COLLEGE FOOTBALL ’88 : COACHES, PLAYERS, TEAMS AND TRENDS TO WATCH THIS SEASON : USC and UCLA Facing Some Tests : Trojans Hope Peete Can Help Offset Tough Schedule, Lingering Injuries

The centennial season will be a significant one for the USC football team, considering that the Trojans face a demanding schedule and have a Heisman Trophy candidate at quarterback.

Rodney Peete’s stock will rise or fall with the success of the team, which has nonconference games against Boston College, Oklahoma and Notre Dame.

USC, which was 8-4 in 1987 and played in the Rose Bowl, is generally co-favored with UCLA to win the Pacific 10 championship. Moreover, the Trojans have been projected as high as No. 2 nationally by some publications. They have 15 returning starters, 17 if the kickers are included.

However, USC won’t be at full strength when it opens the season Thursday night against Boston College in Chestnut Hill, Mass.

Coach Larry Smith has been concerned about his offensive line since spring practice, and he still has reason to be. Brent Parkinson (knee injury) and his replacement at left guard, Mark Sager (groin injury), didn’t make the trip. Bill Schultz, a projected starter, was declared academically ineligible a few weeks ago.

There are other problems as well. Dwayne Garner, a starting cornerback, is inactive with a back injury. Tailback Steven Webster and defensive tackle Tim Ryan made the trip, but their playing time will be limited; Webster is coming back from knee surgery, and Ryan is restricted by an ankle injury. Also, tight ends Paul Green and Scott Galbraith have knee problems.

“Fortunately, I think we’ll have all of these players for the season,” Smith said. “But it may be a week or so before we get them all on the field.”

Even though Garner is sidelined and Ryan is limited, USC’s defense seems to be stronger and deeper than it was last year. As for Peete, his importance to the team can’t be minimized.

“Rodney is the heart and soul of our team,” Smith said. “When he steps into a huddle, the air of confidence goes up about 20 to 30 notches. He’s a confident individual and a natural-born leader. He keeps the other players loose.

“However, he’s human. He’ll make some mistakes and bad decisions when he gets excited.”

Peete, a senior, who holds most USC passing records, said he won’t let the Heisman hype distract him.

“I treat it like a team being ranked No. 1 at the start of the year,” he said. “You have to play week to week and, if you’re in that position in December, it’s great. Right now, there are a lot of Heisman Trophy candidates out there.”

One is in the neighborhood: UCLA quarterback Troy Aikman.

Peete said he is in better shape and his arm is a little stronger than it was at this time last year.

“I’m excited about the season, and I plan on making it the best season I’ve ever had,” he said.

Peete, a skilled infielder on USC’s baseball team, was drafted by the Oakland Athletics last spring, but he decided not to sign, even though it wouldn’t have affected his eligibility for football.

He will go back into the baseball draft after he completes his senior seasons in football and baseball. A decision on professional football or baseball will come later, he said.

Asked to assess the mood of the team going into the season opener, Peete said: “Everyone is more comfortable with the whole system. Last year, we didn’t know what to expect from Coach Smith and his staff, and they didn’t know what to expect from us.

“It’s a situation where we’re just playing football now and not doing a whole lot of thinking. That can slow you down. Last year, we were thinking about our assignments at this time, and we were a step slow.” Peete said that the Trojans are creditable contenders for the national championship, but that they can’t afford a letup.

Then he added, smiling: “It’s traditional for USC to play a tough schedule every year. We don’t play Long Beach State and Fresno State, like some other people do.”

The good-natured jibe was obviously directed at a Pac-10 school in Westwood.

A closer look at USC:

OFFENSE

QUARTERBACKS--Smith is concerned that a solid No. 2 quarterback hasn’t emerged. Todd Marinovich, the much-publicized freshman from Capistrano Valley High School in Mission Viejo, and sophomore Pat O’Hara share the No. 2 job behind Peete. Marinovich has had good and bad days in practice. He has a strong arm, but his agility is questionable.

RUNNING BACKS--Webster, the Pac-10’s leading rusher last year with 1,109 yards, tore ligaments in his left knee during last year’s game with UCLA. His rehabilitation has progressed on schedule.

Scott Lockwood and Ricky Ervins gained experience last year as freshmen and will share the tailback position until Webster is ready. Leroy Holt, the starting fullback last year and a proven player, is No. 2 after he encountered academic problems and missed some practices. The dependable Jeff Brown is No. 1 now.

Aaron Emanuel, who was suspended from school last fall for disciplinary reasons, is listed as a tailback-fullback. A starting tailback in 1986 before he injured his foot, Emanuel is apparently quicker at a trim 215 pounds. Mazio Royster and Eric Dixon are promising freshmen.

LINE--Smith has identified this unit as his most pressing problem. He has two experienced players in left tackle John Guerrero, who weighs in at more than 300 pounds, and right guard Mark Tucker. But with Parkinson and Sager inactive because of injuries, there is inexperience elsewhere.

Dan Barnes, a junior who didn’t play much last year, will start at left guard against Boston College. “He’s getting better,” Smith said. “He’s a big, strong athlete who can run.”

Center Brad Leggett has been bothered by an injured foot, providing Tom Dabasinskas more time with the first unit in practices. Michael Moody, a 6-foot, 7-inch, 295-pound redshirt freshman, is the inexperienced right tackle.

WIDE RECEIVER--Smith said the passing game will be a strong part of the offense if the passer can be protected. Split end Erik Affholter, who had 44 catches in 1987, and flanker John Jackson, who had 37, are big-play, experienced receivers. Affholter, who seldom drops a pass, made the winning catch against UCLA last year. Gary Wellman has sprinter’s speed as Jackson’s backup. Reserves are Marlon Washington and freshman Joel Scott.

TIGHT END--Green, an All-Pac-10 selection in 1987, has almost fully recovered from knee surgery, the result of an injury suffered in spring practice. Still, Smith said, he isn’t ready to play a full game. Neither, apparently, is Galbraith, who strained knee ligaments in a recent practice. Martin Chesley and Frank Griffin may play Thursday night.

DEFENSE

USC has only one senior starter in its defensive unit, cornerback Chris Hale, and he wouldn’t be starting against Boston College if Garner weren’t inactive with back spasms. Nevertheless, the underclassmen are experienced for the most part, and defense may have to carry the Trojans in the early games.

LINE--This is one of the strongest areas of the team, even though Ryan may not be able to play Thursday night.

Dan Owens, like Ryan, is a three-year starting tackle, and nose tackle Don Gibson gained starting experience last year. Smith has two capable reserve linemen in 6-7, 260-pound Pat Harlow and junior college transfer Randy Hord (6-3, 240), a pass-rushing specialist.

LINEBACKERS--Even though USC has lost experienced inside players in Keith Davis and Rex Moore, Smith is reasonably satisfied with their replacements. Delmar Chesley and Scott Ross shared starting time in 1987 on the strong side. Brian Tuliau, a sophomore who will start on the weak side, and Mike Serpa, a senior, were active reserves last year. There is also a promising freshman, Matt Gee, who had outstanding credentials while playing for Arkansas City (Kan.) High School.

On the outside, Michael (Tex) Williams was used extensively in 1987 as a pass rusher while backing up Marcus Cotton. The other outside linebacker, Craig Hartsuyker, got some playing time last year as a freshman. This position will be strengthened when Junior Seau recovers from an ankle injury.

SECONDARY--Mark Carrier and Cleveland Colter have been favorably compared to former Trojans Ronnie Lott and Dennis Smith as a safety tandem. Carrier, who is only a sophomore, has been particularly impressive in practices.

Hale replaced Garner as a starting cornerback at midseason last year, but Garner regained the starting job until he was injured in practice. Ernest Spears, a junior, has been an active backup, and he’s now starting at the run-support cornerback position. Tracy Butts is also an experienced reserve as a nickel back in pass defense schemes. He’s available as a backup at safety or cornerback. Some freshmen also figure to play this season.

KICKING GAME

Chris Sperle has been USC’s punter the past three years, but he is being challenged by Ron Dale, who averaged a state-record 48.2 yards while playing for Boulder City (Nev.) High School last year.

Quin Rodriguez became USC’s regular kicker in 1987 as a freshman and tied a school record by making four field goals against Arizona. Overall, he made 13 of 17. Affholter is available for long-range field goals.

Colter and Affholter will return punts, and Colter, Ervins, Lockwood and Calvin Holmes will return kickoffs.