USC Royalty: Matt Leinart and Brynn Cameron's Boy

LOS ANGELES, Nov. 15, 2007 (KABC-TV) (KABC) -- Just over a year and a half ago, Matt Leinart was embarking on an NFL career, and his girlfriend Brynn Cameron was a rising star in college basketball. But that's when their lives took an unexpected detour, and forced them into roles they always wanted -- just not yet.

Standing on his Aunt Emily's lap, Cole cheers for his favorite basketball player: His mom, 21-year-old USC junior Brynn Cameron.

Cole's mom wears number 11 for the Women of Troy. His dad is perhaps the most decorated number 11 in USC history: former Heisman Trophy-winner Matt Leinart.

Leinart, now playing for the NFL's Arizona Cardinals, returns to L.A. every week on his day off to spend time with Cole, while Cameron juggles being a Division-1 athlete with being a full-time student and a full-time mom.

"It becomes overwhelming at times, but just to go home and see him smile, it's like, 'OK, everything's worth it.' He brings so much joy to my life," says Cameron.

"I can only imagine what Brynn goes through on a day-to-day basis, and I wish I could be there every day helping, but for my job, my career, it's just tough. I don't think I could do what she's doing and do such a great job at it," says Leinart.

In athletic terms, this is not the way Brynn and Matt would've drawn it up. The former college sweethearts split well over a year ago. And while their relationship has had its share of turbulence since, the couple is determined to make co-parenting work for their year-old son Cole Cameron Leinart.

"It's working out perfect, and Cole is happy, so as long as he's happy, I'm happy. We've never been through it. It's hard. Every little boy needs a daddy. I want Matt to teach Cole how to throw a football," says Cameron.

"I love my son very much, and I know Brynn loves him very much. I'm always gonna be there for him no matter what, that's just the type of a person I am, the type of father I want to be," says Leinart.

Shooting a basketball has always been easy for Brynn Cameron. She even set the USC school record for three-pointers made in a season as a freshman. The hard part for her, whether it's on the practice floor or in the classroom, is simply being away from her son Cole.

"Every day I think, 'What's Cole doing? Where is he?' I still miss him. He's changed my life completely. I wouldn't ask for anything different. I've never been so happy in my life," says Cameron.

Even after a heartbreaking loss in Brynn's first game in two seasons, it's nothing a hug from Cole can't fix.

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