By Gary Klein
LA Times Staff Writer
December 21, 2005
USC quarterback Matt Leinart violated an NCAA rule by appearing in a promotional tag for a national television network, but his eligibility was reinstated Tuesday, an NCAA spokesman said.
USC quietly declared the 2004 Heisman Trophy winner ineligible earlier this month after ESPN aired the brief promotional segment, which was recorded after the Trojans' victory over UCLA. USC reported the violation and petitioned the NCAA to reinstate Leinart.
"Whenever we are aware that media outlets ask student-athletes to do these kinds of tags we immediately cut them off," said Tim Tessalone, USC's sports information director. "Unfortunately, this one slipped by."
Leinart's actions were "unintentional and inadvertent," said the NCAA's Kent Barrett.
"This was the type of thing where it was obvious the student-athlete was not attempting to become an endorser of a network," Barrett said.
Leinart, who finished third in this year's Heisman balloting, has practiced three times in preparation for the Jan. 4 Rose Bowl against Texas. Barrett said athletes can practice and take part in team and school activities while petitions are being considered by the NCAA's reinstatement staff.
Leinart's situation came to light when USC's sports information staff turned down post-practice interview requests for the senior, who is only made available to the media on Tuesdays. Tessalone said Leinart had been barred by USC from participating in media activities until after Christmas, a move some would argue is more reward than punishment for a player who has been burdened by media demands.
On Tuesday, Leinart was announced as the Sporting News' Sportsman of the Year. He was unable to participate in a radio interview to accept the award because of the school-imposed sanctions, Tessalone said.
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Coach Pete Carroll conducted a seminar after practice to educate his players about the pros and cons of leaving college early for the NFL, but at least one draft-eligible player said he needed no convincing.
Defensive end Lawrence Jackson, a third-year sophomore, said before the seminar that he would play for the Trojans next season.
"There's nothing for me out there right now," said Jackson, who has 10 sacks. "Going to the NFL is about playing the game that you love and the opportunity to get money. If I can get better in college and stay another year to get more money that's what I'm going to do."
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Freshman receiver Patrick Turner (hamstring) and sophomore linebacker Keith Rivers (hamstring) participated in the full-pad workout and will play in the Rose Bowl, Carroll said….
Final grades will be posted this week and Carroll said no players were in danger of being declared academically ineligible for the bowl game….
Memorial services for former USC receiver Mike Bastianelli will be held tonight at 7 at Trinity Baptist Church in Santa Monica. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the Micaela Bastianelli Trust Fund, P.O. Box 3366, Palm Desert, CA 92261. Bastianelli and former USC defensive lineman Darrell Russell were killed in a car accident last week. Services for Russell were scheduled to be held Tuesday in San Diego.
