THE WRITING ON (AND OFF) THE WALL HISTORY OF THIS RIVALRY IS UNQUESTIONED.

Byline: TOM HOFFARTH

There's nothing trivial about today's USC-UCLA football game. Only the history attached to it over the years lends itself to a little game we're gonna call ``Rivalry Challenge Pursuit.''

Go question by question and score points with the answers. They get tougher as the game wears on. Just like in real life:

FIRST QUARTER

--1. For a touchdown: Which legendary coach was the one who said this rivalry was not a matter of life or death, ``it's more important than that?''

The extra point: What's the aforementioned coach's real first name?

--2. For a field goal: How long was O.J. Simpson's famous touchdown run against UCLA in 1967?

--3. For a field goal: The annual award USC gives to the player who contributed the most during the UCLA game is named after what former assistant coach?

SECOND QUARTER

--4. For a touchdown: This UCLA tailback is one of only nine players to rush for more than 200 yards against USC, and his 224 yards in the 1986 game was the most against the Trojans in 29 years. Who is he?

The two-point conversion: What UCLA standout holds the USC opponents record for most receiving yards (accomplished in 1992)?

--5. For a field goal: He burst through the line and blocked a 46-yard field goal attempt by UCLA's Norm Johnson on the final play of the 1981 game. Who's the player?

--6. For a touchdown: In the first of two games between the teams in 1944, UCLA's Johnny Roesch returned an 80-yard punt with no time on the clock to bring the Bruins back to 13-12. Which famous UCLA two-way player kicked the extra point to make the final score tied?

The extra point: Which team won the second meeting of '44 two months later to end the season?

THIRD QUARTER

--7. For a touchdown: Which Trojan rushed for the most yards in a game against UCLA? (Hint: It's not one of USC's Heisman Trophy winners).

The extra point: Of the four USC Heisman running backs, who had the biggest game against UCLA?

--8. For a field goal: What's the last name of the pair of brothers who suited up against each other twice in this series?

FOURTH QUARTER

--9. For a touchdown: USC's R. Jay Soward has two of the longest receptions ever against UCLA. One was for 80 yards from quarterback John Fox in the 1997 game (a 31-24 victory by UCLA). A year earlier, Soward hauled in a 78-yarder that was thrown by whom?

The extra point: Why was that '96 game memorable?

--10. For a long field goal: His 36-yard kick with nine seconds gave USC a 38-35 victory in 2000. It was only his second field goal in six career attempts, and he missed a 24-yarder earlier in the fourth quarter. Who is he?

TIEBREAKER 

--Of the hundreds of players who've competed in the USC-UCLA game, only one lettered for each school. Who is he?

THE ANSWERS

--1. UCLA's Henry ``Red'' Sanders.

--2. On a play called 23-blast, Simpson ran 64 yards with 10:38 left in the game to give No. 3 USC a 21-20 victory over the No. 1 Bruins.

--3. Marv Goux.

--4. Gaston Green. His 39 carries and four touchdowns in the 45-25 UCLA victory remains the most ever in each category by a USC opponent. J.J. Stokes had 263 yards receiving in '92 during UCLA's 38-37 victory.

--5. USC's George Achica preserved a 22-21 Trojans victory and prevented the Bruins from going to the Rose Bowl.

--6. Bob Waterfield. His game-tying kick actually hit the crossbar and rolled over. USC won the rematch 40-13.

--7. Russ Saunders ran for 234 yards in a 76-0 victory over UCLA in 1929 - the first time the two schools met. And Marcus Allen's 219 yards against UCLA in the '81 game tops the 210 by Mike Garrett ('65), 205 by Simpson ('68) and 194 by Charles White ('79).

--8. UCLA defensive end Fred McNeill ('71-'73) and his brother, USC tailback Rod McNeill ('70, '72-'73). Their nephew, Wesley Walker, is a freshman linebacker at UCLA.

--9. Matt Koffler, a backup to Rob Johnson and Brad Otton who came into the game in the fourth quarter and delivered the pass that put USC up 38-21 with 11:06 to play. But UCLA won in double overtime 48-41, an all-time Trojans record for most points scored in a loss.

--10. David Bell, who was a third-string kicker at the start of the season.

--Tiebreaker: Clarence Harvey, a right halfback out of Santa Ana High who lettered at UCLA in 1943 (the Bruins lost to the Trojans twice that year, 20-0 and 23-13), then for USC in 1945 (the Trojans won twice, 13-6 and 26-15).

Two other USC lettermen also started their collegiate career at UCLA before transferring - right guard Andrew Marincovich (at USC in '43) and wide receiver Rod Sherman (at USC '64-'66).