS ANGELES >> The last Saturday before USC’s season opener against Alabama included a 50-play, full-pads scrimmage at an off-campus location.
The Trojans ran 40 plays of offense and defense, with 10 more on special teams. It featured thud tackling, where players do not bring each other to the ground.
To simulate a typical game week, they practiced Friday, stayed together in a hotel, held meetings, went through a walk through Saturday morning and took a bus to the field.
“We tried to make it the most realistic thing you could,” USC coach Clay Helton said.