COLLEGE FOOTBALL / DAILY BOWL REPORT : FREEDOM : No Letdown Woes Foreseen This Time

After USC’s 27-21 loss to UCLA on Nov. 20, job one was to somehow find a proper mental frame of mind to play one more game.

The Trojans lost in the final minute, after Rob Johnson threw an interception from the three-yard-line, to UCLA’s Marvin Goodwin. UCLA now is in Pasadena, USC in Anaheim.

“I think initially, maybe the two days afterward, a lot of us wanted to pack it in, especially the seniors,” senior fullback Deon Strother said.

“I know I didn’t feel much like playing--I was kind of numb. But at our Monday meeting, Coach (John) Robinson was great. He challenged us, told us we were going to turn this into a good situation.”

Said backup punter Martin Boskovich of last year’s 24-7 loss to Fresno State in the Freedom Bowl: “Last year, we really just weren’t ready to play. With all the rumors going around about Coach (Larry) Smith, we were distracted. But now, if you took a poll, I think 90% of us are excited about this game.”

And what of Rob Johnson? Senior safety Mike Salmon said he walked up to the crestfallen quarterback after the UCLA game, in the locker room.

“I put my arm around his shoulder and said: ‘Hey, I don’t think we’d have gotten this far without you.’ He looked at me and said: ‘Thanks.’ ”

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USC is practicing at Orange Coast College, Utah at Golden West College. . . . The Trojans set an NCAA passing record with an interception rate of 1.16%, lowest ever. Johnson had only five interceptions in 405 passes.

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Utah is delighted to be playing in the Freedom Bowl, and for a reason having nothing to do with the game’s $700,000 payout.

The Utes love the recruiting exposure, in Southern California.

Utah has 41 Southern California players on its roster. USC has none from Utah.