At intermission Saturday, Leinart had completed only eight of 20 passes for 68 yards and one touchdown. It didn’t matter, of course, because the USC tandem of Bush and LenDale White (14 carries, 154 yards, two TDs) were like battering rams going through cheesecloth.

But the second half was more like the real Leinart. He completed 13 of 20, including a couple of touchdowns.

Yet the emotions didn’t subside. With less than two minutes remaining in the third quarter, he got into some difficulty and couldn’t find an open receiver. Finally, in desperation, he shoveled the football forward to White for an 11-yard gain on fourth and eight to keep a drive alive.

After that play, Leinart did something uncharacteristic. He waved his arms, imploring the fans to cheer. Usually Leinart is about as peppy and ebullient as a surfboard, so this was a rare indication that he knew his college career was coming to a close and he was going to savor it.

“I’m not the kind to hold back,” said Leinart, a claim that runs contrary to his public image. “I let the emotions flow.

“Reggie kept saying to me in the huddle, ‘You’re the best quarterback in America.’ I didn’t want to disappoint the fans.”

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The quarterback is a position of leadership on the field. But not all quarterbacks are leaders. There are intangibles involved, personality traits, the ability to connect with teammates and inspire them to follow.

After Saturday’s rout of the Bruins, there were more than a few wistful comments in the crowded locker room about the Trojans’ leader.

“That’s my guy,” said White, who is a junior but will probably join Leinart and Bush in the next NFL draft. “Me and Matt, we’re friends. Everybody here is like a real family. We do everything together. I hang out at Matt’s house. We go out to eat. We hang out at school, before practice.

“I’m gonna miss him a lot. He’s meant a lot to this program. What he’s done for this program means the world.”

Certain people and groups won’t miss him, however. Notre Dame won’t miss him. Oklahoma won’t miss him. At this rate, Texas might not miss him, either. Even UCLA will probably send a town car so he can get to the airport.

But around USC? Fans and teammates are often at a loss for words to describe how much he’ll be missed. It’s probably best to use numbers: 37-1.

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