Work of ‘Devils Not Lost on USC

Paul Hackett doesn’t remember it because he was coaching in the NFL.

But nobody who was around USC can forget it.

Arizona State 35, USC 7.

John Robinson saw the writing on the Sun Devil Stadium locker room wall that day last season and used such words as “ashamed” and “humiliation,” but USC never really recovered, spelling the end of Robinson’s career.

Now USC is ranked No. 21 and will play a pivotal Pacific 10 Conference game this afternoon at the Coliseum with a chance to erase two years of frustration against Arizona State.

“I haven’t beaten ‘em yet,” said R. Jay Soward, USC’s big-play receiver. “My freshman year they came back and beat us in overtime [48-35 in two overtimes]. Last year, they totally dominated us.”

USC, 3-1 and 1-0 in the Pac-10, needs this game to get back on track after a loss to Florida State.

But so do the Sun Devils (2-2, 1-1), who once were ranked No. 8 but now are reduced to trying to save their season after talk of a national championship wilted with losses to Washington and Brigham Young in an 0-2 start.

“They’re a real good football team,” Soward said. “They’ve got J.R. Redmond, and he’s big time, a Heisman candidate. We have to really be on top of our game. Last year, they totally dominated us. We have to dominate them.”

Last year again.

“Last year was just ugly,” quarterback Mike Van Raaphorst said. “We’re definitely out for a little revenge.”

Receiver Mike Bastianelli agreed.

“We got embarrassed twice at their place,” he said. “The first one was a little closer. The second time, they blew us out. It wasn’t even close.”

Linebacker Chris Claiborne, for one, is trying to put it out of his mind entirely.

“I’m forgetting about the game last year,” Claiborne said. “I’m looking only at this game. You want to play the game consistently.”

Consistency went out the window for Arizona State after a devastating last-minute loss to Washington in the first game of the season. A week later, Arizona State, still despondent over the Washington loss, was upset by Brigham Young.

“We’re probably not over it yet,” Arizona State Coach Bruce Snyder said. “Probably when they fill dirt on top of me, I’ll be over it. Kids get over things quicker than coaches. It had a lingering effect on our preparation for BYU.

“We started seriously shaking it the Sunday after the BYU game. Since that Sunday, we have been a better football team. We’re getting over it little by little.”

Hackett would just as soon they get over it a little bit later than this afternoon.

“Arizona State, they’ll bounce back,” he said. “A lot of teams start badly and finish very strong. UCLA was 0-2 last year, and they had a fabulous year.”

Arizona State’s defense faltered early but has been better against lesser opponents--North Texas and Oregon State--the past two weeks.

The real strength is on the other side of the ball.

“Their offense, let’s face it, will be the best we’ve faced,” Hackett said.

Arizona State has a good young quarterback in Ryan Kealy and a standout receiver in Lenzie Jackson.

But the player to watch is Redmond, a multi-threat player from Carson High who starts at tailback but also plays receiver, returns kicks and occasionally plays defensive back.

Last season, Redmond played a supporting role and wasn’t a big factor, leaving the game because of a hip injury.

This season, he’s Arizona State’s biggest threat.

“He’s slippery when he drops his shoulders and kind of ricochets,” Hackett said. “He has a leaning, slithering style. Let’s face it, the big issue is the fact he can hurt you so many ways.”

Redmond is only one of a host of Arizona State players from Southern California who want nothing more than to make their mark on the Trojans.

“Most of the time over the years, the players we get from Southern California were interested in ‘SC but didn’t get to go there. So that kid feels hurt,” Snyder said.

“They grew up liking USC or UCLA and get jilted, and love turns to hate.

“Now they want to go back and beat them in the worst way.”

Haven’t they already, the last two seasons?