Freshman Claridge Likely to Start
Barring injury between now and Sunday, when USC opens against Penn State, Travis Claridge will become the first freshman offensive lineman to start an opener for the Trojans since 1979.
Claridge, 6 feet 6 and 290 pounds, beat out sophomore David Pratchard at right guard.
For the record:
12:00 a.m. Aug. 21, 1996 COLLEGE FOOTBALL DAILY REPORT USC By EARL GUSTKEY
Los Angeles Times Wednesday August 21, 1996 Home Edition Sports Part C Page 8 Sports Desk 1 inches; 21 words Type of Material: Correction
Correction: Travis Claridge, the freshman right guard, becomes the first USC freshman offensive lineman to start an opener since 1976, not 1979.
--EARL GUSTKEY
The last true freshman offensive lineman to start an opener was Brad Budde. Claridge is an 18-year-old from Vancouver, Wash.
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Junior wide receiver Larry Parker, slowed for two weeks by a hamstring pull, won’t play against Penn State.
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In a teleconference with football writers the other day, Penn State Coach Joe Paterno seemed surprised when he was asked how he felt about Jason Collins, his strong safety, being on a teleconference call for writers.
“Jason Collins is having a teleconference?” Paterno asked. “Why doesn’t somebody tell me this stuff?”
Collins, who broke a leg in the third game last season, was recently granted a fifth year of eligibility and Paterno was unaware that had been announced.
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