(Editor's note: USC senior lineman Travis Claridge will share a weekly diary with ESPN.com throughout the season. For more information on the Trojans, visit the official USC site.)

Sept. 30, 1999

I feel terrible about the results of last week's game (a 33-30 triple overtime loss Oregon). When we went in to the game, we felt like we were going to win. And we all think we should have won, but it seemed as though the good plays that we made were negated by the bad. It was a physically bloody game. Overall, I think both teams played well, but triple overtime is tough for anyone.

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

The defense really kept us in the second half. They gave USC quarterback Mike Van Raaphorst the time he needed to pick the Ducks apart. For a while I thought that the defense was frustrated with the offense. When it came down to do or die, we had two big drives and were able to put some points on the board. That encouraged the defense and allowed us to put things together.

I felt all right about my personal performance, but it clearly wasn't enough. We have to win these types of games and we didn't do that. After the game we were all upset, but everybody rallied around each other. I think it's important to forget the loss and move on, though that's hard to do.

Oregon is a tough place to play. Their fans created a hostile environment and that made it difficult.

	THE FULL DOSE OF DIARIES
	Georgia Tech's Joe Hamilton: Backyard ball
	Oregon's Reuben Droughns: Feeding off Feeley
	UCLA's Danny Farmer: In search of first Pac-10 win
	FSU's Keith Cottrell: Q&A session with the punter
	Ole Miss' Todd Wade: Calling all fans
	Wyoming's Jared Jarnagin: A win worth waiting for

I think Van Raaphorst did a great job. He came in not really expecting to play and he really stepped up our game. We need to do that all the time.

This week we will be preparing for Oregon State. We won't forget the Oregon game, but we won't focus on it either. Oregon State's team is a lot better this year. We beat them last year but we didn't play our best against them. We are just going to have to step up our game.

Next week, we're going to win. We have to. It's a must-win situation. Our backs are against the wall. We are in a corner and we have to come out fighting.

Losing Carson Palmer (out six to eight weeks with a broken collarbone) is tough, but its not like we've lost a senior quarterback and have to play a freshman. Van Raaphorst has been around. This is his team. He's going to go in there and play like it's his team.

I think that we're all excited about playing at home. It's a rush. When we come out of that tunnel, we'll hear our fans screaming and we will see our support group. My friends and family will be there. I think all teams play better at home because of that and I'm really looking forward to it.