Carroll, Trojans Return to Where It All Began

Third-ranked USC enters today’s game against Arizona as one of the preeminent programs in college football.

But it wasn’t always that way, a fact Coach Pete Carroll shared with players during Friday’s walk-through at Arizona Stadium.

“Maybe not everyone knows that there was a time when we didn’t have the belief,” Carroll told a reporter after the walk-through.

The first time USC played here under Carroll, on Oct. 27, 2001, the Trojans were 2-5.

USC built an 18-point lead by halftime, but Arizona came back to tie the score, 34-34. With less than two minutes remaining, Trojans cornerback Kris Richard intercepted a pass and returned it 58 yards for the winning touchdown.

“Karma,” Richard called it after the game. “I guess when you keep battling, good fortune will come.”

USC finished the regular season with three more victories, and Carroll has since referred to the win over the Wildcats as a turning point for the program.

“That night we became winners,” he said Friday, adding that he told players, “Let’s celebrate whenever we come here.”

*

Senior flanker Steve Smith can still see the ball arcing beyond his reach.

Smith missed a chance for a sure touchdown last week against Nebraska after he left a Cornhuskers cornerback on the ground with a quick move.

“I should have kept running,” he said. “I think the excitement of killing the guy on the route got to me.”

Smith says he intends to keep his composure against Arizona.

Last week, All-American split end Dwayne Jarrett reaffirmed his status as one of the nation’s top receivers with a monster game that included 11 receptions and two touchdowns.

Smith also caught a touchdown pass. He has 11 receptions in two games.

“The offense can be explosive when one guy is doing well,” Smith said, smiling. “Two guys doing well is better.”

*

The forecast today calls for a game-time temperature in the 80s.... USC has won 16 consecutive road games, not including three victories and one loss at neutral sites.... USC has no players from Arizona on its roster. Arizona has 44 Californians.... Frank Kalil, the father of senior center Ryan Kalil, played center at Arizona from 1980-82.

gary.klein@latimes.com

david.wharton@latimes.com

*

(BEGIN TEXT OF INFOBOX)

*

1 Forward march. By its own admission, USC’s offensive line is coming off a subpar performance against Nebraska. Sure, the Cornhuskers’ front seven was a big, strong and physical unit. And center Ryan Kalil was probably still a bit woozy from a concussion. But the Trojans need to bounce back and establish an effective running game. Arizona, on the other hand, must maintain the running attack that looked so good against overmatched Stephen F. Austin. Junior college transfer Chris Jennings ran for 201 yards and two touchdowns. But the Wildcats will get a real test today against a USC front seven that dominated Nebraska and has given up only 99 yards rushing a game.

2 Secondary is primary. Trojans cornerbacks and safeties toiled through spring practice and training camp against some of the best receivers in the country. All they have for the effort so far is two games against opponents ill-equipped or afraid to throw. No wonder the usually reserved group was a bit more excitable this week. Arizona quarterback Willie Tuitama can make all the throws. So, apparently, can USC’s John David Booty, who once again should benefit from a mismatch in size between USC receivers and the cornerbacks trying to stop them.

3 Make no mistake. See if you can figure out the correlation: USC has not committed a turnover and is 2-0. As long as the Trojans continue to hang on to the ball -- and strip it, intercept it or recover it when dropped by opponents -- they will be very, very difficult to beat. Arizona has committed seven turnovers. If the trend continues today, the upset-minded Wildcats have almost no chance.

-- Gary Klein