Pat Harlow

At the end of his sophomore season two years ago, Pat Harlow was USC's fourth-best defensive lineman. Since the Trojans favor a 3-4 defensive alignment, that meant only one thing: He was the odd man out. What to do? Tired of sitting, Harlow thought about transferring. He thought about red-shirting. Finally, he asked for a meeting with Coach Larry Smith, who suggested another option: Start over and move to offensive tackle. Harlow agreed without hesitation and a star was born.

We totally disagree with the story which appeared in The Times on Feb. 3, about the alleged drug-testing cheating in the USC football program. We believe the sources, who were never named, are not valid and the story is not based on fact. The only player named in the story was a former walk-on who quit the team when he wasn't given a scholarship. In the numerous tests given to us by USC and the NCAA, we were always observed throughout the process. We didn't see any cheating, we're not aware of any cheating and we find it would be extremely difficult to cheat.

We totally disagree with the story which appeared in The Times on Feb. 3, about the alleged drug-testing cheating in the USC football program. We believe the sources, who were never named, are not valid and the story is not based on fact. The only player named in the story was a former walk-on who quit the team when he wasn't given a scholarship. In the numerous tests given to us by USC and the NCAA, we were always observed throughout the process. We didn't see any cheating, we're not aware of any cheating and we find it would be extremely difficult to cheat.

At the end of his sophomore season two years ago, Pat Harlow was USC's fourth-best defensive lineman. Since the Trojans favor a 3-4 defensive alignment, that meant only one thing: He was the odd man out. What to do? Tired of sitting, Harlow thought about transferring. He thought about red-shirting. Finally, he asked for a meeting with Coach Larry Smith, who suggested another option: Start over and move to offensive tackle. Harlow agreed without hesitation and a star was born.

Offensive tackle Pat Harlow of USC and defensive tackle Steve Emtman of Washington are winners of the 11th annual Morris Trophy, awarded to the Pacific 10 Conference's outstanding offensive and defensive linemen.

Offensive tackle Pat Harlow of USC and defensive tackle Steve Emtman of Washington today were named winners of the 11th annual Morris Trophy, awarded to the Pacific-10 Conference's outstanding offensive and defensive linemen. Harlow, a 6-7, 270-pound senior from Norco, was named to the All-Pac-10 first team this year. Emtman, a 6-4, 280-pound sophomore from Cheney, Wash., anchored a Husky defense that allowed just 289.2 yards and 13.6 points per game.

Six USC seniors will play in postseason all-star games. Flanker Gary Wellman and offensive guard Mark Tucker will play in the Senior Bowl on Jan. 19 at Mobile, Ala. The same day, linebacker Scott Ross and offensive tackle Pat Harlow will play in the Hula Bowl at Honolulu. Ross and tailback Ricky Ervins will play in the East-West Shrine Game Jan. 26 at Stanford. Harlow and defensive guard Don Gibson will play in the Japan Bowl Jan. 13 at Tokyo.

Six USC seniors will play in postseason all-star games: --Linebacker Scott Ross, offensive tackle Pat Harlow and offensive guard Mark Tucker will play in the Hula Bowl Jan. 19. --On the same day, flanker Gary Wellman will play in the Senior Bowl at Mobile, Ala. --Harlow, tailback Ricky Ervins and defensive guard Don Gibson will play in the Japan Bowl Jan. 13 at Tokyo. --Gibson and Ross will play in the East-West Shrine game Jan. 26 at Stanford.

USC football players Don Gibson and Pat Harlow helped police arrest two robbery suspects last month, detective Jary Quinones of the Los Angeles Police Dept. said Wednesday. Driving on Century Boulevard near Los Angeles International Airport, Gibson, Harlow and a third passenger, Rob Sporrer, heard a woman scream as she ran toward a pickup truck. They followed the truck into Hawthorne, where Gibson called police.

Three Orange County teams will attempt to reach the CIF Southern Section playoffs tonight in wild-card games that are used to finalize the 32-team field for the 4-A and 3-A divisions. Fullerton (15-9) plays host to Western (10-12) in the 3-A while El Modena (13-10) travels to Norco (14-10) in the 4-A. The winner of the Fullerton-Western game meets fourth-seeded Morningside (16-7) Friday night. The Norco-El Modena winner meets Corona del Mar (22-4) Friday.

Raider guard Kevin Gogan was fined $5,000 for a chop block in last Sunday's Oakland victory at Seattle, and tackle Pat Harlow was fined $5,000 for a late hit in the same game. That brings to five the number of times the Raider offensive line has been fined this season. Three fines have been imposed on guard Steve Wisniewski. * Charger running back Leonard Russell missed Thursday's practice so he could be with his hospitalized 3-year-old daughter, Coach Bobby Ross said.

For the second consecutive year, UCLA, with 11, will have the most recruits of any college among the 60 players in the 36th Shrine high school all-star football game Aug. 1 at the Rose Bowl. The Bruins also had 11 last season, with nine of those coming from the South and two from the North. This year, seven are from the South and four from the North.