USC meets Texas for national title

By Steve Keating

LOS ANGELES (Reuters) – The hottest ticket in Hollywood is
not for the latest movie premiere, or for a court-side seat to
watch Kobe Bryant and the Los Angeles Lakers or dinner with
Californian Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger.

The ticket everyone wanted to find under his or her tree
this Christmas is for Wednesday’s Rose Bowl, being billed by
the media as perhaps the greatest college football game of all
time.

For once, the battle for the national championship between
the top-ranked University of Southern California Trojans and
the second-ranked Texas Longhorns shows every sign of living up
to expectation.

It brings together two of the most prolific offences ever
seen in college or professional gridiron.

The game also features the last two Heisman Trophy winners,
USC running back Reggie Bush and quarterback Matt Leinart, and
the player who could walk away with the honor next season,
Texas QB Vince Young.

History beckons for the Trojans, the prospect of an
unprecedented third consecutive national title driving
black-market ticket prices up to as much as $6,000.

At the helm for all three seasons has been Leinart, who
turned his back on the NFL and the chance of earning millions
of dollars.

“I’ve been here for five years,” Leinart told reporters.

LAST GAME

“I feel like this has been the best time of my life, these
last four or five years, and Wednesday is kind of the
culmination, so I just want to go out with a bang and play like
I know how to play.

“Obviously the last game of my career in college, it’s
going to be emotional, but I think I’m mature enough and
understand how I’m going to approach this game.”

While Leinart was voted the best player in college football
last season, this year he was not even the best player on his
own team.

That honor went to Bush, a powerful running back with flair
and blinding acceleration who rushed for 1,658 yards and 15
touchdowns, averaging a staggering 8.87 yards per carry.

He seemed to be at his best in games where his team needed
him most.

“They (Leinart and Bush) are extraordinary, these are
extraordinary young men,” said USC coach Pete Carroll.

“These are guys that are high achievers, have great will,
are competitors, really nice guys, really thoughtful,
considerate people.

“We’re really, really proud of those guys and I think
college football should be proud of those guys.”