Fresno State, USC Have Different Views of Freedom : Football: Bulldogs thrilled to be in Dec. 29 bowl game. Trojans trying not to consider it as a consolation.

Fresno State Coach Jim Sweeney on Thursday called the Freedom Bowl the biggest game in the school’s history. USC Coach Larry Smith refused to call the game a consolation bowl and said the Trojans are pleased to be playing in Anaheim.

Sweeney spoke of the mystique of playing against USC. Smith talked about the mistake of thinking the Trojans have given up after season-ending losses to UCLA and Notre Dame.

Still, Fresno State and USC would seem to be approaching the Dec. 29 game at Anaheim Stadium from different perspectives.

For Fresno State (8-4) and its legion of Red Wave fans, a matchup against USC means a rare chance to play in the national spotlight. Win or lose, this figures to be the highlight in Sweeney’s 15 seasons at Fresno State. Moreover, some 24,000 Bulldog fans have already purchased tickets, a Freedom Bowl record for one team.

For USC (6-4-1), a victory over Fresno State seems a must. Trojan fans were calling for Smith’s job after last month’s losses to the Bruins and Fighting Irish. Ticket sales aren’t exactly booming either, what with expected sales topping out around 8,000.

“If we had come off a New Year’s Day game or another bowl game (it would be different), but I know our players and our coaches are doggone happy to be in a bowl game,” said Smith, whose team is coming off a 3-8 record in 1991.

Asked if losing to Fresno State would put his job in jeopardy, Smith said, “Right now we’re 6-4-1 and any loss to anybody is not going to help you. I hope I’m going to be back next year. But I can’t assess something that hasn’t happened.”

No one, Smith said, is taking Fresno State lightly. He pointed out that the Trojans had to struggle to gain a 31-31 tie with San Diego State on Sept. 5 and Fresno State defeated the Aztecs, 45-41, on Nov. 21.

“I know you can’t compare scores and all that,” Smith said. “Our players remember that (San Diego State) game vividly. I really think our team has grown and matured since then. It doesn’t matter what color you wear or what uniform you wear, you better play your butt off on that particular Saturday afternoon, and I think our players learned that.”

USC will face a Fresno State team that finished the regular season with the nation’s highest scoring average (40.5 points) and were second to Houston in total offense per game (482.6 yards).

“This is probably the best offensive team we’ve ever had at Fresno State,” Sweeney said. “It might be one of the best teams I’ve ever had.

“Our team is very, very young. We look to be an underdog in the football game. We all know USC is going to be favored.”