Bush Is Painful to the Touch

Running back Reggie Bush worked hard to add muscle during the off-season so he could prove that he can run between the tackles and take the pounding absorbed by every-down backs.

On Monday, Bush was still paying the price for his workload during USC’s 45-13 victory over Oregon. The 2004 Heisman Trophy finalist said he did not practice because of general soreness and did not know how many days he would be out as the top-ranked Trojans prepare for Saturday’s game at No. 14 Arizona State.

“Everything hurts,” he said. “From neck to feet. Everything.”

Bush had 267 all-purpose yards in a career-high 30 touches at Oregon. He rushed for 122 yards and a touchdown in a career-high 20 carries, caught three passes for 43 yards and a touchdown, and returned three kickoffs and four punts for 102 yards.

Bush’s heaviest workload before Saturday was 25 touches last season against UCLA.

Bush said he gained “hard yards” against Oregon, as opposed to the previous week’s game against Arkansas when the Trojans got “easy runs and 70 yards and the glamorous runs.”

“I don’t assume or hope that it’s going to be like this every game,” Bush said of the soreness. “But if it does, then we’ll deal with it.”

He said the artificial surface at Autzen Stadium and playing into the fourth quarter for the first time might have contributed to his postgame condition.

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USC’s victory over Arizona State two years ago is remembered as the game in which quarterback Matt Leinart overcame knee and ankle injuries and returned for the second half, winning over his teammates and starting the Trojans on a 25-game winning streak.

But it was also the game in which LenDale White ignited the Trojans’ rushing attack by breaking out for 140 yards and two touchdowns in 21 carries.

White, the Trojans’ leading rusher in 2003 and 2004, ran for 111 yards and two touchdowns in 15 carries against Oregon, averaging 7.4 yards per carry.

“In our offense, whenever you get the ball, you’ve got to be able to make the most of it because you never know how fast you’re going to score or when things are going to go sour or whatever the case may be,” White said. “You just have to be ready whenever they call your name.”

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Flanker Steve Smith, who suffered a leg bruise against Oregon, and defensive tackle LaJuan Ramsey (ankle) did not attend practice to undergo MRI exams and other tests, Coach Pete Carroll said. Smith said his leg felt fine. ... Linebacker Dallas Sartz (dislocated shoulder) is no longer in a sling and is scheduled to see a doctor this week to determine how far he is from returning. ... Freshman cornerback Kevin Thomas, who was diagnosed with mononucleosis last week, said he was neither fatigued nor losing weight and that he would see a doctor Thursday to determine how long he might be out. Former Trojan linebacker Matt Grootegoed redshirted his first year because of mononucleosis. ... Freshman quarterback Mark Sanchez, who did not make the trip to Oregon because Carroll would like him to redshirt, said he anticipates being left home again if the Trojans need to fill roster spots because of injuries at other positions.