Memories are not lost in fog

Fog that made the downtown skyline invisible from USC on Wednesday did not enshroud Howard Jones Field or interrupt the Trojans’ preparations for Saturday’s game at Oregon State.

But it did remind veteran players of their last trip to Corvallis, Ore., when USC came from behind to defeat the upset-minded Beavers in a game that has become known to many as the Fog Bowl.

Reggie Bush’s punt return for a touchdown and tight end Dominique Byrd’s leaping one-handed touchdown catch highlighted a Trojans victory that will long be remembered for the eerie conditions.

“It was very mystical that night,” Coach Pete Carroll said this week.

Junior linebacker Thomas Williams recalled the bus ride to Reser Stadium and teammates whispering about the fog.

“You’re not supposed to really talk on the bus but everyone was kind of looking around like, ‘Are we gonna play?’ You couldn’t see five feet outside the window,” Williams said.

Once the players got onto the field, they could not see fans in the stands. Visibility during the game was better, but not much.

Senior center Ryan Kalil had difficulty tracking quarterback Matt Leinart’s passes.

“A couple times when Matt threw the ball, it kind of just disappeared in the fog,” Kalil said. “I’m like, ‘I don’t know who’s catching that.’ ”

Senior flanker Steve Smith had suffered a broken leg four games earlier and watched the game from home. “I was actually kind of happy I didn’t have to go up there because the week before they were in sleet at Washington State and then they came to another horrific weather day with the fog,” Smith said.

Smith, however, is looking forward to Saturday, especially because the forecast for the midday kickoff calls for partly cloudy skies and temperatures in the 60s.

Williams also is eager to play again at Reser Stadium.

“It doesn’t really matter what the conditions are,” he said. “I’m just excited about going and playing another Pac-10 game in a great environment.”

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Smith participated in most of the workout, but he said he still wasn’t 100% and sat out scrimmage drills at the end so he would not aggravate sore ankle ligaments.

Carroll said he was continuing to push freshman receiver Travon Patterson.

“I’ve been on him hard to make his plays and focus in practice and be consistent out here,” Carroll said. “We’re trying to really implant a mind-set about competing every day on every ball that’s thrown to him.... We’re just trying to establish a little bit higher mode of practice performance so it will carry over to games.”

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Backup quarterback Mark Sanchez returned to practice after sitting out Tuesday because of lingering back soreness. Sanchez said he was 100%, but freshman Garrett Green remained on offense and ran the scout team for the second day in a row, allowing Michael McDonald to take some repetitions with the second-team offense.... Defensive tackle Chris Barrett sat out most of practice after twisting his knee. Carroll said the injury was not thought to be serious.... Freshman fullback Allen Bradford provided the highlight hit of the day when he caught a pass, lowered his shoulder, and ran over cornerback Shareece Wright, his former teammate at Colton High.... John David Booty is among 15 semifinalists for the Maxwell Award, presented to the nation’s top player.

gary.klein@latimes.com