Traveler Case Is Resolved

The legal tussle over Traveler, the white horse that gallops around the field at USC football games, has ended with an agreement between the university and the family that provides the horse.

Pat Saukko has given the trademark to the horse’s name to USC in return for a contract extension and an undisclosed portion of the proceeds from the sale of Traveler merchandise.

Saukko is the widow of Richard Saukko, who began riding the mascot at games in 1961. Her small ranch north of Los Angeles has provided five generations of horses for games.

Several years ago, Saukko applied for federal registration of the Traveler name, a move opposed by the university, which did not want an outside party to have legal control over an image so closely tied to its team.

Saukko said she was relieved to settle the dispute and to have her contract with the university extended through 2006.

“It shows they want me,” she said. “So I’m thrilled that the job we do . . . they like it.”

Still unresolved is a separate dispute involving the horse’s rider, Ardeshir Radpour, who was dismissed earlier this season and is trying to get his job back.

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Trevor Roberts sat out practice Wednesday and will be held out again today. The senior offensive lineman has an injured foot--the same foot that kept him out of the first five games of the season--but Coach Paul Hackett is hopeful he can play against Notre Dame.

“He’s been a real warrior,” Hackett said. “This is his last game, so we want to give him every opportunity.”

If Roberts cannot play, or can play only part of the game, he will be replaced by either Eric Torres or Eric Denmon, the senior center who is working his way back from a midseason ankle sprain.

“For a while I was getting worried and frustrated,” Denmon said. “I just had to stay cool. Everything turned out fine.”

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Linebacker Markus Steele is also trying to make it back for his final game as a Trojan.

Recovering from a sprained ankle, Steele sat out two games and played only a few downs against UCLA last week. He hopes to improve upon that against the Irish.

“There will be a lot of enthusiasm and adrenaline,” Hackett said. “It’s just a matter of how long he can go.”

Among other injured players, receiver Steve Stevenson suffered a slight leg injury but is expected back. Tailback Sultan McCullough, suffering from a toe injury, will try to practice when the team meets for a short session this morning.