DeFilippo solidifies USC series

After two months of negotiations over dates, Boston College and Southern California have agreed to a two-year series beginning in 2013 in Los Angeles and returning to Chestnut Hill in 2014. The arrangement was originally scheduled to begin in 2011, but USC couldn't clear the dates.

"We went back and forth and we just couldn't get it done in 2011," BC athletic director Gene DeFilippo said yesterday. "But this will work out great."

DeFilippo is still looking for a nonconference game in 2011.

"We want to find someone in a major conference," he said. "We've talked to a few people but [there's] nothing definite."

DeFilippo said BC needs another game because Syracuse, which signed a 10-year deal to play the Eagles beginning in 2010, opted out of playing in 2011 and 2012.

"I would like to see us play teams similar to ours in philosophy," said DeFilippo.

The AD mentioned Northwestern as a possibility.

"We have a good alumni base in Chicago." he said.

While DeFilippo was working on future schedules, he was also exploring new technology in equipment, specifically a state-of-the-art football helmet which is equipped to detect concussions in players almost instantly. The system, which is used by only nine colleges, has sensors in the helmet that would detect concussions after violent hits. The helmets, which are used at Big Ten schools Indiana, Iowa, Illinois, and most recently, Minnesota, cost approximately $50,000 per team for nearly 70 helmets.

"It's an interesting concept," said DeFilippo, who said that he would monitor how Minnesota does this season using the helmets. "I'm going to talk to some people out there and see how it works out. If it does, its seems like a no-brainer. We'll do it."

BC finished phase one of its summer session yesterday, working out in helmets and shorts. The Eagles will begin two-a-days tomorrow morning with the first scrimmage scheduled for tomorrow night. "I have a script I'm going to follow," said coach Jeff Jagodzinski when asked about the format. "Probably 30 live plays per guy [for the first and second units]." . . . The Eagles were down a few players yesterday, particularly at running back as both Jeff Smith and L.V. Whitworth were held out. "We've got a couple of guys nicked up," said Jagodzinski. "What it does is give other guys opportunities." . . . One of the early surprises of camp is the rapid recovery of redshirt freshman cornerback Chris Fox, who suffered a broken right fibula and ankle in the spring game and was originally thought to be out for an extended period. Fox, however, was on the field yesterday . . . The Eagles today will unveil new uniforms with four combinations, instead of the traditional home and road uniforms. The combos, which will be modeled by Matt Ryan and Jolonn Dunbar, will include maroon jerseys and gold pants, maroon jerseys and white pants, white jerseys and gold pants, and white jerseys and white pants. The Eagles will also wear a black stripe on their uniforms in honor of the victims of the Virginia Tech campus shooting last spring . . . Jagodzinski reiterated he would consider using Whitworth and Andre Callender in the same backfield. "I don't want it to be a pure passing deal," said Jagodzinski. "We may be able to split one of those guys and play some one-back. There's a lot of things we can do with those guys. It's just one of the things that we can do that a defensive coordinator will have to deal with." Jagodzinski said he's hoping for "a balanced offense [150 yards rushing, 250 passing]. That's the goal we have set," he said.

Mark Blaudschun can be reached at blaudschun@globe.com.