LEARNING FROM PAST RANKS HIGH FOR USC.

Byline: Scott Wolf  Staff Writer

MANHATTAN, Kan. - A short memory is the best attribute of a successful athlete, but USC's veterans harkened back to two years ago on the eve of the No. 11 Trojans' contest with 25th-ranked Kansas State today.

While the Trojans became part of the national buzz this week, thanks to their 2-0 start and six-spot leap in the top-25 rankings, they're not exactly in unfamiliar territory here.

Just two years ago, USC actually took a No. 8 ranking and 3-0 record into Oregon State. Then the season self-destructed. The Trojans lost to the Beavers and dropped seven of their final nine games.

``That's what we don't want to happen,'' USC wide receiver Kareem Kelly said, ``to go 2-0 or 3-0 and have a huge collapse.''

Kelly thought about the differences between this year and the meltdown of 2000 as the Trojans prepared for a game that could propel them into the top 10.

`When we were 3-0, we weren't playing quality teams,'' Kelly said. ``The difference between then and now is we're playing pretty tough teams. It's kind of early. I think we're a little better. But after this game, it will give us a real idea of where we are.''

USC came to a remote outpost to gain a little knowledge about itself, flying straight into the lair of crotchety Kansas State coach Bill Snyder, a man so paranoid that when ESPN brought its ``College GameDay'' broadcast team to do a show in Manhattan, Snyder installed portable toilets outside the football complex so none of the announcers would have a reason to venture near his offices.

The Trojans are Kansas State's first ranked nonconference opponent in Manhattan since losing to No. 17 Iowa in 1988. Of course, Snyder didn't even coach at Kansas State back then.

He was dragged into this series with USC after public outcry when he nixed an original proposal between the schools. USC wanted to play in Arrowhead Stadium in Kansas City, but Snyder refused to give up a home game and kept the matchup in Manhattan.

And he got defensive when it was pointed out USC is a serious upgrade over the Wildcats' first three victories over Western Kentucky, Louisiana-Monroe and Eastern Illinois.

``There's not a game on our schedule that makes or breaks what we're trying to do,'' Snyder said. ``It's an extremely important ballgame, but I don't think the world rotates around it.''

Actually, USC coach Pete Carroll's world might.

He grimaces at the films of last year's game, when the Wildcats rushed for 340 yards and squeaked out a 10-6 victory at the Coliseum.

``We were shabby last year. They were too far ahead of us. All we did was fight and grab them,'' Carroll said. ``We're better now, we're certainly ahead of where we were without a doubt.''

It was Carroll's second game at USC, and he felt the Trojans were physically overwhelmed. That problem - in his opinion - won't exist today.

``There's no question if you looked at guys last year who got knocked around, they don't get knocked around now,'' Carroll said. ``(Defensive tackle) Shaun Cody got knocked around last year. (Defensive end) Kenechi Udeze had some problems. We were fortunate to be in the game.''

Jokes about Kansas State's schedule aside, the Trojans are bucking history. The Wildcats have won 35 consecutive home games in September, which covers most of Snyder's 14 seasons.

``It's not like we're licking our chops to play them,'' Kelly said. ``We need to stay humble. Rankings don't mean a lot right now. They mean a lot in December.''

--Notes: USC linebacker Melvin Simmons has 10 brothers and sisters. Today, another sibling, halrother Gary Dumas, will attend the game. Dumas lives in Kansas City. ``I haven't seen him since I was 13,'' Simmons said. ...

Carroll opted to have a walk-through in Los Angeles on Friday morning. Last week, USC could not hold its walk-through at Colorado because the field was being painted. ...

With back-to-back games against Big 12 Conference schools, USC had some of its equipment driven from Colorado to Kansas State instead of flying it home last weekend.

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No. 11 USC at No. 25 Kansas State