The UCLA-USC rivalry over the past six years has generally been
as one-sided as a rivalry can get, with USC experiencing a run of
dominance to the tune of six straight victories, including a 27-0
shutout in 2001. Last year’s game was an anomaly in the
recent history of the rivalry, as USC had to sweat out a 29-24
victory that hinged on some questionable calls by the referees.
Though UCLA won eight straight in the rivalry prior to USC’s
recent string, the rivalry has lost a bit of its luster in the eyes
of many Trojan players, who have been contending on the national
stage for the last four years. For the Bruins, though, the rivalry
is as big, if not bigger, than it has always been. “USC-UCLA
is the rivalry, whether (the Trojans) like to think so or
not,” tight end Marcedes Lewis said. “We’re going
to change (their thinking) this year. We’ve got to go out and
play a great game. Last year we played horribly in the first half
and still almost won.” Some Trojan players were recently
quoted in the Los Angeles Daily News referring to the rivalry game
as just like any other game. Many of the out-of-state Trojan
players referred to their hometown rivalries, and indicated that
the UCLA-USC rivalry cannot match the intensity of those games. For
the Bruins, that’s just extra motivation for what many of
them consider to be the biggest rivalry game of their careers.
“Let them think what they’ll think,” linebacker
Spencer Havner said. “It just shows a lack of respect for
their opponent, which might end up hurting them.” The Trojans
have been at least partial national champions for the past two
years, and haven’t lost since they played California in 2003.
The Bruins recently lost to traditional Pac-10 bottom-dweller
Arizona. All the same, the Trojans and the Bruins will be playing
each other with their best combined records in recent memory. The
Trojans are undefeated at 11-0 while the Bruins are 9-1.
“This is the most fun and the best opportunity and by far the
biggest game for us,” quarterback Drew Olson said.
“Beating “˜SC is the ultimate goal. There’s such a
long tradition. So many championships won between the teams in this
game. These are two teams year in and year out who are national
powers.” Though the Trojans have outscored the Bruins 210-109
in their current six-game winning streak, UCLA still considers this
the ultimate rivalry, made unique because of the schools’
proximity to each other. “It’s in the same city, which
makes it different from other rivalries,” coach Karl Dorrell
said. “I like it. We deal with it almost daily, and see them
almost every day. It makes it special. We’re playing with
unprecedented records. We’re anxious to prove that
we’re a pretty good football team (against them).”
WHITE INJURED: USC tailback Lendale White
sustained a shoulder injury in practice on Sunday and had to be
carted off the field. After undergoing tests Monday, White is
questionable for Saturday’s game. “It’s not going
to change their output,” Dorrell said. “We have to be
ready to perform against their whole team. There are a lot of
weapons on that offense.”
EXTRA POINTS: Center Mike McCloskey (shoulder),
linebacker Aaron Whittington (quad contusion), linebacker Fred
Holmes (groin, hip) will all most likely be out for the game
against USC. Backup fullback Jimmy Stephens will be limited because
of a broken hand. Linebacker Justin London, who has been plagued by
ankle problems, will practice and is ready to play.