Leinart Is Loving Life and Limo

This is the city that never sleeps.

Matt Leinart can attest to that.

After partying through the night to celebrate winning the 70th Heisman Trophy, USC’s bleary-eyed quarterback traversed Manhattan in a stretch limousine Sunday for a round of television appearances.

“You kind of have to sit back and just kind of stop what you’re doing and say, ‘This is reality. I’m in New York City, I just won the Heisman Trophy and I’m getting carted around in limos,’ ” he said. “It’s a trip.”

Leinart, 21, became USC’s sixth Heisman winner by outdistancing Oklahoma running back Adrian Peterson, Sooner quarterback Jason White -- the 2003 Heisman winner -- Utah quarterback Alex Smith and USC running back Reggie Bush in voting by media members and former Heisman winners.

Leinart said he was still attempting to grasp what it meant to win college football’s most prestigious individual award.

“It hasn’t sunk in,” he said. “I don’t know if it ever will.”

Leinart joined a Trojan fraternity that includes 1965 Heisman winner Mike Garrett, O.J. Simpson (1968), Charles White (1979), Marcus Allen (1981) and Carson Palmer (2002).

He will be formally presented with the most famous statuette in sports at a black-tie dinner tonight at the Hilton New York. Trojan Coach Pete Carroll and offensive coordinator Norm Chow are among those scheduled to arrive from Los Angeles this afternoon to join Garrett -- USC’s athletic director -- and others who will be among the crowd saluting Leinart.

Charles White also will be honored on the 25th anniversary of his 1979 award.

“The whole season was surreal,” said Leinart, who led USC to a 12-0 regular-season record. “To put a little bit of icing on the cake, to get a trophy like this, is just a complete honor.”

Leinart said he was enjoying the moment, but was also looking forward to returning to Los Angeles and preparing for USC’s first appearance in the bowl championship series title game. The top-ranked Trojans play No. 2 Oklahoma on Jan. 4 in the Orange Bowl.

Leinart does not expect teammates to treat him differently.

“I’m still going to be the same person and act the same,” he said. “All my friends are still going to treat me the same -- you know, as a goofball. They still could care less.”

Leinart, however, received dozens of phone calls from friends wishing him good luck before Saturday night’s Heisman announcement. When he checked a few hours afterward, he had more than 75 congratulatory messages.

Bush, Peterson, Smith and USC quarterbacks Brandon Hance and Billy Hart were among the entourage that helped Leinart celebrate his victory at Marquee, one of New York’s trendiest clubs.

Leinart went through a tuxedo fitting Sunday morning and then headed to a studio for a live appearance on CBS’ “The NFL Today” show, during which he fielded questions from Greg Gumbel, Dan Marino, Shannon Sharpe and Boomer Esiason.

“You’re the best left-handed quarterback on the set,” Sharpe said.

“Don’t listen, Matt,” said Esiason, a former NFL quarterback and a left-hander. “Don’t listen.”

Afterward, Leinart was driven to another studio for a taped segment on CSTV.

Once again, Leinart displayed poise in front of the camera.

“I don’t know how he does that,” his father Bob said. “I don’t know where that comes from.”

Leinart does.

“Repetitions -- kind of like football,” he said. “Being in the situation I’m in, you have to be good at it.”

Leinart said he was still planning to return to USC next season to complete his final season of eligibility.

But those plans could change if he is projected as a high first-round draft choice.

Like the jersey numbers of all Trojan Heisman winners, Leinart’s No. 11 will be retired and displayed in USC’s Heritage Hall when he finishes his career.

“That part is definitely a trip,” he said. “No one is ever going to wear No. 11 ever again at USC. That’s weird.”