THIS QB DUEL WILL BE A PASSING FANCY.Byline: KEVIN MODESTI Bob Waterfield Robert Bob Waterfield (July 26, 1920 – March 25, 1983) was an American football player. Waterfield attended Van Nuys High School, in Van Nuys, California and went on to play college football for UCLA. starred for UCLA UCLA University of California at Los Angeles UCLA University Center for Learning Assistance (Illinois State University) UCLA University of Carrollton, TX and Lower Addison, TX in a couple of games against USC An abbreviation for U.S. Code. , before he moved on to smaller things like the Rams and Jane Russell Jane Russell (born June 21, 1921) is an American actress and sex symbol. Early life Born Ernestine Jane Geraldine Russell in Bemidji, Minnesota, she was the only daughter of Roy William Russell (January 5, 1890 – July 18, 1937) and Geraldine Jacobi (January . Gary Beban Gary Joseph Beban (born August 5, 1946 in Redwood City, California) is a former American football player. Son of an Italian-born mother and a first generation Croatian-American father, Beban won the 1967 Heisman Trophy, the most prestigious award in college football, and the capped a 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 season for UCLA in one edition of the rivalry, although USC won the game behind the running of O.J. Simpson. Grenny Lansdell, Jim Sears Jimmy Sears (born March 20, 1931 in Los Angeles) is a former american football halfback. Pro Career Sears played for the National Football League Chicago Cardinals in 1954 and between 1957 and 1958, and for the American Football League's Los Angeles Chargers in 1960 and , Paul McDonald Paul McDonald (born February 23, 1958 in Montebello, California) is a retired American football quarterback in the NFL. He was the Cleveland Browns starting quarterback in 1984. College Career McDonald was a 1979 All-American at the University of Southern California. , Rodney Peete Rodney Peete (born March 16, 1966 in Mesa, Arizona) is a former American football quarterback from the University of Southern California who played in the National Football League for 16 years. and 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. (USC) and John Sciarra John Michael Sciarra (born March 2, 1954 in Los Angeles, California), is a former professional American football safety in the NFL position for the Philadelphia Eagles from 1979-1987. He also played quarterback for the British Columbia Lions of the Canadian Football League. , Jeff Dankworth, Troy Aikman and Cade McNown (UCLA) flashed All-America credentials at one time or another in the series. Peete and Aikman went head-to-head twice, Peete winning both times, the second after beating back L.A. sports' most famous case of the measles. And Todd Marinovich and Tommy Maddox combined to pass for 624 yards in USC's back-and-forth victory of 1990. So there have been some fine quarterbacks doing memorable things, and some big matchups to fire the imagination, in the three-quarters of a century that this city's two major universities have been playing football. But there may never have been a matchup of quarterbacks, really sharp passers at the top of their college careers, like we'll see Saturday afternoon at the Coliseum when Matt Leinart and the Trojans face Drew Olson and the Bruins. ``You look at what these two guys have done this year,'' Peete said Monday, ``and it certainly has to be up there at the top.'' How sweet is this? Leinart, a senior, won the Heisman last season and is putting up better statistics this season. Olson, a senior, is putting up better overall numbers than Leinart - and better than anybody else in the country. The record books say the Trojans and Bruins have never had quarterbacks this prolific at the same time. Leinart and Olson have combined to pass for 6,126 yards already this season, the first time the two schools' quarterbacks have gone over 6,000 in one year. ``Two experienced quarterbacks having great years. That'd be a fun one to watch,'' said Olson, who expects it will be just as fun to play. What makes this especially fun is that it's so unanticipated. No comparisons to Leinart were in the works when Olson came back from knee surgery to try to win the Bruins' starting job over the summer. A year ago at the Rose Bowl, when USC won 29-24, Leinart completed his first 10 passes and finished 24 for 34 for 242 yards, throwing one interception and failing to throw a touchdown pass for the first time in 25 games as a college starter. It was a good enough cap to a Heisman campaign. Olson went 20 for 34 for 278 yards, one late touchdown and two interceptions. It was not enough to save a disappointing season. ``Olson was just brutal last year - he had a rough game,'' Dan Fouts said on the phone Monday as he watched a tape of the 2004 USC-UCLA game to prepare to call Saturday's game with Keith Jackson for ABC ABC in full American Broadcasting Co. Major U.S. television network. It began when the expanding national radio network NBC split into the separate Red and Blue networks in 1928. . ``His improvement has been remarkable. ``Now he has no hesitation. He knows where he wants to go with the ball. He's not dropping back and searching for a receiver. The interceptions are down because of that. ``I think Leinart's much improved over last year too. I think the (elbow) problems last year (hurt him). He can put more zip on the ball this year. The numbers back it up.'' Asked to say which quarterback is better, it's hard for Fouts to argue with the Heisman and national titles. ``But that doesn't mean Olson is a slouch slouch v. slouched, slouch·ing, slouch·es v.intr. 1. To sit, stand, or walk with an awkward, drooping, excessively relaxed posture. 2. To droop or hang carelessly, as a hat. v. ,'' Fouts said. ``He's the most improved of the two - of anybody in college football. This is his last chance, too. He may have a little more motivation.'' Leinart is fifth in the nation in the ``passing efficiency'' superstat this season. Olson is first in the nation, thanks mainly to his 30-3 touchdowns-to-interceptions ratio. Then again, Leinart has that 36-1 wins-to-losses ratio going for him. ``Matt has all the credentials,'' Peete said after co-hosting ``The Best Damn Sports Show Period'' on Monday. ``But I think Olson is just as talented. He has all the tools.'' There's no doubt top-ranked USC (11-0) is a better team than 11th-ranked UCLA (9-1). There's no doubt Reggie Bush is a better running back than Maurice Drew. But there's still an argument over who's the better quarterback in town. It'll be settled Saturday. Matt Leinart and Drew Olson don't have to worry about topping Bob Waterfield, etc. They have to worry about topping each other, which may be harder. CAPTION(S): 2 photos, box Photo: (1 -- color) USC quarterback Matt Leinart has a 36-1 record as the Trojans' starter, including a 2-0 mark against UCLA. Kirby Lee/Special to the Daily News (2) USC's Matt Leinart has been considered the top college QB in L.A., but UCLA's Drew Olson may challenge him on Saturday. Hans Gutknecht/Staff Photographer Box: LEINART VS. OLSON |
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