When Illinois is back in the bowl business next year, it's too bad Justin Harrison won't be around to share in it. Because on a night that was a painful but necessary lesson as Illinois reacclimates itself to life on college football's Rodeo Drive, Harrison played like guy who wanted it all right now.

Harrison, the tough-as-nails senior safety from Bloomington, stood alone in a darkened hallway beneath the Rose Bowl Tuesday night, moments after Southern California had administered a 49-17 whipping. Harrison looked solemn and almost sad when he said, "Right now, it hurts so bad, but with growth there must be pain, and I feel like we grew up a little tonight."

A fairly young Illini team that did not have a single player with bowl experience was no match for a veteran Southern Cal group that has been to six consecutive BCS bowl games. If Illinois looked star-struck early, it was all the invitation USC needed to barrel to a 21-0 lead.

But if there was one player on the field who acted like he might put a stop to that single-handedly, it was Harrison, who was crashing into players and chasing the ball relentlessly.

"He really played good," defensive coordinator Dan Disch said. "I mean he really played good."

Harrison said he had a heart-to-heart talk with himself before the game, knowing it would be the last time he'd pull on his Illini jersey.

"One of the things we pride ourselves on is playing with heart," Harrison said. "We want to lay it all on the field. You're out there representing your university, your family, where you come from. That's what I felt like I did tonight.

"I want to be known for playing a certain way. Since this was my last game, I wanted to walk off that field tonight being proud of myself and knowing I didn't hold anything back."

From the start, Harrison acted like he wanted to change the course of the game by himself. On USC's fourth offensive play, quarterback John David Booty threw a pass to his fullback. The ball appeared to pop loose, and Harrison was there to pick it up, racing all the way to the end zone for a touchdown that could have given Illinois a 7-0 lead.

But the officials called the play dead, and USC got a first down on the play.

Two plays later, Harrison delivered a monster hit that dislodged the ball from USC receiver Vidal Hazelton. The ball popped into the air, and fortune dealt the Illini another blow as USC's Joe McKnight grabbed it and turned it into a 14-yard reception. And that led to USC's first touchdown.

Later in the first quarter, with USC ahead 14-0, Harrison picked off Booty and returned the ball 45 yards to the USC 20. If Harrison gets one block, he scores. Fortune again frowned on the senior - there was no block, and Jason Reda eventually missed a field goal.

In the second quarter, Booty threw a pass to his All-America tight end, Fred Davis. But Harrison turned into a human missile and hit Davis so hard he practically knocked the numbers off his jersey.

And so it went, a continuing tone Harrison carried with him throughout the night.

"Let me tell you, Justin Harrison played one heck of a game," said Decatur linebacker Brit Miller, who had five tackles and a quarterback sack. "Justin played his tail off."

Illinois learned a bundle Tuesday night.

It learned Juice Williams still has a ways to go when it comes to poise as a passer. He remains a work in progress.

It learned another recruiting class will add needed speed, building depth throughout the roster the way USC has done it.

It learned you may have to suffer a gigantic case of the nerves in a game of this stature before you can feel more at ease the next time.

But it also learned that when players take the field with an edge and an attitude, like Harrison did, there's no reason to back down from anyone.

Some people will look at the score and say Illinois failed miserably. But if Illinois can build on this experience and use it next year, losing to Southern Cal will have been worth it.

"I'll always be like a brother to these guys," Harrison said. "I expect so much out of them because they're capable of doing so much."

Just as Harrison tried so hard to do Tuesday night.

Mark Tupper covers University of Illinois football for Lee News Service. Contact him at mark.tupper@lee.net.