TROJANS GAVE BUSH THE STIFF ARM.

Byline: JILL PAINTER

PASADENA - USC's Rose Bowl victory had almost everything a fan could want.

Quarterback John David Booty had a dream game with 391 passing yards and four touchdowns. Dwayne Jarrett became USC's all-time career receptions leader. The defense blitzed like crazy and had sixsacks.

Matt Leinart was there cheering on his old team. The song girls and Trojans band were doing their thing.

Pete Carroll was all fist pumps and woo-hoos and smiles.

The sun was shining.

There were 93,852fans.

But not one of them was named Reggie Bush.

Bush called USC on Friday requesting a sideline pass but didn't get one.

If Reggie Bush, the former Heisman Trophy winner and creator of all jaw-dropping things imaginable in cleats, can't get a pass, who can?

Marcus Allen, Leinart, Ronnie Lott, Charles White and John Papadakis did. They secured the maximum fivepasses the NCAA allows for ex-players. According to a USC official, Bush's request was a moot point, since the passes already had been given away by the time Bush called.

USC couldn't -- or wouldn't -- find a way to get Bush a ticket. And to think of all the crafty moves Bush used to find the end zone for USC.

Maybe USC knows more about the NCAA investigation into whether the Bush family accepted improper money and gifts from marketing agents than we do.

Nothing against Papadakis, who has been a longtime friend of the program, but why didn't USC swing him another ticket and get Bush on the sideline? Bush, now a star for the New Orleans Saints, is instantly recognizable to a national audience and recruits.

Alan Casden, a real-estate billionaire who graduated from USC, had a booster pass.

Bush doesn't make nearly as much money as Casden, but he sure made a lot of money for USC.

USC didn't want Bush at the game -- at least, that's how Bush said he felt when he told the story to Fox Sports' Jay Glazer.

``Reggie Bush told me that USC does not want him on the sidelines or present anywhere, at (the) Rose Bowl,'' Glazer said on an NFL pregame show. ``His guess is that his appearance would stoke controversy surrounding the allegations that surfaced earlier in the year surrounding his parents and that house.''

Bush has said he will be cleared of any alleged wrongdoing.

And the sideline pass issue is not sitting well with some fans.

``He gave the university his best years possible,'' said Texan Keith Buffin, who wore a Dwayne Jarrett jersey to the Rose Bowl on Monday. ``He took them to two national championships. They could have pulled a pass out of (somewhere). They say, `Don't bite the hand that feeds you.'''

USC had no problem with Bush as he was high-stepping, spinning and twirling his way to twonational championship.

But the only people wearing No. 5 jerseys at the Rose Bowl on Monday -- and there were many -- were fans.

``He's a Heisman Trophy winner,'' said Mike Chuidian, who wore a Bush jersey to the game. ``That's like a slap in the face.''

O.J. Simpson made his way into a USC football practice before the Orange Bowl several years ago. He wasn't invited, but this is a guy who was found liable for the deaths of two people in civil court.

Bush was the 2005 Associated Press Sportsman of the Year.

``I don't know what happened,'' said USC receiver Chris McFoy, who is friends with Bush. ``At the same time, it's Reggie Bush.''

McFoy smiled and raised his arms to emphasize ``Reggie Bush.''

Bush spent three years hurdling tacklers, gaining prime-time highlights on ESPN and flashing his megawatt smile -- and this is how he's repaid?

Wonder how Bush will react if USC is looking for a financial gift or motivational speech or autographed jersey?

Maybe Bush will return the stiff arm.

[e-mail]

[phone]