USC football: Hawaii, Trojans contact NCAA in regard to opener

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In an effort to confirm the status of their Sept. 2 game at Honolulu, USC and Hawaii officials have contacted the NCAA.

As part of the sanctions and probation the NCAA levied against USC last week, the Trojans are prohibited from taking advantage of the exemption that allows schools to play 13 games if one is in Hawaii.

USC officials declined to comment, but a source close to the situation, who requested anonymity because the person is not authorized to speak publicly pending an expected appeal of the sanctions by USC, said the school had contacted the NCAA.

The NCAA’s Committee on Infractions apparently included the language about the exemption to ward off use similar to that employed by Alabama, which scheduled 13th games at Hawaii in 2002 and 2003 after it was put on probation.

Several USC sources said they were hopeful that the NCAA would allow the Sept. 2 game to be played because it was scheduled years ago.

Jim Donovan, Hawaii’s athletic director, told the Honolulu Star-Advertiser this week that cancellation of the game could cost cash-strapped Hawaii more than a million dollars.

-- Gary Klein