A Century of Sports at USC : Peete Focus of Attention as Fall Practice Begins

As USC begins fall football practice today, opening the 100th year of sport at the school, the battle cry may well be, “Let the hype begin.”

The electioneering in Trojan quarterback Rodney Peete’s campaign for the Heisman Trophy began in earnest Wednesday, as a few USC players met a throng of reporters. More accurately, the reporters thronged Peete.

Peete had been talking to reporters for 45 minutes when Coach Larry Smith arrived, surveyed the situation with a bemused smile and, when it was his turn to talk, said: “First, I want to thank you for inviting me to the Rodney Peete interview session.”

Smith, the Pacific 10 coach of the year last season, had better get used to it. Peete, a senior, is already plastered on the covers of at least six college football publications touting him as one of the nation’s premier quarterbacks. All this comes weeks before the Trojans’ first game, Sept. 1 at Boston College.

Peete, who is as skillful and affable off the field as he is skillful and intense on it, tried to play down the hype, with little success.

“It is flattering to know that people recognize me for what I’m doing,” he said. “But I always have to keep it in perspective. Being a Heisman Trophy candidate doesn’t mean a whole lot at the beginning of the year.”

Peete played infield for the USC baseball team last spring and was named to the all-conference team. He was drafted by the Oakland A’s in June, and he said he came “very close” to signing a pro contract but will likely wait until after football season is over to decide which sport he will chose for a profession.

After Peete’s meeting with the media, Smith pointed out some concerns for the upcoming season:

--A tough schedule. USC’s three non-conference opponents--Boston College, Oklahoma and Notre Dame--could all be ranked in the top 20, he said.

“I look at the schedule itself as quite a challenge,” Smith said. “The combination of both non-conference and conference schedule is a very difficult one, starting with the Boston College game through to Notre Dame. You’ve got to be able to win conference games on the road to figure in the conference race.”

--Finding a No. 2 quarterback. Peete, obviously, will be the starter. Among the contenders for backup are sophomores Shane Foley and Pat O’Hara, and freshman Todd Marinovich.

--Pinpointing the receivers Peete will throw to. Smith said he is looking at the depth at the wide receiver position and hopes to get a feel for what kind of talent is there.

--The return of tailback Steve Webster from serious surgery on his left knee last February. Webster, the Pac-10’s leading rusher in 1987, said he hopes to be ready by the Stanford game Sept. 10.

“At this point our defense is more together and ready to go for the season,” Smith said. “Offensively, there are more decisions to be made.”

Trojan Notes

Three returning players--offensive guards Bill Schultz and Chuck Kunsaitis, and outside linebacker Charles Burnham--have been ruled academically ineligible and will not be with the team this season. Two others--fullback Leroy Holt and offensive guard Brent Parkinson--have completed summer school and will have an academic review Tuesday. Offensive tackle John Guerrero, who was in danger of becoming academically ineligible, was cleared for competition. Two incoming freshmen, offensive tackle Keith Siscel of Vacaville and outside linebacker George Tuioti of Santa Ana, did not meet USC’s academic requirements. Tuioti will attend San Diego State.

Picking up Tuioti’s scholarship is freshman tailback Jason Simpson, son of former Trojan tailback O.J. Jason, 5 feet 11 inches and 190 pounds, gained 1,553 yards and scored 23 touchdowns last season at Army and Navy Academy in Carlsbad. . . . The Trojans have only five home games, another facet of the their difficult schedule. USC will be on the road for three of its first four games and three of its last five. . . . Penn State will replace Cincinnati on its schedule with USC in 1990. The game, played here, will begin an eight-game series.

Starting safeties Cleveland Colter and Mark Carrier have been nominated for the 1988 Jim Thorpe Award, given to the nation’s top defensive back. . . . Running back Aaron Emmanuel, who missed last season when he was suspended after being found guilty of misdemeanor assault in an off-campus altercation, returned to the team last spring and went through spring practice at fullback. USC coaches say that if Holt is not eligible, Emmanuel may stay at fullback. . . . Rodney Peete is not the only two-sport star on the USC football team. John Jackson and Ernest Spears played baseball last season and Calvin Holmes, Gary Wellman and Chris Hale were on the track team.