Rise of Program Began in Arizona

USC is eager to play at Arizona on Saturday -- and not only because a victory over the 2-8 Wildcats would keep the second-ranked Trojans on track for a berth in the Sugar Bowl.

Coach Pete Carroll and players who have been in the program since he took over before the 2001 season have fond memories of their last trip to Tucson, Ariz.

On Oct. 27, 2001, USC went into Arizona Stadium with a 2-5 record and questions swirling about Carroll’s ability to produce a winner.

With less than two minutes left against the Wildcats, cornerback Kris Richard returned an interception 58 yards for a touchdown to give USC a 41-34 victory. The Trojans went on to win their remaining three games to finish the regular season 6-5.

“We had made the play we needed to make to win in a critical situation,” Carroll told The Times last August. “When you look back, that’s when it happened. That locker room is where we said, ‘We don’t have to lose anymore,’ and it’s kind of held up.”

The Trojans are 23-4 under Carroll since their 2-5 start two years ago.

On Monday, senior center Norm Katnik said the Arizona victory marked a turning point for USC.

“That one play was huge,” Katnik said of Richard’s interception return. “That game pushed us ... to being the team we are today.”

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USC is the highest-ranked team that Arizona will have played since defeating No. 1 Washington, 16-3, in 1992.

The Trojans’ current No. 2 position in the polls and in the bowl championship series standings does not seem to be fazing the Wildcats.

“We are going to shock the world,” tight end Matt Padron told Associated Press.

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Tight end Alex Holmes said he will take another step in his return from a back injury when he begins a weightlifting program today with strength coach Chris Carlisle.

Holmes, a senior, is a redshirt this season because of the injury suffered in the Orange Bowl last season.

Sophomore Dominique Byrd, who replaced Holmes as the starter this season, is recovering from Oct. 23 surgery for torn ligaments in his left knee suffered against Stanford on Oct. 11.

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The sold out USC-UCLA game Nov. 22 in the Coliseum will start at 12:30 p.m. and will be shown live regionally by ABC.

Tickets are available for USC’s game against Oregon State on Dec. 6 at 1:30 p.m. The game will be regionally televised by ABC.