Rose Bowl Notes: USC's cupboard not exactly left empty

PASADENA, Calif. — For USC, Wednesday night's Rose Bowl game represented the end of an era.

Not necessarily the end of a brilliant run.

Even without 2004 Heisman Trophy winner Matt Leinart at quarterback and 2005 Heisman winner Reggie Bush at tailback, the Trojans could wind up in another title game next season.

Leinart, a senior, is gone. And, likely, so is Bush, a junior who could become the No. 1 pick of the Houston Texans in the NFL draft.

But USC coach Pete Carroll's recruiting successes keep moving up the depth chart. There should be few crises when it comes to filling out a lineup next fall.

At the moment, the two biggest questions for 2006 are:

• Will tailback LenDale White, a junior who has played "thunder" to Bush's "lightning" the past three seasons, return?

He has the talent to make a run at the 2006 Heisman, particularly running behind an offensive line that was arguably college football's best in 2005 and can return everybody except for 365-pound senior guard Taitusi Lutui.

White says he's undecided about entering the NFL draft. He says being the featured back or trying for USC's fourth Heisman in five years is not a big draw.

"I wouldn't mind if Reggie and I both came back," White said, though not even the most optimistic Trojans fan expects that.

If White and Bush go pro, the competition at tailback would be wide open.

• Who will be the quarterback, and how much of a drop-off will there be from Leinart's consistent brilliance?

The position won't necessarily be ceded to backup John David Booty. Competition is expected to be spirited in spring practices between Booty and Mark Sanchez.

Booty or Sanchez should have a bounty of talented pass-catchers, led by All-American wide receiver Dwayne Jarrett.

USC fans eagerly anticipate a spectacular linebacker unit featuring Oscar Lua, Keith Rivers, Brian Cushing and Rey Maualuga. Returners Lawrence Jackson and Sedrick Ellis will anchor the defensive line.

Pricey

Local television stations reported single tickets commanding up to $3,500 apiece. Pasadena police declared the entire 61-acre arroyo off-limits to ticket sales, though numerous individuals holding "I need tickets" signs waved at cars Wednesday as they descended into the Rose Bowl complex.

Decision time

Who will stay, and who will go?

Juniors in Wednesday's Rose Bowl exuding serious star potential — Bush and White, and Vince Young of Texas — have only until Jan. 15 to declare themselves eligible for the NFL draft.

An article in Wednesday's Los Angeles Times article pointed out that since 1996, Texas has lost only draft-eligible player (defensive lineman Tony Brackens) while USC has lost five players during that time, including Lofa Tatupu, a 2005 second-round pick of the Seahawks.

Tatupu, who leads Seattle with a team-best 104 tackles, told the paper that even though he has enjoyed success with the Seahawks, he would have stayed at USC had it not been for a financial burden. "There's no doubt another year would have helped," he said.

Notes

• USC starting senior fullback David Kirtman, a two-time All-KingCo 3A performer at Mercer Island, concluded his USC career with three catches for 61 yards.

Kirtman rushed for a touchdown and caught another during USC's 2005 season. He ran for 1,311 yards and 18 touchdowns in his senior year (2000) at Mercer Island.

• Seven-time Tour de France winner, Austin resident and die-hard Texas fan Lance Armstrong walked into the Rose Bowl an hour before kickoff, trying to blend into the crowd.

Wearing dark aviator sunglasses and a black leather jacket over a "Texas" T-shirt, the cyclist looked relaxed. Armstrong won the last of his seven straight titles last summer and despite occasional jokes to the contrary, has no plans to return to try for an eighth.

One clue was the cold beer in his right hand, a rare indulgence when he was in training.

"Just trying to stay retired, dude," Armstrong said about his current plans, before catching up with fellow UT fan and celebrity, actor Matthew McConaughey and ducking into the ABC television compound.

• USC retires the jersey numbers of its Heisman Trophy winners. Matt Leinart's No. 11 and Reggie Bush's No. 5 will join: Carson Palmer (3), Marcus Allen (33), Charles White (12), O.J. Simpson (32) and Mike Garrett (20).

Correspondent Terry Wood contributed to this notebook.