TROJANS HOT TO TROT USC SHOWS NEW METTLE TO WIN BLAZING OPENER USC 24, AUBURN 17.

Byline: Scott Wolf Staff Writer

The temperature was more than 100 degrees on the field, but it wasn't the oppressive heat that made Auburn wilt Monday night.

The Tigers began to shrink early in the third quarter, when USC's defense finally decided it had seen enough of tailback Cadillac Williams turning defenders into road kill.

``They came out on the field and saw we weren't buckling anymore,'' USC defensive end Omar Nazel said. ``That's when we saw the weakness in them. ``They could see they couldn't run on us. You could see in their eyes they were getting tired of trying to run on us.''

Auburn's growing frustration only energized the Trojans.

``It's like when a shark smells blood and goes berserk,'' Nazel said.

The 18th-ranked Trojans held Auburn to 35 yards offense in the second half, and it was the difference in a 24-17 victory in front of 63,269 at the Coliseum.

USC demonstrated a resolve that eluded it most of last season, as it played a quality opponent in a close game and refused to fold at the first hint of adversity.

``It would have been a very tough game to win a year ago,'' USC coach Pete Carroll said. ``We had so many more troubles last year.''

Quarterback Carson Palmer said: ``The attitude is completely different now. Everybody wants it.''

Exhibit A: Last year, the Trojans would have crumbled when wide receiver Kareem Kelly fumbled at Auburn's 12-yard line in the fourth quarter. But these Trojans kept their composure and pummeled the Tigers with a 50-yard drive that took nearly nine minutes. By the time Palmer scored on a 1-yard run to break a 17-17 tie, there was just 1:26 left in the game.

And the Trojans did it without freshman wide receiver Mike Williams, who had cramps, and with veterans Kelly and Keary Colbert sidelined at times with fatigue. Instead, walk-on Greig Carlson and Grant Mattos were forced into the game.

``That's what a good football team is all about,'' USC offensive coordinator Norm Chow said. ``We botched it up but made plays at the end.''

Carroll stifled Auburn's offense by deciding less is more. He watched the Tigers amass 246 yards (142 rushing) in the first half and switched the Trojans (1-0) to a simple, base defense.

``It wasn't a bunch of magical adjustments,'' Carroll said. ``We just went back to our basic stuff.

``Everything we said at halftime the players did. We owned the line of scrimmage in the second half.''

Auburn (0-1) had minus-2 yards rushing and only five first downs in the final two quarters. While the Trojans were favored, they weren't expected to physically dominate Auburn.

``They started putting nine players in the box and when they do that, you've got to throw it,'' Auburn coach Tommy Tuberville said. ``We couldn't throw it and catch it well enough.''

The Trojans caught it well enough, as Palmer completed 23 of 32 passes for 302 yards and two interceptions. His favorite target was tailback Malaefou MacKenzie, who had six receptions for 117 yards.

But the goat almost became Kelly, who fumbled upon being hit after a 7-yard reception in the fourth quarter.

``I screwed up and turned the ball over,'' Kelly said. ``But the other guys told me that they needed me.''

Kelly redeemed himself with an 18-yard reception on a third-and-11 play at USC's 49 on the game-winning drive.

``We were underdogs and everyone counted us out,'' Kelly said. ``The SEC is the big dogs and now they know what the Pac-10 is all about. I think well pull out a lot of close games this year.''

The Trojans actually were eight-point favorites, but Kelly's attitude illustrated the tougher mental outlook USC displayed for at least one game.

``It's tough to stop this group of seniors,'' Palmer said. ``This is our chance to do it. Coach Carroll instilled heart in this team.''

And a little common sense in stopping the run, apparently. Cadillac Williams gained 97 on 14 carries by halftime but finished with 94 yards overall. He also was bothered by cramps, which hit a lot of players in the triple-digit heat.

``The cramps bothered me a little bit,'' Williams said. ``It was in the back of my mind.''

On Carroll's mind was the way USC shut Auburn down.

``We owned the line of scrimmage in the fourth quarter,'' he said. ``There was way more resolve than in the past.''

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2 photos

Photo:

(1 -- color) USC receiver Kareem Kelly celebrates after pulling in a 14-yard touchdown reception Monday at the Coliseum.

(2) USC quarterback Carson Palmer releases a pass en route to a 302-yard performance.

Hans Gutknecht/Staff Photographer