90,000 May Attend USC-Oklahoma Showdown

The last time USC played Oklahoma at the Coliseum, in 1981, the Trojans were the nation’s top-ranked team and the Sooners were No. 2.

USC won, 28-24, on the last play of the game, a 7-yard pass from quarterback John Mazur to an unlikely receiver, tight end Fred Cornwell. It was Cornwell’s first catch of the season and he had only two more the rest of the year.

The scenario for today’s game at the Coliseum is similar. Both teams are unbeaten, with Oklahoma ranked No. 3 nationally and USC No. 5.

It’s a classic matchup of Oklahoma’s famed run-oriented wishbone against USC’s more conventional I and split-back offense.

Moreover, USC and Oklahoma are identified in college football as traditional high-ranking teams. The Trojans have won eight national championships, the Sooners six.

A crowd of 85,000 to 90,000 is anticipated for the 12:30 p.m. kickoff in a game that will be televised by ABC to most of the country, including the Southland.

It’s the type of game that could enhance the Heisman Trophy candidacy of the rival quarterbacks, Oklahoma’s Jamelle Holieway and USC’s Rodney Peete.

Holieway, who grew up in Los Angeles and played for Banning High School, has been eagerly awaiting this game ever since he enrolled at Oklahoma. He has confidently predicted an Oklahoma victory, even specifying the score, 28-14, and awarding 2 touchdowns to himself.

Oklahoma Coach Barry Switzer says that Holieway is the best wishbone quarterback he has ever coached.

Peete, who was recruited by Oklahoma, has the skill of an option quarterback but mainly uses his agility to avoid a pass rush as a conventional dropback thrower. However, a modest version of the option is part of USC’s offensive package.

Although Oklahoma is 2-0 after beating North Carolina, 28-0, and Arizona, 28-10, Switzer said he’ll know more about his team after today’s game.

He has had to replace 11 starting players, including 5 All-Americans, from a team that lost only 3 games in the last 3 years while winning 3 Big Eight championships and a national title.

Switzer has retained most of his skilled players on offense but doesn’t believe his defense is as dominating as it has been in recent years.

USC is a more experienced team than Oklahoma, but one that is difficult to assess after two games. The Trojans were impressive in physically dominating Boston College, 34-7, but struggled to beat Stanford, 24-20. Peete had to complete 7 of 8 passes in a late 80-yard scoring drive to avert an upset.

USC also has a problem in that it seldom plays a wishbone or triple-option team, and Oklahoma has been running that offense to perfection for years.

“You live in fear of the big play in that offense and the speed at all positions,” USC Coach Larry Smith said. “You make a mistake and they’re in the end zone.”

Chris Allen, USC’s defensive coordinator, said USC has been trying to simulate Oklahoma’s wishbone in practice. “But you can’t simulate the subtleties and abilities that they operate with,” he said. “It looks like a simple offense, but it isn’t.”

The Trojans have to be concerned with Holieway keeping, or pitching, the ball, and the fullback dive play, along with an occasional pass.

“They make you play every part of the field,” Allen said. “They stretch your defense to make you play assignment football and they isolate defensive players.

“They have the potential for you to make a mistake every play. They don’t allow you to swarm to the football because you have specific assignments.”

Allen said that USC’s defensive backs, usually concerned primarily with pass defense, will have to switch priorities against Oklahoma and make run support their main consideration.

“They’re committing at least nine guys to their running game, so you have to commit nine guys to the run, or they’ll have you out-numbered,” Allen said.

Even though the wishbone is primarily a ground assault, Holieway and Charles Thompson, who has alternated with him at quarterback, will occasionally throw to take advantage of a run-conscious defense.

Holieway has thrown only 10 passes in 2 games. But he has completed 5 for 134 yards and a touchdown. As a runner, he has gained 122 yards, for an average of 4.2 yards a carry, and has scored 2 touchdowns.

The negative aspect of the wishbone is that it tends to yield fumbles, so the Trojans will be trying to force some. When USC won here in 1981, the Sooners fumbled 10 times, losing 5. Oklahoma still is fumbling but has lost only 4 of 14 in 2 games.

Trojan Notes

Oklahoma is a 1 1/2-point favorite, and Coach Barry Switzer will be trying for his first win over USC. The teams tied at 7-7 in 1973, and the Sooners lost, 28-24, in 1981 and 12-0 in 1982. . . . With cornerback Lonnie Finch ineligible, Oklahoma doesn’t have a returning starting player in the secondary and only one, linebacker Richard Dillon, on the entire defensive unit. Even though the Sooners’ secondary is relatively inexperienced, it has made 6 interceptions in 2 games.

Oklahoma lost three tight ends before the season began because of injuries and ineligibility. So, 6-foot, 270-pound Mark VanKeirsbilck, a converted tackle, became a starting tight end. But he returns to tackle today, replacing Gary Bennett, who was left home with a knee injury. Billy Dykes, a redshirt freshman, will start at tight end. . . . Oklahoma’s offensive line averages 273 1/2 pounds, with guard Anthony Phillips the only returning starter from 1987 since center Bob Latham suffered a knee injury in the opening game against North Carolina.