Staying a Trojan Man

Hats off to Matt Leinart. For those of you who missed it, USC quarterback and Heisman Trophy winner Matt Leinart announced on Friday that he will return for his senior season.

There is little doubt that he would have been a top pick, if not number one overall, in the 2005 NFL draft. The financial rewards for coming out early would have been immense. A multi-million dollar contract with a large signing bonus awaits a highly skilled quarterback drafted by a franchise that is desperate to improve. The fact that is lost on the nay sayers is that Leinart is not turning down the big money so much as he is deferring it. All that is promised for the 2005 draft will still be there in 2006.

Unless, the nay sayers continue, he sustains a serious injury as a fifth year senior. Willis McGahee, a running back for the University of Miami, was a sure fire top five pick before sustaining a knee injury during the 2002 Fiesta Bowl against Ohio State. Because of that injury, his draft position dropped to 23rd overall where the Buffalo Bills picked him. While the chance of injury is a valid consideration, it is also mostly beyond one’s control once the decision to step on the field is made. Luckily for Leinart, the likelihood of injury is much lower playing at USC than it would be in the NFL. He is not a scrambler; he is a passing quarterback who will be defended an offensive line that yielded an average of fewer than two sacks per game during the 2004 season and is returning four of five starters for 2005. As a professional, Leinart would most likely be playing for a struggling franchise such as San Francisco, Miami or Cleveland. These are teams whose woes have been caused at least in part due to an inability to protect the quarterback. Getting creamed by a 350 pound defensive lineman is not part of the path to career longevity for a quarterback who already wears a brace on his right knee. Because NFL contracts are not guaranteed, a career ending injury next season, whether in college or the pros, would have the same financial impact with the exception of any signing bonus. While any such bonus would most likely be in the seven-figure range, Leinart stated that he is quite content with his $950.00 per month in scholarship money and food from the training table.

The other side of the argument is that the lump-sum bonus is worth the risk of injury since Leinart has nothing left to prove as a collegian. Back-to-back national championships and a Heisman Trophy are more than most would dare to even dream of, never mind having actually accomplished such feats. There is more to accomplish, however, and judging by his comments Leinart wants the challenge.

Matt Leinart had a 2004 season that was roughly comparable to 2003. He moved up to fourth on the USC all-time passing list in yardage and second in touchdown passes. At that pace he stands to pass Carson Palmer to move into first for touchdowns (he needs only one to tie) and Rodney Peete and Rob Johnson to move into a solid second for yardage. He also stands to break Palmers Pac-10 record for most games with 200 yards or more passing (31). With each of his starting receivers returning for 2005, there is little reason to believe that his passing statistics will experience a precipitous drop. Those are all enviable accomplishments, but there is a larger goal in mind.

Once the Orange Bowl and a second national title seemed well in hand, the national media began talking about an unprecedented third consecutive title. At Friday’s press conference, Leinart explained his decision in part by saying, “There is something special going on right now that I didn’t want to give up.” A third title would be very special and not at all out of the realm of possibility. As of Friday, the Trojans are returning 15 of 22 starters (they are losing six seniors and junior linebacker Lofa Tatupu who has declared his intention to enter the draft). More importantly, a third title is a team goal. Leinart could have pursued millions of dollars and few would have questioned it given what he has already accomplished, but he opted to remain part of something bigger than himself. Isn’t that refreshing to see in modern sports? I think so. Here’s to Matt Leinart and to his good health.