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LOS ANGELES -- There are many hostile environments in the Pac-12, and certainly the most difficult venue to come away with a victory is Oregon’s Autzen Stadium, a facility legendary for its fans' proximity to the field and the incredible volume of noise. However, there are other Pac-12 stadiums that are growing in difficulty, and one of those will be revisited by the No. 20 USC Trojans this Saturday night, as the Men of Troy return to Rice-Eccles Stadium in Salt Lake City, home of the No. 19 Utah Utes. The last time the Trojans (5-2, 4-1 Pac-12) ventured into Utah’s Rice-Eccles Stadium, it wasn’t exactly a walk in the park at the outset. The wind in 2012 was strong, the air was cool and the Utes were hot, jumping out early to a 14-0 lead in the first three minutes of the game. It seemed like the Trojans had barely suited up and able to catch their collective breaths in the high altitude before they had their heads in the Utes’ guillotine. The Trojans, however, gathered themselves behind quarterback Matt Barkley and wide receiver Marquise Lee to roar back and win 38-28. Today, the Utes (5-1, 2-1 Pac-12) seem more prepared than ever to challenge the supremacy of the Pac-12 South Division-leading Trojans. Having had a few extra days to prepare for the Trojans after playing at Oregon State a week ago on Thursday night, Utah has positioned itself, thanks to a double-overtime victory over the Beavers, to rearrange the Pac-12 South leaderboard. Just as important as playing well, Utah will again have that crazy atmosphere of Rice-Eccles Stadium, and those Trojans familiar with Utah’s home hospitality know what awaits them Saturday evening, when the temperatures are expected to be in the 50s at kickoff time. “We know it’s going to be a hostile environment, 8 p.m. kickoff, blackout and all that,” said Trojans sophomore linebacker Su'a Cravens, who remembers as a high school player watching his older brother, Siaki, play on Utah’s defensive line in Rice-Eccles. “They’re crazy,” Cravens said when asked about the Utah fans and the support of their heroes. Although this will be his first time actually playing in Rice-Eccles, Cravens said he loves the challenge and expects his teammates will be ready as well. Echoing Craven’s comments is Trojans first-year head coach Steve Sarkisian, who is also confident his team is well aware of what Saturday night’s expected sellout (45,807) of Utah fandom will bring. “We understand the environment that we are heading into,” said Sarkisian, whose record against Utah as head coach at Washington was 1-0 at Rice-Eccles and 2-0 overall. In anticipation of a raucous and voluminous crowd for this weekend, Sarkisian covered his preparation bases by having loud, artificial crowd noise pumped into Trojans practices this week. There are Trojans on this season’s club who clearly remember the last time the Cardinal and Gold ventured into Rice-Eccles and the effect the Utah fans' support had on the Utes team. “We’re going to be playing in their house and they aren’t going to lay down for nobody,” said senior linebacker Hayes Pullard. “Last time we were there they had a great crowd and a great group of guys. We’ve got to raise our level to the competition that we are playing.” One of those expecting to try to stonewall the physical Utah rushing attack is Trojans junior nose tackle Antwaun Woods, who was a young, inexperienced lineman when he joined his teammates at Utah in 2012. “I remember the crowd being really loud and we had to play a four-quarter game,” Woods said. “We are going to have to execute on both sides of the ball, and it’s always physical when we play Utah.” With the support of their fans, a key on Saturday is that if this Utah team gets an early lead, it might not be vulnerable enough to allow the Trojans to make the same type of victorious rally produced two seasons ago. Buyer beware.
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