GAME DAY

USC plans to arrive early for today’s game. Coach Paul Hackett wants to give his players, especially the freshmen, a chance to acclimate.

“Get a feel for it,” he said. “Watch the stands fill up.”

All week long, the upperclassmen have been talking to their younger teammates about the sensation of playing in Pasadena, surrounded by a big, hostile crowd. Senior linebacker Zeke Moreno said the Bruin fans got to him when he was a sophomore.

“They were talking trash,” he said. “I wanted to win so bad.”

Keary Colbert has heard all the stories but suspects that secondhand descriptions aren’t sufficient. He has turned to another source.

The freshman receiver, a videotape junkie, has recorded dozens of college games since he was in the sixth grade. His archives feature half a dozen USC-UCLA games, including the 1997 loss and his favorite, last season’s 17-7 victory.

“That’s all I’ve been doing this whole week, watching old tapes,” he said.

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The Trojan defense believes the best way to limit UCLA’s biggest weapons--tailback DeShaun Foster and receivers Freddie Mitchell and Brian Poli-Dixon--is to play a more physical brand of football.

This strategy begins with the front four.

“You’ve got to get penetration,” assistant coach Ed Orgeron said. “You can’t let [Foster] make his cuts.”

That task will be even tougher because USC’s line lost senior Matt Childers to a broken arm last week. Shamsud-Din Abdul-Shaheed, a senior who rotated with Childers, now must remain in the game for 50 or so plays instead of his usual 30.

As for the secondary, USC’s defensive backs have been preparing to cover taller receivers.

“We’ll have to play more bump and run,” cornerback Chris Cash said. “We’ve got to get after them.”

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With John Wall missing practice because of a groin injury this week, Hackett said he has decided to use David Bell for all kicking. . . . Receiver Matt Nickels (sore shoulder) is expected to play but might not start. . . . Kori Dickerson and Chris Prosser are expected to share time at strongside linebacker.