USC’s Brian Baucham feeling better but hasn’t fully recovered

USC cornerback Brian Baucham is feeling better since his release from the hospital this week, but he continues to suffer bouts of coughing and headaches, a person familiar with the situation said Friday.

Baucham, a fifth-year senior from Torrance, was hospitalized after playing in USC’s 27-9 victory over California last Saturday at the Coliseum. He was on a ventilator for two days before he was taken off the device Monday. He was released Wednesday, said the person, who asked that they not be identified because of the sensitivity of the situation.

Baucham played in the Trojans’ first two games but not in their loss at Stanford on Sept. 15.

The person said the subsequent sequence of events went like this:

Baucham was among several USC players who experienced flulike symptoms in the week leading up the Cal game.

USC doctors ran tests during the week to determine Baucham’s condition and also gave him fluids, but he still had a fever Friday and Saturday.

Baucham was removed from the Cal game in the second quarter and treated with fluids. He returned in the third quarter for a few plays, but could not continue and was treated again.

Baucham was coughing and could not get a full breath in the locker room and was taken by ambulance to the hospital. After he was admitted, doctors said there was “a bleed on the brain� and fluid in Baucham’s lungs.

USC officials, citing privacy concerns, have declined to comment about Baucham.

Holmes appears

Center Khaled Holmes, who is rehabilitating from an apparent ankle injury that was aggravated against Cal, wore a brace on his right foot when he entered the practice facility with about 30 minutes left in Friday’s afternoon workout. He was not in pads.

This week, Holmes had been wearing a protective boot on his right foot and lower leg. He declined to specify his injury or whether he would play against Utah on Thursday.

“I thought it was just fashionable,� he joked this week. “I don’t need the boot. I’d wear two if they let me.�

Holmes was initially injured in the fourth quarter against Syracuse on Sept. 8. He warmed up before the Stanford game, but was not healed enough to play in the loss. He started against Cal and helped the Trojans rush for nearly 300 yards before being assisted off the field in the fourth quarter.

Quick hits

Linebacker Hayes Pullard, who had his left arm in a sling after the Cal game, was in full pads before and after practice. . . . Coach Lane Kiffin once again called the Trojans’ loss to Stanford a “debacle,� adding, “In coaching you’re just like players . . . you’re going to have some games that you make some better calls and get in rhythm, and I didn’t feel like I did really well in that game.� . . . With USC not playing Saturday, Kiffin said he would be working but would also have the opportunity to see his 5- and 7-year-old children play soccer for the first time this season. . . . The Trojans return to practice Sunday.

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