LOS ANGELES -- Heisman Trophy-winning quarterback Matt
Leinart has decided to play his senior season at USC and try to
lead the Trojans to an unprecedented third straight national
championship.
"I realized the opportunity right now to support my family by
going to the NFL early, but to me I think college football and this
whole atmosphere here and being with my friends and my teammates
... is ultimately more satisfying and will make me happier than any
amount of money could make someone happy," Leinart said at a news
conference Friday.
Leinart, who said he reached his final decision "today,"
opting to complete his eligibility rather than enter the NFL draft,
where he figured to be one of the top selections and become an
instant millionaire.
There was a roar of approval from a crowd of about 500 students
and fans jammed into the foyer at Heritage Hall to hear the
quarterback's decision.
"OK, so I'm smiling," a beaming USC coach Pete Carroll told
reporters after Leinart's announcement.
Two other USC juniors, linebacker Lofa Tatupu and punter Tom
Malone, also announced their decisions. Tatupu said he is making
himself eligible for the NFL draft, while Malone said he will
return to USC.
Carroll said the coaching staff worked hard to help Leinart and
two other juniors make their decisions and said the coaches didn't
"hit it on all cylinders" due to the loss of Tatupu but said he
would remain a member of the Trojan family forever.
Leinart has made clear for months his desire to stay in school.
He said last August he would definitely return because he loved
playing for the Trojans, he needed to get stronger physically and
make other improvements.
More recently, he said he was leaning toward returning, but
would investigate his options.
In the end, Leinart decided the risk of serious injury or a
sub-par performance next season was less important than following
his heart and enjoying college for another year.
Leinart consulted coaches, friends, teammates, NFL quarterbacks
Carson Palmer and Ben Roethlisberger and his parents before
announcing his decision.
A 6-foot-5, 225-pound left-hander, Leinart was a third-year
sophomore who hadn't thrown a pass for the Trojans when he
succeeded Palmer, another Heisman Trophy winner, as USC's
quarterback 16½ months ago.
The Trojans have a 25-1 record with Leinart at the controls --
including 13-0 this season. He capped the year by passing for 332
yards and an Orange Bowl-record five touchdowns in USC's resounding
55-19 victory over Oklahoma on Jan. 4.
Leinart's 6,878 career passing yards rank fourth on USC's
all-time list, and his 71 TD passes rank second -- one behind
Palmer.
All that in just 26 games.
By staying in school, Leinart could become the second player
ever to win the Heisman twice. Ohio State running back Archie
Griffin accomplished the feat in 1974-75.
By staying in school, Leinart also gives up heaps of money.
"I get $950 a month," Leinart said when asked about turning
down those millions. "Come on, $950 a month, we've got a training
table, we've got food. The money is not important to me. I realize
the opportunities. ... My teammates and being here is more
important to me right now."
USC's only loss in the last two seasons was a 34-31 triple
overtime setback at California on Sept. 27, 2003, in Leinart's
fourth game as the Trojans' quarterback.
He overcame a shaky start to go 21-of-39 for 277 yards, but was
intercepted three times. He has thrown only 12 other interceptions
at USC.
Leinart, 21, passed for 3,556 yards and 38 touchdowns with nine
interceptions in his first season as the starter, no doubt helped
by the presence of talented and experienced wide receivers Mike
Williams and Keary Colbert.
As a fourth-year junior this season, throwing to a corps of
young, inexperienced wideouts, Leinart passed for 3,322 yards and
33 TDs with six interceptions.
His family, friends, coaches and teammates played a large role
in his decision, Leinart said.
"This is the greatest time of my life, being in L.A. I'm close
to home. My family, my friends, everyone's here. I think that alone
is enough motivation for me to come back," the player said.
Leinart's return means John David Booty, a former Louisiana prep
standout who will be a third-year sophomore next season, will have
to wait at least another year to start unless Leinart is injured or
he decides to go elsewhere.
Booty is considered a better prospect now than Leinart was when
he took over.
The Trojans will have two other highly regarded quarterbacks on
the roster next fall in Rocky Hinds, a freshman who redshirted this
season, and Mark Sanchez, who will be a freshman. Sanchez, a senior
at Mission Viejo, Calif., High who has committed to USC, is
considered one of the best prep quarterbacks in the country.
Without Leinart, USC figured to enter next season as the one of
the country's highest-ranked teams, if not No. 1, since the
majority of its starters this season were underclassmen. With
Leinart, it's a virtual certainty the Trojans will be No. 1.
USC will bring a 22-game winning streak into next season --
longest in the country.