ROSE BOWL NOTEBOOK : GIVEN THE CHANCE, BATTLE BECOMES STAR.

Byline: Scott Wolf Daily News Staff Writer

As early as last summer's training camp, tailback Terry Battle was worried that he might not ever receive significant playing time at Arizona State.

``He came up to me and said `Coach, is the job still open?' '' Arizona State coach Bruce Snyder recalled. ``He was afraid the job was closed.''

Battle's fears hardly subsided when soon after the conversation, he lost the starting position to Michael Martin. Battle was a reserve for the first six games of the season. Frustrated, he again went to Snyder before the Sun Devils played Oregon on Sept. 28.

``I just went up and told him I wasn't happy with the amount of carries I was getting,'' Battle said.

Snyder told Battle to be patient, that he would eventually get his carries.

Neither one anticipated, however, that Battle would become the Sun Devils' star running back because of an injury to Martin, who fractured his vertebrae in the sixth game and missed the rest of the regular season.

But Battle has made the most of his opportunity, gaining 1,043 yards and rushing for a school-record 18 touchdowns in only five starts. He was also a first-team All-Pacific-10 Conference selection and already has people wondering if he will skip his senior season for the NFL.

Battle was confident he could be a quality running back this season, but hardly expected this type of season before Martin went down against UCLA.

``He's subject to moods . . . not that that's a bad thing,'' Snyder said of Battle. ``He was afraid his career was going by him without getting a chance.''

Battle's first start was against USC, and he quickly relieved any fears that the Sun Devils would suffer without Martin. Battle rushed for 184 yards and four touchdowns against the Trojans.

``Being the first start and coming out like I did, that took a lot of pressure off me,'' Battle said. ``But I wanted to show it wasn't a fluke game.''

It wasn't. Battle went on to rush for 190 yards against Oregon State and 164 against California, and has prevented the No. 2-ranked Sun Devils (11-0) from becoming a one-dimensional team under quarterback Jake Plummer.

``He's become a great lesson for our team,'' Snyder said. ``If you don't become impatient, don't become pouty and remain patient. He has hung in there. Now everybody is chasing him.''

The only real question left about Battle today is whether he will stay at Arizona State. He is leaning toward staying, but has not made up his mind.

``I think it will come down to who's coming out (early) and who's not coming out,'' he said.

No fear: Battle had no problem Sunday predicting who would win the Rose Bowl.

``We're too confident. There's nothing else to be said. We feel like no team can play with us,'' he said. ``(Ohio State is) a good team, but they're coming down to play the Sun Devils and that's going to be a different ball game.''

Marquee matchup: Although Ohio State offensive lineman Orlando Pace is considered one of the top five players in the country, Snyder likes the idea of placing quick defensive end Derrick Rodgers against Pace.

``You never, ever give up speed for size,'' Snyder said.

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Photo

Photo: Terry Battle scored a school-record 18 TDs, despite starting just five games.

Associated Press