For Smith, USC, It’s the Battle Before the War

During Larry Smith’s seven years as Arizona’s coach, he had only one team that was in the Rose Bowl race in November.

That was in 1985, when the Wildcats would have been the Pacific 10 Rose Bowl representative if they had won their last three games against UCLA, Oregon and Arizona State.

They didn’t get close as the Bruins beat them, 24-19, in early November.

Now Smith is at another school, USC, and he’s closer this time. If the Trojans, 6-3 overall and 5-1 in the Pac-10, beat Arizona (4-3-2, 2-2-2) today at the Coliseum, then defeat UCLA next Saturday, they’ll be in the Rose Bowl.

The odds are against such a parlay, though, and Arizona, his old school, would like nothing better than to dash Smith’s championship aspirations.

The Arizona players felt slighted when Smith accepted the USC job, saying that he abandoned them. So, they are motivated to prove to him that he left a lot of good football players behind at Arizona.

When coaches discuss opponents, they sometimes sound like snake oil salesmen, lauding the product to ridiculous extremes.

Smith didn’t spare the adjectives when he talked about Arizona. The only difference is that he knows the personnel.

On Arizona’s run-and-shoot and wishbone offense:

“It’s a two-dimensional offense. They line up with two split ends in a wishbone set or two split ends in a run-and-shoot set. You can’t prepare a big defensive package. You’ve got to make it simple. It has to be adjustable. You have to defend the option. You have to defend the deep routes.

“They have a big-play player in Derek Hill, who may be the best receiver in the league. When we were there, we felt no one could cover him one on one. When they run the wishbone, they get you in a one-on-one situation with him.”

On freshman quarterback Ronald Veal:

“For the short time Veal has been there, it’s unbelievable how well he’s run the offense. He’s quick and reminds me of a young Rodney Peete. He throws the bomb and the intermediate routes.”

On the running backs:

“They have as good a set of running backs as anyone in the conference. Alonzo Washington and Charles Webb are explosive and block well. Art Greathouse has been bothered by injuries, but he’s a big-time running back. Darryl Lewis is good on the pitch.

“Their skilled people are as good as anyone we’ll play. Joe Tofflemire is a great center, and they’re strong up the middle on offense.

“I think their defense is the quickest in the league, by far. They get off blocks and hit.

“They have a great leader on defense in free safety Chuck Cecil, who is also the leader of the team. He is the personality of their team. He’s a big-play specialist who plays with intensity and emotion and is an intelligent player.

“Dana Wells is the best nose guard of anybody we’ve played so far.

“I haven’t seen the UCLA-Nebraska film, but Arizona played UCLA better than any other team (UCLA won, 34-24). I think Arizona has the best kicking game in the conference and they’ve blocked five punts. I’ve been showing the reels of their kicking game to our players to show the kind of effort we want.

“You may think I’m making a mountain out of a mole hill, but I’m not. I know these guys. I’ve seen them on film, and the biggest mistake anyone (could make) is to underestimate them.”

As for the abandonment motive, the USC coach said:

“I don’t think it would make any difference whether I was here or not. You have so many California players on the Arizona roster, players who played with or against our players in high school.

“The Arizona schools play their best games against USC and UCLA. When we were at Arizona, we never worried about getting the team up to play the teams over here.”

Now, all Smith has to do is get his team up to play the one from over there.

Trojan Notes A crowd of 50,000 is anticipated for today’s game. . . . Ronald Veal became Arizona’s starting quarterback when Bobby Watters, a transfer from Southern Methodist, suffered a broken thumb against UCLA in the third game of the season. Veal is backed up by Jeff Hammerschmidt, a converted safety. Veal has completed 51.7% of his passes for 1,059 yards and 4 touchdowns while throwing 6 interceptions. He is Arizona’s leading rusher with 524 yards, a 4.0 average, and 7 touchdowns. Arizona leads the Pac-10 in rushing, averaging 234.4 yards a game. USC is third at 207.3.

“I don’t think there are many true freshmen playing quarterback at the major college level.” Arizona Coach Dick Tomey said of Veal. “I couldn’t be prouder of a young quarterback and his development. He can run and throw and is more comfortable with what we’re doing all the time.” Tomey also said that USC is playing as well as any team in the conference now, adding that his team is playing at a comparable level. . . . Tomey, on USC quarterback Rodney Peete: “He gives you tremendous problems because of his mobility and his ability. Rodney is playing as well now as any quarterback in the country.” . . . Peete ranks fourth nationally in passing efficiency. He holds four USC passing records and is on the verge of 10 other marks for passing and total offense.

Connections: USC nose guard Don Gibson’s older brother is Arizona outside linebacker Boomer Gibson. USC center John Katnik has an older brother, Norman, who is a former starting center at Arizona. Peete grew up in Tucson and was once the ball boy for the Arizona football team. Besides Peete, four other Trojans played high school football in Arizona--strong safety Cleveland Colter, kicker Quin Rodriguez, inside linebacker Jack McDade and offensive linemen John Necas. . . . Katnik was hit by a car Tuesday evening while riding his bicycle near campus and flipped over the hood. Remarkably, he was not injured. . . . Arizona’s run-and-shoot attack may best be described as a quick-striking pass offense. . . . Former Trojan Rod Sherman, who made the winning touchdown catch in the 1964 Notre Dame game, will be honored between the first and second quarters today.