USC FOOTBALL NOTEBOOK: `PROGRESS' IN TRANSFER QUERY.

Byline: Scott Wolf Staff Writer

A USC compliance official said Thursday that an investigation ``continues to make progress'' into whether UNLV made improper contact with former quarterback Rocky Hinds or cornerback Eric Wright before the players transferred.

Although Hinds and Wright are enrolled at UNLV and sitting out the season, USC remains unhappy over the circumstances of their transfer. USC coach Pete Carroll spoke with athletic department officials about the matter this week, sources said.

Carroll declined comment Thursday, but when Hinds initially considered transferring, the coach said: ``He's been influenced to consider (transferring) and to see what his options are.''

Carroll and UNLV coach Mike Sanford spoke over the summer, and Sanford denied any wrongdoing. Under NCAA rules, an athlete can't speak to another school until obtaining an official release.

To continue an investigation, it's clear USC believes something occurred. The compliance office already examined phone records to search for communication between the athletes and Rebels coaches.

If USC finds any wrongdoing, it could forward the information to the NCAA. Sources said USC has not sent anything to the NCAA yet.

--Different answers: Safety Darnell Bing (hip flexor) said he ``doubted'' he would play against Arkansas, but Carroll was optimistic he could be available.

``He ran around enough (in practice) to be available,'' Carroll said. ``At this point, we don't need to rely on starting him, but I'd like to see him get some time.''

Sophomore Josh Pinkard will make his first career start.

``He's had a great two weeks, he's shown nothing but good stuff,'' Carroll said.

Freshman Kevin Ellison also is expected to see playing time.

--Moore out: Defensive end Kyle Moore (sprained knee) will not play, but linebacker Kaluka Maiava (sprained neck) should be available. Maiava underwent a CT scan and an MRI that detected no damage.

Offensive lineman Jeff Byers, who is out for the season following hip surgery, is finally walking normally following surgery in mid-July.

``I'm still about 13 weeks off,'' Byers said.

--Ticket count: About 2,000 general-admission tickets, plus an undetermined amount of student tickets, remained on sale, for the Arkansas game.

If there is a sellout, it would be USC's first capacity crowd against a Southeastern Conference team. Even if it's not a sellout, it is expected to be the largest Coliseum crowd for an SEC team. The current record is 75,000 in 1931 against Georgia, which at the time belonged to the Southern Conference. It was a charter member of the SEC in 1933.

Carroll said the best Coliseum crowd he's experienced was the 2002 game against Notre Dame.

``That game was the most electric crowd I've ever been in,'' Carroll said. ``It's a wonderful goal to recreate that.''

--Blitzed out: Hawaii blitzed USC aggressively two weeks ago, and Arkansas also is expected to bring extra pass rushers at quarterback Matt Leinart.

``I wish somebody would play us straight,'' offensive line coach Pat Ruel joked.

Ruel said he's more worried about the Razorbacks' blitz.

``They have better personnel,'' Ruel said. ``They have speed to cover people one-on-one. But if a team blitzes, they will give up big plays. They're taking a risk, and sometimes taking a risk is our gain.''

So what would Ruel do if he were coaching against the Trojans' big-play offense?

``I think I'd be very picky about when I did blitz,'' he said. ``We're a well-rounded offense, and, to be honest, I wouldn't want to play us.''

--Birthday bath: The Trojans doused Carroll after practice with water to celebrate his 54th birthday.

``I thought I was going to make it through, doggone it,'' he said.

Scott Wolf, [phone]

scott.wolf(at)dailynews.com