Pola Defends Call on Fake

Coach Pete Carroll and his special teams coordinator, Kennedy Pola, shed more light Monday on the botched punt that proved critical in last weekend’s loss at Notre Dame.

The play, called “rugby,” is designed to help punter Mike MacGillivray avoid a rush by having him roll out before kicking the ball. It also leaves him the option of running for a first down, but Pola insisted “it’s not a fake, it’s a protection.”

USC had been working on the play all season. Early in the Notre Dame game, Carroll and Pola suspected the Irish would come after MacGillivray and decided to use it the next time the Trojans punted. When it came time for the punt team to take the field, Pola wanted to double-check the decision but Carroll was at the opposite end of the sideline with the defense.

Pola defended the call, saying he was worried about a blocked punt, but shouldered the blame for not giving MacGillivray explicit instructions. “I should have told him, ‘We’re on our 28 [yard line]. Even if it looks good, punt it,”’ he said.

MacGillivray thought he saw an open field but was tackled for no gain. The Irish scored soon after. Though Carroll initially said the decision was MacGillivray’s, on Monday he said he shouldn’t have given the player an option to run.

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The Trojans began preparations for an Arizona team that came within 13 seconds of upsetting Washington last weekend. During that loss, Wildcat quarterback Jason Johnson and his replacement, John Rattay, suffered concussions.

“I expect that they are going to be able to return this week,” Arizona Coach John Mackovic said. “They both will be under observation and we will be careful with them during the week.”

Carroll sounded more concerned about Arizona running back Clarence Farmer. “He looks like Edgerrin James carrying the football,” Carroll said.

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Tailback Sultan McCullough, suffering from an abdominal injury, will not return to practice until later this week at the earliest, Carroll said. Backup Darryl Poston is expected to miss two to three weeks with a knee sprain.... Defensive back Sandy Fletcher, who injured his shoulder at Notre Dame, practiced Monday.