University Southern California Trojans
Kansas State Faces Difficult Opener At Southern California
September 05, 2001 | Football
Sept. 5, 2001
This is not the usual Kansas State opener.
The No. 12 Wildcats should face a rare tough test for their first game when they visit Southern California (1-0) on Saturday.
Though Kansas State has become one of the nation's power teams in the last few years, the Wildcats have played a soft schedule to start the season. Recent opening opponents have included the likes of Northern Illinois, Indiana State and Temple, and Kansas State easily defeated all of them.
That partly explains why Kansas State hasn't lost a season opener since 1989. That streak could be in jeopardy on Saturday at the Los Angeles Coliseum.
The Trojans opened their season last Saturday with a 21-10 victory over San Jose State in Pete Carroll's debut as Southern California's coach. Sultan McCullough ran for 167 yards and three touchdowns, while Carson Palmer was 21-of-28 for 213 yards.
USC intercepted two passes and limited Deonce Whitaker, who led the nation with seven yards per carry last year, to just 65 yards on 22 carries.
"The kids played hard. They did what they were told to do," said Carroll, a longtime NFL coach. "We have a lot of room for improvement. We've got to get back to work.
"We've got a big-time team, Kansas State, coming in here next weekend."
The Wildcats are coming off another excellent season. They narrowly lost to national champion Oklahoma in the Big 12 championship game and finished 11-3, joining Florida State as the only teams to win 11 games in each of the last four seasons.
Kansas State continues to rely on strong defense and special teams. The team finished fourth in total defense last year, its fourth straight season in the top five.
Aaron Lockett had three punt returns for touchdowns, tied for the third-highest single-season total in NCAA history. He led the nation with 22.8 yards per return.
Wildcats coach Bill Snyder, a former USC assistant, goes for his 100th career victory. He is 99-43-1 since arriving at Kansas State in 1989.
The teams are meeting for the first time. The Trojans are 25-6-2 against Big 12 teams, including a current six-game winning streak that dates to 1985.
