Lose This One and You Don’t Want to Hear About It

The hardest thing about losing to UCLA--according to several USC veterans--is living with the Bruins afterward.

“You really learn to hate UCLA when you lose to them,” quarterback Carson Palmer said. “It’s just having to go through a whole year of them talking.”

The last time USC lost, in 1998, defensive back Antuan Simmons was a sophomore. He recalled hearing taunts from the winning side as he and his teammates walked off the field. The trash-talking continued later that school year, he said, when he ran into some Bruins at a local nightclub.

“It’s like a passion,” Simmons said. “I see powder blue and a fire turns on in me.”

Palmer insisted there is a difference between the rivals.

“We’re a classy team,” he said. “We’re the first team to go out there and shake hands and say ‘Good luck for the rest of the season.’ They’re not that way.”

On Tuesday, Coach Pete Carroll spoke about the intense atmosphere surrounding this week’s game. He was asked if he had learned anything about coaching in a college rivalry from last month’s 27-16 loss at Notre Dame.

“Don’t fake the punt,” he said.

*

Offensive tackle Jacob Rogers made it through only the first half of practice with his injured elbow but wasn’t worried about Saturday. “This is the game we wait all year for,” he said. “You’ve got to play.”

Injured defensive back Darrell Rideaux made a surprise return Tuesday and receiver Keary Colbert, who rested, said he would be ready for UCLA. The status of reserve tailback Darryl Poston remained uncertain. Carroll has challenged him to play despite a sore lower back.

“There’s nothing else to prepare for,” Carroll said of the season finale.

*

Linebacker Chris Prosser is expected to start in place of the injured Matt Grootegoed, but Carroll said John Cousins and Aaron Graham will rotate in. ... Defensive lineman Malcolm Wooldridge has been suspended indefinitely for an accumulation of issues. The redshirt freshman, a regular on the scout team, has struggled with academics since arriving on campus in the fall of 2000. More recently, he was accused of making a lewd gesture at another student.