Bruins’ Loss Is Bitter for Trojans, but It May Leave a Sweet Aftertaste

USC offensive linemen met at midfield after practice Saturday and gave a cheer probably never heard at Howard Jones Field.

“Go Bruins!” they yelled in unison before breaking up with laughter.

The Trojans retired to their dining hall for lunch, then spent the afternoon at various locales watching or listening to UCLA’s game against Washington State. A Bruin victory would have assured fifth-ranked USC its first Rose Bowl appearance since the 1995 season.

Instead, Washington State’s 48-27 victory put the Cougars in the Rose Bowl and forced USC to wait another day to learn its bowl fate. The Trojans expect an invitation to either the Sugar Bowl or the Orange Bowl when the bowl championship series matchups are announced today.

“We would have loved to have gone to the Rose Bowl, but Washington State had their chance to rightfully earn it and they did a great job,” USC Coach Pete Carroll. “We’ll look forward to see what the word is.”

Mike Garrett, USC’s athletic director, said he is fairly certain that USC will be selected for the Sugar Bowl. “That’s the most likely thing that will happen,” Garrett said. “The Sugar Bowl people have treated us well from the start and they seemed eager to have us come to their game.”

If the Trojans play in the Sugar Bowl in New Orleans on Jan. 1, it will be against fourth-ranked Georgia, which defeated Arkansas, 30-3, in the Southeastern Conference title game Saturday.

Carroll said he has fond memories of games in New Orleans when he was an NFL assistant with the Minnesota Vikings and San Francisco 49ers.

“I love the atmosphere down there. It’s a great place to play a bowl game,” Carroll said. “It’s a great place to spend New Year’s.”

USC began the day with a slight chance of ascending to the Fiesta Bowl.

But top-ranked Miami’s 56-45 victory over Virginia Tech eliminated any possibility that the Trojans could play Ohio State for the national title. It did, however, guarantee the Trojans their first berth in a BCS game.

The Rose Bowl was USC’s first choice, so Trojan players and coaches were hoping that UCLA could overcome seventh-ranked Washington State and quarterback Jason Gesser, who played despite a high ankle sprain.

“I was yelling at the TV the whole time,” senior offensive lineman Zach Wilson said. “I was going, ‘Tackle! Tackle! Hit that guy on the ankle!’ ”

Said senior center Derek Graf: “It was weird rooting for UCLA, but it was for a good cause.”

Cornerback Darrell Rideaux said he and other seniors were disappointed that they would not play in Pasadena on New Year’s Day. But the feeling was tempered by the opportunity to play in another BCS game.

“We still get to be showcased on a national level,” Rideaux said. “We’re excited to learn where we’re going and we’ll all be on speed-dial to each other when we find out.”

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Freshman linebacker Oscar Lua hurt his right knee during practice and will undergo tests to determine the extent of the injury.