Following his heart: the quarterback hits on a wide range of topics, from his decision to return to USC to his goals after this season.(Interview: Matt Leinart)(Interview)

Publication: Football Digest

Publication Date: 01-OCT-05

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COPYRIGHT 2005 Century Publishing

TALK ABOUT HAVING A TARGET on your back. Apart from being the reigning Heisman Trophy winner and a two-time national champion at USC, quarterback Matt Leinart has college fans' eyes on him for another small matter. He temporarily passed up the opportunity of taking the NFL's millions and decided to return for his senior year with the Trojans. Naysayers say he couldn't have had it better: walking victorious off the field in last season's Orange Bowl, after his Trojans had decimated Oklahoma to finish undefeated and as the consensus No. 1 team in the country.

And with his Heisman award sitting pretty in USC's trophy room fight next to those of former school greats like O.J. Simpson and Anthony Davis, Leinart is in illustrious company. His team is in the process of creating its own Pac-10 legend.

Leinart is reminiscent of New England Patriots legend-in-the-making Tom Brady. They don't sweat the big or small stuff--they just quietly go about their business in a modest, unassuming way. Leinart admits he models himself after Brady, saying, "At the college level, I think I have a lot of similarities that he does in the NFL. He's obviously done a lot more. But the way he goes about winning, being a leader, showing poise--he doesn't make mistakes. He's not the most physically gifted guy, but one of the most respected players because he just wins."

The 6'5", 225 pound Leinart, with his matinee-idol looks, is a hard man to miss on campus. And he'll be an even harder man to miss on the college grid-iron this season as he seeks to finish his career as the winning quarterback in the BSC championship game--which, as fate would have it, takes place at the Rose Bowl in Southern California.

FOOTBALL DIGEST sat down with Leinart to talk about all things football, and beyond. Here's what he had to say:

FOOTBALL DIGEST: Do you feel you're creating your own legendary team here in Southern California?

MATT LEINART: We're all aware of the potential of the past two years and what the new season can bring. Outsiders looking in see a dynasty...

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