LOS ANGELES (AP) — Southern California’s football practices used to be one of the best parties in a party town. Hundreds of fans, boosters and celebrities — and apparently a few unscrupulous characters, too — all gathered on the sidelines to watch the mighty Trojans’ workouts under coach Pete Carroll.

Everything changed last season under the pall of severe NCAA sanctions. The crowds all but vanished due to stricter regulation, and coach Lane Kiffin barely had enough players to run full workouts after several key backups jumped ship.

A week into training camp for Kiffin’s second season, it’s clear USC still is undergoing changes — but for the first time in a few years, they’re not all negative. USC is still recovering, but Kiffin sees a way back up.

(Copyright 2011 by The Associated Press.  All Rights Reserved.)