It had everything to do with the sideline attire of quarterbacks coach Jeremy Bates.
On an 89-degree day, Bates wore a gray USC sweatshirt during Saturday's game, prompting countless readers to e-mail in asking about his clothing choice. The reasoning behind it is both an inconsequential routine and a thought-out plan.
Reason 1 is personal preference -- "I just like to sweat," said Bates, who has worn a sweatshirt during games throughout his previous seven years of coaching. He also wears a sweatshirt in practice for the same purpose.
The second motive is so that Bates can be the same in the game as he is in midweek practices -- in terms of both his mindset and his clothing. Everything he does on game day mimics what he does on Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday, so he wants even his gray-sweatshirt-and-black-hat attire to mirror that as well.
"Practice should be the same as the game," the 33-year-old said.
And lastly, Bates played down the sweatshirt choice, even with the Coliseum being drenched with sun and the nearly 90-degree weather on Saturday.
Said a smiling Bates: "It's California -- it's not that hot."
Because of routine and personal preference, quarterbacks coach Jeremy Bates (left) wore a sweatshirt during Saturday's game at the Coliseum, where temperatures climbed near 90.
