It’s a Career Capper for Colbert

The USC band had just started to get into “Conquest” when a panicked Keary Colbert made like the late Jim Valvano and ran about the floor of the Rose Bowl, searching.

Only, the Trojan senior flanker wasn’t looking for someone to hug to celebrate a title.

“I need a hat,” Colbert yelled to no one in particular. “I need a hat now.”

Headgear proclaiming the No. 1-ranked Trojans as Rose Bowl champions after their emphatic 28-14 victory over No. 4 Michigan may have been at the top of Colbert’s wish list. But only because long overdue personal recognition had finally come his way, courtesy of his six catches for a career-high 149 yards and two touchdowns, one a spectacular one-handed grab on a 47-yard score.

And, oh yes, it all happened on a day in which Colbert became USC’s all-time leading pass catcher.

“For real, to win my last game and be national champion? It doesn’t get any better than that,” Colbert said.

“I always expect great things when the opportunities arise, but at the same time I was just trying to do things that would help my team win.”

He did that on Thursday ... and more.

“Keary Colbert was just a star today,” USC Coach Pete Carroll said.

Colbert is also counted on heavily for his blocking ability in the open field and for his dependability.

“He’s clutch. Keary’s just steady,” USC tight end Gregg Guenther said. “You can go and watch Mike [Williams] make highlight catches and whatever but when it’s third-and-six, you know who the ball’s going to. KC has the surest hands ... and always makes the tough catch.”

Perhaps the toughest catch he made was the 47-yard touchdown reception to close the Trojans’ first drive of the second half, giving USC a 21-0 lead.

On a ball slightly underthrown by quarterback Matt Leinart, Colbert adjusted down the right sideline and while being interfered with by Michigan’s Jeremy LeSueur, Colbert made a one-handed grab at the 15-yard line, shook off LeSueur and walked into the end zone.

“I’ve been watching Mike Williams all year so I took that out of his book,” Colbert said, referring to Williams’ one-handed catch in the back of the end zone against Oregon State on Dec. 6.

Said Williams: “It was better than mine, a big-time play.

“The man had a big-time game. It was his last game as a senior ... and I’m glad that he had a chance to get out and have the type of game he had, setting the record for receptions and things like that. I’m real happy he left on the note he did.”

Colbert, who passed Kareem Kelly’s mark of 204 catches to set the new USC standard of 207, was far from overjoyed about entering the record book, knowing that Williams is 21 catches behind him.

“That don’t mean nothing to me,” said Colbert, who finished his senior season with 69 receptions for 1,013 yards, joining Williams and Keyshawn Johnson as the only Trojans to have two 1,000-yard receiving seasons. “That’s going to be broken next year by Mike so that’s whatever. That’s cool but records are made to be broken.

“The most important thing is the victory. That’s the one thing I am most proud of is winning. It’s just awesome to say that we’re No. 1.”