Here’s Richard Wood, the first three-time All-American in USC history during a 1972 game. He couldn’t be a four-time All-American because freshman were ineligible in 1971.
USC Picture Of The Day
Here’s Richard Wood, the first three-time All-American in USC history during a 1972 game. He couldn’t be a four-time All-American because freshman were ineligible in 1971.
Great photo of the Batman. Amazing USC career, and as humble as the day is long.
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One of the best. And that photo, Ricky Bell, Anthony Munoz. Is Pat Howell also there? Talk about a backfield with Bell, Charles White, and I think Lynn Cain was on that team.
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I recall Charles White joining the Trojans for the 1976 season. I think San Fernando High ran the wishbone and 3 or 4 stars of that 1975 class came to USC (Kevin Williams–the speedburner, Charles White–the future Heisman winner, and their SF High QB, Kenny Moore).
Don’t forget that the speedburner–Kevin–was lethal for the Trojans on the WR reverse and as the deep threat “Z” receiver. When opponents would stack the line with 8 or 9 in the box to counter 26Power or 28pitch, boom (!) we’d go deep to #8 and burn ’em for a quick score. I think KW averaged over 20 yards PER reception most of his years–quite possibly for his entire career at USC.
We also had a play in the book where we took a former HS QB who had been converted to WR, gave him the ball on a flanker reverse, and then had him stop up and fling it downfield to a wide open X receiver for a sure TD.
Timmy White (no relation) was just such a converted HS QB. If you look at Timmy’s QB stats over his 4 years, he likely never failed to convert the flanker toss for a TD. JR would pull this play out about twice a season and only in big games against a solid competitor. I cannot recall it every failing during his years.
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As I remember Kevin could jump real well too.
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Now that I look, it was randy Williams I was thinking of…but Kevin sure could run 9.2 100yds in high school. Wow!
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With today’s advances in training and nutrition, that 9.2 100 yards would almost certainly be in the high 8 second territory.
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Any way you cut it, that’s picking em up and puttin em down.
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Nice picture, SW. Classic 70s and Early 80s unís. Brings back memories of Pop Warner football and the East Valley Trojans of ‘85, ‘86, and 87. We had good teams, but could never beat the Bully on the Block, the North Valley Golden Bears.
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Art
The Golden Bears have a history of being formidable.
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That was typical sc football, everyhone got to the ball and everyone was quick as grease lightin’. What talent SC had in the 60’s, 70’s, part of the 80’s, and 2000’s. I am not saying there wasn’t great talent in the other decades but due to coaching, the talent never reached it’s potential.
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All three guys in the photo are step for step, in cadence and with a drive, to protect the ball and get the ball in the endzone. What an awesome photo
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The talent in the Mckay and Robo Part 1 was deep and consistent throughout the team. Now USC recruits talent just at Wide Receiver, QB, and maybe safety. It takes 22 players to win physical football games with some depth. The offensive lineman, running backs, defensive lineman, linebackers, and defensive backs we have now would not even make the team in the 60’s, and 70’s.. We recruit now to play a finesse style of football including the Air Raid which does not work in big games. Clay Helton, would not have even been hired on the coaching staff because he had poor qualifications, and no success as an assistant coach coming from a losing program.
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Reload vs Rebuild.
We’ve been in rebuilding mode constantly since 2008.
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Thank you! You know USC Trojans football unlike the damn blogger? Yikes! That has been writing about the University for years, for a living. Way to break what was USC football, compared too the half ass program that it is now. The only thing you left out was the lenient amount of players a team were to have on a roster. I think it was 105, back then. Now it’s down to 85 players. USC used to stash players on its roster so other teams couldn’t use them. Or offer a scholarship in another sport so it wouldn’t count against the football program. Maneuvers you can’t do now days.
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In the early 80’s, the NCAA provided for a 95 FB scholarship limit.
The #3 WR, DB, LB or RB on the Trojans would have been a starter on 6 or more PAC 10 teams. Heck, back then Oregon was a perpetual loser.
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