DAVIE, Fla. — USC turned on the lights, and Mother Nature provided the wind Tuesday night as the Trojans went through their final workout before the Orange Bowl.
Fifth-ranked USC, which had been practicing in the morning since arriving from Los Angeles last week, switched to evening for its last practice before Thursday night's game against third-ranked Iowa at Pro Player Stadium.
Scattered showers and gusty winds are forecast for today with a chance of showers Thursday.
"This is a real classic kind of wind for down here," USC Coach Pete Carroll said after his team left the field. "We went in both directions to give quarterbacks a chance to see it and we threw a lot of deep balls to make sure receivers had a chance to see how the ball moves.
"The only other thing we could have done is turn on the sprinklers. Other than that we pretty much covered it."
USC quarterback Carson Palmer said adverse conditions could alter the passing game, but not enough to keep the Trojans from running their offense effectively.
"We know how to make adjustments," Palmer said. "I don't think it will cause any major problems."
USC will have a walk through and visit Pro Player Stadium today.
Carroll said he was pleased with the Trojans' preparation.
"Everything looked just right," he said. "We finished up on a good high note. I can't wait for game time now."
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Iowa running back Fred Russell, averaging 121.9 rushing yards a game, is listed at 5 feet 8 and 177 pounds.
Russell runs behind one of the tallest offensive lines, but USC defensive end Omar Nazel said the Trojans will track him down and leave an impression.
"He's going to be hard to find. But when we do, hopefully he realizes that we found him," Nazel said.
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USC will try to salvage a poor bowl season for the Pacific 10 Conference, which is 1-4 so far.
"We've got to hold up our end," Carroll said.
UCLA defeated New Mexico, 27-13, in the Las Vegas Bowl. But Oregon State lost to Pittsburgh, 38-13, in the Insight Bowl; Arizona State lost to Kansas State, 34-27, in the Holiday Bowl; Oregon lost to Wake Forest, 38-17, in the Seattle Bowl; and Washington lost to Purdue, 34-24, in the Sun Bowl.
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