COLLEGE FOOTBALL / DAILY REPORT : USC : Now They Want to Play, Not Watch

There are 16 fifth-year seniors on USC’s football team who were redshirted during the 1989 season, the last Trojan team to play in the Rose Bowl game.

Those who suited up but didn’t play that day, when USC beat Michigan, 17-10, stood on the sideline in front of a crowd of 103,450.

“It was an unbelievable experience, just going through the warm-ups and watching that huge stadium fill up,” remembers Reggie Perry, a redshirt quarterback then and a senior safety now.

Recalls Mike Salmon, another safety who stood and watched that day: “It gave me a taste of (the Rose Bowl game). It was the biggest thing I’ve ever been a part of. It makes me want it again now, so much more.”

The Trojans need a victory or a tie against UCLA on Saturday to return to the Rose Bowl.

The 16 Trojans who were redshirts in 1989: Perry, Salmon, Craig Gibson, Gidion Murrell, Brad Banta, Shannon Jones, Rory Brown, Thomas Holland, Jason Uhl, Mike Hinz, Terry McDaniels, David Apolskis, Matt Butkus, Joel Crisman, Darren Galloway and Johnnie Morton.

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Coach John Robinson, on whether he will play for a tie Saturday, if necessary, to get into the Rose Bowl:

“We’re not playing for the Rose Bowl. We’re playing to win the game. The Rose Bowl is involved, but you play to win the game.”

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Robinson, when asked if he has any quirky pregame rituals:

“No. All the ones I had my last two years with the Rams, I don’t do those anymore.”