COLLEGE FOOTBALL DAILY REPORT : USC : Smith: Shooting Brings Team Together

Coach Larry Smith said that Monday’s incident at practice, when freshman linebacker Jon McGee was struck in the left arm by a stray bullet, has galvanized the Trojans as they prepare to play No. 1-ranked Washington on Saturday at Seattle.

“Things like this can bring up a lot of questions, bring up a lot of controversy (and) adversity, but I also know that it can bring people a lot tighter together,” Smith said. “I really think it has pulled this team together. A lot of times, you’d say something like this would make everybody fall apart and go off all different ways and not be able to concentrate on the opponent. But I think it has kind of worked in reverse.”

Washington’s defense, second in the nation against the run last season, giving up an average of 67.1 yards, is 75th this season--10th in the Pac-10--after giving up 541 yards in victories over Arizona State, Wisconsin and Nebraska. . . . Washington yielded only 738 yards rushing in 12 games last season, including 78 against USC in 36 attempts. . . . Washington’s Keith Navidi, a reserve nose tackle from Esperanza High in Anaheim, has been advised to quit the team because of a bulging disk in his back, Coach Don James said. . . . The last time Washington was ranked No. 1 in the Associated Press poll, it lost to USC at the Coliseum, 16-7, on Nov. 10, 1984.