A NEW RUSH TAILBACK MCCULLOUGH GETS XTREME CHANCE TO RESTART HIS CAREER.

Byline: Doug Spoon Staff Writer

It was beginning to look as though Saladin McCullough had run out of chances as a football player.

After a failed attempt to gain eligibility at USC and stints at two junior colleges, the Muir High of Pasadena graduate made a name for himself at Oregon, rushing for more than 2,000 yards in two seasons.

But since he left Oregon in 1997, opportunities have been scarce. Playing with broken ribs suffered in the East-West Shrine game, McCullough failed to hook on with the Raiders during a brief tryout in the spring of 1998. He played two games in a summer pro league that folded. Attempts to earn a spot in NFL Europe were unsuccessful. He was cut by the L.A. Avengers of Arena Football.

Then along came the Xtreme Football League. Joining hundreds of football players hoping for their big chance, McCullough is preparing to play his first XFL game Sunday, with the L.A. Xtreme.

It's a chance he never gave up on, an opportunity he knows his critics believed would never materialize.

``I've been waiting for this,'' said McCullough, 25. ``It helps knowing that right now, a lot of people have faith in me. Some things in my past . . . some people can't forget that. It kind of hurts me that people look at stuff like that.''

In the summer of 1993, after completing a prep career in which he rushed for 4,429 yards and 73 touchdowns, McCullough was preparing for his freshman season at USC under coach John Robinson. Before he took a snap in workouts, McCullough's eligibility was put on hold because of an investigation into his SAT score.

After some Muir High faculty members questioned McCullough's score, the Educational Testing Service investigated and ultimately invalidated it. The allegation was that McCullough had someone else take the test for him. After fighting the ruling throughout the season, McCullough eventually gave up and spent the 1994 season at Pasadena City College.

Conflicts with coaches led McCullough to transfer in 1995 to El Camino College, where he rushed for 1,090 yards and 12 touchdowns. Soon he was off to Oregon, where he led the Pac-10 in rushing in 1997 with 1,411 yards.

McCullough's future seemed bright, but his failure to catch on with a pro team has since tried his patience. While living at home in Pasadena with his mother, Mabel, McCullough has kept busy working out, watching his younger brother Sultan play football at USC and spending time with his two children - Saladin, 7, and Maindia, 2.

McCullough fathered the children with two women who live in the area and who allow him to spend time with the youngsters, with child-care help from Mabel.

``I have kids now. I have to be a positive role model,'' McCullough said. ``I see my kids every day. I take my daughter to school in the morning.

``I'm more grown up now. It's not about me anymore, it's about them and providing them with the things they need. My thought process is different. I'm not saying it was bad before, but I've definitely grown up.''

Mabel McCullough has noticed the difference.

``He's really grown up a whole lot,'' she said. ``Before, it seemed like different people were against him. He was so young; we all make mistakes. Saladin is really thankful for this chance, but he's trying to take it one day at a time.''

McCullough has performed well in preseason workouts for the Xtreme, showing speed in scrimmages and beating out talented running backs like George Jones, the former San Diego State standout who was cut last week.

``We look for guys who can do a lot of things in that position,'' said Xtreme head coach Al Luginbill. ``Saladin's ability in space creates mismatch problems at this level. The biggest thing is his versatility as a runner, a pass receiver and his willingness as a blocker. He's very tough. He's just not very big.''

McCullough, listed at 5-foot-9 and 195 pounds, is excited about his chances, even though he will compete for playing time with former Kansas City Chiefs back Rashaan Shehee and Ken Oxendine, formerly of the Atlanta Falcons.

``Everybody seems to have high thoughts about me,'' he said. ``I think the coaches saw the position as wide open and kind of competitive coming in.

``I'm cool with everything. I just want to play football and have fun.''

L.A. XTREME vs. SAN FRANCISCO DEMONS 

Sunday, 1 p.m., at Pac Bell Park

TV: Ch. 13

MCCULLOUGH AT A GLANCE

Age: 25

Ht: 5-9

Wt: 195

College: Oregon

High school: Muir (Pasadena)

Notable: Rushed for 4,429 yards and 73 touchdowns and had 5,749 all-purpose yards at Muir, then signed a national letter of intent with USC. . . . Never became a Trojan because his SAT scores were invalidated. . . . Attended Pasadena City College and El Camino College before transferring to Oregon. . . . Led Pac-10 in rushing in 1997 with 1,411 yards.

CAPTION(S):

photo, box

Photo: no caption (Saladin McCullough)

Box: McCULLOUGH AT A GLANCE (see text)