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USC Football Notebook: UCLA Game: "This Is For L.A."

Will Robinson |
November 14, 2012 | 6:47 p.m. PST

Senior Sports Editor

As a fifth-year senior, Horton knows all about the cross-town rivalry. (James Santelli/NT)
As a fifth-year senior, Horton knows all about the cross-town rivalry. (James Santelli/NT)
UCLA week is in full swing over in Southland, and the Trojans are ready. Well, maybe not for the actual playing of game. But certainly the head-to-head matchup’s significance. The No. 18 Bruins are ranked higher than No. 19 USC for the first time in a decade with a one-game lead in the Pac-12 South. Plus, the Bruins haven’t defeated the Trojans since 2006, when the former derailed the latter’s chance to play for the BCS National Title.

Last year, in case memory fails you, USC drubbed UCLA to the tune of 50-0, wrapping up a storybook season for the Trojans and nearly wrapping up a nightmare for the blue-and-gold.

As the offensive stars of USC talked up the game’s impact, the defense did as well. Oh, and head coach Lane Kiffin

“There’s a lot of excitement around it,” Kiffin said. “We’ve got to make sure that we’re preparing for the game and for the opponent and not worry about the hype around it. This is the way it should be: ‘SC and UCLA football should be relevant.”

Stopping Hundley, Franklin
The primary focus of the Bruin offense is redshirt freshman quarterback Brett Hundley and redshirt senior tailback Johnathan Franklin. Like Oregon’s Marcus Mariota, Hundley has lead one of the Pac-12’s premier teams as a frosh player, with 2739 passing yards, 24 touchdowns, nine interceptions and completing 69 percent of his passes.

“Coming into the week, you knew the numbers – that’s the first thing you look at of how players are playing of your opponent, especially the way he’s playing the last three games – he’s putting together unbelievable numbers the whole season,” Kiffin said. “You start watching, how can that happen with a freshman quarterback, that’s very unusual. They’ve done a great job with him.”

But Franklin makes it work. The all-time UCLA leader in rushing yards has been quite the security blanket for Hundley, gaining over 1270 yards on the ground and an excellent 6.4-yards-per-carry average.

 “Anytime you’ve got a guy who’s played so much and had so much success and, from what I understand, such a good kid in your huddle all the time with you, that helps a freshman quarterback a lot,” Kiffin added.

Not just another game
Clearly, from the outside looking in, one would assume the Trojans would know what is at stake more so than other games. But that’s not the case with this USC team.

“This isn’t for the record. This is for L.A., and this is for our football team,” junior cornerback Nickell Robey said. “This is a different game. It’s very important for the history of USC

Some of the older players, like redshirt senior defensive end Wes Horton, have been around the rivalry long enough to relay the experience to the freshmen.

 “[The younger guys] don’t really understand the significance of this rivalry. I’ve been here five years. I know what it’s all about,” Horton said. “All the old-timers, all the alumni, all the hall-of-famers will be watching this game, watching how we handle a good UCLA team this year.”

"In years past, they’ve been good but not great. It’s gonna be a war.”

Family ties
Horton will be in for some trouble this weekend, regardless of the result. His father, Myke, played at UCLA as an offensive tackle in the 1970s. Not even his father’s affiliation with the Bruins could bring a modicum of love.

“I don’t like UCLA, to be quite honest with you, even though he went there. I don’t think I can take going out on my senior year losing to UCLA. I’m not gonna let that happen.”

Even though he grew up a Bruin fan, the younger Horton changed his ways, selecting his father’s dreaded rival as his school.

Per Wes, Myke attends his son’s games and supports him but refuses to wear any cardinal-and-gold attire.

Of note, redshirt senior safety T.J. McDonald's little brother, Tevin, plays for the Bruins.

Reach Senior Sports Editor Will Robinson here. Follow him here.



 

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