Three on All-American Team

Despite the fact that regular-season games are still to be played, the national college football awards season has already begun. On Thursday, USC quarterback Matt Leinart, linebacker Matt Grootegoed and kick returner Reggie Bush were selected to the American Football Coaches Assn. All-American team.

Leinart, a fourth-year junior, has passed for 28 touchdowns with only five interceptions for the top-ranked Trojans, who play UCLA on Saturday at the Rose Bowl.

“It’s a great honor to be selected by the coaches,” said Leinart, who is regarded as a front-runner for the Heisman Trophy. “It shows they respect your game and the way you’re playing.”

Grootegoed, a fifth-year senior, is the Trojans’ second-leading tackler and has a team-best four interceptions. Grootegoed, a Butkus Award finalist, said achieving All-American status was a goal when he arrived at USC as a freshman.

“There’s been times when I was like, ‘It’s not ever going to happen,’ ” said Grootegoed, who was sidelined by illness and injuries during his career. “To come out as an All-American is pretty special.”

Bush, a sophomore running back, has scored two of his 13 touchdowns on punt returns. He is USC’s second-leading rusher, second-leading receiver and also has thrown a touchdown pass.

“Being an All-American at any position is great -- it doesn’t matter to me which one,” Bush said. “I’ve always wanted to be All-American and someday win a Heisman Trophy.”

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Offensive coordinator Norm Chow said he had not been contacted by Stanford and did not have a meeting scheduled with the school regarding its coaching opening.

Chow said he would be interested in talking to Stanford after the UCLA game.

“Hopefully, the phone will ring. We’ll see,” Chow said.

Representatives from Brigham Young, which fired Gary Crowton on Wednesday, have made inquiries regarding Chow, a USC source said. Chow reiterated that he was not interested in returning to the school where he spent 27 years as an assistant.

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Middle linebacker Lofa Tatupu practiced after being outfitted with additional padding to protect his injured sternum, and Coach Pete Carroll said he would start against UCLA.

“I have some kind of bullet-proof vest ... the equipment managers made it,” Tatupu said.

Tatupu would not predict how much he would play. He said redshirt junior Collin Ashton was ready to step in if needed.

“I think I messed up on two plays out here,” Tatupu said. “He messed up two plays all week.”