Probation may keep Trojans home

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USC's 2010 football opener, set for Sept. 2 at Hawaii, could be in jeopardy, according to a report in the Honolulu Star-Advertiser.

The Trojans were put on two years' probation last week and, according to the NCAA Committee on Infractions report, the football team "may not take advantage of the exceptions to the limit in the number of football contests" during that time frame.

The Hawaii game, originally scheduled in 2001, is the 13th game on the Trojans' regular season schedule -- one more than is normally allowed. USC was taking advantage of an exception which allows teams to play one more game than the NCAA limit if they're traveling to Hawaii.

USC has said it would appeal the penalties. A USC spokesman told the Star-Advertiser that he couldn't say whether the school has contacted the NCAA about the game.

Hawaii athletic director Jim Donovan told the Star-Advertiser that his school would lose at least $1 million if the game is canceled. It is also scheduled to be televised by ESPN.

Alabama, which was put on probation in 2002, scheduled games in Hawaii in both 2002 and 2003. At the time, Hawaii coach June Jones said he asked his athletic director to get Alabama on the schedule as soon as the probation was announced.

"It would be like their bowl game," Jones said at the time, according to The Associated Press.

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