Players Still Rose Bowl Hopeful

USC took a big step backward in the Rose Bowl race with its loss to Oregon State on Saturday, but the players are telling each other not to give up. They are counting on the Beavers losing some games.

“We don’t think Oregon State is going to go out and beat every team in this league,” Carson Palmer said. “That’s going to give us a chance to come back.”

Even Coach Paul Hackett, who said last week that one conference loss would “dramatically” lessen his team’s chances, takes hope from a schedule loaded with home games, including one against Oregon, which sits atop the Pacific 10 Conference standings after victories over UCLA and Washington. The Ducks come to the Coliseum in two weeks.

Of course, any thoughts of a rally are based on the assumption the Trojans get their affairs in order. At this point, that’s a very big assumption.

“We can’t shut down,” linebacker Zeke Moreno said. “The Rose Bowl is still there.”

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The first opportunity for a resurgence will be Saturday’s game at the Coliseum against Arizona, a 3-1 team that has improved since an early loss to Ohio State.

“We have gotten a lot better because our kicking game keeps growing, and we are playing great defense,” Arizona Coach Dick Tomey said. “It is really a matter of all of the components working together.”

The Wildcats proved they can win on the road with a 27-3 victory at Stanford last Saturday. They received solid play from quarterback Ortege Jenkins and a surprising 116 yards from freshman running back Clarence Farmer, who had only 15 carries in three previous games.

Despite the Trojans’ loss over the weekend, or perhaps because of it, Tomey said he expects a tough game.

“They are definitely going to be more dangerous because they are playing at home, and they’re coming off a loss,” he said. “I’m sure USC is going to play their best game, so we have to play our best game.”

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The prognosis for Sultan McCullough is decidedly brighter than it was a day ago. The tailback, who missed most of the second half against Oregon State because of a bruised knee, is expected to practice with the team this week.

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USC’s game against Oregon at the Coliseum on Oct. 14 will begin at 12:30 p.m. and will be telecast regionally on ABC.