USC Spring Football Preview: Competition, Competition, Competition

It's been the mantra ever since Steve Sarkisian took over, and his players are certainly embracing the competitive spirit around the program. Players finished up the seven-week training program under strength coach Ivan Lewis in determined fashion this week, and are excited for Tuesday's first practice of Spring Football.

In a classic battle of offense versus defense, USC let the competitive spirit run wild in an early morning workout. Plenty of stars took part in the festivities as each unit showcased the fiery passion fans always love to see, especially when opening kickoff to the season sits five months out in the distance.

Steve Sarkisian will have 18 starters returning from last season (8 on offense and defense, plus kicker and punter) with 80 total players on the roster to work with. While the Trojans will only have 49 letterman from last season, and under 70 scholarship players on the overall roster, coach Sarkisian does not seem too worried about talk of numbers.

"We're not worried about who we don't have on the roster or what our numbers are," said Sarkisian. "What we do know is we have a roster of very talented football players who are hungry to do well." via Spring Football Outlook

What Sarkisian does bring to the table is plenty of experience on campus, now in the midst of his fifth coaching stop with the Trojans, and a young and excited staff ready to bring back some of the feelings from 2004 onto this program. From the workout, it looks like the defense won this battle but we will see next week who begins to win the war.