BUSH GOOD AS GONE.

Byline: Jill Painter Staff Writer

After Reggie Bush finished directing the Trojans' band in the postgame rendition of ``Conquest,'' he blew a kiss to the Coliseum crowd.

It probably meant goodbye.

Bush treated fans who shelled out big bucks to a spectacular performance against UCLA. He ran for 260 yards, scored two touchdowns and made more jaw-dropping moves, twists and turns. And twice, he hurdled over defensive back Marcus Cassel.

He undoubtedly secured the Heisman Trophy, and perhaps, dibs on the first pick in the NFL Draft. Bush hasn't announced his intention to stay for his senior year or turn pro, but his stepfather, LaMar Griffin, did everything but guarantee Bush is gone.

``I don't think he's staying,'' Griffin said while Bush was ushered into the tunnel by security. ``He's proved himself. It's that time.''

Asked if Bush had anything left to prove on the collegiate level, Griffin replied: ``What do you think?''

Near the end of Saturday's national telecast, Griffin said Bush was leaning toward the NFL. It was only when Bush interrupted his stepfather in a chat with reporters long after the game was over that Griffin wavered on Bush's intentions. If Bush makes himself eligible for the draft, it will be the worst-kept secret since Nick Lachey and Jessica Simpson announced their separation.

``We'll go down as one of the most dominant teams in the history of college football,'' Bush said. ``I really was just soaking it all in.''

Hoping to change what seems like the inevitable, one fan followed the throng of reporters and photographers that chased Bush around and repeatedly screamed, ``one more year.''

At the very least, he has one more college game.

On the second play Saturday, Bush uncorked a 28-yard run, officially ensuring the Coliseum as his playground for a day. Early in the first quarter, he made Jarrad Page miss a tackle - although Page was hardly alone owning that distinction - and then hurdled Cassel, turning nothing into a 9-yard gain. He scored on a 13-yard run late in the first, using Cassel as a makeshift hurdle again and flying into the end zone.

A couple of weeks ago, Page said Bush had been stopped before and could be stopped again.

``When there's actually nothing there, he finds it and he finds a way to gain yards,'' Page said. ``He's just so fast, he's got such good acceleration that he can make a move and if he gets you to take one extra step, he can accelerate past you. He was able to create some things when there's nothing there.''

Bush ran the ball 24 times and still had an average of 10.8 yards per carry. Offensive tackle Taitusi Lutui looked up when plays were over to catch replays. He wasn't about to wait until film sessions to see ``The President's'' highlight reel.

``I love to watch that guy perform,'' Lutui said. ``We were all asking each other, 'Did you see that?' ''

The nation saw Reggie Bush at his best. Fans will see him again this week at the Heisman Trophy presentation in New York. They can tune in again Jan. 4 to watch him and Texas quarterback Vince Young share the same stage in the Rose Bowl. Then, they might have to wait until Sundays.

Jill Painter, [phone]

jill.painter(at)dailynews.com

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Photo:

USC's Reggie Bush, the Heisman front-runner, leaps a UCLA defender for some of his 260 yards rushing.

Keith Birmingham/Staff Photographer