USC NOTEBOOK: CHOW'S STATUS STILL HOT TOPIC.

Byline: Scott Wolf  Staff Writer

USC offensive coordinator Norm Chow, already considered a hot coaching prospect after interviewing with Utah, has been contacted by Michigan State, which also has a coaching vacancy.

Chow declined comment Saturday, but sources said an inquiry was made this week by a member of the Big Ten Conference school's search committee. Chow likely would be considered a secondary candidate for the Spartans' job.

Utah is expected to make a decision on its coaching vacancy next week.

--Justice honored: Freshman offensive tackle Winston Justice was named a freshman All-American by the Sporting News. ``I should have been All-Pac-10, too,'' Justice said when informed.

Last year, defensive tackle Shaun Cody also was named a freshman All-American.

--The week ahead: The Trojans are off today and resume practice Thursday, Friday and Saturday. However, missing from those workouts will be quarterback Carson Palmer, who must attend several awards shows, including the Heisman Trophy ceremony.

Safety Troy Polamalu also will miss practice Thursday, because of the Thorpe Award ceremony, but should practice Friday and Saturday.

USC coach Pete Carroll said he isn't worried about the on-and-off nature of bowl practices, even though USC lost to Utah last year in the Las Vegas Bowl.

``We did fine last year, we played real hard in the game, I just didn't like the outcome,'' Carroll said.

--Lua hurt: Freshman linebacker Oscar Lua injured his right knee during a practice drill, and tests were being conducted for possible torn ligaments.

--Airing it out: Junior quarterback Brandon Hance of Taft High in Woodland Hills had one of his most strenuous workouts of the season since recovering from rotator cuff surgery, throwing the ball about 40 yards in practice.

After throwing, Hance jokingly checked his injured shoulder. ``I wanted to make sure everything was connected,'' Hance said. ``Everything was OK. I'm starting to heat it up.''

If UCLA had defeated Washington State and USC went to the Rose Bowl, Hance would have been the only Trojan with Rose Bowl experience, making the trip two years ago with Purdue.

``It was a first-class bowl game,'' Hance said. ``Everything was top notch. I remember it was about 20 degrees (in West Lafayette, Ind.), and we practiced in blizzards, and when we landed (in Pasadena) it was 90 degrees here.''

--Hart hurt: Freshman reserve quarterback Billy Hart sprained his ankle and was able to participate in only about half the practice.

--Travel packages: With USC expected to receive a Sugar Bowl bid today, the university and Pacific-10 Conference are expected to announce reduced-rate travel packages in order to increase the number of fans making the trip to New Orleans.

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NORM CHOW

USC's offensive coordinator, who interviewed for Utah job, has been contacted by Michigan State.