When Jeff Cravath was forced to resign as USC football coach in 1950, there was a lot of speculation he would be replaced by Paul Brown, coach of the NFL champion Cleveland Browns.
He was a co-founder of the Browns and the team was named after him. It would have been a huge hire. Brown had even coached at Ohio State from 1941-43 (Sound familiar?). But Brown dismissed the idea.
Another candidate was Charlie Caldwell, who led Princeton to a perfect 9-0 season and Ivy League title.
When it came time to hire a coach, former USC assistant and then-track coach Jess Hill was promoted to USC head coach.
“When they promoted Hill, the athletic board had not considered him,” a USC athletic dept. employee at the time told me. “Someone said, `How about (USC track coach) Jess Hill?’ Another said: `Why I never thought of him.’ ”
When Hill decided to resign in 1956, marquee names like Bud Wilkinson (Oklahoma) and Duffy Daugherty (Michigan State) were considered leading candidates. Also a strong candidate was former USC great Tay Brown, who took Compton College to five Junior Rose Bowls.
But USC promoted assistant coach Don Clark, who was a former player.

So your saying Colbert will be the new HC? Wow, bet he’d be surprised.
LikeLiked by 3 people
No, Pudly. Scott’s saying Duffy Daugherty is going to be the new HC….
#[ActuallyI’dRatherHaveHeltonCuz….He’sAlive]
LikeLiked by 2 people
🥱🥱🥱. 😴😴😴
LikeLiked by 2 people
Remember when Ara played for the tie against Duffy and the Spartans in 1966?
LikeLiked by 2 people
Michael, I heard from the stylist who cuts Bohn’s hair that the next HC at USC will be some dude named Vince Lombardi — but I promised to keep my source’s name confidential, much like Little Scottie does for his unnamed sources. Anyway, FWIW.
LikeLike
I can see it now the San Diego Myers new NFL franchise. They will be sponsored by Urban outfitters.
LikeLiked by 4 people
USC is the only college football program to promote an assistant coach to HC? Got it!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Did you flunk Reading Comprehension , Timmy?
LikeLiked by 2 people
Things sure were muddy back then.
LikeLiked by 3 people
Yes…
#ItWasBeforeGlobalWarming…
LikeLiked by 3 people
Just wake me when Helton is gone.
LikeLiked by 3 people
Give me your phone number, Megatron –I’ll call at halftime of the Alabama game.
#Announcer:”ItLooksLikeGrahamHarrellIsOnTheSidelines….
#…ButWeCan’tSeeClayHelton”
#[“OnlyHisBeatUpBaseballCapAtTheVisitorsTunnel…”]
LikeLiked by 3 people
Mr. or Mrs?
LikeLike
And when Clark left he was replaced by an assistant whose name the L A Times misspelled. Some guy name McKay.
LikeLiked by 2 people
Was scottie working for the Times back then?
LikeLiked by 3 people
Except for a 1 yr hiatus, going to the raiders as RBs coach, JRob fits in this narrative doesn’t he?
LikeLiked by 1 person
You’re not supposed to mention how McKay got hired. It doesn’t fit his narrative.
LikeLike