Trojans’ Smith Fears Michigan : Coach Says Wolverines (8-2-1) May Be USC’s Toughest Foe

USC lost its opportunity to win the national championship by losing to top-ranked Notre Dame, 27-10, on Nov. 26 at the Coliseum.

But USC Coach Larry Smith said Wednesday that the Trojans may be playing an even better team in their Rose Bowl matchup with Michigan Jan. 2.

It would be understandable if Smith is slightly prejudiced, since he was an assistant coach under Bo Schembechler for 6 years, at Miami of Ohio and later Michigan. They still are close friends.

Even so, Smith said he was sincere in his evaluation of Michigan, which has an 8-2-1 record, having lost to Miami and Notre Dame by a total of only 3 points.

“Michigan may be the best team we’ve played,” Smith said. “If you were picking four to six teams for a national playoff, Michigan would definitely be one of the teams.

“They’re the best coached (team) that we’ve played and their offense is similar to ours. They really know how to block for the run. Tony Boles is a great back. I don’t think we’ve played against a back who is that good. He’s in a class with Gaston Green and Lorenzo White. In fact, he may be better.

“He’s a big, fast back. They have great receivers in Greg McMurtry and John Kolesar and they have a great offensive line.

“Defensively, (All-America tackle) Mark Messner is quicker than anybody we’ve played. Michigan outplayed Miami, and played Notre Dame better than we did.

“I think the worst thing anybody can do is underestimate them. If we underestimate them, we’ll get our butts kicked bad. It could be a great game.

“We’ve got to get the Notre Dame game out of our system and concentrate on Michigan. There is no pressure on Michigan because they’ll be coming out here as an underdog and will be freewheeling and loose. And I’m sure Bo will have them thinking that we’re the greatest thing since peanut butter.”

Smith was asked if Schembechler’s anticipated hyperbole about the Trojans would match Notre Dame Coach Lou Holtz’s buildup of USC before the teams played.

“Bo will do it with his team. Holtz does it in the press,” Smith said. There is, of course, some pressure on USC, considering that it lost to Michigan State last Jan. 1 in the Rose Bowl, 20-17.

Moreover, if the Trojans lose to the Wolverines, they would become the first Pacific 10 Conference representative to lose 2 straight Rose Bowl games to Big Ten teams since Washington and Oregon State lost to Illinois and Michigan in the 1964 and 1965 games.

The Pac-10 has dominated the series since the mid-60s, winning 18 of the last 23 games.

Smith doesn’t have any lingering bad feelings, though, about USC’s Rose Bowl loss to Michigan State.

“I thought our team played a very good game,” he said. “I wasn’t unhappy with the individual performances. We played a pretty good game from an efficiency standpoint. It was big plays and turnovers (that beat USC).”

Smith added that there was no doubt in his mind that his team would win when it was driving in the closing minutes. Then, the ball slipped out of center John Katnik’s hands at the Michigan State 30-yard line, the decisive turnover.

“That game was much like our game with Notre Dame,” Smith said, alluding to big plays and turnovers.

However, the loss to the Irish when the Trojans were unbeaten and ranked second nationally still seems to disturb him.

“It could be the most disheartening, bitter loss because you’re that close to No. 1 and you don’t give yourself a chance to win,” he said. “That takes the spirit out of the whole thing. You just have to get rid of it.

“You don’t really forget it, but you have to move on and concentrate on your (next) opponent.”

Smith said that the biggest momentum change in the Notre Dame game was the Irish interception for a touchdown just before halftime, giving the Irish a 20-7 lead. John Jackson, quarterback Rodney Peete’s intended receiver on the play, slipped and fell.

“We’ve had a great year, we’re 10-1,” Smith said. “But right now, nobody is happy about 10-1. (The players are) unhappy about one loss. We’ll remember the season a lot better if we’re 11-1, not 10-2.”

USC strong safety Cleveland Colter said that he won’t be able to play against Michigan.

Colter underwent arthroscopic surgery on his left knee after USC’s game with Arizona State Nov. 12.

It was originally believed that he had suffered only a cartilage injury. Instead, he tore a ligament. He’s hoping now that further surgery is not required.

“If it is, a major knee reconstruction, I might not be able to play until the middle of next season,” Colter said.

Trojan Notes

USC began practice Wednesday for its Rose Bowl game with Michigan. The schedule for the first few days will vary because of final examinations. USC Coach Larry Smith said that quarterback Rodney Peete, who suffered a slight separation to his left shoulder in the Notre Dame game, has been cleared to practice, but will be held out of any contact work for a while. . . . USC will practice at UC Irvine starting Dec. 26 with the team being headquartered at the Irvine Marriott Hotel. Michigan is scheduled to arrive here Dec. 26 and will practice at Orange Coast College and will stay at the Newporter Resort in Newport Beach.

USC offensive lineman Brent Parkinson has been moved from strong side guard to tackle. . . . Smith and his staff, since the Notre Dame game, have found time to do some recruiting. “I think there are a lot of quality players in California, but the numbers are down,” Smith said. “There is an inordinate amount of academic qualification problems, more than I’ve ever seen before among top, key players. We went through our list of the top 350 names the past weekend and we probably dumped 200 of them and I bet 70% of the 200 were serious academic problems and some of them are great players, not just in California, but across the country.” Smith said he has about 20 to 24 scholarships available.

Smith is the only USC coach to go to the Rose Bowl in his first 2 seasons. USC has an 18-7 record in the Rose Bowl, while Michigan is 5-7. . . . Michigan tailback Tony Boles wound up fourth nationally in rushing (1,359 yards, 5.5 average) and all-purpose running (172.5-yard average). . . . Demetrius Brown became Michigan’s starting quarterback when Michael Taylor suffered a broken collarbone against Minnesota Nov. 5. “I don’t see a whole lot of difference between them,” Smith said. “They’re both excellent passers and runners.”