Pac-10 Held That Matt Leinart Broke A Rule When He Worked Out With "Air 7 Academy" Owner - CAA Signed Air 7 Later

I found this on Kevin Donahue's blogsite

Pac10 says Leinart broke rules

The Matt Leinart era may be over for the USC football team and coaches, but the Leinart legacy apparently isn't.

The Pac10 has determined that USC broke NCAA rules this year by allowing Leinart to work out with the owner of the Air 7 football academy.

According to a memo issued by the Pac-10 and received by USC, "an outside consultant can not work with a (student-athlete) on the institution's facilities unless the individual is counted against the applicable coaching limits."
As a result of the incident, Leinart, USC coach Pete Carroll and staff members were required to undergo a rules review session.

Leinart signed with CAA as his agents, who then signed to represent the Air 7 football academy as well.

So the USC coaches will watch a rules video or something, no big deal as far as punishments go. It does make you wonder where the oversight was on letting Leinart work out with his own private coaches, though. That's a known no-no and it doesn't appear that USC ever tried to put a stop to it.

Air 7 is a kind of NFL Traning Academy. CAA did sign up to help them with marketing and sponsorships. Note that in the article from www.onlypubjam.com is there no mention of the person who was then Leinart's agent, Leigh Steinberg and this was back in January.

Here's that article:

CAA to Also Represent Premier Football Training Academy Air 7

Publish Date : 1/9/2006 1:41:00 AM Source : Sports News Onlypunjab.com

Creative Artists Agency (CAA), the world's leading talent and literary agency, now represents Heisman Trophy-winning quarterback Matt Leinart, in addition to Air 7, the nation's premier football academy.
CAA will represent Leinart in all off-field business ventures, with the initial focus on endorsement and licensing relationships. The CAA Foundation, the philanthropic service arm of the agency, will help Leinart develop his charitable initiatives.

"Football is my focus," said Leinart. "So, it is tremendous to have in place CAA to handle my marketing and philanthropy efforts, in conjunction with my management team at Air 7." Utilizing its deep relationships with the world's leading consumer brands, CAA represents the marketing and endorsement interests of many of the most high-profile figures in the world.

"Matt is a truly exceptional individual with enormous potential as a personality who transcends his achievements on the field," said CAA President, Richard Lovett.

In an unparalleled college football career, Leinart won back-to-back national championships with the University of Southern California Trojans. He has also been a finalist two years in a row for college football's prestigious Heisman Trophy, earning the award in 2004. Among his many honors, he has been a first-team All-American for two years, Associated Press Player of the Year, Rose Bowl and Orange Bowl MVP, 2-time Pac-10 Player of the Year, Walter Camp Award Winner recognizing the nation's top player, and Sporting News Sportsman of the Year.

Air 7, where Leinart has trained for 10 years, is the nation's premier football academy for youth, high school and college players, with alumni reaching Heisman Trophy and Pro Bowl levels. Air 7 was founded by Steve Clarkson, perhaps the most accomplished of a new breed of private athletic coaches.

Working with more than 100 quarterbacks a year, Air 7 counts among its alumni multiple Heisman winners -- including Leinart -- plus Pittsburgh Steelers star quarterback and 2004 NFL Rookie of the Year Ben Roethlisberger. In 1999, Clarkson, along with Chuck Price, created the annual CaliFlorida Bowl High School Football All-Star game.

For Air 7, CAA will identify potential marketing partners and sponsors, as well as other opportunities.