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ROSE BOWL MVP: REVERSE GOOD FORTUNE FOR LEINART.


Byline: Jill Painter Staff Writer

PASADENA - Quarterback Matt Leinart Matthew Stephen Leinart (born May 11, 1983 in Santa Ana, California) is an American football quarterback (QB) for the Arizona Cardinals of the National Football League. He played college football for the University of Southern California Trojans, leading them to an AP national  hooked up with Mike Williams Mike Williams may refer to:
  • Mike Williams (New Zealand), President of the New Zealand Labour Party
  • Mike Williams (freelance writer), UK software developer and freelance writer critical of 9/11 conspiracism.
 for another jaw-dropping touchdown Thursday, and the dynamic duo
''For the superheroes, see Batman and Robin.


Dynamic Duo (다이나믹 듀오) is a Korean hip hop duo, made up of members Choiza and Gaeko (former members of the trio, CBMass).
 did its usual chest bump in the end zone.

Only this time, there was nothing customary about it. The quarterback was on the receiving end of the pass, which came on a reverse. It was about as unusual as Leinart's rise from USC's backup quarterback to the Rose Bowl's most valuable player.

Leinart was lost on the depth chart behind Heisman Trophy Heisman Trophy

Annual award given to the outstanding college gridiron football player in the U.S. The trophy was instituted in 1935 by New York City's Downtown Athletic Club and was officially named the following year for the club's first athletic director, the player-coach
 winner Carson Palmer Carson Palmer (born December 27, 1979 in Fresno, California), is an American football quarterback for the Cincinnati Bengals of the National Football League. He attended the University of Southern California, where he won the Heisman Trophy Award in 2002 in his senior season.  last year and never even threw a pass.

But seemingly everything he did this year turned to gold. Even providing steady hands on a wide-open catch on a trick play A trick play, also known as a gadget play, is a play in American football that uses deception and unorthodox strategies to fool the opposing team. Trick plays are highly risky, usually with a large potential for a loss of yards or turnover, but the payoff is often high with  to put USC An abbreviation for U.S. Code.  ahead 21 points in the third quarter. Leinart was responsible for all four Trojans touchdowns - he threw for three and caught one - to tie a Rose Bowl record. He was still at his best despite the biggest stage as USC throttled Michigan 28-14.

Leinart should win something Palmer never did: a national title.

``It's unbelievable. I would never have expected this to happen,'' Leinart said. ``I'm so lucky to be part of this team.''

He's the part, however, that could be the preseason favorite to win the Heisman Trophy as a junior. Leinart had all-everything receiver Williams, Keary Colbert Patrick Keary Jerel Colbert (born May 21, 1982 in Oxnard, California, United States) is an American football wide receiver playing for the Carolina Panthers in the National Football League.  and three talented running backs at his disposal. But Leinart was the man behind the prolific offense. He led the Trojans to a 12-1 record as he threw for 3,556 yards, 38 touchdowns and had just nine interceptions.

It's almost comical that there was ever a quarterback controversy.

``Out of the gate, you knew he'd kind of play not to make mistakes and not do anything wrong,'' Williams said. ``As the season progressed, you could see his work ethic and determination. So, as a team, we kind of figured the sky was the limit.''

Not Bob Leinart. He knew his son would be effective. He just never pictured that he and his wife, Linda, and son Ryan would be holding Matt's MVP (Multimedia Video Processor) A high-speed DSP chip from Texas Instruments, introduced in 1994. Officially introduced as the TMS320C80, it combines RISC technology with the functionality of four DSPs on one chip.  trophy.

``It's surreal,'' Bob Leinart said. ``There aren't words to describe it. We knew he'd be good but this good?''

Photographers yelled at Matt Leinart as if he was on the red carpet. His smile was captured by dozens of cameras. But his biggest smile came in the huddle when he rattled off the trick play: ``Trips right, 18 toss reverse, quarterback throwback throwback

see atavism.
.''

Williams took the toss, ran two steps to his left and found Leinart all by himself. ``We've been working on that one all month and preparing for it,'' Leinart said. ``I knew I was going to catch it. Mike threw a great ball.''

Leinart has been working on a Heisman-caliber year all season. And one for next year, too. Perhaps he'll be responsible for a sixth Heisman Trophy in school history. But that's not on Leinart's mind.

``It's an honor to be recognized with the Heisman voting,'' Leinart said. ``I'm just happy with the way the team played. We just kept getting better.''

Jill Painter, (818) 713-3615

jill.painter(at)dailynews.com

CAPTION(S):

photo, box

Photo:

USC quarterback Matt Leinart celebrates after catching a touchdown pass off a reverse by receiver Mike Williams in the third quarter Thursday.

Evan Yee/Staff Photographer

Box:

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Article Details
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Title Annotation:Sports
Publication:Daily News (Los Angeles, CA)
Article Type:Statistical Data Included
Date:Jan 2, 2004
Words:552
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