Carroll Says 99% of Game Plan Is in Place

USC begins its official week of Rose Bowl activities today when the top-ranked Trojans return from a two-day break for Christmas.

USC is scheduled to practice this morning before attending a media event at Disney’s California Adventure. The Trojans will then check into the Century City hotel that will be their home for the next week.

USC and fourth-ranked Michigan also will participate in the Lawry’s Beef Bowl, attend a Laker game and attend a taping of “The Tonight Show With Jay Leno” in the days leading up to the game.

Before his team broke for the holiday Tuesday, Coach Pete Carroll said 99% of the game plan had been installed.

“Everything is in,” senior flanker Keary Colbert said. “We’ll spend the next week just sharpening things up and doing what we always do.”

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Senior defensive end Omar Nazel, who had a pin removed from his right thumb and was cleared to play Tuesday, is expected to take part in contact drills for the first time.... Tight end Gregg Guenther also is hoping to test his injured knee in contact drills.

-- Gary Klein