Now the Bruins staff also includes Norm Chow, the venerable offensive coordinator who helped USC win two national titles before being nudged to the NFL in 2005 by Carroll's planned reorganization of his staff.
With UCLA's offense struggling, the key matchup appears to be between Walker and USC offensive coordinator Steve Sarkisian, who replaced Chow and is expected to be introduced as Washington's new head coach early next week.
Sarkisian hasn't forgotten the Trojans' missteps two years ago, when he shared coordinator responsibilities with Lane Kiffin: they rushed for only 55 yards, converted only six of 17 third downs, were flagged for nine penalties.
"You can't shoot yourself in the foot," he says. "We need to come ready to play."
UCLA, which lost to Arizona State last week, faces a different set of circumstances than it encountered before facing the Trojans in 2006.
UCLA had an open date before the rivalry game, giving Walker extra time to study personnel and schemes.
"That made a big difference," he says.
The 2006 Bruins also featured defensive ends Bruce Davis and Justin Hickman, linebacker Christian Taylor and a veteran secondary that included Chris Horton.
"You had some bullets," Walker says.
But the current Bruins do see some similarities.
This defense is led by two tough linemen -- tackles Brigham Harwell and Brian Price -- and features an outstanding linebacker in Reggie Carter. A strong secondary has helped the Bruins rank second nationally in pass defense.
USC offensive lineman Jeff Byers missed the 2006 game because of injury, but he recalls the mayhem Davis and Hickman created and sees the same potential in Harwell and Price.
"We have to do everything right because, if not, these two big guys are going to control the game," Byers says.
Harwell senses the possibilities.
In 2006, the Bruins went into the USC game coming off strong defensive efforts against Oregon State and Arizona State.
The defense enters today's game having not given up a touchdown in seven quarters.
"It's deja vu," Harwell says. "It's crazy to see how things are happening the same way."
But could they end up the same? Will it be 13-9 all over again?
"That game, we were just fortunate enough to keep them out of the end zone," Walker says. "If we can do that again, we can make things interesting."
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Times staff writers David Wharton and Mark Medina contributed to this report.
