USC remembers shocking loss to rival UCLA

By John Nadel | The Associated Press • Published December 02, 2008

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LOS ANGELES – A loss isn't just a loss for Southern California these days, it's a major upset. That's the way it goes for a team that's been so successful.

One of the most damaging setbacks occurred two years ago, when UCLA stunned then-No. 2 USC 13-9 at the Rose Bowl to bounce the Trojans out of the national championship game. The schools meet in Pasadena for the first time since then on Saturday, and the Bruins have another opportunity to play spoiler.

"I know a lot of guys on the team remember that game and still have a bad taste in their mouths," USC guard Jeff Byers said Tuesday.

"Our team gets kind of lax at times. Coach (Pete Carroll) does a very good job of expressing to us that this team could be a snake in the grass," Trojans defensive tackle Fili Moala said. "We can't let that happen again."

The Trojans had scored at least 20 points in 63 straight games and beaten their crosstown rivals seven consecutive times before the surprising setback, one of just 10 losses in 94 games for USC since the beginning of the 2002 season.

"They've all been the same," Carroll said. "I mean, all of these games, anybody can beat you and can win. No matter what everybody thinks is supposed to happen, you've got to go play the football game.

"They played great defense on that day, we couldn't move the football. They had a couple plays that put them in scoring position, and that's all they needed."

As big an upset as that might have been, this would be even bigger should it happen. The Trojans were 33-point favorites Tuesday, believed to be the largest point spread in the history of the rivalry.

"If you remember back to that game, like some other games when we've struggled, we struggled early," Carroll said. "The format of that game was reminiscent of the Oregon State game. Same kind of thing happened, although we played much better defense (against UCLA)."

Carroll referred to USC's 27-21 loss as a 25-point favorite at Oregon State on Sept. 25 that has proven to be enough to eliminate the Trojans (10-1, 7-1 Pac-10) from immediate national championship contention.

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