USC Coaching Change Helped Fullback Change His Mind About Attending Cal

When USC football Coach Larry Smith was forced to resign on New Year’s Day, it gave Peninsula High fullback Taso Papadakis a second chance to play for the school he had always followed.

The 6-foot, 235-pound Papadakis said that after some initial contact with USC during his sophomore year, he never heard from the Trojans again. He was ready to sign a letter of intent with California until John Robinson got the USC coaching job.

There is a strong Trojan tradition in the Papadakis family. Taso’s father, John, played linebacker for USC in the early 1970s, and his mother and several other relatives attended the school.

John Papadakis was with his son Wednesday at Peninsula when he signed with the Trojans on the first day of the national signing period for seniors.

Other area players expected to have signed Wednesday included Hawthorne tailback Corey McCoy (Arizona State), Hawthorne offensive lineman Mostafa Sobhi (Washington), Hawthorne safety Tevita Moala (Kansas), South Torrance offensive lineman Chad Sauter (UCLA) and Banning safety Brandon Moore (Washington State).

Papadakis was known more as a linebacker in high school--he was named Bay League defensive player of the year last season--but he said he is eager to become a fullback, especially after meeting USC’s new running back coach, former Trojan and Heisman Trophy winner Charles White.

“I think (White) is going to be a great coach,” Papadakis said. “When I went (to his office), he was a really open guy. He is really confident about what he wants to be as a coach and very focused.

“I got a really good feeling from him. He was cracking jokes and not too uptight about his past (drug) problems. I walked into Heritage Hall and saw his Heisman and I thought, ‘Wow! I’m going to be talking to this guy in a few minutes.’ ”

Papadakis said he won’t mind if he becomes a blocking back to a future Heisman Trophy winner.

“I’m just happy to be out on the field,” Papadakis said. “I would love to get the opportunity to play in the Coliseum and block for a guy (who wins a Heisman). I can’t wait to hear ‘Fight On.’ ”

For McCoy, attending Arizona State will give him a chance to be close to several family members who live in the Phoenix area, as well as a chance to return to the area where he spent his early childhood.

McCoy lived in Avondale, a suburb of Phoenix, until he was 6 years old.

“(Sun Devil Coach Bruce Snyder) was a real nice guy,” McCoy said. “We had a pretty good conversation. He told me I might redshirt, but I will be a running back.”

Another player who expects to redshirt next year is South’s Sauter, a 6-5, 270-pound offensive lineman.

“I’ll probably redshirt, it all depends on how fast you grow,” Sauter said. “I’ve always looked at UCLA, my parents wanted me to go there.”

Banning’s Moore, one of the area’s most highly recruited players, said he is looking forward to leaving the Los Angeles area and living in a small-town atmosphere at Washington State, located in Pullman.

“It’s not a big town, so there aren’t a lot of things you can get into, and everyone’s friendly,” Moore said. “They also have a good football program. They almost made it to the Rose Bowl.”