Return to Sun Bowl Won’t Happen

USC can rest easy about one thing: The Trojans don’t have to worry about going back to the Sun Bowl.

“First we wanted to go to the Rose Bowl,” tailback Chad Morton said. “Then we just didn’t want to go to the Sun Bowl. Now we want to go to any bowl. Guys aren’t giving up.”

USC must win all four of its remaining games--against Arizona State, Washington State, UCLA and Louisiana Tech--to secure a winning record and be eligible for a bowl.

Even then, the Trojans’ situation could be murky if they don’t finish at least tied for fifth in the Pacific 10 Conference, in which case they’d be a likely pick for one of the conference slots in the two Christmas Day games in Hawaii.

With most bowls tied into conference deals, after the Pac-10 spots are filled, USC would be left to be considered for at-large berths to bowls such as the Motor City Bowl against probable Mid-American Conference champion Marshall--ranked 13th in the Associated Press poll--or to fill a spot in another bowl left open because the designated conference doesn’t have enough qualified teams, potentially such as the Independence Bowl.

First things first: USC can’t lose again.

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Linebacker Darryl Knight has been suspended indefinitely for a violation of team rules. A source indicated the suspension was academically related. The move creates a depth problem because Knight had been backing up Markus Steele, who is playing despite a chronic shoulder injury. Henry Wallace becomes the new backup. . . . John Fox continues to solidify himself as the likely starter at quarterback, with Mike Van Raaphorst also expected to play. Van Raaphorst said X-rays revealed no broken bones in his left (non-throwing) hand, which has been ore since the Arizona game. . . . Receiver R. Jay Soward continues to improve after sitting out last week because of a strained hamstring. “I think he’ll be OK. I’m counting on him,” USC Coach Paul Hackett said.