San Jose St. Lineman to Play in Opener

San Jose State expects to have one of its best players, offensive lineman Chris Fe’esago, back from a summer injury for the season opener against USC at the Coliseum on Saturday.

Fe’esago tore his triceps in precamp workouts but has been cleared to play, Coach Fitz Hill said in a news conference Monday.

The 6-foot-3, 324-pound lineman is a preseason All-American and leader of the unit that helped tailback Deonce Whitaker to a school-record 1,577 yards rushing last season. Fifty of those yards came against USC in only one half before Whitaker was forced from the game with an injury.

Fe’esago returned to full-contact practice last weekend and is playing with a brace on his arm.

“We’ve limited his contact,” Hill said. But, the coach added, “his rehabilitation has come along.”

While USC held a half-hour practice Monday, walking through plays and doing some light conditioning work, Hill was reminiscing about teams of Trojan yore.

The Spartan coach grew up in Arkadelphia, Ark., and recalled the Trojans playing Arkansas at Memorial Stadium in Little Rock in 1972 and 1974. Both of those USC teams won national championships, but the ’74 squad had to rebound from a 22-7 season-opening loss to the Razorbacks.

“I have vivid memories of Southern Cal football,” Hill said. “There is a lot of great tradition there.”

The Trojan players have selected fullback Charlie Landrigan and safeties Troy Polamalu and Antuan Simmons as team captains. Landrigan and Simmons are seniors. Polamalu had 83 tackles, second-best on the team, as a sophomore last season.

The Los Angeles Sports Council Foundation and USC will play host to more than 2,500 disadvantaged youngsters at the Trojans’ game against Kansas State on Sept. 8.

As part of the “Touchdown for Youth” program, each child will receive a ticket to the game and refreshments.

Anyone interested in making a charitable contribution to the program can call (213) 482-6343.