Leinart Wins USC's Sixth Heisman

By Gary Klein

Dec. 12, 2004 12 AM PT

Times Staff Writer

NEW YORK — For the second time in three years, the school that used to be known as “Tailback U” has produced a Heisman Trophy-winning quarterback.

Matt Leinart, who succeeded 2002 winner Carson Palmer at USC, was announced as the winner of college football’s most prestigious individual prize Saturday night in a nationally televised ceremony from the Hilton New York.

Leinart bowed his head, received a hug from fellow finalist and USC teammate Reggie Bush, accepted congratulations from a receiving line of previous Heisman winners, and then left the stage to hug his parents, Bob and Linda, and brother, Ryan, before receiving his trophy.

It was Ryan who encouraged his brother to play high school football by paying an activities fee.

Upon receiving the 70th Heisman award, Leinart immediately thanked his teammates and coaches, then said, “I remember when Carson was sitting up here and he said his heart was beating out of his chest. I think mine is about to do the same thing.”

Leinart, a 6-foot-5 left-hander, overcame vision and weight problems as a youngster and grew into one of the nation’s top high school players at Mater Dei High in Santa Ana.

He became USC’s starting quarterback last season as a sophomore and his first pass went for a touchdown. However, he also struggled early in the season before finding his rhythm and leading the Trojans to a 12-1 record, a Rose Bowl victory over Michigan and a share of the national championship. He was sixth in the Heisman voting, behind Oklahoma quarterback Jason White.

This season, Leinart passed for 2,990 yards and 28 touchdowns as the Trojans finished the regular season with a 12-0 record, their first perfect regular-season mark since 1972.

Top-ranked USC plays No. 2 Oklahoma in the Orange Bowl on Jan. 4 in the bowl championship series title game.

Leinart won the Heisman by outdistancing four other finalists in balloting by 876 media members and former Heisman winners. He received the most first- and second-place votes and finished with 1,325 points.

This was the first time that teammates from two different schools were among the Heisman finalists. Leinart and Bush, a sophomore running back, represented USC. White and freshman running back Adrian Peterson represented Oklahoma.

Peterson was second with 997 points, the highest finish by a freshman. White, the 2003 Heisman winner, was third with 957 and lost his bid to become the second two-time Heisman winner. Ohio State running back Archie Griffin won in 1974 and 1975.

Utah quarterback Alex Smith was fourth with 635 points and Bush was fifth with 597. Smith and Bush were teammates at Helix High in La Mesa. Leinart won five of the six regions, losing only the Southwest to White.

USC Coach Pete Carroll watched the ceremony on television in Los Angeles and said Leinart’s Heisman victory was reminiscent of Palmer’s.

“It felt very much the same as it did with Carson,” Carroll said. “It’s just a very emotional and joyful moment for our program and, of course, for Matt and his family.”

Leinart is the sixth USC player to win the Heisman. Only Notre Dame, with seven, has won more.

“It was probably one of the greatest feelings I’ve ever had,” Leinart said. “I’m just extremely honored and flattered to be part of such a prestigious group and be able to represent my school as well.”

The first four Trojan winners were all running backs -- Mike Garrett in 1965, O.J. Simpson in 1968, Charles White in 1979 and Marcus Allen in 1981 -- hence the “Tailback U” nickname.

But since Carroll took over as coach in 2001 and brought in passing guru Norm Chow as his offensive coordinator, the Trojans have been successful with a more wide-open attack.

Garrett, who is now USC’s athletic director, and White, who was honored this weekend on the 25th anniversary of his win, both attended the presentation. Garrett said he was surprised by the school’s sudden knack for producing Heisman-winning quarterbacks.

“You never believe you can get two back to back like this,” Garrett said.

Just as Palmer did in 2002, Leinart appeared to move to the forefront of Heisman discussion with his late-season performance against rival Notre Dame.

Leinart passed for 400 yards and five touchdowns in USC’s 41-10 victory over Notre Dame on Nov. 27 at the Coliseum.

“It was very, very close to what Carson did,” Carroll said. “It was a terrific team and opportunity to play on national television late in the season and really prove who you were, where everybody could see you.

“I think the momentum coming off the Notre Dame game was enough to obviously do it again.”

After the ceremony, Leinart again thanked his teammates, Carroll and Chow, who also tutored Palmer and 1990 Heisman winner Ty Detmer at Brigham Young.

Leinart also recalled the vision problems that forced him to wear thick lenses -- and required two surgeries.

“Kids can be tough when you’re growing up and you’re overweight or you wear glasses -- you really kind of develop a complex,” he said. “I started getting taller and started to fill out and really grew into my body.”

Leinart “redshirted” -- sat out -- his first season at USC in 2001 and hardly played in 2002 while Palmer starred. After passing for 38 touchdowns in 2003, Leinart was regarded as a Heisman Trophy front-runner and appeared on numerous magazine covers.

“It’s tough, you know, because a lot of people are going to think, ‘How can you have better season individually?’ ” Leinart said before the season opener against Virginia Tech. “I’m not going to listen to what anyone says or thinks. My main goal is to go out there and win again.

“I’m just going to go out and play the way I know how to play and, hopefully, that will be good enough.”

Judging by the vote, it was.