Trojans Hope to Avoid Tempe Hex This Time

Ten years ago, USC, then the nation’s second-ranked team, played Arizona State here in the first game between the schools.

The Trojans were beaten, 20-7, for their only loss of the season, which began a trend for the series.

Arizona State is the only Pacific 10 Conference team holding a series edge over USC, a 5-2 margin. Moreover, USC has a 1-4 record here, including a defeat by Penn State in the 1982 Fiesta Bowl.

USC, with a No. 2 national ranking, an 8-0 overall record and a first-place standing at 6-0 in the Pacific 10, will venture into Sun Devil Stadium again today to play Arizona State.

It’s possible that the surroundings and timing could conspire against the Trojans if they’re looking ahead to the climactic regular season-ending games with UCLA next Saturday and top-ranked Notre Dame Nov. 26.

Coach Larry Smith, who has managed to keep his team focused on an immediate opponent this season, has reminded his players of USC’s previous failures here.

On a positive note, he could also tell them that as Arizona’s coach he beat Arizona State 5 consecutive years, knocking the Sun Devils out of the Rose Bowl twice.

So, if you’re into this so-called jinx business, take your choice.

Arizona State (6-3, 3-2) has quietly moved up to third place in the Pac-10 standings with 3 straight conference victories.

Coach Larry Marmie’s relatively young team could be in line for a bowl bid by beating USC today and Arizona Nov. 26.

The Trojans, of course, are going after bigger stakes, a potential Rose Bowl bid and a possible national championship if they run the table in November.

Even if USC loses today, it could still become the Rose Bowl representative by beating UCLA. There’s also an outside chance that the Trojans can clinch the bid today--if UCLA loses to Stanford while USC is winning.

Arizona State, which has five sophomores and three freshmen in the starting lineup, was struggling in October and lost to Washington and Stanford. Since then, ASU has beaten Washington State and Oregon on the road and Oregon State at home.

“I think we’ve improved and matured a little bit, even though we got some breaks in the 3 games we won,” Marmie said.

Marmie, previously the Sun Devils’ defensive coordinator, became the head coach this year when John Cooper resigned to become Ohio State’s coach.

Cooper was only in Tempe for 3 years, replacing Darryl Rogers, who left after the 1984 season to coach the Detroit Lions.

The defections of Rogers and Cooper caused bitter feelings in Tempe, since the coaches concealed their plans.

That was especially true in Rogers’ case. He insisted until the last minute that he wasn’t taking the Detroit job.

His leaving 8 days before the high school signing date restricted recruiting, with only 17 signees, and even though ASU went on to win the conference championship in 1986, the numbers caught up with the Sun Devils this year.

Even so, ASU has some talented players with a defensive unit that Smith says is the quickest the Trojans have met to date.

Paul Justin, a sophomore quarterback who wasn’t expected to start because of a chest injury, is apparently No. 1 again. Daniel Ford replaced Justin in the second quarter of the Oregon State game and rallied the Sun Devils to a 30-24 victory after they trailed, 24-7, in the fourth quarter. However, Ford is now suffering from back spasms.

Justin replaced Ford as the starter during the 3-game win streak. A pocket-type passer, the 6-foot 4-inch, 200-pound Justin has completed 54.5% of his attempts for 734 yards and 3 touchdowns with only 2 interceptions.

The Sun Devils have a mediocre running game at best, averaging only 130.9 yards for a seventh-place standing in the conference. By contrast, USC has allowed an average of only 74.1 yards rushing and ranks third nationally in that category.

Smith is concerned about another element, the crowd factor at Sun Devil Stadium, which has been sold out--72,168--for every game.

“I asked my players how many have ever played in Sun Devil Stadium and it was less than double figures,” Smith said. “To me, of all the stadiums we play in, ASU definitely has the 12th man. You have to play your best because the fans take it away from you and the ASU team responds to the crowd. And they’re playing with a lot of confidence.”

Since Arizona State joined the conference in 1978, it has targeted USC as the team to beat.

Smith agreed, saying, “When I was at Arizona, we had a great state rivalry. Still, the team (the Sun Devils) want to beat more than anybody else is USC.”

Trojan Notes

USC is a 17-point favorite. . . . Coach Larry Smith said Brent Parkinson will start at weakside guard in place of Dan Barnes, and Tracy Butts will replace Cleveland Colter at strong safety. Both Barnes and Colter, who have nagging injuries, are expected to play, however. . . . USC quarterback Rodney Peete has completed 65.5% of his passes for 12 touchdowns in the last 5 games. However, he has yet to throw a touchdown pass against Arizona State in 2 meetings.

David Winsley and Bruce Perkins have alternated at tailback for ASU this season. Winsley scored on a 61-yard run against Oregon State and is averaging 20.6 yards on kickoff returns. USC’s only 2 victories over ASU were by a margin of 5 points, 23-21 in 1980 and 6-3 in 1984.

Although the Sun Devils are a young team, they have experienced players in the offensive line and secondary. . . . Arizona State has exceeded expectations. The Sun Devils were picked to finish seventh in the conference by reporters who cover Pac-10 teams. . . . USC split end Erik Affholter has caught 102 passes in his career and needs 12 more to replace Hank Norman as the school’s all-time leader. With 47 receptions this season, he needs 10 more to break the single-season USC record of 56 set by Jeff Simmons in 1982.

USC tailback Aaron Emanuel is expected to play today for the first time since the Sept. 24 game against Oklahoma. He has been inactive with a sprained ankle. . . . Monday is a significant day for USC, the 100th anniversary of its first football game, played against the Alliance Athletic Club. . . . USC leads the Pac-10 in turnover margin with a +13.