USC May Be Pressed at Pullman Today : Tollner Worries About Emotional Letdown Against Cougars (2-2-1)

There are some games that concern coaches more than others and they don’t necessarily have to be against traditional opponents, or have national significance.

USC’s game today with Washington State at Martin Stadium falls into that category for Coach Ted Tollner.

The Trojans are on a roll, unbeaten in four games and ranked ninth nationally. The Cougars are 2-2-1 and don’t figure, on paper at least, to beat USC.

Moreover, Washington State hasn’t defeated USC since 1957 and has won only 4 games while losing 39 and tying 4 in a series that began in 1921.

Tollner is aware, though, that if his team suffers a letdown, an upset may well result.

“I realize that you can’t play all 11 games at the same emotional level, but the difference in ability between the teams is not that great,” he said. “So we have to play as close to a high level as we can.”

There’s plenty at stake for the Trojans, who are unbeaten, as are Arizona and Stanford, the only other Pacific 10 teams with unblemished records.

And there is always the possibility that USC may be looking ahead to its game with Arizona State next Saturday at the Coliseum. Tollner’s job is to keep his team focused on the job at hand.

Washington State Coach Jim Walden maintains that his team should be 4-0-1 now because it didn’t play to its potential in losing to California and San Jose State.

That’s hindsight, of course, and did you ever hear a coach say that his record shouldn’t be as good as it is because it lucked out against some teams?

An interesting facet of today’s game is that both teams have quarterbacks with similar styles.

USC’s Rodney Peete is a threat as both a rollout runner and passer. Washington State’s Ed Blount disrupts defenses while running the option.

Peete can throw to several wide receivers, who have been productive this season--Ken Henry, Randy Tanner, John Jackson and Erik Affholter. Blount’s main target is split end Kitrick Taylor, who has caught 5 touchdown passes and is averaging 17.6 yards a catch.

USC sophomore tailback Aaron Emanuel will be starting for the first time today, having taken the assignment away from Ryan Knight by gaining 144 yards in 17 carries during a 35-21 win over Oregon last Saturday.

The Cougars counter with senior fullback Kerry Porter, a former 1,000-yard rusher, who is injury free for the first time in two years.

USC’s defense has a statistical edge over WSU, although the Cougars, led by middle linebacker Brian Forde, accounted for five interceptions in a surprise 21-21 tie with Arizona State Sept. 27.

Tollner and Walden are good friends off the field, although the Washington State coach admits that he has never had any particular fondness for the Trojans. But he’s softening.

“USC is starting to win my loyalty back because of Ted and the fact it hired one of my favorite people in George Raveling,” Walden said.

Raveling was Washington State’s basketball coach for 11 years before going to Iowa and then taking the USC job last March.

Walden is one of Tollner’s greatest boosters, mindful that the USC coach’s job might be in jeopardy this season if his team loses three or four games.

“I think Ted Tollner deserves USC, but I’m not so sure those hawks down there deserve him,” Walden said. “I’m glad that he’s proving some things, but not so glad that I don’t want to beat him. His reputation in our profession is damn high.”

Asked to evaluate the Trojans, Walden said: “I see a different football team, but a more difficult one to defense. When a quarterback such as Rodney Peete stretches the field, the width is to the advantage of the offense.

“Aaron Emanuel should be Rodney Peete’s best friend, because Peete makes a running back a lot better. USC was always a load, but when you add a quarterback like Peete, they become a hell of a team. As for USC’s defense, it’s of Rose Bowl caliber.”

Such praise may well be hyperbole, and Tollner is listening more carefully to another of Walden’s statements: “I think we’re as gkod as anybody in the league and although that might be a grandiose statement, we’ve beaten everybody in the league--except USC.”

Trojan Notes Today’s game will start at 1 p.m. . . . The game is available to satellite dish owners via Westar 4, transponder 1X, 6.2/6.8. . . . USC outside linebacker Ron Brown, who was doubtful earlier with a sprained knee, will be able to play today. So will inside linebacker Sam Anno, who missed the Oregon game with a hyper-extended knee. . . . WSU Coach Jim Walden is 0-5 against USC. The legendary Orin E. (Babe) Hollingbery coached WSU to two of its four wins over USC and also earned three ties. . . . Ken Henry has gained a conference-leading 354 yards with 20 catches this season. USC’s 538 yards in total offense against Oregon were the most since 1981 when the Trojans had 543 yards against Washington State. . . . In USC’s last game in Pullman in 1984, the Trojans squandered a big lead and barely beat WSU, 29-27. . . . Oregon State Coach Dave Kragthorpe on Washington State’s offense: “They are a little bit wild and woolly and unpredictable and I mean that as a compliment. You have to be prepared for anything with a team coached by Jim Walden.” . . . No conference team has gone undefeated and untied in league play since USC was 7-0 in 1976. . . . The Pac-10 champion has had at least one conference loss in 8 of the last 10 years. . . . USC is second in the league in total offense with an average of 386.2 yards a game. WSU is fourth at 366.2.