MEMORIES FADE, BUT NOT FOCUS FEW REMAIN FROM USC'S 2003 LOSS AGAINST CAL.

Byline: Scott Wolf  Staff Writer

Everyone keeps telling USC receiver Patrick Turner that the Trojans' last loss occurred 31 games ago against California, but he doesn't understand the fuss.

``I wonder why it's a big game, but I have no clue,'' Turner said. ``I just know it's a rivalry and a school from California. I'm curious.''

Turner is hardly unique. Although it was only 26 months ago, USC's 34-31 loss in double overtime to the Golden Bears is either a distant memory or no memory for many of the No. 1-ranked Trojans.

``The young guys don't know anything about it,'' USC coach Pete Carroll said. ``I have to tell them.''

Even the Trojans veterans don't remember too much about that game in Berkeley that helped turn California into a national player and earned Bears coach Jeff Tedford instant credibility.

``I just remember they have a little locker room,'' said USC offensive lineman Winston Justice, who started in the 2003 loss. ``That's my least favorite place to play. The stadium is old.''

Justice watched film of California (6-3, 3-3) this week and barely recognized the team that gave USC its most competitive games the past two years.

``A lot of their guys left,'' Justice said. ``The defensive linemen and offensive linemen. It's an entirely different team.''

USC is also a vastly different team. Justice, offensive lineman Fred Matua and quarterback Matt Leinart are the only three offensive starters who started the Cal game. Darnell Bing is the only defensive starter.

Cal starts just two players on offense (right guard Ryan O'Callaghan, fullback Chris Manderino) who started in 2003. Defensively, the only returnee is rover Donnie McCleskey.

Tedford wasn't quite sure what to say when asked this week what his returning players think of a rematch with USC (9-0, 6-0).

``Well, we don't have many of those,'' he said. ``We are a totally different team. We are very young. I don't think that they went in to this season saying we can't wait to have another chance at them next year. But it is a great opportunity to play the No. 1 team.''

Even bona fide stars such as USC tailbacks LenDale White and Reggie Bush were just bit players two years ago. White, who dislocated a finger during the game, carried just two times for six yards while Bush carried four times for 11 yards.

``That's just how it worked out,'' White said. ``We weren't established then, but we soon were. It's a lot different today.''

Receiver Steve Smith, playing behind Mike Williams and Keary Colbert, caught just one pass. But Smith, at least, remembers the post-game celebration by Cal's fans.

``I think it will bring an excitement and energy going back there,'' Smith said. `There's that feeling from two years ago of the crowd coming on the field and our hopes going down.''

With so little natural history between the players, a lot of the rivalry boils down to Carroll vs. Tedford. Carroll holds a 2-1 advantage, but the margin of victory in the three games is just 3.7 points.

``He really knows what he wants to do and is good at it,'' Carroll said. ``They are a challenge. Their defense has done well against us. And the last couple games, they scored so fast.''

Tedford said experience played a role in the close games of the past three years, which means he's not raising hopes for this weekend's encounter, even though a sellout crowd is expected.

``I am not surprised by our team last year because we had a veteran group and they did a great job,'' Tedford said. ``USC is more powerful this year. It is going to be a big test to try to control them or at least try to slow them down a little bit.''

There's also a mutual respect because Tedford, like Carroll, turned down an NFL job in the past two years. Carroll rejected the San Francisco 49ers while Tedford turned down the Chicago Bears.

``I'm sure he'll get other job offers,'' Carroll said.

Tedford thinks one reason for motivation for his team might be that many of his players faced USC players in high school and could play against each other for the first time Saturday.

``This is a game a lot of them look forward to because a lot has to do with Southern California,'' Tedford said. ``There are guys that they played with or against. We have a lot of respect for USC.''

Scott Wolf, [phone]

scott.wolf(at)dailynews.com

CAPTION(S):

photo, 2 boxes

Photo:

California fans swarm the field following the Golden Bears' 34-31 double-OT victory over USC in 2003.

George Nikitin/Associated Press

Box:

(1) USC AT CALIFORNIA

(2) CARROLL VS. TEDFORD