At USC, the Big Bully on the Block Is Jeff Bregel

If it had been a bullfight, the bull would have won. The bull in this case was Jeff Bregel, USC’s All-American guard who had somehow impaled a Baylor defensive lineman on his shoulder pads.

There was Bregel thumping the poor guy 15 yards downfield while carrying out his block to the ultimate.

Bregel was assessed a penalty for hitting after the whistle, but it was a close call and USC coaches said later that officials weren’t used to seeing a lineman stay on his block for so long.

As USC’s 21st All-American offensive lineman since 1964 and someone most likely destined to be honored again, the 6-foot 4-inch, 280-pound Bregel is merely doing what he and others before him have been taught. That perhaps accounts for 15 USC offensive linemen having been first-round National Football League draft choices since 1968.

“You look at the difference between us and some other schools that I’d rather not mention and we’re taught more professional-style techniques,” Bregel said. “Like staying on a block and keep driving until the whistle blows, so someone can’t get off you and make a tackle.

“Our pass blocking is more advanced now because we’re passing more than we did four or five years ago. We watch old films and USC linemen were doing the same thing we’re doing now, even with different coaches.”

As USC’s strong-side guard, Bregel is the lead blocker on “28 pitch,” a play that has gained national prominence because of the Heisman Trophy-winning tailbacks and blockers who have executed it.

There has been, however, a drop in the productivity of the USC running game this season. The Trojans are averaging only 143 yards rushing a game, about 60 yards below the standard of other years.

“I think the reason for that is that we never get a rhythm going,” Bregel said. “We’re throwing the ball more (an average of 27 passes a game), and it takes awhile to get an offense like this on track. We’re doing so many different things now.

“I know last year when we were running the ball more consecutively, we had a higher average. If the backs don’t see the ball as much, they’re not going to get that rhythm either.”

Although Bregel and strong-side tackle Dave Cadigan are experienced players, there are relatively inexperienced players on the weak side of the line and at center.

USC Coach Ted Tollner has said that the Trojans have to be more diversified now because they can’t consistently overpower other teams.

John Robinson, USC’s former coach, always maintained that running teams punish an opponent more than passing teams.

Bregel concurs, saying: “When you’re passing, the offensive linemen get a little tired in protection, but the linebackers are just dropping off and they’re not as tired. You can wear them down a lot more by running at them. You run at them with the pitch and power plays and, although you might not get the yards at first, they’ll be worn down in the third and fourth quarters to the point that they don’t feel like coming off blocks and you can decleat them.”

The decleater , in USC parlance, is knocking a defensive player off his feet and onto his backside.

Bregel has acknowledged skills, but Pat Morris, offensive line coach, is most impressed by his work habits. “Jeff loves what he’s doing, and nobody practices harder than he does,” Morris said.

As a senior and three-year starter, Bregel is one of the leaders on the team. He and Tim McDonald, All-American strong safety, asserted their leadership last week at a team meeting for players only.

Bregel was concerned that a recent Sports Illustrated story about alleged strained relations between Tollner and Athletic Director Mike McGee might adversely affect the team. A more detailed article on the subject appeared in The Times last June.

“I just stood up and said that sort of thing is not beneficial to the team,” Bregel said. “I told them that we have to go out and play the best football we can play and not let that stuff bother us.

“I’ve been here for four years, but the younger guys come in and they’ve got a coach who has recruited them. They expect to play four years (for him) and then they hear rumors that if Coach Tollner loses one more game, or whatever, he’s gone.

“Such a thing is going to hurt the work ethic with the younger guys. It has to affect them psychologically. I just said that if something is going to happen, it will happen and you can’t worry about it.”

Bregel said that McDonald said the same thing, in essence, while adding that Tollner was able to hold his own ground and that the team should just concentrate on winning.

USC then went out and zapped Stanford, 10-0.

With a 5-2 record, 3-2 in the Pacific 10, the Trojans are at a point where they could go on to a winning record and a bowl bid, or falter as they did last year, when they finished with a 6-6 record.

“We just basically have to play one game at a time and have fun,” Bregel said. “Who knows? Maybe we can back into the Rose Bowl if some other teams lose. UCLA has done it the last few years.”

Whether USC succeeds or not, Bregel still might get considerable individual acclaim. He has already been selected for a scholar-athlete award from the National Football Foundation. Here are other possible honors:

--Outland Trophy, given to the outstanding college interior lineman, and Lombardi Award, identifying the college lineman of the year.

--GTE Academic All-American.

--NCAA award as one of the six top scholar-athletes in any sport.

--NCAA postgraduate scholarship.

Bregel has a 3.30 grade-point average as a business-finance major, and he expects to graduate in May.

“I’m splitting my emphasis with two real estate classes and two investment finance classes,” Bregel said. “I worked for a corporate attorney last summer. I was just a messenger, but I learned quite a bit--limited partnerships, real estate deals, tax shelters and such. It’s a pretty interesting field.”

It would be gratifying for him, of course, to win either the Outland Trophy, or Lombardi Award, previously earned by Trojans Ron Yary and Brad Budde, respectively, but he isn’t counting on it.

“I think about it from time to time, but it’s hard to say that I’m the best offensive lineman in the country when there are so many top guys,” Bregel said. “If those things are meant to be, it will happen at the end of the season.”

Bregel said his attention is focused on Saturday night’s game with Arizona at Tucson.

“They always have a good defense and they’re going to be tough,” he said. “I think our No. 1 priority is to establish the running game. If we can move the ball, then we’ll be able to pass.”

Bregel is an aggressive player, and the running game suits his personality. After all, a lineman doesn’t get many decleaters when he’s pass blocking.

Trojan Notes

Arizona Coach Larry Smith is exhorting fans to support the Wildcats for the game with the Trojans. “I’m pleading for a fan turnout and to have them do something when they get there,” he said. “We need for the fans to come out and get after the Trojans, put some heat and pressure on them and don’t let Rodney Peete think we’re for him. I love him, but he’s on the other team now.” . . . Peete, USC’s quarterback, played for Sahuaro High School at Tucson his sophomore and junior years. Rodney’s father, Willie Peete, was on the Arizona coaching staff before becoming an assistant coach with the Kansas City Chiefs. “I take fault for not getting Rodney to Arizona because I recruited him personally and I knew the family,” Smith said. USC ALL-AMERICAN OFFENSIVE LINEMEN SINCE 1964

1964 Bill Fisk Jr. Guard 1966 Ron Yary Tackle 1967 Ron Yary*+ Tackle 1969 Sid Smith* Tackle 1970 Marv Montgomery* Tackle 1971 John Vella Tackle 1972 Pete Adams* Tackle 1973 Booker Brown Tackle 1973 Steve Riley* Tackle 1974 Bill Bain Guard 1975 Marvin Powell Tackle 1976 Marvin Powell* Tackle 1978 Pat Howell Guard 1979 Brad Budde*++ Guard 1980 Roy Foster Guard 1980 Keith Van Horne* Tackle 1981 Roy Foster* Guard 1982 Don Mosebar* Tackle 1982 Bruce Matthews* Guard 1983 Tony Slaton Center 1985 Jeff Bregel Guard

* --First-round NFL draft choice.

+ --Outland Trophy winner.

++--Lombardi Award winner.

NOTE: Mike Taylor, Anthony Munoz and James FitzPatrick were first-round NFL draft choices but not All-Americans.