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ASSOCIATED PRESS
Southern California wide receiver Robert Woods, left, can't hold on to a touchdown pass as Hawaii cornerback Mike Edwards defends during the second half of their NCAA college football game, Saturday in Los Angeles. USC won 49-10.
The University of Southern California said it is in favor of extending its football series with Hawaii.
The Trojans won Saturday’s game 49-10, and have taken all eight meetings in a series that began in 1930.
They have played four times since 2003 and the 2013 opener at Aloha Stadium was the last under the current contract.
"USC has always believed that its games with Hawaii have been positive experiences for both institutions," said Steve Lopes, USC’s chief operating officer/senior association athletic director. "USC would be open to continuing the series in the future."
USC’s Aloha Stadium appearance on Sept. 2, 2010, remains the biggest home moneymaker in UH history. UH took in $1.1 million from 44,204 tickets distributed. As many as 7,000 Trojans fans have attended games at Aloha Stadium in the past.
The Trojans are a natural draw for Hawaii, which boasts a large USC alumni base. USC can also take advantage of the Hawaii exemption, an NCAA-enacted rule that allows a team that travels to play Hawaii to schedule an extra home game. The theory behind the rule is that by adding a home game, the team will generate enough revenue to cover the cost of traveling to Hawaii.
Asked if he favored an extension, USC coach Lane Kiffin said during Tuesday’s Pac-12 coaches’ teleconference, "Yeah, I think so. I know our fans enjoy going over there a lot. We have a lot of students on campus from Hawaii. And, so, yes."
UH acting athletic director Rockne Freitas said he also would like to continue the series. "You have to face the best to be the best," Freitas said. "I’m gonna talk to Norm (Chow) about it."
Chow, who coached at USC and has seen two of his children graduate from the school, did not immediately comment.
USC has outscored Hawaii by an average score of 49-14 in their eight meetings, with USC hitting the 60-point mark three times.
UH’s closest game against USC came on Dec. 2, 1978, when the then No. 3-ranked Trojans, led by Paul McDonald, Charles White and Ronnie Lott, led the Rainbows 7-5 entering the fourth period before winning 21-5.
UH has one opening each in the 2014 and ’15 seasons and several spaces in years beyond that.
Freitas said he is also looking into the possibilities of adding Oregon State and Michigan in future years. UH is scheduled to play OSU in 2013 and ’14 and last played Michigan in 1998.
