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Thursday, 01 December 2005 06:02 |
| Brad Norman
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BOONE ?±?± The President, a.k.a., Mr. Bush, is doing everything right nowadays.
Believe me, I??m definitely not talking about Dubya.
Reggie Bush, the most electrifying player on the best college football team in the country, the University of Southern California, proved Nov. 19 that he is also the best player in the country.
Bush??s teammates call him ?®the president,?∆ obviously due to his last name, but also because of his explosive talent and leadership on the field.
Bush showed why he is deserving of that nickname during a game against the Fresno State Bulldogs, and in doing so, may have clinched the Heisman Trophy.
Fresno State, a mid-major, but gutsy, opponent took it to the USC Trojans in every way possible.
They came into USC??s stadium, the vaunted Coliseum, and dropped 21 points by halftime on the best team in the nation.
Then, Mr. Bush put his team on his back and essentially said, ?®Follow me, boys.?∆
Bush accounted for 513 yards of a total offense, a number that most
would not even be able to obtain in a game of Madden ?Ò with the
computer playing on the easiest level.
Five hundred thirteen!
A quick breakdown: 294 yards came on the ground, 68 were receiving and 151 came on kickoff and punt returns.
Mr. Bush made Fresno State look silly, and that??s saying something, considering the Bulldogs are one of the
top 20 teams in the country.
Bush used this game as a pedestal.
Trojan quarterback Matt Leinart, who won the Heisman Trophy last year,
is the undisputed leader of the team. And, up until this game, most
people in the country thought he was the most important player at USC.
Not any more.
Every single play that Bush made, whether it was a 60-yard touchdown run or a 2-yard rush, the Trojans needed in order to win.
Without one or two Bush plays, Fresno State would have done the unthinkable and defeated the mighty Trojans.
Bush proved that he is the backbone of his team.
Leinart may get fawned over by women, make friends with Nick Lachey and
become one of the most recognizable people in Los Angeles, but he??s no
longer viewed as the most important or best player at USC.
In retrospect, Bush has always been the player USC relied upon most. It just became that much more obvious during this game.
USC had some tough wins this year: at Arizona State, at Notre Dame and Fresno State.
Against Arizona State, second-string running back LenDale White may have solidified the 38-28 victory, but it
was Bush who brought the Trojans roaring back into the game.
Trailing 21-10, Bush scampered for a 24-yard touchdown run to swing some momentum back for USC.
In the fourth quarter, with Arizona State up 28-24, it was Bush who took a handoff and dodged his way down
the field for a game-changing, and ultimately game-winning, 34-yard touchdown run.
The game was on the line and USC firmly placed the outcome in the hands of the president.
In the best and perhaps most important game of the season, it was again Reggie Bush who won the game for
the Trojans against Notre Dame.
Trojan quarterback Leinart completed 17 of 32 passes (53 percent) for no touchdowns and two interceptions.
When it seemed Notre Dame was about to break away, it was an
electrifying 45-yard touchdown run by Bush in the third quarter to tie
the game 21-21.
Although Leinart scored the game??s final touchdown with three seconds left, it was Bush who gave him a helping hand.
Leinart tried a QB sneak from the 1-yard line, was stuffed, but got a
generous shove from Mr. Bush. The momentum was enough to carry Leinart
into the end zone.
Bush has always been USC??s star. It just took a 513-yard performance to solidify his status.
Bush will lead the Trojans to a third consecutive national championship and win the Heisman Trophy.
If he declares for the NFL draft, he should be the first player selected.
After all, who doesn??t want the president on their team?
?ÿ
Brad Norman, a
senior at Appalachian State University, is the editor-in-chief of The
Appalachian, ASU??s twice-weekly student newspaper.
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