Trojans Need Perfect Game to Beat Bruins : Form Doesn’t Always Hold in This Series; That May Be USC’s Hope

When it comes to the UCLA-USC game, history teaches one thing--form does not always prevail.

This must come as some consolation to the Trojans, who find themselves carrying a 4-5 record into Saturday’s game against the 8-1-1 Bruins at the Coliseum.

Take 1960, for example. It was John McKay’s first season as USC’s coach and some alumni were grumbling that he should be fired before the UCLA game.

The Trojans came into the game with a 3-5 record, while the Bruins were 5-1-1. But USC went on to win, 17-6. McKay, of course, kept his job and went on to win four national championships in his 16-year tenure at the school.

Now, Ted Tollner finds himself in much the same situation, especially in the aftermath of USC’s 20-17 loss to Washington, a game the Trojans had apparently won.

But Tollner says the Trojans have bounced back from that defeat and are in good spirits.

“Thank goodness for youth,” he said Tuesday. “I’m encouraged by the attitude and morale of the team from meetings, work in the weight room and practice. There is life and fight in the team and they’re prepared to make it an interesting game.

“In my opinion, players respond faster than coaches after a loss.”

Tollner said, in essence, that USC must play an almost perfect game to beat UCLA Saturday at the Coliseum.

That seems a good strategy, since the Bruins are 8-1-1 overall and bearing down on the Rose Bowl, while the Trojans have a 4-5 record.

“We have to minimize our turnovers that hurt us in last year’s game that led to five UCLA field goals following short drives,” he said. “We have to be able to run the ball against a team with the nation’s best defense against the rush. And we can’t allow them to make any big plays.”

Tollner added that it would be unrealistic to assume that USC can completely stop UCLA’s running game, considering that the Bruins are averaging 219 yards rushing a game.

Some people believe that USC’s motivation will be as a spoiler, an opportunity to knock UCLA out of the Rose Bowl.

“That is down the list in our priorities,” Tollner said. “It is more what we can do for our program than taking away something from their’s.”

Tollner, in his third season as USC’s coach, has yet to beat UCLA.

Asked if there is any pressure on him, he said: “The only pressure is to win. The external attitudes don’t add to it.”

Tollner said that his injury list couldn’t match the long one that UCLA Coach Terry Donahue detailed Monday.

“Everybody that played against Washington last Saturday probably will play against UCLA,” Tollner said.

Cornerback Lou Brock is questionable with a sprained ankle, and inside linebacker Rex Moore is generally banged up. Moore, who has a hamstring injury, played for the first time this year last Saturday.

As for UCLA’s injuries, Tollner said: “Let’s see who plays on Saturday. With the Rose Bowl on the line, you get healthy fast.”

A Tuesday headline in the Daily Trojan, the school’s newspaper read: “UCLA Becomes Fort Donahue as L.A. Prepares for Troy Week.”

That was in reference to Donahue refusing to allow his players to be interviewed by Daily Trojan reporters.

The Daily Trojan reported that the UCLA sports information department said the coaching staff is worried that some of the players’ statements would be misconstrued. Tim Tessalone, USC’s sports information director, said there are no restrictions on Daily Bruin writers interviewing USC players.

Trojan Notes Ted Tollner said that he called Don James in reference to the Washington coach accusing Seattle high school coaches of spying on the Huskies last week and turning the information over to USC. “I told him there is not truth to it and you better find a way to substantiate it. We wouldn’t resort to that. You teach your players how to win with dignity,” Tollner said. . . . USC nose guard Tony Colorito and tailback Aaron Emanuel, who have been sidelined since the Notre Dame game Oct. 26 with ankle injuries, are not expected to play against UCLA. . . . Quarterback Rodney Peete’s 68-yard pass to split end Hank Norman against Washington was the longest USC completion since Vince Evans teamed with Randy Simmrin on a 69-yard pass against Oregon in 1975. . . . Since 1966, when the Rose Bowl has been on the line for one or both teams, USC has a 10-3 record against UCLA. . . . USC used three inside linebackers, Rex Moore, Sam Anno and Keith Davis, against Washington in run situations. . . . USC was not in a prevent defense when the Huskies drove 98 yards to a a touchdown in the closing minutes. Tollner had six defensive backs in the game at times, but some of them were deployed like linebackers with blitzing responsibilities. In most prevent defenses, only two or three linemen are rushing, while others are in pass coverage.