University Southern California Trojans
Heritage Association Spotlight: 2018 Trojan Nation All-Star Golf Invitational
July 27, 2018 | Football, Trojan Athletic Fund, Features
The Heritage Association is USC’s student-athlete alumni association. The Heritage Association Spotlight was created to profile USC student-athlete alumni who give back to the University.
Earlier this month, the Heritage Association had the pleasure of teaming up with USC football alumni Matt Leinart, Ronnie Lott, Marcus Allen, and Rodney Peete for the 2018 Trojan Nation All-Star Golf Invitational. The event raised over $100,000 for the Heritage Association to invest in USC's current student-athletes. The event also benefited All-Stars Helping Kids, the Matt Leinart Foundation and the HollyRod Foundation.
The Heritage Association sat down with the event hosts to catch up on all things USC and how these former NFL superstars contribute to their communities.
Q: What does it mean to you to be a Trojan?
Matt Leinart: It means everything. Something about USC, we always say 'Once a Trojan, always a Trojan'. There really is a family feeling behind being a USC Trojan and it's something that, as I get older, I value more and more. It was a big part of my life, and a part that I am extremely grateful for. USC gave me a lot of opportunities, so it means a lot.
Ronnie Lott: What's great about being a Trojan is you realize there are so many people you have a chance to connect with. One of the great things about this family is that there are so many different breeds of Trojans and, because of that, you realize there are so many great attributes that all of them have. You get the opportunity to learn from them and bond with them. And so over the years I've realized that when I meet another Trojan, I am better for it.
Marcus Allen: Being a Trojan means that we all believe in the same thing. All of us believe that you are rich by what you give, and you are poor by what you keep. We always have a heart for charity, and a huge heart for our school. It's important to represent our school in the right way and give back.
Rodney Peete: The number one thing that comes to mind is 'pride' and 'responsibility'. When I came here, from the moment I stepped on campus, I felt a responsibility to uphold that traditions of USC. And not just as a football or baseball player, but as a member and ambassador of this school. I committed to USC, I felt a connection to the accomplished athletes and academics that came before me, and I felt a responsibility to continue that tradition of greatness.
Q: What charity are you representing today?
Matt Leinart: I'm here representing the Matt Leinart Foundation, which I started 12 years ago, helps under-privileged kids in Los Angeles and Santa Ana through various football programs. We also conduct visits at children's hospitals— anything with kids, and affecting their lives in a positive way.
Ronnie Lott: Marcus and I are here supporting All-Stars Helping Kids, a charity I started about 27 years ago, and the idea around it is 'How do we make everyone feel like an all-star?
Marcus Allen: We want to allow kids [that are a part of All-Stars Helping Kids] to know that they can be all-stars. We are encouraging under-privileged kids to thrive, no matter where they live.
Rodney Peete: We are actually in our 20th year anniversary of the HollyRod Foundation. The HollyRod foundation was started around my father-in-law who was diagnosed with Parkinson's in his early forties. And there wasn't a whole lot of information around it at the time. My wife wanted to better understand the disease, and advocate for proper treatment. We actually have a Compassionate Care Program through the USC Keck School of Medicine. The HollyRod Foundation also provides support to families of children with autism, as my son was born with autism. We are all about improving and providing families and individuals with a better quality of life, particularly those dealing with conditions so close to our heart.
Q: What piece of advice would you give to a current student-athlete?
Matt Leinart: I think the toughest thing is learning how to manage your time. A lot of people think a student-athlete is a free pass, but it's a lot of work, especially in maintaining your grades at a school like USC which is a tough school, academically. And on top of that, you're trying to perfect your sport. I always thought time management was huge, so my advice would be to come up with a structure or a schedule and stick with it. And then, of course, make sure you enjoy it. Enjoy every moment, every memory, make a lot of friends, manage your time wisely, and live it up—because you never get it back.
Ronnie Lott: You have to learn and continue to learn how to learn. One of the great things in life is, the more you continue to learn, and about a lot of different subjects, you are able to do many things. Learning how to continue to learn is the best thing you can do for yourself.
Marcus Allen: A free lunch costs $1.99, meaning there is nothing free in this world. So, if you want it, you have got to go get it. Despite the distractions, despite the people who don't believe that you are capable of accomplishment, you have to believe in yourself and count on that four letter word, 'w-o-r-k'.
Rodney Peete: To be kind. Because you never know who you are dealing with, and their individual struggles. You also have to know that in life, there are going to be some failures and bad times, but how you overcome them is what makes you who you are.
Thank you to all the former players that came out and supported the Trojan Nation All-Star Golf Invitational and thank you to all Heritage Association members for investing in our current student-athletes so that they may be leaders of tomorrow.
The Heritage Association sat down with the event hosts to catch up on all things USC and how these former NFL superstars contribute to their communities.
Q: What does it mean to you to be a Trojan?
Matt Leinart: It means everything. Something about USC, we always say 'Once a Trojan, always a Trojan'. There really is a family feeling behind being a USC Trojan and it's something that, as I get older, I value more and more. It was a big part of my life, and a part that I am extremely grateful for. USC gave me a lot of opportunities, so it means a lot.
Ronnie Lott: What's great about being a Trojan is you realize there are so many people you have a chance to connect with. One of the great things about this family is that there are so many different breeds of Trojans and, because of that, you realize there are so many great attributes that all of them have. You get the opportunity to learn from them and bond with them. And so over the years I've realized that when I meet another Trojan, I am better for it.
Marcus Allen: Being a Trojan means that we all believe in the same thing. All of us believe that you are rich by what you give, and you are poor by what you keep. We always have a heart for charity, and a huge heart for our school. It's important to represent our school in the right way and give back.
Rodney Peete: The number one thing that comes to mind is 'pride' and 'responsibility'. When I came here, from the moment I stepped on campus, I felt a responsibility to uphold that traditions of USC. And not just as a football or baseball player, but as a member and ambassador of this school. I committed to USC, I felt a connection to the accomplished athletes and academics that came before me, and I felt a responsibility to continue that tradition of greatness.
Q: What charity are you representing today?
Matt Leinart: I'm here representing the Matt Leinart Foundation, which I started 12 years ago, helps under-privileged kids in Los Angeles and Santa Ana through various football programs. We also conduct visits at children's hospitals— anything with kids, and affecting their lives in a positive way.
Ronnie Lott: Marcus and I are here supporting All-Stars Helping Kids, a charity I started about 27 years ago, and the idea around it is 'How do we make everyone feel like an all-star?
Marcus Allen: We want to allow kids [that are a part of All-Stars Helping Kids] to know that they can be all-stars. We are encouraging under-privileged kids to thrive, no matter where they live.
Rodney Peete: We are actually in our 20th year anniversary of the HollyRod Foundation. The HollyRod foundation was started around my father-in-law who was diagnosed with Parkinson's in his early forties. And there wasn't a whole lot of information around it at the time. My wife wanted to better understand the disease, and advocate for proper treatment. We actually have a Compassionate Care Program through the USC Keck School of Medicine. The HollyRod Foundation also provides support to families of children with autism, as my son was born with autism. We are all about improving and providing families and individuals with a better quality of life, particularly those dealing with conditions so close to our heart.
Q: What piece of advice would you give to a current student-athlete?
Matt Leinart: I think the toughest thing is learning how to manage your time. A lot of people think a student-athlete is a free pass, but it's a lot of work, especially in maintaining your grades at a school like USC which is a tough school, academically. And on top of that, you're trying to perfect your sport. I always thought time management was huge, so my advice would be to come up with a structure or a schedule and stick with it. And then, of course, make sure you enjoy it. Enjoy every moment, every memory, make a lot of friends, manage your time wisely, and live it up—because you never get it back.
Ronnie Lott: You have to learn and continue to learn how to learn. One of the great things in life is, the more you continue to learn, and about a lot of different subjects, you are able to do many things. Learning how to continue to learn is the best thing you can do for yourself.
Marcus Allen: A free lunch costs $1.99, meaning there is nothing free in this world. So, if you want it, you have got to go get it. Despite the distractions, despite the people who don't believe that you are capable of accomplishment, you have to believe in yourself and count on that four letter word, 'w-o-r-k'.
Rodney Peete: To be kind. Because you never know who you are dealing with, and their individual struggles. You also have to know that in life, there are going to be some failures and bad times, but how you overcome them is what makes you who you are.
Thank you to all the former players that came out and supported the Trojan Nation All-Star Golf Invitational and thank you to all Heritage Association members for investing in our current student-athletes so that they may be leaders of tomorrow.
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