This Is a Guy Who Really Misses Getting His Share of USC’s Big Hits

The hits aren’t coming as frequently for USC linebacker Scott Ross this season.

But that’s not all bad.

Not if you’re an opposing ballcarrier.

Or an opposing driver.

Ross was a terror on the field last season, leading the Trojans in tackles. He has been an even bigger terror on the roads, making defense important to drivers all over the Southland.

Not that this is a laughing matter. Far from it. Ross has a problem, as he would be the first to tell you.

Ross has a reputation for getting into accidents. Nothing serious, he said. Nobody seriously hurt. But accidents, nonetheless.

Exactly how many?

“I don’t know,” Ross said. “I’ve lost count. I’m not the greatest driver, all right. People are scared to get in the car with me.”

Ross does not minimize the seriousness of his driving mishaps.

“I get into too many fender-benders,” he said. “I guess I drive too aggressively. Nothing really bad. I hit the windshield once. That was about two weeks after I got my license.

“But I think I’m a better driver now. I haven’t been in (an accident) in about a month .”

Ross has also been getting into fewer collisions on the field, but not because he hasn’t been doing his job.

He is an inside linebacker with the responsibility of handling ballcarriers coming up the middle or backs or tight ends running short routes through his territory. A season ago, the ballcarriers outnumbered the receivers.

But no more.

“What has changed Scott’s role is the teams we are playing,” defensive coordinator Chris Allen said. “When teams go back to throw, Scott has zones to cover. And people are throwing the ball so much. For instance, Washington has totally changed. They are throwing the ball all over the place. The Washington States and the Stanfords have always thrown the ball, but now, it seems, everybody is doing it.

“Scott is doing an excellent job on pass coverage. You just don’t see him making as many big hits.”

Off the road, that is, but Ross isn’t complaining. Aside from the Notre Dame game, USC has been nearly impregnable on the ground. The Trojans went to South Bend, Ind., leading the nation in rushing defense, having allowed zero touchdowns and an average of just 36.7 yards a game.

The Fighting Irish trampled those figures, rushing for 266 yards and four touchdowns, but USC was back in form last week against Stanford, holding the Cardinal to a minus six yards on the ground.

People such as Junior Seau, Tim Ryan and Dan Owens have been getting the heavy hits thesedays.

“This year is their highlight year,” Ross said. “I’m just doing my job, staying in my coverage. It seems like they are not running at me a lot this year. And when I’m playing the pass, it seems like they are not throwing my way.

“But that’s just a personal thing. As long as we’re winning, great.”

Still, the 6-foot-2, 235-pound Ross admits that he loves the big hits.

“That’s probably one of the most important parts for me,” he said, “because I’m not the fastest guy out there, or the strongest, or the tallest. My big thing is to get to the ball and hit the guy as hard as I can. That’s my goal. I did it in high school (at El Toro). I got the big hit award two years in a row. That’s what I fall back on.”

Before the season, Ross was considered a potential All-American. Does it bother him that he may have lost that opportunity because of his reduced visibility?

“I’m not going to start worrying about that,” he said, “because I don’t want it to be that much of a disappointment if I don’t get it. If I get down, I may have a slump. And I don’t need that.

“I’m playing the best I can and I’m taking what they give me. I feel good about myself. I’m relaxed.”

While Ross has lost some visibility, Seau has moved into the spotlight, overshadowing Ryan, an All-American last season.

Seau’s three sacks last Saturday against Stanford, giving him 10 for the season, helped him become the Pacific 10 Conference defensive player of the week.

“We’ve been waiting for this moment,” Coach Larry Smith said. “We felt that the more time Junior would get to spend on the practice field and the game field, the more he would blossom. And that’s happened.

“I think he’s the most dominant pass rusher in the conference, and we’re trying to use him as such. We’re just letting him play and not giving him a lot to think about. Let him just cue it up and go find the football. He’s easy to coach. Just make sure he’s lined up in the right place. Like I was telling Chris Allen, you’ve got three words to tell Junior: ‘Make the tackle.’ ”

Trojan Notes

USC receiver John Jackson is one of eleven seniors named National Football Foundation and Hall of Fame Scholar-Athletes for 1989. On the field, Jackson has become the Trojans’ all-time leading receiver. In the classroom, he has a 3.3 grade-point average and is pursuing a master’s degree in business administration. . . . Jackson is the eighth Trojan to win the honor, following Chuck Arrobio, Fred Khasigian, Pat Haden, Gary Bethel, Paul McDonald, Duane Bickett and Jeff Bregel.

Backup fullback Mike Mooney has been lost for the season with a stress fracture of the foot. . . . Defensive lineman Randy Hord remains doubtful for Saturday’s game at the Coliseum against Oregon State due to a sprained ankle. . . . Running back Aaron Emanuel, out for a month with a shoulder separation, is expected to see limited action against the Beavers. With Mooney out, Emanuel has been working out at fullback. . . . Running back Scott Lockwood, out since opening day with a dislocated thumb, still wears a cast.

Nose tackle Don Gibson, sidelined since summer with torn knee ligaments, has been practicing with the team, but according to Coach Larry Smith, there’s little hope he’ll play again in the regular season. Smith said: “I’d say it’s maybe a one-in-100 chance that he’ll be ready. If you’re talking about a postseason situation, he’d have a better chance of getting ready to play.”

And talking about a postseason situation, next week’s USC-Arizona Rose Bowl showdown at Tucson, originally a night game, has been moved to 12:30 p.m., PST, and will be televised by ABC.