UCLA-USC Notes : Smith Says Bruins Hold Big Advantage in Speed

UCLA’s track team has dominated USC in recent years, and the Bruins’ football track team is considerably faster than USC’s, according to Trojan Coach Larry Smith.

Smith said he showed his team films of UCLA’s 41-28 victory over Nebraska earlier in the season.

“Nebraska is one of the best teams in the country and UCLA blew them out, and I wanted our guys to see (UCLA) in that situation,” Smith said.

Asked how UCLA’s speed matches up with USC’s, Smith didn’t hesitate, saying: “Oh, they leave us in the dust. They’d wipe us out in track. Fortunately, we’re not playing track, but football.

“The only advantage we have physically is that in some areas we’re a little bigger and stronger, but not a whole lot.”

USC defensive tackle Tim Ryan was asked to identify the key element of Saturday’s game before it was known that Peete had measles.

“I think the key is dominating the line of scrimmage on both sides of the ball,” he said. “And I think our offensive and defensive lines are tougher than theirs, and we just have to go out and prove it.”

USC could play for a tie against UCLA and still get the Rose Bowl bid because the Trojans are unbeaten in conference play while the Bruins have a loss.

Smith said he wouldn’t hesitate going for a tie if the situation called for it.

“I don’t think that’s even a decision,” he said. “You’d go for the tie because that would put you in the Rose Bowl and you’re going to play the No. 1 team (Notre Dame) the next week.”

In the 1982 UCLA game, USC trailed, 20-19, in the closing seconds and chose to go for a 2-point conversion but missed.

However, USC was under sanctions by the National Collegiate Athletic Assn. at the time and was ineligible to play in the Rose Bowl game.

There have been 6 ties in the series, the most notable being the 0-0 deadlock in 1939. Both teams were unbeaten, but USC got the Rose Bowl bid on the basis of fewer tie games than UCLA during the season.

Flashback: In 1973, UCLA, which had a high-scoring wishbone offense under Coach Pepper Rodgers, was favored to beat USC.

When the Bruins came charging out of the Coliseum tunnel before the game, USC linebacker James Sims reportedly remarked: “Look at those crazy guys. They actually think they’re going to win.”

USC won, 23-13.

Sophomore Brian Brown will start at tailback for UCLA, Coach Terry Donahue said Thursday.

Eric Ball’s right ankle, injured two weeks ago in the Bruins’ 16-6 victory over Oregon, has not healed and he is listed as questionable. Ball is UCLA’s leading rusher with 781 yards in 164 carries, a 4.8 average.

Brown, who has rushed for more than 100 yards in each of the Bruins’ last two games, has carried 63 times for 295 yards, a 4.7 average. He will be backed up by freshman Shawn Wills, who has rushed for 485 yards in 71 carries, a 6.8 average.

The American Football Coaches national championship trophy will make its West Coast debut today at the Rotary Club luncheon at noon at the Los Angeles Hilton. The trophy, which goes to the team selected as the champion by the nation’s coaches, will also be at the Rose Bowl Saturday.

Times staff writer Jerry Crowe contributed to this story.