(Editor's note: Southern California senior Travis Claridge has been sharing his insights into the Trojans' season since it kicked off. The offensive tackle will continue to file weekly entries throughout the season. For more information on the Trojans, visit the official USC site.)

Sept. 9, 1999

I've seen a lot of things transpire at Southern Cal the past few years. I've started every game in my career, all 37 of them. I've seen coaches and players come and go.

	Claridge, a preseason Student Advantage All-American, was an All-Pac-10 first team pick in '98.

But this year is the year that I look for this team to put it all together. And I plan to be a key element in this team's plans.

My first goal coming into training camp was to earn a starting spot. With my position changing from right guard to right tackle, I came in battling incumbent starter Matt Welch, so I didn't take it for granted.

My second goal was to help our offense improve so we wouldn't shoot ourselves in the foot all the time.

Sometimes I felt these goals were getting closer to being met, but other times I thought, 'Oh man' and I got worried. But when we practice, we practice against one of the best defensive lines in the country. Guys like Ennis Davis and Aaron Williams are faster and stronger than most linemen so it's a tough chore to always dominate in practice.

As we left training camp, our focus started to move toward playing Hawaii. The week of the game I worked hard to concentrate on learning all the little things that would help the line play well. Mostly I tried to relax. On most nights before the game I get an average of only six hours of sleep, so I'm pretty wound up.

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As the day of the game breaks, I try not to do too much. I go to all the meetings that we have to go to. I try not to eat too much at the team meal. When we watch film I visualize myself as the other player, the guy I go up against, and I try to figure out what he'd do in certain situations.

For my pregame ritual, I get my ankles taped, get dressed, put on my knee braces, tape my wrists and then just sit there. Sometimes I lay on the floor -- anything to relax. Then I put my brother's initials on my wrist -- RQC. He'll be reporting to UNLV in the spring.

I'm really nervous as we take the field. But after you get the first hit, everything is cool. I don't like when the defense is out there first. I want to be the one out there to get the first hit. Then I can settle down.

Things went great the first game (a 62-7 victory). We got to do lots of run blocking, which is something linemen love to do. One thing we did really well this game that we didn't do last year is run around the edge. Chad Morton was able to get out there and do some things.

The offense as a whole is starting to get that killer instinct. There are times when you just have to go out there and put points on the board and keep doing it. It's like putting your foot on someone's throat -- you smell blood. We've been accused of not having that killer instinct the last few years, but I think that'll all change with this offense.

One thing for sure, we won't overlook our next opponent, San Diego State (Sept. 18). The Aztecs will beat us bad if we don't pay attention. They've got a good offense and a good defense. Their defensive end, Kabeer Gbaja-Biamila, is strong and fast. He's a lot like our end Lonnie Ford. He's a great player.

To achieve greatness this year, I've got to do what I've got to do -- and then do more. Brad Budde wore my number, 71, and so did Tony Boselli. This is my last shot to continue the tradition that this number represents.

Hopefully, I'm on my way.