Reggie Bush developments could spell trouble for USC

USC and Louisiana State split the national championship in 2003 and shared news Friday in the baggage claim carousel at BCS Terminal 4.

In San Diego, a judge set a trial date in Lloyd Lake’s civil suit against Reggie Bush. Reaction in Trojanland: “uh-oh.”

In Baton Rouge, LSU Coach Les Miles finally handed walking papers to discipline-challenged quarterback Ryan Perrilloux. Reaction in Gumboland: “What took so long?”

Assessment: Bad day for USC, good day for LSU.

Bush might actually go to trial in March 2009 and possibly drag Pete Carroll’s program through the mud.

The farther the Bush case is distanced from 2004 and 2005, the better for the Trojans, but the damage assessment scenarios remain unchanged.

If it’s determined USC had nothing to do with an alleged off-campus money grab from a dubious hanger-on, the NCAA won’t hit USC with major sanctions. If USC is involved, well, that would be a good day for UCLA.

If Bush acted alone, he could lose his 2005 Heisman Trophy and USC might have to forfeit games in which he played. If Bush is ruled to have been ineligible in 2004, the year USC won the BCS title, it remains doubtful the Trojans would be stripped of their championship. The NCAA does not govern the bowls, so USC’s title would have to be recalled by the Associated Press writers (fat chance) and the voting coaches (fatter chance).

The secret in football is to win first and ask questions later.

As former Oklahoma Coach Barry Switzer remarked last fall of USC’s 55-19 win over the Sooners in the BCS title game, “I still know who won the game and who’s the best team. And [Bob] Stoops knows too.”

In jettisoning Perrilloux, LSU was able to completely remove its cancer. Perrilloux is a big-time talent and was expected to become next fall’s starter as the Tigers try to repeat as national champions.

But he was more trouble than he was worth. Perrilloux, remember, dramatically spurned an oral commitment to Texas and switched hats to LSU.

It was, by far, the best recruit Longhorns’ Coach Mack Brown never got.

USA Today this week had the best line on Perrilloux: “The junior-to-be has been suspended more times (three) than he has started (two).

“Ryan was given every opportunity to be part of this football team,” Miles said in a statement.

Miles gave Perrilloux more chances than he deserved, but everyone knows you tolerate talent longer than you tolerate a walk-on.

With a BCS title-belt already in hand, Miles had less personal pressure to make this definitive move, even if it means possibly now starting Andrew Hatch, a transfer quarterback … from Harvard.

 chris.dufresne@latimes.com