It’s not everyday that a team takes the field and has to
face a running back who is arguably the best player, not to mention
the best running back, in the nation. But that’s exactly what
the Bruins will do this Saturday when they face off against Reggie
Bush and his cast of not-so unknowns at the Coliseum. For some
Bruins, the idea of facing Bush is an idea they are actually
relishing.
“I’m looking forward to facing Reggie Bush,”
linebacker Spencer Havner said. “Maybe I’m stupid.
It’s fun. The stakes are high. He’s not superman, even
though he may look like it.”
There are some teams that might have to disagree with
Havner.
Against Fresno State in his last game, Bush had 513 all-purpose
yards, with a career-high 294 of them coming on the ground.
Though he only had two touchdown runs, his big plays allowed the
Trojans great field position on many of their drives. His 513
all-purpose yards broke a Pac-10 record, and his exciting acts drew
awe from opposing teams all year.
“He’s the best runner in the country,” running
back Maurice Drew said. “Every day, you see him make plays.
He’s the best right next to (Jerome Harrison) at Washington
State.”
Many college football analysts consider Bush a lock for the
Heisman Trophy, but some are even vaulting him into conversations
of best-ever college running backs.
The one game the Bruins are focused on, however, is the one that
occurs on Saturday.
“He’s the best football player in the country at
this point in time,” running backs coach Eric Bieniemy said.
“He’s a great player, but you have to remember, I
played against a guy named Barry Sanders.
“And don’t forget, they also have a guy by the name
of LenDale White who’s pretty good too.”
And that “˜pretty good’ player actually has more
rushing touchdowns than Bush, 19-13. But Bush’s value comes
not just with his decent ability to run between the tackles for
constant gains, but with his big play-making ability on outside
runs, passes and kick returns.
“With Reggie back there returning kicks, anything can
happen,” special teams coach Brian Schneider said. “We
have to always be aware of where he is on the field.”
And the Bruins would probably be prudent to do that. Since a
team is probably not going to be able to stop a guy with his
combination of speed and agility, the next best thing is to slow
him down.
“I don’t know if you can stop Reggie Bush,”
coach Karl Dorrell said. “We’ll do our best to not let
him have as many big play opportunities. He’s just a dramatic
player.”
The combination of Bush against the UCLA defense could stir up
memories of Edgerrin James against the UCLA defense in 1998, when
the Miami running back rushed for 299 yards against a defense
unable to tackle.
The Bruins this season rank last in the Pac-10 in run defense,
giving up 219.5 yards per game. For comparison, the second to last
team in the Pac-10 in run defense, Arizona, is giving up only 183.7
yards. This combination could prove to be beneficial for the
Trojans’ explosive running attack.
“They have a good running game,” defensive tackle
Brigham Harwell said. “We’ve had some trouble against
the run, but this is the year for us. The rivalry brings out the
best; it’s a huge game. The defense is going to be ready for
this game.”
The Trojans, behind Bush, lead the Pac-10 in rushing offense
with 249.2 yards per game. The Bruins will need every ounce of
energy they can gather from the rivalry emotions to put a stop to
the men of Troy.