News and Notes from East Carolina, Conference USA and Beyond

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08.03.05: NIT battles NCAA in court instead of on court

08.02.05: C-USA to feel impact of imported WAC teams

08.01.05: Demand swamps supply of Gamecock tickets

07.31.05: After C-USA raid, restocked WAC plows ahead

07.30.05: BCS pushing for instant replay in all 28 bowls

07.29.05: Bower suspends two players, bids adieu to 4 more ... S.C. prep coaches blast Spurrier scholarship moves

07.28.05: Pirate Radio Network evolves to 27 stations ... Acquittal leads to reinstatement of UC assistant

07.27.05: At East Carolina, Saturday is all about the ladies ... ACC stockpiling future postseason destinations

07.26.05: BCS faces challenge from shadow poll of VIP's

07.25.05: Players still learning the ropes of redefined ACC ... Huggins assistant acquitted of DUI charge

07.24.05: CIAA trophy to be named after 'Big House' ... ECU hoops mirror reflects Herd, Wave, Knights

07.23.05: East Carolina alum Mike Sutton taken off respirator
... Jury slaps recruiting guru with $30 million verdict

LOS ANGELES — Matt Leinart had a million reasons to pass up his final year of eligibility at Southern Cal. Maybe 10 million reasons.

``I did see what Alex Smith signed for and that was some pretty cool numbers,'' said Leinart, the Trojans' Heisman Trophy-winning quarterback.

USC coach Pete Carroll, seated beside Leinart on the podium at Tuesday's Pac-10 media day, shook his head and joked, ``Yeah, pretty cool numbers.''

Smith, also a quarterback, passed up his senior season at Utah and signed a six-year, $49.5 million contract with San Francisco as the first player taken in this year's NFL draft.

``I have no complaints about how I'm living right now. I'm happy and I have no regrets about coming back,'' he said.

With a comic's sense of timing, he paused, then finally grinned and added, ``But it would be nice to have that kind of money.''

Leinart — who grew a beard over the summer and looks quite Lincoln-esque — and the two-time defending national champion Trojans open practice this week to get ready for what could be a run at an unprecedented third consecutive title.

``We can't focus on the end of the season or the rankings or the BCS bidding,'' he said. ``Things like that are somewhere down the road.

``To put any focus on that now is just a waste of time. Our guys know we can't do anything about that now.''

Leinart said he's fine after undergoing surgery for tendinitis in his throwing (left) elbow in January. He missed spring practice.

``I feel really good. I'm anxious to get back, feels like I've been out forever,'' he said.

After leading USC to its second consecutive national championship, winning the Heisman, then deciding to return for his senior season, Leinart has achieved celebrity status — not that he wants it.

He mentioned meeting, among others this summer, California Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger, and a string of sports stars. He was particularly impressed by meeting Maria Sharapova, saying, ``That was sweet.''

``That lifestyle's not really me, but I do have fun,'' Leinart said. ``I'm living like an NFL player right now, but in college life in L.A. I'm just a normal kid who has had opportunities to do a lot more things than other people would.

``It all hasn't really hit me. I don't think it will really hit me until I'm 95 or so.''

``That might be my new thing this year, a beard,'' Leinart joked. ``No, it's part lazy, part that I've never been able to grow a beard like this. Mostly laziness, though.''

Carroll said he wouldn't object to the quarterback sporting a beard, ``So long as it doesn't hang below his helmet.''

News Nuggets are compiled periodically based on material supplied by staff members; data published by ECU, Conference USA and its member schools; and reports from Associated Press and other sources. Copyright 2005 Bonesville.net and other publishers. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.