USC’s Great Expectations Begin With San Jose State

It’s John Robinson’s team now, these Trojans who have excited USC faithful with soaring expectations and who begin their long-awaited season this afternoon in the Coliseum.

Robinson, beginning the third season of his second USC term, has a football team largely of his own making. Fifty-six of his players are his recruits; 26 were recruited by his predecessor, Larry Smith.

From an era of diminished expectations, Robinson has for two years talked forcefully of Rose Bowls and national championships. But leading into the opener against San Jose State, he seemed to pause earlier this week, maybe wondering if he had let the boil get too high.

“I’m a little queasy,” he said.

“I keep thinking: ‘Have we prepared for everything? Have we forgotten anything?’ ”

And he acknowledged last weekend’s games didn’t help him sleep any better, Northwestern beating Notre Dame and San Diego State upending California.

“That came up at a team meeting this week, believe me,” said Robinson, worried his players might be more enamored of preseason magazine ratings than playing tough against a seemingly outclassed opponent today.

San Jose State is coming off a 3-8 season and a 47-33 loss to Stanford last week.

Dating to 1990, San Jose has lost 11 consecutive games to Pacific 10 Conference teams, and the Spartans today meet the heavy favorite to win the conference championship.

Robinson finally designated a quarterback starter Thursday, 6-foot-6 junior Brad Otton, a 60% passer on last year’s 8-3-1 team in relief of Rob Johnson. He passed for six touchdowns without an interception.

Robinson said senior Kyle Wachholtz will also play today. USC might go with a two-quarterback offense this season if there is no clear-cut starter after two games. USC plays Houston next Saturday.

San Jose State Coach John Ralston benched his quarterback starter of last week, Alli Abrew, and replaced him with Carl Dean, who completed eight of 12 passes.

USC followers will see significant changes today.

Otton will occasionally set up in a shotgun formation--a first for Robinson--often throwing to running back Leonard Green, who has had an outstanding preseason.

Defensively, USC has had a complete makeover. Gone is the bend-but-don’t-break setup that failed to stop the run last season. New defensive coordinator Keith Burns, who replaced Don Lindsey, has fashioned a 5-2 formation he believes will not only stop the run but create more turnovers.

Otton could have a field day if defenses load up on returning All-American receiver Keyshawn Johnson. Wide receivers Larry Parker, Chris Miller, Billy Miller and Mike Bastianelli have all had outstanding preseasons.

Johnson remains the subject of an NCAA inquiry regarding an alleged loan from a sports agent, but Robinson has indicated USC plans to start him.

Shawn Walters, who will soon join USC’s career top 10 rushing list, is back, along with Green, Delon Washington, Terry Barnum, LaVale Woods and Rodney Sermons.

Senior John Stonehouse was ranked the nation’s best punter by one preseason analysis. Robinson marvels at Stonehouse’s ability to get off his best punts when they’re needed the most--such as the 67-yarder at Seattle in 1993 that helped seal a victory over Washington.

Of his 213 USC punts, 103 weren’t returned.

Trojan Notes

Brent Evans, who started San Jose’s last two games at quarterback last season as a senior, underwent surgery Tuesday for removal of a brain tumor. He was in stable condition Friday. . . . Three USC backups, linemen David Pratchard (ankle) and Cedric Jefferson (neck), and receiver Tony Griffin (back), will sit out the game.