By the standards of most sports commentators, maybe by most fans, this has been less than a successful season for the USC Trojans.

It's no secret that I love the Trojans. My son graduated from USC, and he not only got a great education, he got to witness back-to-back National Championships during his 4 years on campus.

And while USC lost more games, and finished lower in the PAC-10, than in any year since Pete Carroll became head coach, there's more ways to measure success than wins and losses.

This may happen with every major college team in America.

I hope it does.

And in my eyes -- eyes I have so often taken for granted -- this year doesn't look as bad to me as it may to others.

I'm proud of this team.

I'm more proud of a little boy who taught some very privileged athletes that losing a football game, or 3 or 4, isn't the worst thing that can happen in a young life.

Fight on, Jake! Fight on!