Penalties continue to haunt USC
USC FOOTBALL
The Trojans racked up 10 penalties against Arizona, but aim to fix the problem against Washington.
One step forward, 68 yards back.
USC thought it had solved its penalty problems when the Trojans were flagged only twice in their rout of Washington State two weeks ago.
But USC reverted to form against Arizona with 10 infractions.
"I'm not saying anything about the calls -- we just have to do better," Coach Pete Carroll said today during his weekly news conference.
USC is averaging slightly more than eight penalties a game. Only hapless Washington State ranks lower in the Pacific 10 Conference.
The Trojans, who are No. 5 in the Bowl Championship Series standings, play this week against another struggling opponent: Washington. Perhaps, like Washington State, the winless Huskies will offer USC an easy opportunity to clean things up.
If the problem continues, it might cost USC a victory in its final five games.
"We just have to keep adjusting and get more mindful of the way things are getting called," Carroll said after his news conference. "We're working at it, trying to get everybody conscious of it. It's the darnedest thing."
Klein is a Times staff writer.
gary.klein@latimes.com
