COLLEGE FOOTBALL DAILY REPORT : USC : Phillips Makes Most of Opportunity

Micah Phillips, the sophomore backup safety who played a major role in USC’s 22-17 victory at Washington Saturday, was so nervous about his anticipated start in Seattle he called his mother before the game for support.

“I knew there was a chance I would start because (Mike) Salmon was hurt, so I didn’t sleep practically all night,” Phillips said after the game, during which he led USC with six unassisted tackles, was in on seven others and recovered a fumble.

“I called my mom in Dallas and she just said to stop worrying so much,” Phillips said.

“Salmon told me not to worry, that I’d do a good job. Willie (McGinest, senior defensive end) told me to ‘cool down.’ ”

Salmon, the senior starting strong safety, played sparingly Saturday but is expected to play against UCLA Saturday--with Phillips. “We weren’t going to use Mike at all, but he warmed up Saturday better than he’d looked all week,” Burns said.