Four years ago, a brash freshman offensive lineman named Travis Claridge first donned the cardinal and gold uniform of the USC Trojans. On that day, as the Trojans faced Penn State in the Kickoff Classic, Claridge started at right guard, joining Brad Budde as the only true freshman offensive lineman in USC history to start a season opener.

Now a battle-worn senior right tackle, Claridge is about to start his 46th consecutive game. If he stays healthy, he will end up starting every game in his career (48 games in all) since the day he set foot on campus -- something no other Trojan offensive lineman has ever accomplished (Jeff Bregel started all 47 games at guard in his career but redshirted as a true freshman).

"That would give me a great sense of accomplishment and pride," said Claridge, who made the Pac-10 first team as a right guard last season. "When I came to USC, it was my goal to start the first game. I refused to be denied. It's been great starting for four years."

Claridge, who Sport Magazine called the favorite to win the Outland Trophy, has been USC's best offensive lineman this season despite moving from right guard to right tackle. He also wears the same number 71 worn by former Trojan All-American linemen Budde and Tony Boselli.

"I am honored to wear the same number as those guys," Claridge said. "I never saw Budde play, but Boselli is a guy who all linemen try to emulate -- his technique is flawless. I'd love to make All-American and take my place with those guys."

Despite starting from day one, Claridge still believes redshirting for a season could have helped him with the large transition from high school to college football.

"I think every freshman should redshirt, especially the guys who play in the trenches," Claridge said. "I came out of high school running 4.85 in the 40 and bench pressing 405 pounds. But there still were guys quicker and stronger than me.

"A freshman has to learn how to be a football player and a student of the game. When freshmen come to college, they think they know everything about football, but they don't know anything. That's why redshirting that first year is so important."

During his time at USC, Claridge has seen players and coaches come and go. The one constant has been his steady play and his hard work. Through it all, he never doubted why he came to USC.

"I came here because of the great tradition of offensive linemen," said Claridge. "If I had to do it over again, I'd still pick USC."

His most memorable games have been the annual clashes with arch rival Notre Dame. In his career, USC has gone 3-1 versus the Irish, including an epic 27-20 win in his freshman year which broke Notre Dame's 13-game unbeaten streak over USC.

"Beating Notre Dame in overtime my freshman year is my greatest memory here," Claridge said. "Beating Notre Dame at South Bend my sophomore year where we hadn't won since 1981 was great, too."

During such a tough season, Claridge has been the rock of an offensive line that has been maligned at times. Despite it all, Claridge still feels that some good things can be accomplished in 1999.

"We can still go out and beat UCLA and end that eight-game losing streak -- that's something to shoot for," Claridge said. "Also, I'd like to see Chad Morton get 1,000 rushing yards. It'll help the team, plus show that the line can get the job done."

Nothing can take the sting out of what's been a tough season so far, though. The Trojans started the year with lofty expectations, but injuries and inexperience have cost them.

"I'm very disappointed in this season," said Claridge. "We just need to go out and play for each other and prove everybody wrong somehow."

When his playing days are over, Claridge hopes to discover more of the world outside of football. A history major at USC, he is fascinated by the Civil War period and hopes to one day visit some of that war's battle sites.

"I love history because it tells about real people doing real things," Claridge said. "The Civil War tore this country apart. It was family against family, brother against brother. That's an important era to reflect upon."

It's very befitting that a history major will soon be making his own mark on history. Among an impressive roll call of USC offensive linemen -- Yary, Powell, Budde, Munoz, Matthews, Mosebar, Bregel, and Boselli, to name a few -- Claridge is the only one to start every game in his career since his true freshman year. This feat required durability, determination, desire and, most of all, heart. On all counts, Claridge has delivered.

"I want people to say about me that I always worked my butt off," Claridge said. "I want them to remember that I played hurt and I played injured because I loved to play the game and that I played with heart."

Four years and 48 games. That's a lot of heart.

For more on the Trojans, visit their official athletic site.