A TURN FOR THE BETTER : Drive That Keeps Emanuel on Move Also Sustains USC

Aaron Emanuel had difficulty turning his head Monday while walking on campus. Whenever someone hailed him, he had to turn his entire body in acknowledgement.

Emanuel said he had a stiff neck as the result of the blows he absorbed from UCLA Saturday during USC’s 31-22 victory that clinched a berth in the Rose Bowl game.

It’s assumed that there are also a few Bruins who are sore from colliding with Emanuel.

Emanuel didn’t run like a tailback who had missed 5 games with a severe ankle injury and returned to play for the first time against Arizona State Nov. 12.

A punishing runner, Emanuel sustained drives for the Trojans against the Bruins, especially in the second half when USC maintained possession of the ball for 21 minutes compared to 9 for UCLA.

Even though he alternated with Scott Lockwood and Ricky Ervins, Emanuel still carried 27 times for 113 yards and scored 2 short-yardage touchdowns.

“You ran like Jim Brown,” a passer-by said to Emanuel.

That’s close enough. Emanuel did evoke memories of the famous Cleveland Browns running back and also of Ricky Bell, the late USC tailback.

However, Emanuel has a style of his own as a runner. Weighing 215-220 pounds, he has the power to challenge linebackers and the speed to run away from them.

A year ago, though, Emanuel was in limbo. He was suspended from school for his off-campus altercation with another student, heptathlete Sharon Hatfield.

He had surgery last December on his right foot to correct a chronic injury, followed by arthroscopic surgery, less serious, on his left knee.

Emanuel said that because of his subsequent inactivity, he weighed 242 pounds when he reported to spring practice.

He was determined, however, to get in shape, which he did during the summer by playing basketball, running, riding a bicycle and treading on what he called a stair-mover, a mechanical device.

“I was at the bottom of the slate,” Emanuel said, reasoning that he was, at best, a fourth-string tailback and a third-team fullback.

“I was already in the doghouse from the previous adversity,” he said. “The worst thing I could do was not come back in good shape.”

Emanuel said that Coach Larry Smith told him that if he was in good physical condition and lived by the team rules, he would get his shot.

Even though Emanuel injured his ankle in a game Sept. 24 against Oklahoma, he had already impressed the coaching staff with his determination.

He has played in only 5 games but has gained 395 yards with a 5.3 average and scored 8 touchdowns.

“It was frustrating,” Emanuel said of his injury. “You want to help the team, but there’s nothing you can do because you’re hurt. I got the feeling a couple of times that I just wanted to run onto the field anyway.”

A much-recruited athlete while playing for Quartz Hill High School in Palmdale, Emanuel, now a junior, was restricted by nagging injuries as a freshman and sophomore.

His strength as a runner was always evident, but he had acquired some habits that had to be altered, such as running straight up and fumbling often as a result.

Clarence Shelmon, USC’s backfield coach, has been sort of a Henry Higgins in restyling Emanuel, who wasn’t as raw as Eliza Doolittle to begin with. Shelmon taught Emanuel to lean when he ran, protecting the football.

The Trojans have lost only 5 fumbles. Moreover, only 1 lost fumble has been attributed to a running back, Steven Webster, who has been hampered by injuries this year.

“Aaron is playing to his strengths and learning the subtleties of the game,” Shelmon said. “It’s not how big and fast you are, but whether you’re an intelligent runner. That’s what we’ve really worked on.

“One time against UCLA, he tried to run when he was completely stacked up. But instead of him running laterally across the field, he turned the ball upfield for 11 yards.

“Again, when he bounced off two guys, his pads almost touched the ground. We call it a limp leg drill. They can’t hit the ball when your pads are down. You’re a smaller target, just elbows, shoulders and knees.

“Aaron is fumble-prone because he runs with reckless abandon. Still he has kept the same style, but is more conscious of taking care of the ball.

“To be a good back, you have to defeat the first defender. Our feeling is anyone can run through the line when the holes are there. But the truly great backs are the ones who can create things on their own.

“I told Aaron he could be as good as any back that ever played here. I told him the hurdle is you. After he got hurt, I said, ‘Are you going into the tank, or are you going to stay mentally prepared for the games?’ So during his rehabilitation, he went to all of my meetings even knowing he wasn’t going to play. He’s really working hard to do the best he can.”

Emanuel said that Shelmon has taught him every aspect of the game, such as knowing what everyone is doing on a specific play and reading defenses.

“If you don’t do it right, he makes you do 25 pushups,” Emanuel said, smiling.

Emanuel said that he can’t describe his own style, that he leaves that to others.

“I just try to run as hard as I can,” he said. “I want to go for a touchdown every time I touch the ball and sometimes I’m not as patient as I should be.”

Emanuel was cast in an unfamiliar role in the second quarter of the UCLA game. On third-and-9 from the USC 6-yard line, a play was sent in for him to become a passer.

“I thought, ‘Coach, you have to be kidding. Please don’t do this to me,’ ” Emanuel said of Smith, who has been labled as conservative in other games.

Emanuel drifted to his left in the end zone in an attempt to locate flanker John Jackson, who was running an out pattern. Jackson was double-covered so Emanuel wisely threw the ball away.

Emanuel’s experience as a passer?

“I threw a few strikes in high school while filling in at quarterback,” he said.

Emanuel is excited about Saturday’s game matching second-ranked USC against top-ranked Notre Dame at the Coliseum.

“I was talking to (fullback) Leroy Holt last night and we couldn’t believe what’s going on,” he said. “It’s like when you’re growing up, you wonder if you’ll ever, ever be in a game like this. It’s unreal.”