Less than a month before kickoff now…. and here is what Pete has to look forward to this season….

The entire team, with the exception of walk-on safety Justin Hart (tonsillitis), reported Wednesday.

“The Coliseum is sold out for every game for the first time ever.”

“What is unique about this team is that we have the culmination of three very big recruiting years, and those classes have a sense of what this is all about already,” said Pete Carroll (at Pac-10 media day).

This is the most talented USC team to play under Carroll.

ComPETE is the name of the game and there will be plenty of it to bring about the best.

Notable position battles include quarterback (John David Booty vs. Mark Sanchez), tailback (Chauncey Washington vs. Michael Coleman and a stable of incoming freshmen) and all linebacker spots (Rey Maualuga vs. Oscar Lua, Dallas Sartz vs. Brian Cushing, Keith Rivers vs. Kaluka Maiava).

Team speed?

“Somebody put a stopwatch on them recently,” Carroll says, with a hint of a smile. “We think we have nine guys who run 10.7 or better (in the 100-yard dash).”

Oh, and lest we forget, the man pictured here. Nick Holt will be returning to replace Jethro Franklin in coaching the defensive line AND will be holding the title of defensive coordinator–the first other than Pete in the Pete Carroll era. You think he is good? He is better than good!

Fall Camp Begins [USCFootball.com]
USC reloading, not rebuilding [OCRegister]
Carroll doesn’t wonder ‘what if …’ [OCRegister]
Don’t Worry, Be Happy [DailyBreeze]
Camp Check-In [BrandonHancock.com]