by John M. Curtis
(310) 204-8700

Copyright January 14, 2005
All Rights Reserved.

hocking sports gurus, University of Southern California Heisman Trophy–winning 21-year-old quarterback Matt Leinart opted to finish his degree and go for a third national championship. All the experts—including many of his teammates—couldn't imagine bypassing a multimillion-dollar National Football League contract for the glory of winning another title. Even his coach, Pete Carroll, seemed surprised by his quarterback's decision. With his Heisman Trophy and back-to-back national championships, it looked like Leinart had it all and would go for the money. “OK, so I'm smiling,” said Carroll, delighted that his star quarterback would return to make National Collegiate Athletic Association history. A week earlier, Carroll and his offensive coordinator Norm Chow also turned down NFL riches from the struggling San Francisco Forty-Niners.

      In an age of instant celebrity, quick cash and “me-first,” Leinart raised himself above the herd choosing to stay in school. He showed that values and principles still count in the mega-glitz, dollar-obsessed world of professional sports. “I realized the opportunity right now to support my family by going to the NFL early, but to me I think college football and this whole atmosphere here and being with my fans and my teammates . . . is ultimately more satisfying and will make me happier than any amount of money could make someone happy,” said Leinart, turning the money-crazed sports world on its head. While Leinart expressed no criticism of his teammates or others opting for the draft, it was clear that his priorities involved securing USC's place in NCAA history. All the experts couldn't imagine Leinart would risk a bad season or a career-ending injury.

      Professional sports agents have a vested interest in persuading young athletes nail down multimillion dollar contracts. "The athlete is torn between two courses of action and both seem compelling,” said Leigh Steinberg, one of the nation's most successful sports agents. Yet most of Steinberg's clients aren't torn between amateur sports or multimillion-dollar contracts. Most, not all, jump at the cash. That wasn't true of former University of Tennessee star and 2004 NFL offensive player of the year Peyton Manning, who also returned for his senior year in 1997. Unlike Leinart, Manning was Heisman runner up to University of Michigan defensive back Charles Woodson. Manning signed a $48-million contract in 1998, including a $11.6-million signing bonus. Leinart's first contract might have exceeded Michael's Vick's record-setting $62-million rookie contract with the Atlanta Falcons.

      Risking serious injury or an under-performing season wasn't enough to get Leinart to jump to the NFL. After consulting coaches, friends, agents, and USC alumnus and fellow Heisman winner Cincinatti Bengal quarterback Carson Palmer, Leinart chose to postpone the NFL. Even his parents didn't know his decision until Friday, though Leinarat hinted he would return for his senior season. No one took him seriously because when confronted with big bucks all bets are off. “The one thing I realized is that the NFL is a business. In college, I'm playing for passion and the love of the game . . . This is fun. There's nothing like this right here. There's nothing like being at USC, winning national championships and being part of this whole program,” Leinart told a packed news conference, giving his reasons for passing on the NFL. Jaded by the exigencies of earning a living, most people can't recall youthful enthusiasm—a rare commodity in today's world.

      Lured by temptations, it's easy to forget what really counts in life. Leinart's prophetic words resemble more that of motivational speaker Tony Robbins or tele-evangelist Billy Graham than Federal Reserve chairman Alan Greenspan, whose word are often symbolic but rooted in harsh economic reality. Leinart realized he has plenty of time to compromise and play it safe. “All of a sudden you can become a multimillionaire—that's hard to just turn away from and not many guys would do that,” said Carroll, speaking from experience, turning aside a lucrative overture from the San Francisco Forty-Niners. Leinart wants to be a part of USC's unprecedented run for a third consecutive national championship. With most of Carroll's team returning, Leinart has a good shot of winning it all again. While it's still a crapshoot, USC will be the odds on favorite for another title.

      How refreshing to learn that there's still a premium for passion over easy money. Deciding to complete his degree and play his senior year should inspire other athletes to keep their priorities straight. “If it were me, I don't know if I could have turned it down,” said USC junior tight end Dominique Byrd. “He's been saying he's going to stay all along. He's a man of his word today,” implying that Leinart always leaned toward staying. Former UCLA great and Dallas Cowboys quarterback Troy Aikman thought Leinart made the right decision staying at USC. Barring a career-ending injury, there's plenty of time to join the commercial merry-go-round in the NFL. “This is what I want to do. I'm having fun here,” It's all part of growing up, all part of being a kid and I wasn't ready to pass that up,” reminding cynics that there's nothing wrong with still playing Peter Pan.

About the Author

John M. Curtis writes politically neutral commentary analyzing spin in national and global news. He's editor of OnlineColumnist.com and author of Dodging The Bullet and Operation Charisma

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