USC played on New Year’s Eve in 1977.
This is a picture from the 1977 Astro-Bluebonnet Bowl between USC and Texas A&M. The Trojans won, 47-28, before 52,842 on New Year’s Eve at the Astrodome in Houston.
USC QB Rob Hertel was 11-15 for 246 yards with four TD passes. Charles White rushed for 186 yards in 21 carries while Dwight Ford gained 157 yards in 14 carries. Ford also had a 94-yard TD run.
InsideUSC with Scott Wolf 
Incredibly talented team, with the guys mentioned above PLUS Anthony Munoz, Brad Budde, Keith Van Horne, Clay Matthews Sr, Randy Simmrin, Kevin Thomas, Mosi Tatupu, Calvin Sweeney, Lynn Cain, Dennis Smith, Jeff Fisher, Ronnie Lott, Dennis Thurman. No doubt one of the most individually talented USC teams.
They were ranked number 1, then they lost by 1 to ‘Bama around week 6, then got destroyed by ND and the stupid green uniforms. Wound up 8-4. That was J Robb’s Clay Helton lookalike year.
LikeLiked by 2 people
Most of this talent stayed and had great seasons in 1978 and 1979.
Rob Hertel was an awesome talent in both FB and Baseball, but regrettably had to suffer from poor QB coaching at USC and missed some playing time due to some loyalty to Pat Haden.
I think Hackett was brought in to coach QBs soon thereafter, but my memory of these great Trojan years are starting to fade.
LikeLike
I was 7 at the time and my parents dropped me off at my grandparents house so they could enjoy an evening out and I asked grandma to turn on the tv so I could watch SC play.
Easiest babysit ever.
And Trojans win, as expected before Gomer arrived.
LikeLiked by 2 people
Wow talk about film for a brownie I have to wonder if he had one of those magic cube flashes for his instimatic camera.
Those were happier times.
Happy New Year
LikeLiked by 1 person
Look at that. The A&M WR is in a three point stance.
#SomethingYouDon’tSeeAnymore
LikeLiked by 1 person
Remember–it was Biletnikoff who kinda pioneered the stand-up WR stance.
Also, the ASU Sun Devils under Frank Kush were employing the non-3pt stance in the mid-early 70’s. John Jefferson the ASU WR used this to good effect…
LikeLike
I watched that game. Typical SC fashion at that time, just destroy the other team pyhsically and command their will.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Vince Evans came after Haden … Hertel only got 1 year.
Hackett came with Robo in 1976. Actually
did a nice job except the 1 shitty half vs Stanford in 1979.
LikeLike
I remember watching the game then going to a party in the Hollywood hills. In the picture Texas A&M is in the wishbone in the fullback was a guy named George Woodard who weighed 280 pounds the tail back was Curtis Dickie who ran a 4.3 40 and weighed 225lbs. and played many years in the NFL
LikeLike