Yards Add Up at USD on Sporrer’s Account : College football: Former El Dorado High running back is 245 yards shy of breaking Torero record of 2,176 yards.

Beans he can count. Yardage? Now that’s another matter entirely.

University of San Diego fullback Scott Sporrer is sitting poolside, hours removed from the suit and tie he wore for an interview with an accounting firm.

Sporrer, a senior accounting major from Placentia, has interviewed with four firms and hopes to land a job with one of them come graduation day in May.

“Everyone thinks accountants are a bunch of bean-counters,” he said. “I’m getting a little worried, though, because I’m starting to laugh at all the stupid accounting jokes.”

Let’s assume Sporrer is better at auditing others than he is himself. Going into Saturday’s game at Whittier College (0-3), the 5-foot-11, 185-pound senior is 245 yards shy of breaking USD’s career rushing record of 2,176 yards established by Todd Jackson.

Sporrer, who has gained 1,932 yards in three-plus seasons, estimated he needed at least five hundred to break the mark Jackson--a fellow graduate of El Dorado High--set from 1986-89.

“No way. Really?” he said.

Somebody buy this guy a calculator. Better yet, an ego.

It comes as no surprise to Sporrer’s coaches and teammates that individual records and achievements run a distant second in his mind to team victories and accomplishments.

“Personally, I don’t think it matters to him when (the record) happens,” said sophomore running back Michael Henry. “But with six games left, no one’s going to stop him.”

Jack Rubidoux, who coaches the running backs, hopes not. He described Sporrer as one of the hardest working--and most popular--team members.

“You want to see any individual who works that hard achieve something special,” Rubidoux said. “But he really wants to, in my opinion, be an asset to this team.”

Sporrer is averaging 94.9 yards per game for the Toreros (3-1-1)--his 152 against Cal State Hayward were a season best--and his five touchdowns lead the team.

But statistics aside, Sporrer also acts as an unofficial cheerleader. Rubidoux said it isn’t unusual to see Sporrer pop up after being tackled with a broad grin.

“That enthusiasm carries over to the linemen,” he said. “They know he’s not afraid to take a hit and that he can give one.”

Henry recalls a time early in the season when Sporrer was stuffed at the line of scrimmage on a play--then leaped up and threw his fist in the air.

“He takes this huge hit, and he gets up and gives us a big ‘Yeah,’ ” Henry said. “Then he got the ball the next four times and rushed for at least seven yards on every one.”

When reminded of the play, Sporrer broke out in a smile: “There’s a difference when you take a hit that hurts and when you take one that feels good. That one felt good. Then I started yelling and screaming to get the team going, and they started catching on.”

Sporrer caught on early to the reality that his senior year marks the end of his football career, and he decided to do something different to prepare for it.

In the past, Sporrer used his summers to concentrate on lifting weights and bulking himself up. This time, he ran with members of the soccer team and dropped 15 pounds.

“I guess I just wanted to try something different,” Sporrer said. “(Coming into) my senior year, I felt really loose, really flexible. When your muscles feel that way, you can cut quick and you can perform better . . . It’s helped bring out my best talent.”

Too often, seniors realize too late that their college careers are winding down and they’ve run out of time to do anything that will leave a lasting impression.

“Scott didn’t wait for that to happen,” Rubidoux said. “He realized before the season that every game, every practice is one less that he’s going to have. He really worked hard for his senior year. That’s a tribute to what kind of player, what kind of person he is.

“He’ll do well whatever he does, whether it’s on or off the football field.”

Take that to mean that Sporrer will make one heck of a bean-counter.