LOS ANGELES — After rediscovering themselves Saturday, the USC Trojans were predictably moved to praise their Heisman Trophy candidate.
“He's always an up-tempo guy,” guard Abe Markowitz said. “He's a captain, so he brings other intangibles, too.”
That's usually the way things go around here. The stars star and the Trojans win, this time, 27-9, over Cal.
“When he's in there, we have better rhythm and better execution,” offensive lineman John Martinez said. “He takes charge.”
Coming off a loss that rattled their confidence, foundation and BCS aspirations, USC had to turn to a cool senior for guidance.
“He's one of the leaders of our team,” Coach Lane Kiffin said. “He really makes everything go up there.”
So, today, it's official: Khaled Holmes for the Heisman!
He wouldn't be the first graduate of Mater Dei High to claim the honor, you know.
But how many offensive linemen have won the Heisman Trophy? It's the same number of offensive linemen who have won Miss America.
The Trojans have a legitimate Heisman candidate in Matt Barkley and a long shot in Marqise Lee. But it was their center — he is the first guy to handle the ball on every play, so maybe center is a skill position — who glued back together everything that fell apart a week ago.
Who knew football, a game of 11 men, could be so influenced by a single young man?
“I think that's really where the story of the day was, up front,” Kiffin said. “Khaled being back makes a big difference for us when it comes to running the ball and sacks.”
Running the ball? USC finished with 296 yards on the ground and a per-carry average of 7.4, one week after netting 26 rush yards and averaging 33 inches per attempt.
Sacks? Barkley was dropped zero times, one week after he was tenderized like a side of beef on — quite appropriately — The Farm.
Holmes plays in the center of the Trojans' offensive line and lately also in the center of their football universe.
His injury absence last weekend at Stanford led to the general demise of USC's offensive front, which, based on the Trojans' inability to run the ball and the bruises Barkley brought back, was more of an offensive affront.
Then, during the week, it was a question about Holmes that prompted Kiffin's latest fit of petulance. The coach fled from his own media briefing rather than answer an inquiry about Holmes returning from an ankle problem.
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