Former USC QB Matt Leinart inducted into Rose Bowl Hall of Fame

  • Former USC QB Matt Leinart, right, along with Cornelius Green (Ohio State), center, and Jacque Robinson (Washington) share a laugh after being inducted into the Rose Bowl Hall of Fame along with Eddie Casey (Harvard) during the Hall of Fame luncheon outside the Rose Bowl on Tuesday, December 31, 2019 in Pasadena, California. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/SCNG)

  • Former USC QB Matt Leinart, left, along with Jacque Robinson (Washington) holding their hall of fame trophies after being inducted into the Rose Bowl Hall of Fame along with Eddie Casey (Harvard) and Cornelius Green (Ohio State) during the Hall of Fame luncheon outside the Rose Bowl on Tuesday, December 31, 2019 in Pasadena, California. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/SCNG)

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  • Harvard head football coach Tim Murphy excepted the hall of fame trophy for Eddie Casey (Harvard) along with USC QB Matt Leinart being inducted into the Rose Bowl Hall of Fame along with Cornelius Green (Ohio State) and Jaque Robinson (Washington) during the Hall of Fame luncheon outside the Rose Bowl on Tuesday, December 31, 2019 in Pasadena, California. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/SCNG)

  • Jaque Robinson (Washington) , left, Cornelius Green (Ohio State), Matt Leniart (USC), Harvard head football coach Tim Murphy (accepting on behalf of Eddie Casey) and Laura Farber, President and Chairman of the Tournament of Roses during the Hall of Fame Luncheon outside the Rose Bowl on Tuesday, December 31, 2019 in Pasadena, California. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/SCNG)

  • Master of Ceremonies John Anderson speaks as former USC QB Matt Leinart along with Cornelius Green (Ohio State) Eddie Casey (Harvard) and Jacque Robinson (Washington) is being inducted into the Rose Bowl Hall of Fame during the Hall of Fame luncheon outside the Rose Bowl on Tuesday, December 31, 2019 in Pasadena, California. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/SCNG)

  • Former USC QB Matt Leinart wearing his hall of fame jacket as he is being inducted into the Rose Bowl Hall of Fame along with Cornelius Green (Ohio State) Eddie Casey (Harvard) and Jacque Robinson (Washington) during the Hall of Fame luncheon outside the Rose Bowl on Tuesday, December 31, 2019 in Pasadena, California. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/SCNG)

  • Cornelius Green (Ohio State) holds his hall of fame trophy after being inducted along with Matt Leniart (USC), Eddie Casey (Harvard) and Jacque Robinson (Washington) during the Hall of Fame luncheon outside the Rose Bowl on Tuesday, December 31, 2019 in Pasadena, California. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/SCNG)

  • Cornelius Green (Ohio State), right, hugs Jacque Robinson (Washington) after being inducted along with Matt Leniart (USC), Eddie Casey (Harvard) during the Hall of Fame luncheon outside the Rose Bowl on Tuesday, December 31, 2019 in Pasadena, California. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/SCNG)

  • Cornelius Green (Ohio State) smiles after being inducted along with Matt Leniart (USC), Eddie Casey (Harvard) and Jacque Robinson (Washington) during the Hall of Fame luncheon outside the Rose Bowl on Tuesday, December 31, 2019 in Pasadena, California. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/SCNG)

  • Laura Farber, President and Chairmen of the Tournament of Roses speaks during the Hall of Fame luncheon with honorees Cornelius Green (Ohio State), Jaque Robinson (Washington), Matt Leniart (USC) and Eddie Casey (Harvard) during the Hall of Fame luncheon outside the Rose Bowl on Tuesday, December 31, 2019 in Pasadena, California. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/SCNG)

  • Former USC QB Matt Leinart wearing his hall of fame jacket as he is being inducted into the Rose Bowl Hall of Fame along with Cornelius Green (Ohio State) Eddie Casey (Harvard) and Jacque Robinson (Washington) during the Hall of Fame luncheon outside the Rose Bowl on Tuesday, December 31, 2019 in Pasadena, California. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/SCNG)

  • Cornelius Green (Ohio State), right, with Laura Farber, President and Chairmen of the Tournament of Roses and Jaque Robinson (Washington) after being inducted along with Matt Leniart (USC) and Eddie Casey (Harvard) during the Hall of Fame luncheon outside the Rose Bowl on Tuesday, December 31, 2019 in Pasadena, California. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/SCNG)

  • Former USC QB Matt Leinart wearing his hall of fame jacket being inducted into the Rose Bowl Hall of Fame along with Cornelius Green (Ohio State) Eddie Casey (Harvard) and Jacque Robinson (Washington) during the Hall of Fame luncheon outside the Rose Bowl on Tuesday, December 31, 2019 in Pasadena, California. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/SCNG)

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PASADENA — Matt Leinart has memories of both kinds at the Rose Bowl. There was 2004, a 28-14 win over Michigan that resulted in USC earning a split national championship. Then in 2006, Leinart led the Trojans in a heartbreaking classic, losing to Vince Young and Texas, 41-38.

Both games Leinart took part in in the Arroyo Seco feature heavily in college football history. And on Tuesday that history was honored when Leinart was inducted into the Rose Bowl Hall of Fame.

Leinart was honored as part of a four-person class in a ceremony hosted by ESPN’s John Anderson outside the famed stadium. Alongside Leinart, Harvard’s Eddie Casey, Ohio State’s Cornelius Greene and Washington’s Jacque Robinson were inducted.

Greene, the first black quarterback in OSU history, played in four Rose Bowls. Robinson was the 1982 MVP after rushing for two touchdowns, while Casey played in the 1920 edition of the game.

But only Leinart’s story was that of the kid who grew up in Southern California dreaming of playing in the Rose Bowl. At USC, he said, the goal was always to play in the game.

“Anything else that happened, happened, but that’s what you played for,” Leinart said before the ceremony. “The playoff system, it’s different now with rotating games and stuff. When you think of the Rose Bowl, you do think of tradition, the history, the backdrop, the stadium. There’s nothing like it.”

Leinart was accompanied by his wife, actress Josie Loren. A contingent from his high school, Mater Dei, was in attendance. The Monarchs’ long-time coach, Bruce Rollinson, offered a hearty congratulations to Leinart, who introduced his son, Cole, to Rollinson as “your future quarterback in a couple of years.”

And then there were the memories of the actual game. Leinart, who had three touchdown passes against Michigan, smiled as he brought up his receiving touchdown in that game, the one catch of his four-year college career.

And as much as he enjoyed that win, he still calls the 2006 national championship game against Texas the greatest game in history. He relishes in the athletes on the field with him, from Young to Reggie Bush to Jamaal Charles to LenDale White.

“Just the magnitude of that game is something that I’ll always remember,” Leinart said. “Even though we fell short, to be a part of it, I can’t escape it. It’s always with me.”

And now with a plaque in the Court of Champions, Leinart’s name and legacy will always be with the Rose Bowl.



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