EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. - The last time USC played in the Meadowlands, Paul Hackett was in his final season as coach and the Trojans were coming off one of their worst decades in program history.
But 12 years later, USC rolls into New Jersey as the nation's No. 2-ranked team with the Heisman Trophy frontrunner and a high-powered offense full of marquee players.
"It's going to be crazy," USC linebacker Dion Bailey said. "I've never been to New York.
"We need to represent our colors."
USC is a 26-point favorite over Syracuse on Saturday, but this game really comes with a variety of implications. There will be a contingent of East Coast media watching that vote in Top 25 polls and vote for the Heisman Trophy along with other individual awards.
The Trojans are expected to defeat the Orange, but how they do it could pay dividends even after the season. If wide receiver Marqise Lee has another game like he did against Hawaii, it would be hard to imagine a Biletnikoff Award voter not remembering his performance even in December.
"To play on the East Coast is good for our team," quarterback Matt Barkley said.
"All eyes are on us," Bailey added. "This is why you play college football."
It also could re-establish USC as a recruiting force in New Jersey. Former USC stars Brian Cushing and Dwyane Jarrett were from the Garden State, but USC recently has been less visible in the Northeast.
Freshman linebacker
Anthony Sarao is the only current USC player from New Jersey, and he originally committed to Stanford but changed his mind after Jim Harbaugh left."I started to know about USC when Reggie (Bush) was on ESPN or Cushing came," Sarao said. "I knew they treated Jersey players well."
Sarao estimated up to 40 family members and friends will attend the game.
"I'm on the hound for tickets," Sarao said. "It's surprising to me because I didn't know until the schedule came out we were playing in Jersey. I had no idea."
Also begging their teammates for tickets are quarterback Max Wittek and tailback Silas Redd, who are from nearby Connecticut.
"I need a lot more," said Redd, who expects about 25 friends and family at the game.
Barkley hopes to return here, or more precisely, to Manhattan in December for the Heisman Trophy ceremony. But he played it cool this week talking about the award.
"That's outside of my control," he said.
But not USC's control.
The school placed pictures of Barkley and USC coach Lane Kiffin on a billboard at 44th Avenue and 7th Street in downtown Manhattan this week. That is something USC never did in the past, but the school is trying to raise its image coming off a two-year bowl ban.
"Tall buildings and busy streets, that's all I know of New York," Bailey said.
Unfortunately for Bailey and his teammates, they will not actually see the Big Apple. USC will stay New Jersey, and even though today will be a virtually free day the only planned activity is a walk-through at MetLife Stadium.
"We are flying there with one thing in mind and that's to win the game and get back home," Kiffin said. "This is all business. This isn't about family. It's about business."
Playing at the stadium the New York Giants and New York Jets share is enough for Bailey.
"I'm just excited to play in an NFL stadium," he said.
He might not be thrilled with the weather. Sarao, who is from Egg Harbor Township, said his teammates will notice a difference.
"There is humidity," he said. "It's hard to breathe. The air is thicker."
Even though USC is heavily favored and playing in a completely different environment, Barkley said he doesn't expect the Trojans to be out of sync.
"I don't think the guys will let that happen," he said. "I always expect the worst, so we are ready for any situation."
Besides, one game does not make a season. Just ask Hackett. USC defeated Penn State 29-5 in 2000 at Giants Stadium in their season-opening game. The Trojans went 5-7 that season and Hackett was fired.
Perhaps there was a silver lining. USC replaced Hackett with Pete Carroll.
scott.wolf@dailynews.com
twitter.com/InsideUSC
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