Hawaii Beat

Tuesday, August 24, 1999

USC defense has something
to prove against Hawaii

Star-Bulletin news services

IRVINE, Calif. -- USC's defense is fed up with hearing that it is the team's question mark, especially after stuffing the offense during much of last weekend's first scrimmage.

"A lot of us are mad," linebacker Zeke Moreno said. "We have a lot of guys returning and people say the defense is the weakness."

Actually, one of those is USC coach Paul Hackett, who said the defense had "flip-flopped" roles with the offense, which now has the most experience.

"They've been saying the defense is the weakness, but still the offense can't do much on us," Moreno said. "We hope we can continue that in (the season opener against) Hawaii. We have something to prove."