SC NOTEBOOK: IT WAS TIME TO LET OFF SOME STEAM IN SHOWER.

Byline: Scott Wolf  Staff Writer

Normally, USC strong safety Troy Polamalu is the most soft-spoken player on the team.

But anyone inside the Trojans' locker room following the loss to Stanford - or listening to the postgame radio interviews - heard Polamalu screaming at the top of his lungs in the shower area.

Polamalu's tirade was so loud, several people ran back to the showers, to see if everything was OK.

``It was something that needed to be said,'' Polamalu said. ``That we're not winning is not because of X's and O's. People see our talent. You can't blame the coaches for the loss.

``Whatever we're doing isn't working. I don't think it's the coaches' fault and I only blame myself.''

Polamalu said it's too soon to tell if his teammates took his remarks, which weren't aimed at anyone in particular, seriously.

``I might have yelled at the air, if no one listens,'' he said. ``It depends on how they respond. I'm part of the problem, too.''

--Arbet talks: Last seen getting beaten by Stanford wide receiver Jamien McCullum for a touchdown on the final play of the game, USC cornerback Kevin Arbet finally made his first public comments Tuesday about the play.

``I've never gone through anything like this. It's been kind of rough,'' Arbet said. ``It's tough. I'm trying to put it behind me. It was a one-on-one situation and I had to make the play and I didn't. I have another game to redeem myself.''

Asked if he replayed the moment in his head, Arbet said, ``About a million times.''

Arbet said the play taught him to be more focused late in a game.

``I should have been aware where (McCullum) was lined up,'' Arbet said. ``I should have been deeper and on the outside of him.''

--Change in philosophy: When he was at Pittsburgh, Hackett was criticized for being too hands-on, since he coached quarterbacks and also called plays.

Tuesday, he said one personal change he would make is to become more involved with every aspect of the Trojans.

``I need to take some of the observing out of the head-coaching role and be more deliberately on top,'' Hackett said. ``Physically in charge of everything that is going on. As a coach, you're always looking for that little edge, what you can do, and how you can shift a gear. We're down the home stretch now and we need to rev it up a little more.''

Hackett became more verbal and more upbeat in practice with the players.

``Maybe there's been too much removal,'' he said. ``I don't know that. I think instead of saying not being quite as removed, maybe being a little closer is a better way of saying that.''

--Make-up rule: USC cornerback Kris Richard said he would like to resume returning punts this week, especially after his fumble two weeks ago against Oregon.

``I definitely feel like I owe one to the team,'' Richard said.

--Arizona State kickoff: Next week's game at Arizona State will kickoff at 6 p.m. (local time) and is tentatively scheduled to be televised on Fox Sports Net.

--Poll results: The Daily Trojan concluded its survey on whether Hackett should be fired Tuesday night. The results were 90 percent in favor of firing Hackett; 10 percent supported keeping the coach.

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Photo: ``You can't blame our coaches,'' says USC strong safety Troy Polamalu.

John McCoy/Staff photographer