USC NOTEBOOK: JUSTICE WEIGHS OPTIONS.

Byline: Scott Wolf  Staff Writer

USC coach Pete Carroll met with Winston Justice after the Trojans' final practice this week to discuss next season and whether or not the offensive tackle will return since he is considering turning pro, according to sources.

Carroll said he believes Justice should return next year, but a final decision still has not been made, and the junior-to-be is still weighing his options.

Justice was suspended by the university after pointing a pellet gun at another student during a prank but is enrolled for the spring semester, which begins next month.

However, he also is eligible to enter the NFL Draft. and some scouts believe he could be a second-round pick.

Justice, who is 6-foot-6, still weighs 302 pounds, his playing weight last season.

--Orange Bowl buildup: Carroll said losing the Orange Bowl wouldn't ruin the season for either USC or Oklahoma.

``It's an enormous accomplishment when you get it done, but I don't think you'll drop off the map,'' he said.

``The game would be a disappointment, but you can't think that the season is lost. Too many good things happened to both schools.

There certainly is time for recovery, though.''

Carroll said USC has known since the first day of training camp that a national championship was a real possibility.

``The first night at camp, we came together at the 50-yard line and recognized what our chances were,'' he said.

``We're very proud of our football team and getting it done.''

--Quiet time: USC's offensive line didn't turn out to be a weakness this season despite losing four of five starters.

It's even more surprising because the line doesn't really have a vocal leader and is too quiet for assistant coach Tim Davis' taste.

Among the starters, only Fred Matua is considered a talker who will try to motivate his teammates.

``That was always a problem for us,'' Davis said.

``I think that's what Fred (Matua) does for us. It was always (Jacob Rogers) for us. I leaned on (Rogers) heavily.

And the support was Eric Torres and Lenny Vandermade. This is a quiet group.''

Davis said he thinks the linemen will become louder next season with a year of experience under their belts.

``I think you'll see a real difference in the spring,'' Davis said.

``I like the fact they trust each other right now. They're only getting better and better.''

--Coaching scorecard: A week after Carroll said he and defensive line coach Ed Orgeron agreed not to let Orgeron take any assistants to Mississippi, here's what happened:

Wide receivers coach Lane Kiffin: offered job, turned it down.

Linebackers coach Rocky Seto: offered job, turned it down.

Linebackers coach Ken Norton: discussed job, declined interest.

Special-teams coordinator Dennis Slutak: discussed job, not offered.

Scott Wolf, [phone]

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FRED MATUA

Sophomore is the only one of USC's starting offensive linemen who will speak up and try to motivate the group.