As we look back at 2022, here’s another Trojan who passed away.
Steve Lehmer, a three-year starter on the offensive line at USC from 1967-69 and member of the 1967 national championship team, died on July 14. He was 74.
Lehmer was the only sophomore to start on the 1967 team and was also a member of the 1967 and 1968 NCAA championship track teams as a discus thrower.
Lehmer was involved in perhaps the most memorable play in USC history when O.J. Simpson went 64 yards for a TD vs. No. 1-ranked UCLA on Nov. 18, 1967.
Simpson exploded through a hole on the left side of the line courtesy of blocks by tackle Mike Taylor and Lehmer. The touchdown gave the Trojans a 21-20 victory and led to them winning the national championship.
“I was left offensive guard and we had a pass play called in the huddle and there was an audible on the line,” Lehmer said. “(Quarterback) Toby Page called Red 23 (a running play) and I didn’t hear it. So I stood up to pass block and a linebacker stayed in his zone and (I) possibly facilitated O.J.’s run.”
He graduated from the USC School of Medicine in 1975 and became a surgeon. Lehmer also attended Loara High School in Anaheim and Fullerton Junior College.
InsideUSC with Scott Wolf 
I looked at that play on YouTube. It didn’t matter that he missed the audible call.,OJ was gone. One of the great runs in USC history.
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Rest in peace, Steve.
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Awful finish for Ucla at the Sun Bowl – they took the lead with only 34 seconds remaining and then allowed Pitt to march the field and hit a game winning FG
Final score
Ucla 35
Pitt 37
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That was beautiful!! DTR was celebrating a victory after they took the lead and then BOOM!!!
As I said before our game on Nov 19, that is better than any blowout…having them think they’ve got it locked and then ripping their hearts out!!
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Actually I’m rather sorry they lost – DTR is a decent kid would have been nice to have the Pac-12 at 4-1 instead of 3 – 2
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STEVE WAS A TEAMMATE OF MINE ON THE 1967,68,69 TEAMS. WE WERE BOTH FROM ANAHEIM. . HE FROM LOARA, ME FROM MAGNOLIA.WE COMPETED AGAINST EACH OTHER IN THE SHOT PUT AT VARIOUS CIF AND STATE TRACK MEETS. IT WAS ALWAYS A FUN BATTLE!!
WE WERE ON THE NORTH SQUAD IN THE 1966 ORANGE COUNTY ALL STAR FOOTBALL GAME WHICH WE WON OVER THE SOUTH TEAM. HE WENT TO FULLERTON JC, THEN TRANSFERRED INTO USC IN THE SPRING OF 1967.
FOR THE RECORD, FRED KHASIGIAN WAS ALSO A STARTING GUARD AS A SOPHOMORE. BOTH BECAME ORTHO SURGEONS!!
HE WAS JUST A GREAT HARD NOSE, SMART FOOTBALL PLAYER!!
A GREAT TROJAN!!
BOB JENSEN #51 LB
1969 TEAM CO CAPTAIN
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EXCUSE ME, BUT THIS ARTICLE WAS ABOUT A GREAT TROJAN FOOTBALL PLAYER, STEVE LEHMER.. NOT UCLA!
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My apologies, Bob. We meant no disespect to your friend & teammate.
We’ll be sending up some good thoughts for him and his loved ones.
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Well gee whiz boyo sorry I ‘broke rank’ I see you posted twice and I noticed no salutation in finding the actual video with him embedded in it.
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Amazingly I went to you tube to watch one of the numerous videos of the 64 yard run and didn’t realize one of the two commentators reminiscing about that play was Steve Lehmer He first appears at the 52 second mark then again at the 2:37 a full minute later after the first commentator notes “…some guys couldn’t hear the (Page) audible…” at the 3:37 mark is when Lehmer identifies himself w.o. saying his name that it was he who stood up by mistake prompting the Bruin LB to move backward opening up the lane for OJ.
Here’s the video on you tube
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Great video! I’m glad Toobin remained fully clothed in his short segment.
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STEVE WAS A TEAMMATE OF MINE ON THE 1967,68,69 TEAMS. WE WERE BOTH FROM ANAHEIM. . HE FROM LOARA, ME FROM MAGNOLIA.WE COMPETED AGAINST EACH OTHER IN THE SHOT PUT AT VARIOUS CIF AND STATE TRACK MEETS. IT WAS ALWAYS A FUN BATTLE!!
WE WERE ON THE NORTH SQUAD IN THE 1966 ORANGE COUNTY ALL STAR FOOTBALL GAME WHICH WE WON OVER THE SOUTH TEAM. HE WENT TO FULLERTON JC, THEN TRANSFERRED INTO USC IN THE SPRING OF 1967.
FOR THE RECORD, FRED KHASIGIAN WAS ALSO A STARTING GUARD AS A SOPHOMORE. BOTH BECAME ORTHO SURGEONS!!
HE WAS JUST A GREAT HARD NOSE, SMART FOOTBALL PLAYER!!
A GREAT TROJAN!!
BOB JENSEN #51 LB
1969 TEAM CO CAPTAIN
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You don’t get this type of USC history anywhere else.
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Was at the game pictured in Minnesota at memorial stadium. Remember how long the stadium groundskeeper let the grass grow to slow down SC ! ( notre dame) the rain made it even worse great game for three quarters! RIP
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I played in that Minnesota Game as a linebacker.
I drew the ire of Coach McKay because on one of our kickoffs, Minnesota returner stopped and threw the football to the other side of the field and they scored. I was the trailing safety and never saw the other player!
After the game, Mckay came into our locker room and threw the game ball, as hard as be could, into a locker! And chewed the team out! I was a sophomore and thought “ if he’s that pissed when we won, what’s it going to be like when we lost?
Thankfully, we only lost twice in my 4 years!
Bob Jensen#51 LB
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Bob, I distinctly remember that play! Full with of field lateral (pass) right down the sideline in front of your bench I believe! My son also played on kickoff team for Pete’s last 3 years
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Great for you!
Coach Pete was a fantastic coach and person!
Coach McKay was always great to me off the field, but once the game started, it was all
business! Even the assistant coaches called
him .. “Coach McKay “ never John!!
Congrats to you for your accomplishments at USC!
Cheers Bob
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–Just read about the passing of SC Trojan Football Great
Steve Lehmer, and what a better tribute to the man
than to have run with that picture above showing Lehmer preparing to ‘lay-one’ on a defenseless defenseman as O.J. split-second pauses to see
which side Lehmer plays it
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