• E-mail
• Print
• Comment
• Font Size
• Digg
• del.icio.us
• Discuss article

USC meets Texas for national title

Posted on: Tuesday, 3 January 2006, 15:25 CST

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."

Source: REUTERS

More News in this Category