It’s All Fun in Games for Leinart

Matt Leinart had his reasons for returning to college football.

Last winter, the Heisman Trophy-winning quarterback announced that he was skipping the NFL draft -- and all those NFL dollars -- for the fun of playing his senior season.

And maybe the chance to win a second Heisman. And maybe a shot at leading USC to an unprecedented third consecutive national championship.

On a hot, humid afternoon at Aloha Stadium, the senior took a first step toward all of those goals in a 63-17 season-opening victory over Hawaii.

In slightly less than three quarters, Leinart completed 18 of 24 passes for 332 yards and three touchdowns. He guided the Trojans to the type of victory expected of a top-ranked team and hit on enough big plays to keep his name squarely among the early Heisman favorites.

What about the fun quotient?

“We’re just a bunch of kids going out there and playing football,” he said. “There’s nothing better than that.”

Not that everything went perfectly on Saturday.

The Trojans looked sleepy at times against an overmatched opponent. Offensive linemen false-started. Leinart had a pass intercepted in the end zone.

“I had to get a rhythm,” he said.

There also was the Hawaii defense to figure out.

The Warriors, who had the second-worst defense in the nation last year, hired former NFL coach Jerry Glanville to be their defensive coordinator. True to his reputation, Glanville tried a variety of tricks against USC, blitzing and bringing his safeties close to the line, pinching off the short passing game.

Leinart had to adjust.

Early in the second quarter, he threw over the top of the secondary, connecting with Dwayne Jarrett for a 22-yard touchdown.

In the third quarter, he sensed a blitz coming and called an audible that resulted in a 67-yard scoring pass to Steve Smith.

“Matt probably changed 20 plays today,” offensive coordinator Lane Kiffin said. “I’ll bet there were over 200 yards on changed plays.”

Glanville noticed.

“He did a great job,” the Hawaii assistant said. “He’s a smart player.”

Leinart’s final highlight play came late in the third quarter when he pump-faked left and connected with Smith down the middle for a 54-yard gain to the Hawaii eight-yard line.

It was one of several throws that suggested he is feeling as strong as ever.

Last fall, Leinart battled tendinitis in his throwing elbow, a condition that eventually led to off-season surgery. That, in turn, led to speculation he had put off the NFL because he wasn’t healthy enough.

Now his receivers insist there is no need to worry about that arm.

“He’s definitely got more zip on the ball,” Smith said. “He’s throwing more deep balls.”

So Leinart could smile after the Hawaii game even though he rated his performance as only “OK.”

When asked if he ever regretted his decision to stay at USC, he shook his head.

“I don’t think twice about it,” he said.

Especially not when he is in Hawaii, completing one long pass after another, getting his team a victory.

“It’s fun being in games, it’s fun being on the sidelines,” he said. “It’s fun to get excited.”