Mike Henry, co-captain of the 1957 USC football team, died last month. He was 84.
Henry died from chronic traumatic encephalopathy and Parkinson’s disease, according to published reports.
Henry also played in the NFL from 1959-64 with the Pittsburgh Steelers and Los Angeles Rams.
Henry was USC’s lineman of the year in 1957, with 38 tackles (19 solo). He also played at Bell High School.
But he was better known as an actor, especially when he played Tarzan in Tarzan and the Valley of Gold (1966), Tarzan and the Great River (1967) and Tarzan and the Jungle Boy (1968).
He also enjoyed fame for his role playing Junior, the son of of Jackie Gleason’s Sheriff Buford T. Justice, in Smokey and the Bandit (1977).
My USC story involving Henry was that everyone was afraid to play against him in the 1961 spring football game when he played for the alumni team.
Hal Bedsole, who is in the College Football Hall of Fame, tole me he played quarterback for one play and got crunched by Marlin McKeever and Henry. Two weeks later, he was in severe pain and an X-ray revealed he had three holes in his stomach. He underwent surgery that night.
Cali kids having to go to arizona to play sports is a shame. Here’s a little interview from Korey.
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JT?
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JT Tuimoloau, 5* defensive end from Washington. Some say he’s the #1 player.
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https://247sports.com/Player/JT-Tuimoloau-46048440/
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That would be insane to have JT, with Korey, AND Drake?
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I didn’t hear any predictions…yet
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‘67, we also have this guy who’s played 7v7 with him and worked out together for some time…hopefully between the two they’ll have a positive influence…
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“It’s gonna be crazy. It’s gonna be something to watch.”
#FingersCrossed
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In case you’ve been in a cocoon and didn’t realize…tonight’s the night!!
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It’s here. Now it’s time to attack & attack…
#…AndAttack…..
[I almost feel like tuning in late and watching the second half just to spare myself some of the delicious agony of seeing the initial back and forth]…..
#…ButThat’sNOTTheWayToApproachTHISOne….
#FightOn
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I saw all those ’57 games,Mike Henry was one of the bright spots on the team,along with Rex Johnston . That is also the yr SC tried the gold helmets with the cardinal stripe…all this during the continuing PCC punishment from Jon Arnetts ’56 season, but SC recovered and was a big part in the death of the PCC. Mike Henry was a good actor too…
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