USC's first practice since the abrupt firing of head coach Lane Kiffin had a dramatically different look and feel. Interim coach Ed Orgeron's booming voice and unbridled energy seemed to uplift a team that had been through the emotional wringer over the weekend. The media was allowed to attend and report on injuries.
Dessert is even back on the training table menu.
"You feed a lineman a cookie, he's happy," Orgeron told the Los Angeles Times.
Adding to the good feelings was growing optimism that star wide receiver Marqise Lee could be available for the Trojans' home game against Arizona next Thursday.
Lee, who suffered a knee injury in the 62-41 loss at Arizona State, said he "was getting better daily" and no longer needed crutches.
"It's very minor," Lee said.
"Marqise Lee has made some miraculous recoveries," Orgeron said. "We're going to work hard to get him ready for next week. We don't know if he will be or not."
With Lee and several other wide receivers not available to practice, USC is left with only two healthy scholarship players at the position in Nelson Agholor and Victor Blackwell.
Freshman Darreus Rogers, who has missed the last three games with an ankle injury, could return next week.
Lee has 30 receptions for 385 yards this season, leading the team in both categories. However, those marks, along with his one touchdown reception in five games, are well off Lee's pace from last season, when he was a unanimous All-American and won the Biletnikoff Award as the top receiver in college football.
Despite being widely regarded as the top receiver for the 2014 NFL Draft should he declare, as NFL Media analyst Bucky Brooks noted, scouts will be monitoring Lee's return from injury and play the rest of the season very closely.
Follow Dan Greenspan on Twitter @DanGreenspan.
