Williams’ Name Is Mud After Absence

Quarterback Matt Leinart and wide receiver Mike Williams finished among the top eight vote-getters for the Heisman Trophy, but the Trojans were reminded Sunday that status does not always warrant special treatment.

Leinart, who finished sixth in voting, ran the offense while Williams, who finished eighth, spent all of the nearly two-hour practice performing a series of punitive conditioning drills, among them rolling across the width of the end zone on the rain-soaked turf in his jersey and shorts.

Williams was paying the price for being absent from Saturday’s practice after missing an early-morning flight from Florida. Williams had attended an awards show and dinner in Orlando with fellow All-Americans Jacob Rogers and Kenechi Udeze, both of whom made the flight and practiced Saturday.

After Sunday’s practice, Williams ran off the field without meeting with his position group. He declined to speak with reporters.

“Anytime that somebody is asked to do that kind of work during practice, it sends a message regardless of who it is,” Coach Pete Carroll said.

Leinart said the message was clear.

“If you miss something or you’re late for something, you have to pay for it,” he said.

Leinart and Williams were the first Trojan teammates to finish in the top 10 in Heisman voting since 1979, when tailback Charles White won and quarterback Paul McDonald finished sixth.

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Carroll said the visit to practice by former Nevada coach Chris Tormey on Saturday was one of several he expected from coaches during the early part of preparations for the Rose Bowl.

Tormey, who was also defensive coordinator at Washington and head coach at Idaho, is regarded as a possible candidate to replace departing linebacker coach Nick Holt, who was named head coach at Idaho last week.

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Freshman running back Reggie Bush said he took part in limited drills because of a strained kneecap he suffered Saturday. Bush said he was day-to-day.... Defensive end Frostee Rucker attended pre-practice meetings but was sent home because he was feeling ill, Carroll said.