USC NOTEBOOK: PINKARD INJURES KNEE.

Byline: SCOTT WOLF Staff Writer

FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. -- USC safety Josh Pinkard suffered a potentially serious knee injury against Arkansas.

Pinkard injured his knee on a punt return and felt a crack. X-rays were negative but he will undergo a magnetic-resonance imaging test to determine if there is ligament damage.

Pinkard was on crutches after the game.

``The guy called a fair catch and I tried to get out of his way, but I just felt it crack,'' Pinkard said.

Linebacker Oscar Lua pulled a hamstring on the game's first play and will probably be out at least two weeks. He will also undergo an MRI.

Ironically, Lua got hurt by starting. He didn't return after that as Rey Maualuga replaced him.

``I'm hoping I'll be ready in a week,'' Lua said. ``I've got two weeks to get ready.''

USC has a bye this week before playing Nebraska at the Coliseum on Sept. 16.

Defensive end Lawrence Jackson, fullback Ryan Powdrell and linebacker Thomas Williams suffered minor injuries but all returned.

No worries: Wide receiver Steve Smith said he never doubted the Trojans could score 50 points against Arkansas.

``We know what we can do,'' he said. ``We're happy with the score. The young guys did a great job. John David (Booty) was a little anxious in the first half but he settled down.

``We just needed to stay focused in the first half and work on the little things.''

Let's go: USC coach Pete Carroll said he told the offensive coaches to open up the game plan in the second half because things got too conservative. That wasn't a problem last year when USC threw deep almost too much early in the season.

``John David's timing was beautiful,'' Carroll said. ``To come out and play the way he did, and to have our special teams play that way and our defense, a lot of good things happened tonight.''

Recruiting news: USC assistant coach Brennan Carroll flew across state Friday night to watch tailback Broderick Green play his first game of the season.

Green, who is from Little Rock, played against Forrest City, which is in Jonesboro. USC is staying in Northwest Arkansas while Jonesboro is in the Northeast part of the state.

Green committed to USC last spring although there's been some question about the strength of his commitment, mainly because of local pressure to play closer to home.

Beat USC: T-shirts at the Fayetteville Wal-Mart (where else?) that say ``Beat USC'' went for $5.

Career best: USC kicker Mario Danelo kicked a career-long 44-yard field goal, breaking his record of 43 yards set in the Rose Bowl. He's made 14 consecutive field goals since missing in last year's season opener.

Blast from the past: Former USC wide receiver Keyshawn Johnson was on the sideline, along with ex-players Mike Salmon and Craig Gibson.