RIVALS COULD SHARE STADIUM COLLEGE FOOTBALL: USC SEEKS LEASE TO PLAY AT ROSE BOWL, UCLA'S HOME.

Byline: Scott Wolf 

Staff Writer

USC expressed its displeasure with the state of negotiations to improve the Coliseum on Tuesday when it announced it would seek a lease agreement with the Rose Bowl as its home field beginning next season.

USC would play at the Pasadena stadium for the next two seasons if an agreement is made; however, the public statement appeared to be a public negotiating ploy to force the hand of the Coliseum Commission, which has talked to USC since early this year about making improvements to the landmark structure.

Another curious factor was the timing, with the announcement made the week of the USC-UCLA game.

"I don't know what's up with the timing. We certainly didn't choose to do this," Coliseum general manager Pat Lynch said. "I don't think it's right. The focus should be on the game and the players.

"It was always stated to us by USC they didn't want to negotiate in the paper."

USC officials said the temporary move is necessary because the Coliseum has not undergone "substantive physical upgrades or preventive maintenance" for more than 10 years "because the Coliseum focused on attracting an NFL team that would renovate the stadium."

According to USC, it offered to fund a minimum of $100 million toward the repair, restoration and upgrade of the historic stadium, but the offer was rejected by the Coliseum.

"We never saw anything with a dollar figure," Lynch said.

Lynch agreed that the Coliseum Commission put off improvements during NFL negotiations and said the Coliseum approved a two-year lease for USC starting next year.

However, the major renovations, which include USC subletting the Coliseum, require more negotiations, Lynch said.

"(The commission) saw USC's proposal and some things people just couldn't vote for," Lynch said. "That's just part of the negotiation. It takes time to flush these things out."

USC general counsel Todd Dickey said playing in the Coliseum remained the "first choice."

In a prepared statement, USC athletic director Mike Garrett said, "We'll keep working to stay in the Coliseum, but until we have full support ... we're forced to pursue the option of playing in the Rose Bowl."

UCLA's lease gives it exclusive rights to play at the Rose Bowl and USC would need its rival's permission to move.

"UCLA's long-term lease protects its position as the primary tenant," the university said in a prepared statement.

"In the context of its ongoing partnership with the Rose Bowl, UCLA is willing to review any proposal regarding an additional tenant, after which UCLA would enter into the necessary discussions with both the City of Pasadena and the Rose Bowl regarding the feasibility of such an arrangement."

USC coach Pete Carroll joked about the idea of playing at the Rose Bowl on Tuesday night.

"It's kind of been our second home since we've been here," he said.

USC did not address what would happen next Nov. 8, when the Trojans and Bruins play home games. USC hosts California while UCLA hosts Oregon State.

Billy Witz contributed