As a theater major at USC, Cyrus Hobbi is accustomed to studying dramas. But the burly Trojans offensive lineman never anticipated that he would be at the center of one on the football field and in social media.
Or that reliving onstage his wrenching experience last season against Stanford would help him move past it.
Last December, in a small theater on campus, Hobbi delivered a 15-minute solo performance before an audience of about 100.
Writing and performing the play for a class was a catharsis for the third-year sophomore from Arizona. "It put things in perspective," he said. "It just made me realize that I couldn't let it destroy me so much as a person or a player."
On Sept. 15, 2012, with senior Khaled Holmes sidelined because of an injury, Hobbi started at center against Stanford. A redshirt freshman with less than a half of college game experience, he was charged with directing the offensive line against one of college football's most experienced and aggressive front sevens in the Cardinal's home stadium.
The second-ranked Trojans lost as Stanford pounded the luster off quarterback Matt Barkley's Heisman Trophy campaign and the Trojans' hopes for a national title.
Fans directed much of the blame at Hobbi, the understudy, and the expletive-laced reviews posted to his Facebook page and on Twitter were merciless. Some said he was horrible. Others told him to go back to Arizona. To quit life.
"I was at a pretty low point," he said. "Just thinking horrible thoughts. 'Gosh, the world is over, my life is done. What just happened? I just took the No. 1 team that's supposed to go to the national championship and I screwed it all up.'"
The next week, Hobbi attended team meetings and practices but shied away from classes. "I just really didn't want to see anyone," he said.
Eric Trules, who taught Hobbi's solo performance class, had watched the Stanford game. Trules has been teaching at USC since 1986. Hobbi is the first athlete to take the class, which encourages students to create art from the fabric of their lives.
When Hobbi was absent, Trules sent him an email, encouraging him to draw on the experience.
"I said, 'This how you make art, Cyrus,'" Trules recalled. "I didn't know why you signed up for my solo performance class, but here you are.'"
Hobbi began writing the play that night and Trules helped him work through multiple drafts.
Hobbi's journey had begun at MetLife Stadium in New Jersey after Holmes suffered an ankle injury in the second half of a victory over Syracuse. Hobbi played the rest of the game, and on the plane ride home began pondering playing against Stanford. Hobbi recalled former coach Lane Kiffin walking down the aisle and saying, "You ready, big boy?"
"I was excited," Hobbi said. "But I was like, 'Oh, wow. My first college start: I didn't think it would be ... Stanford.'"
Hobbi watched film that weekend, worked at length with Holmes and huddled with coaches. But on the first day of practice, he was unable to finish the workout.
"They said it was a heat thing, but my nerves were built up," he said.
Hobbi returned the next day and said he had a good week of practice. He was confident going into the game and during the first half, when USC took a 14-7 lead.
But Stanford's front brought constant pressure in the second half.
"I had a few bad plays," Hobbi said. "Once that happened, it was hard for me, not being an experienced player, to move on to the next one."
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