Shortage of Playing Time Throws Swinton for a Loss : College football: Former area standout returns as reserve running back for Washington State

The last time Rich Swinton carried the football in the Los Angeles area, he helped Washington State upset UCLA, 34-30, and knock the No. 1 Bruins from the top of the national polls.

Swinton rushed for 117 yards, making it a joyous homecoming for the running back from Montclair Prep. The performance highlighted a bright 1988 season for Swinton, who gained 1,018 yards as a sophomore despite starting in only two games.

But since those glory days, Swinton hasn’t gained a quarter of that yardage. A chronic hamstring injury and a one-game suspension limited him to six games and 79 yards rushing last season.

The 5-foot-8, 190-pound senior has picked up only 159 yards in 42 carries this season and lost the starting tailback job to sophomore Shaumbe Wright-Fair, who has run for 404 yards in 89 carries.

“The situation is just . . . wow . . . it’s rough, no doubt,” said Swinton, who returns to his hometown tonight when the Cougars (2-3) play USC at the Coliseum.

“You want to get the ball as much as you can. I want to do the most I can do. The team is struggling and that doesn’t make it any easier.”

After Washington State’s first three games, Swinton had gained just 102 yards in 33 carries. In the first half against California on Sept. 22 he slashed for 55 yards in seven carries, but a deep thigh bruise prevented him from playing in the second half.

“I was on my way to a 100-yard game,” Swinton said, “but it tightened up at halftime. When it locks up like that you just can’t run.”

Although the bruise healed quickly, Swinton appeared in only a handful of plays last week against UCLA, gaining 10 yards in two carries in a 30-20 loss.

“All I can do is keep working hard in practice and hope the coach will call my number,” said Swinton, who was recruited by Jim Walden (now at Iowa State), coached for two years by Dennis Erickson (now at Miami) and is now under Mike Price’s direction.

Sideline duty is no easy shift for Swinton, who played both ways at Montclair Prep. He gained 4,149 yards in three seasons, including 2,265 as a senior when he scored 26 touchdowns.

“I don’t think about those days,” Swinton said. “I don’t like to live in the history books. I try to keep moving. I know I’ll be successful in the future no matter what I do. I know my day will come.”

If it is not today before 15 or 20 friends and relatives, Swinton won’t sweat it.

“I wouldn’t be embarrassed,” he said. “People who know me know what’s going on. They know it’s not my time.”