New Washington coach Chris Petersen appeared on the Dan Patrick show this morning and addressed interviewing with USC.

“I really enjoyed them and appreciated them,” Petersen said. “I think those guys were trying to figure things out like I was.

“Is the fit exactly right? That’s the trick in this whole thing. Everybody gets excited about a job or a university, if you’re a recruit. I don’t think it’s any different, whether you’re a coach or a player trying to figure out where you’re going. The fit has to be really perfect.”

Now that Washington defensive line coach Tosh Lupoi will not be coming to USC, who will the Trojans hire to coach the defensive line? How about Ed Orgeron? He doesn’t want to work with Steve Sarkisian but maybe he should come back and wait in the wings in case this investigation actually sticks to the new head coach.

The NCAA, USC and Washington will meet Friday with a high school football coach from Lynnwood, Wash., who claims Huskies assistant Tosh Lupoi paid him $4,500 for tutoring and online classes.

Lynnwood coach Mike Davis told the Los Angeles Times he received two payments from Lupoi. Davis told the Seattle Times he was “flabbergasted” that Lupoi paid him.

Now the question is what did Sarkisian know, if anything? He would be subject to new NCAA rules that presume he is responsible for any violation committed by his assistants.

Remember USC A.D. Pat Haden said he fully vetted Sarkisian when he hired him as coach.

Andy Holzman/Los Angeles Daily News

Some USC seniors were carried off the field for final home practice. Click here for photo gallery.

That’s USC tight end Chris Willson trying to win the pie-eating contest against Fresno State. The Bulldogs emerged victorious, however.

USC quarterback Cody Kessler and Fresno State quarterback Derek Carr, both Bakersfield natives, saw each other today at a Las Vegas Bowl press conference. The Trojans remain a 6-point favorite.

Now it’s USC’s turn to meet the Elvis impersonator when the Trojans arrived in Las Vegas. USC is currently at an event with Fresno State at Fremont Street.

UPDATE: Fresno State defeated the Trojans Wednesday night in a pie-eating contest.

USC left for Las Vegas this afternoon and Clay Helton ended practice early so the Trojans would be on time for the Las Vegas Bowl’s first event. He doesn’t want to be late like Lane Kiffin was at last year’s Sun Bowl dinner.

Media reports in Seattle say Washington coach Chris Petersen hired Boise State quarterbacks coach Jonathan Smith. That confirms the idea that Marques Tuiasosopo will be coming to USC because he cannot coach quarterbacks with the Huskies.

The Las Vegas Bowl announced this morning the game is sold out. But it also announced that fans can contact USC and Fresno State to see if they have tickets remaining from their 11,000-allotments. So in other words, there are plenty of tickets available.