Jokes?

When it comes to today's game against top-ranked Southern California, the Hawai'i football team has plenty of knee-slappers.

This week, UH coach June Jones said he hoped the Trojans wouldn't bring their mascot, a horse that races around the field after every USC score, because "it might die of exhaustion."

UH defensive coordinator Jerry Glanville mused: "We've got to get the third light (on the scoreboard) in case they hit a hundred."

Asked how the Warriors would slow the Trojans — led by quarterback Matt Leinart, the 2004 Heisman Trophy winner, and running back Reggie Bush, a finalist for the award — UH linebackers coach Cal Lee pretended to hold an imaginary rifle and said, "We're going to call the hunters."

Put aside the quips, and the Warriors are serious as a gas-price hike when it comes to facing the two-time defending national champions. Even as 36-point underdogs, the Warriors treat this as their turn at football Megabucks.

"On any given Saturday..." UH quarterback Tyler Graunke said.

"I've got a tattoo that says 'no fear' going down the right side of my leg," said UH slotback Jason Ferguson, who grew up in the shadows of the USC campus. "I'm not scared of anything but my mama. Now do I have butterflies? Yes. Is this a big game? Yes. Do I have respect for USC? Definitely, yes. But fear? You kidding me?

"They put their pants on the way we do, although they've got longer pants. The fact that they have on yellow and bronze or whatever color, and their logo is the 'Trojans' ... they're human, just like us. This is football. Anything can happen."

To be sure, this is not the usual UH opponent. Leinart wasn't even the Trojans' most valuable player in 2004. That award went to Bush, who wasn't even a full-time starter last season and didn't score a touchdown in a 55-19 rout of Oklahoma in the Orange Bowl. Steve Smith scored three touchdowns, but he will be pushed by freshman receiver Patrick Turner. And so it goes ...

In person, the USC players appear to be more imposing. During yesterday's 30-minute walk-through at Aloha Stadium, Leinart repeatedly lofted soft passes to sprinting receivers. The offensive linemen, during breaks, took turns dunking footballs on the goal post's cross bar.

The on-field temperature, measured at more than 100 degrees, did not appear to bother the players. Five fans on the USC sideline circulated warm dog-breath-like air. Asked about the afternoon heat, USC coach Pete Carroll said: "I feel very comfortable about it. ... I don't think there's any issue at all."

Asked about his players' stage of development, Carroll said: "I have a real good sense for it. They worked really hard. They're really anxious to play. They had a great preparation to get to this point. I have no hesitation. We should be able to perform our stuff and do what we want to do. We'll have to wait and see. You never know."

Glanville said he faced similar long odds 15 years ago, when he was the Atlanta Falcons' head coach. "We were a 17-point underdog (against Houston)," Glanville recalled. "For pro football, that's huge."

The Falcons ended up winning — a lesson, he said, for today's Warriors.

"Being an underdog by one point or 50, it doesn't matter," Glanville said. "I'm glad we are an underdog. Underdogs have more that they can achieve. They have more enjoyment if they're able to climb to the mountain top."

UH secondary coach Rich Miano said: "I've been studying USC, and the more you look at them, the better they get. After months of evaluation, I've come to this conclusion: they're not the best football team in the country. The New England Patriots are. But they're close."

Reach Stephen Tsai at stsai@honoluluadvertiser.com.