Injury Nags Williams

Freshman receiver Mike Williams said his injured left ankle felt fine Monday after USC’s first practice in preparation for rival UCLA.

But Williams laid blame squarely on himself for a nagging left quadriceps injury that limited his effectiveness against Arizona State and could affect his performance against UCLA.

“I’m still hurt because I neglected to go to treatment all last week,” Williams said. “I’m paying for it now. I have to make sure I get treatment every day, twice a day, this week so I can get healthy. Because right now, I’m really not any good.”

Williams, who was averaging 6.4 receptions and 101.4 yards a game, caught only one pass in the Trojans’ 34-13 victory over Arizona State last Saturday, an 18-yard touchdown pass from Carson Palmer.

Williams appeared a step slow on several other routes.

“I don’t want to accept the fact that I’m actually hurt or actually injured,” Williams said of his failure to get treatment. “That’s not me to be hurt. I can’t stand it.

“I felt like going to treatment only made it more of a reality that I was hurt. But that’s pretty childish, so I have to get over that and get treatment so I can actually be able to play and make a difference in the game.”

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Daryl Gross and Steve Lopes, senior associate athletic directors at USC, will meet with Sugar Bowl officials today in New Orleans and with Orange Bowl officials Wednesday in Miami to make a case for the Trojans’ inclusion in one of the bowl championship series games if they defeat UCLA and Notre Dame. USC moved up to No. 8 in the BCS standings Monday.... Senior running back Sultan McCullough wore a padded bandage on his right index finger after getting it caught on a helmet against Arizona State.