TROJANS LOOK FOR HELP FROM SEVERAL NEW HORSES FOOTBALL PLAYERS MAKE THEIR DEBUTS AGAINST UCLA.

Byline: Matthew Kredell Staff Writer

Here comes the cavalry.

Usually a power in sprint events, USC men's track has been only ordinary this season. But the Trojans, who have been minus their fastest horses, will have a few additions today, just in time to face UCLA at Drake Stadium beginning at 9 a.m.

Darrell Rideaux and Sultan McCullough decided long ago this was the perfect meet to debut their track talents after spring football practice. Their accomplishments are impressive. McCullough was the Pacific-10 Conference 100 meters champion two years ago. Rideaux was the state champion in the 100 at Long Beach Poly High.

The presence of the football players adds intrigue to the 69th meeting between the men's teams because their ability is known, but since they haven't run all year, their current state is a mystery. They have been practicing for only two weeks and McCullough is coming off abdominal surgery that cut short his football season.

``I'm not where I'd like to be, but I hope my leadership and what I bring to the track will be the difference in us beating UCLA,'' Rideaux said.

The Bruins aren't exactly shaking in their spikes.

``To be honest, as far as my attitude on the meet, I'm not really as hyped as I was last year,'' said sprinter Michael Lipscomb. ``Simply because we're doing so well that we're pretty much looking a little bit beyond USC. We're looking to take the Pac-10 and I'm looking for the sprinters specifically to do really well at nationals. I think the USC meet will be fun and it will be good payback, but it's not a big deal to me personally.''

Such words caught the Trojans off guard. That's talk fitting a rivalry, which this has been anything but for the last two decades. UCLA won 22 meets in a row during the series until the Trojans pulled out an 82-81 victory last season.

Lipscomb felt the sprinters let UCLA down in that meet. McCullough, a running back in football, also made his return to track after spring football practice last year to run a 10.28 and blow away the field. Rideaux,a cornerback, was third at 10.44 and Lipscomb finished fifth at 10.55.

``For him to make that comment is absurd after how he did at last year's dual meet,'' Rideaux said. ``He talks like he's done something. For him to make that comment when you have a Darrell Rideaux and a Sultan McCullough entered, that's very stupid.''

Rideaux participated in the full track season last year but decided to focus on spring football practice this year because he has the opportunity to earn a starting cornerback position.

The addition of Rideaux and McCullough wasn't announced until this week. They are both scheduled to run in the 400 relay, then Rideaux will go in the 100. Whether or not McCullough runs the 100 likely won't be decided until Saturday after USC coach Ron Allice sees how he does in the relay.

The return of the football players wasn't unexpected to the Bruins.

``The thing you have to know about Ron,'' said UCLA coach Art Venegas, ``is that everyone will be competing this week, including graduated athletes.''

More football reinforcements are on the way. Wide receiver Kareem Kelly and running back Justin Fargas, the former Notre Dame High of Sherman Oaks standout, have begun to practice and could return next week for the Pac-10 prelims. Defensive back/wide receiver Marcell Allmond has been with the team all season. Fargas (1997), Rideaux (1998) and Kelly (1999) would give USC three consecutive California prep champions.

The men weren't the only ones to come down to the wire last year. The women's meet also was decided on the final event, the 1,600 relay. UCLA beat USC 85-78 for its ninth consecutive victory in the series, but the Trojans went on to win the national championship.

UCLA women's coach Jeanette Bolden said last year's meet gave her an ulcer. She couldn't bear to watch the final relay, hiding in an area beneath the stadium.

``It's going to be another great meet this year,'' Bolden said. ``Hopefully, it won't come down to the mile relay again or Ron and I both might be under the stadium.''

USC is ranked No. 1 in the nation and UCLA No. 4. The Trojans have Angela Williams, who is going for an unprecedented fourth NCAA Div. I 100 meters title this year. Two weeks ago at the Mt. SAC Relays, Williams ran an 11.06, the best college time in the nation this season. This will be her last collegiate appearance in Los Angeles.

With Williams, the Trojans are expected to dominate the sprints. USC also holds an advantage on paper in the throws. But dual meets between rivals don't always go as expected.

``When you come to this meet, the dope sheet, the trash talking, the back-and-forth doesn't matter,'' Bolden said. ``Incredible things happen at this meet.''

USC is hungry to break the losing streak and this might be its best shot. Angela Williams in the 100, Kinshasha Davis in the 200, Nakiya Johnson in the 400, Natasha Neal in the 100 hurdles, Tatyana Obukhoval in the triple jump, Cynthia Ademiluyi in the shot put and discus and Inga Stasiulionyte in the javelin are all among the top five in the nation in their events.

``I'm glad to have that responsibility off my back,'' said Allice, who is also the women's coach, of the men's losing streak. ``I don't have another 22 years of my career for the women.''

Both the men and women will be affected by a scoring change instituted by the NCAA. Instead of a point format of 5-3-1 as has been used in the past, when sweeping an event would mean 9-0, there will be a 5-3-2-1 format so that even if a team sweeps the first four spots, the losing team will be awarded three points. The max an event can be won is 8-3.

The new scoring rules are not appreciated by either side.

``Changing the scoring is the worst thing that's ever happened to track and field,'' Allice said. ``If you're going to kick my tail, kick my tail nine to zip. Don't let me just show up and score a point.''

Running events begin at 12:30 p.m.

UCLA vs. USC

What: Track and field

Where: UCLA's Drake Stadium

When: Today, field events beginning at 9 a.m., running events beginning at 12:30 p.m.

USC vs. UCLA

What: Track and field

Rankings: UCLA men No. 18, USC men No. 22; USC women No. 1, UCLA women No. 4

Where: UCLA's Drake Stadium

When: Today, field events beginning at 9 a.m., running events beginning at 12:30 p.m.

Parking: $6 on the UCLA campus. Lots 4 and 6, off Westwood Boulevard, are closest to the stadium.

History: USC men have a 39-29 advantage in the series. UCLA women have a 15-3 series lead, including the last nine.

CAPTION(S):

photo, 2 boxes

Photo:

Darrell Rideaux, left, and Sultan McCullough of USC will be on the track today when the Trojans meet UCLA in the 68th renewal of their rivalry.

Box:

(1) UCLA vs. USC (see text)

(2) USC vs. UCLA (see text)