Carroll Defends Decision to Let Maualuga Play

USC linebacker Rey Maualuga found himself in the glare of the media spotlight last week after he was booked on suspicion of misdemeanor battery for allegedly punching a man at a party.

Maualuga played against Stanford four days after the alleged incident and Coach Pete Carroll said Sunday that the freshman from Eureka, Calif., could play a lot more in the Trojans’ next game against California.

Maualuga’s role might increase because middle linebacker Oscar Lua suffered a knee injury on the kickoff following USC’s first touchdown in their 51-21 victory. Carroll said Lua, a fourth-year junior who has had reconstructive surgery on both knees, heard a popping sound on the play and will have an MRI exam today.

“He’s had a couple scares in situations over the course of the season where he thought he might be in a vulnerable situation and might be hurt and he wasn’t,” Carroll said. “Maybe he’s all right.”

Carroll demoted Maualuga to the scout team last Tuesday. Carroll, however, did not say publicly that Maualuga was suspended or that he would not play against Stanford.

Still, it surprised many when Maualuga entered the game in the third quarter.

Carroll said the decision to play Maualuga was preplanned. Maualuga, 6 feet 2 and 245 pounds, said Carroll told him after halftime that he would play.

“It felt great,” said Maualuga, who made five tackles. “I just put everything behind me. Just went out and played.”

After the game, Carroll said he was not concerned about outside reaction.

“People have opinions. They can think anything they want,” he said.

Carroll often talks about searching for teachable moments to relay to his players. Asked Sunday if he was concerned about the perception that he was sending a mixed message by playing Maualuga, Carroll said, “Not a bit. Because we went through it the way that we do it. The [team leadership] committee that we have talked through the whole thing, all the circumstances and how remorseful Rey was and the seriousness of it all.

“It’s not over. I don’t know if there’s more to it or not.”

The Los Angeles Police Department is expected to deliver its report about the alleged incident involving Maualuga to the city attorney’s office this week. Maualuga is scheduled to appear in court on Nov. 22.

Asked if Maualuga would continue to play if the city attorney files charges, Carroll said he would deal with the issue, “when the time comes.”

In the meantime, the Trojans face the prospect of possibly playing Cal -- the last team to defeat the Trojans before they started what has grown to a 31-game winning streak -- without the three linebackers who opened the season as starters.

Senior Dallas Sartz is taking a redshirt after injuring his shoulder in the second game against Arkansas. Weak-side linebacker Keith Rivers played sparingly against Washington and Washington State and did not play against Stanford because of a hamstring injury. Lua’s status is now unclear.

If Lua is sidelined, Carroll said Thomas Williams would probably start in the middle. Collin Ashton would play the weak-side spot until Rivers returns and freshman Brian Cushing would start on the strong-side.

Maualuga and freshman Kaluka Maiava also would play.

“They’re the top recruiting class,” linebacker coach Ken Norton said of the freshmen. “It’s time for them to step up.

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Carroll said he was not disappointed that UCLA’s loss to Arizona prevented the possibility of a matchup between unbeaten teams on Dec. 3. “I can’t worry about that,” he said. “I have enough trouble worrying about our own guys.” ... Defensive lineman Rashaad Goodrum suffered a rib injury and freshman safety Will Harris injured his knee. Harris will have an MRI exam today.

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Times staff writer David Wharton contributed to this report.