USC Faces a No-Win Situation

USC can’t win tonight against Utah State.

At least not in the eyes of critics. Not in terms of restoring its credentials as a national powerhouse after a season-opening loss to Illinois.

The Trojans certainly figure to dominate the Aggies. Las Vegas oddsmakers feel this game is so one-sided, they’ve taken it off the board.

But USC tonight is like the bully who finds himself faced with fighting a 98-pound weakling.

So what? Faint praise if you win. Damnation if you don’t.

Utah State may not exactly be a 98-pound weakling, but even their own coach, Chuck Shelton, when asked about tonight’s game, responded with a chuckle.

“Along with USC being a very physical, rugged football team, and certainly out of our league,” he said, “I also think they are as well-coached as any team in America. The combination of those two things doesn’t give you much hope to find a weakness.”

Not exactly Knute Rockne firing up the troops.

“I think the important thing is, we don’t concede the football game,” Shelton said. “(It’s important that) we come out and play our hearts out, which we’ve done against that kind of competition. I think we’ll do that.

“I’d have felt a little bit better about the whole situation had we pulled off a victory at Utah. We need to improve by the time we get to our conference.”

These have not been the best of times for the Aggies, regardless of the competition. The team hasn’t had a winning record in eight seasons.

Last season, Utah State finished 4-7, despite the presence of two players who went on to be picked up in the NFL draft--flanker Kendal Smith, the Big West offensive player of the year last season, and quarterback Brent Snyder.

The Aggies open 1989 with three tough opponents, all on the road.

In last week’s opener, Utah won big, 45-10.

It was never close. The Utah State offense managed to get inside the Utah 20-yard line only once in the first three quarters.

Even Patrick Newman, the Aggies’ top receiver, dropped two passes.

Utah quarterback Scott Mitchell threw for 394 yards and five touchdowns.

And it doesn’t get any better. Next week, Utah State must travel to Illinois.

Illinois has been a nasty word around the USC campus these past two weeks.

The Trojans marched into the Coliseum on Labor Day bolstered by press clippings that called them one of the five best teams in the country.

Three hours later, those clippings were yesterday’s news. Stunned by two fourth-quarter touchdown passes by Illinois quarterback Jeff George, USC lost, 14-13.

“I would have liked to have played Illinois again that night in the parking lot,” said Trojan offensive line coach John Matsko. “It’s been a long time to wait.”

Coach Larry Smith has spent the time tinkering with his malfunctioning offense. Redshirt quarterback Todd Marinovich couldn’t go long against Illinois, and the running game couldn’t go anywhere.

Smith has made several changes in the starting lineup, moving Ricky Ervins in for Aaron Emanuel at tailback, Brent Parkinson for Dan Barnes at guard, Bill Schultz for Michael Moody at tackle and Marcus Hopkins for Cleveland Colter at strong safety.

Hopkins will be responsible for Newman at least some of the time.

That brings a smile to his face.

Nobody appreciates the talents of the 6-foot, 195-pound Newman more than Hopkins, who has been watching him since high school. The two were teammates at Lincoln High in San Diego, and Hopkins still shakes his head when he thinks about one night against Vista High.

“It was a playoff game and it was raining and nasty,” Hopkins said. “We were down, 7-0, in the fourth quarter. He (Newman) made a one-handed catch in the corner of the end zone. It was so pretty. He dove for it in the mud, caught it on his fingertips and pulled it in. We got the two-point conversion and won, 8-7.

“He (Newman) is phenomenal. He has some of the biggest hands you’ve ever seen. He has great speed. And he’s pretty acrobatic, too. He’s got great body control. He twists and turns to adjust to the ball. If he touches it, he’s gonna catch it.”

Hopkins vs. Newman. If the oddsmakers are correct, that might be the best match on the field.

USC Notes

A crowd of 50,000 is expected at the Coliseum for the 7 p.m. kickoff. . . . Out of action for Utah State tonight are linebacker Piliki Tauteoli (ankle), tight ends Ryan Duve (hip muscle) and Monte Ahlemeyer (hamstring) and fullback Bobby Pendleton (knee).

Sophomore Kirk Johnson is the Aggies’ starting quarterback, but he’s in a battle for his job with another sophomore, Kevin White. Johnson completed just five of 17 for 45 yards against Utah. White completed four of 11 for 46 yards. . . . The Utah State defense returns eight starters, led by linebacker Del Lyles, the club’s leading tackler last season. The big man in the secondary is free safety Travis Clark, All-Big West last season. . . . Asked about a schedule that includes seven road games and just four at home, Shelton said: “It is an awful schedule. The day we start putting 30,000 people in our stadium, we can quit playing it. You’ve got to have money to play college football today, and this is how we do it.”