Brian Cushing may be a 6-foot-4-inch, 235-pound linebacker for the University of Southern California, but as far as his mother, Antoinette, is concerned, he will always be her “baby.” In fact, when Cushing chose to play football for USC, Antoinette told head coach Pete Carroll, “You’d better take good care of my baby” – upon which the coach replied, “I will.”

Affectionately known as “Mama Cush” by her son’s teammates and coaches at USC, Antoinette is unabashedly proud of the special relationship she has with Brian, her youngest child, and of the way she is admired by his peers.

Indeed, Antoinette and Frank Cushing’s two other children (Michelle, 36, and Michael, 34) share that pride in their younger brother’s accomplishments. At 21, Brian is the baby of the family, and has formed a special bond with his older siblings – especially Michelle, whom he called his “second mother” while growing up.

Antoinette recalls that as a youngster, Brian was quite determined to forge his future in football. “Brian’s third-grade teacher asked the class what they wanted to be when they grew up,” she says, the memory still vivid. “Brian would say, ‘I am going to be the best NFL [player] there ever was,’” she beams.

First downs
Raised in Park Ridge, young Brian excelled in soccer and baseball as well as football. He attended Bergen Catholic High School, where he led the Crusaders to the 2004 Group IV State Championship over Don Bosco Preparatory High School. Wearing the number 10 – unusual for a defensive player; they are generally assigned higher numbers – he was named 2004 North Jersey Player of the Year by The Record, and selected to play in the 2005 U.S. Army All-American Bowl.

Brian, who sports a “10” on his college jersey, as well, was the only freshman to start for USC in 2005, and was part of the national championship team. He has played in three consecutive Rose Bowl games for the Trojans, and was named MVP of the Rose Bowl in January 2007.

“Frank and I went to the Rose Bowl in 2007,” says Antoinette. “At the end of the game, we said, ‘What is he doing on the podium?’ We were so surprised that he had been named MVP.”

Trophies aside, a particularly triumphant moment in his college football career came, for Brian, in 2006, when he scored a touchdown against rival Notre Dame after returning a kickoff. But, despite all the attention and accolades he’s earned at the Pac-10 Conference standout, Brian acknowledges really needing his mom.

“I didn’t realize how tough it would be at college until I left home,” he admits. “Being on my own was difficult, and I didn’t fully understand until I went to USC. I try to communicate with my mom as much as I can, and let her know that I’m okay.”

Yet, Brian says, this kind of relationship with his mother is not unique at USC. “Many of my teammates are close to their moms as well,” he points out. “My mother has given me great perspective on my experiences, and her views are like a breath of fresh air.”

Tackling challenge head-on
Thanks to the help of his mom, Brian has adjusted to the pressures of playing football for a national powerhouse.

“You don’t go to USC to lose,” Brian says. “Losing is not part of the vocabulary here. All of my teammates were the best players at their schools, and every year there is an expectation of a national championship. It really helps to have someone like my mother to talk to. She is an excellent advisor, and helps to keep me grounded.”

Antoinette is on the sidelines for four to five games each season – not to mention the 10 or so Dad Frank attends. And, she and Brian have a meaningful tradition that helps the athlete focus for the game. “Brian and I go to Mass the night before the game,” Antoinette says. Indeed, spiritual centeredness is important in the Cushing family.

Brian speaks with great reverence for his mother – how she overcame early adversity in life. “I admire how she came to Ellis Island as a small child,” he says. “She was born in Germany after World War II, and her parents were survivors of the Polish war camps. Her Polish given name was Antonina. I admire her immigrant strength, and how she expects the most of out me.

“She wants me to do my very best, and not accept anything else,” Brian adds. “My teammates have noticed that she’s a tough mom, but she’s a great mom.”

And Antoinette models her behavior after that of her own mother. “My mother was the most giving person I ever knew, and that’s why I do it,” she explains. 

While Brian cannot speak to agents about a career in the pros until he becomes eligible for the NFL draft, in January 2009, he has already begun to think about what life will be like when his college playing days are over.

Though he acknowledges a boyhood love for the Dallas Cowboys, Brian would still prefer to be able to play locally – that is, if a professional career is in the cards for him at all. Not surprisingly, he would like to be close to his parents, especially his mom. And, Brian confesses to being a bit superstitious, wondering about what number he will get if he makes it to the pros. “I know they won’t let me have number 10 – that’s for the offensive players,” he says, with resignation.

To be sure, Antoinette is well aware of her son’s rising “celebrity” status, with a loyal following right here in New Jersey as well as at USC. Keeping a sharp eye on her son, she works to help him maintain balance amidst the throng of fans. Wherever Brian’s life after USC takes him, one thing is certain: Mama Cush will be there for support.