USC football: Open-door practice policy to be adjusted

During the Pete Carroll era at USC, students, fans and others streamed into practices at Howard Jones Field after checking in at the gate to Howard Jones Field.

USC's athletic department is taking steps to change things as new Coach Lane Kiffin prepares for his first season .

The school announced Monday that Tuesday's opening spring workout would be open only to players' family members, recruits and the media. An admittance policy for future workouts is being developed and will be announced soon, the school said.

Tightened restrictions on admittance to practices is almost certainly a response, in part, to the NCAA investigation that has USC bracing for possible sanctions. USC appeared before the NCAA's infractions committee last month and is awaiting a decision that could be announced in late April or May.

--Gary Klein