The University of Hawai'i and Southern California began talks aimed at adding to their football series.

USC athletic Mike Garrett said he'd like to schedule Hawai'i every four years, a possibility that UH's Herman Frazier said he was also interested in.

"We talked a little bit (yesterday) and we'll talk some more," Frazier said after the game. "With the 13th game rule (for UH and 12 for everybody else) that went into place (for 2006 and beyond), we'll both have some openings to talk about."

The current contract has one more game left on it, Sept. 4, 2010 at Aloha Stadium.

But Garrett, the 1965 Heisman Trophy winner, said "this is a very popular game for our players and our fans. You can tell that by the number of people we brought."

UH sold approximately 10,000 tickets directly through USC. "The timing is good for a lot of our fans who can plan sort of a late summer vacation," Garrett said.

REPLAY PRACTICE

Jim Blackwood, supervisor of Western Athletic Conference officials, and a two-man crew began the conference's experiment with instant replay at yesterday's game.

The WAC will have similar dry runs at all UH home games, said WAC commissioner Karl Benson, who termed yesterday's run, "very encouraging."

Using the ESPN feed and working from a booth in the press box, Benson said it was determined two first-half calls, including Reggie Bush's 41-yard run down the left sideline, were reviewed. Benson said neither call would have been overturned.

"Replays showed both were the correct calls," Benson said

The WAC has invested approximately $2,500 in replay equipment for UH games and has hired two local officials to run it.

Benson said the WAC may undertake a similar program at Fresno State or Boise State.

The WAC is one of two Division I-A conferences without instant replay this year.

TROJAN GATHERING

More than 3,000 Southern California supporters turned Richardson Field across Aloha Stadium into a sea of cardinal and gold at a luau prior to yesterday's game.

The event, open to USC athletic support group members and the USC alumni club in Hawai'i, was sold out in June, according to Jennifer Noriega, USC assistant athletic director for events. USC supporters without tickets were being turned away at the $35 event for USC supporters, most of whom must donate at least $2,500 to the program.

With tents that could seat hundreds, and four tents each for food and beverages, fans were entertained by three shirtless men dressed in hula skirts.

"We just decided to dress like this and people started coming up and taking pictures with us," said Santa Monica realtor Paul Czako, 35, a 1991 USC graduate.

Czako and friends, Tab Howard, 28, an independent personal trainer, and student Leo Maeder, said they travel "to every USC road game."

"Not dressed like this," Howard added.

"We're just crazy, and devoted, guys," Czako said.

USC fans bought 10,000 to 12,000 tickets, according to sports information director Tim Tessalone.

LEINART PASSES PALMER

USC quarterback Matt Leinart's 28-yard touchdown pass to Dwayne Jarrett in the third quarter was the 73rd of his career, surpassing Carson Palmer and making him the school's career leader in the category. He added another in the third quarter to Steve Smith for his 74th.

MAIAVA SEES ACTION

USC freshman linebacker Kaluka Maiava, a 2005 Baldwin graduate, played on special teams.

"It was intense," he said. "I was really nervous until I got that first hit."

He incurred a 15-yard penalty in the third quarter for a late hit during a kickoff.

"That was legal," Maiva said, "they threw that flag early."

UH BACK MAKES MARK

It was a "bittersweet" night for Hawai'i freshman running back David Farmer, who scored UH's second touchdown.

His father, Dave, is a former Trojan football player, but "my dad never scored, and he was a fullback."

"I would have loved to have the outcome be different," he said.

Reach Ferd Lewis at flewis@honoluluadvertiser.com and Leila Wai at lwai@honoluluadvertiser.com.