I was watching a classic replay of USC vs. Fresno State tonight on FSN Prime Ticket. It was one of the most exhilarating games that the Trojans have played in years, and Reggie Bush put on a performance for the ages. His 513 all-purpose yards practically clinched the Heisman that evening.

Petros Papadakis was calling the game, and after a young freshman named Brian Cushing jumped on a crucial fumble, Papadakis said something that struck me:

"I’m just amazed [by USC’s] ability to play within the moment in football games. They don’t worry about their streak. They don’t worry about the Rose Bowl. They don’t worry about their ranking or who they’re playing. They find themselves in a tough game, doesn’t matter if they’re home or away, they make the plays necessary to win the football game."

A lot of e-mails have been pouring in this week about what led to USC’s collapse against Oregon State. Of all the explanations, I think most of them boil down to this: USC wasn’t playing within the moment.

— Adam Rose
Photo by Wally Skalij/L.A. Times