Here is a photo of of what looks like USC media day on Dec. 29, 1962 at the Trojans prepared for the Rose Bowl.
Quarterback Pete Beathard is handing the ball off to fullback Ben Wilson. In the background is USC coach John McKay.
Now a funny story before the Rose Bowl. McKay did not want any reporters allowed at practices and told officials to keep them outside Bovard Field.
So when he arrived at the gate for the first bowl practice, a throng of angry reporters confronted him.
“John, what’s going on? They won’t let us in practice?” one reporter said.
“What?” McKay said. “Of course you can come in. You guys are like family.”
McKay let them in and then blamed the Sports Information Director, Don Simonian, and said it was his fault the reporters had been kept out of Bovard Field.
- Did you know Doak Walker played in the Coliseum? Here is the SMU tailback playing against UCLA in 1947. SMU won, 7-0. The Doak Walker Award goes to the top running back in college football.
- Lincoln Riley on the difference today vs. a year ago at USC.
“Today felt more like business as usual and we were able to hit the field running,” he said. “Certainly a more efficient group in terms of the players, the operation, the practice. Everything is much smoother right now.”
- USC basketball will begin a 10-day exhibition tour of Greece and Croatia next week. The tour will run from from Aug. 5-15. The Trojans visit Athens and Mykonos, Greece, along with Dubrovnik, Croatia.
InsideUSC with Scott Wolf 
Formerly of Wisconsin, DC extraordinaire Jim Leonhard hired as DC of Illinois this week. I’d advocated for Leonhard as USC HC, but readily acknowledge now Riley a much better hire. Leonhard is outstanding … wanted Riley to replace Grinch with Leonhard.
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My sentiments exactly.
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Was there a gang hit out on Pete Beathard?
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Oh, I see, because of the X across his head– No, Pete Beathard had a long life
And Beathard, being the Trojan quarterback, was the face of SC on that 1962 National Championship team, and a nice face it was. Actually, his back-up Nelson I believe
had a better pro career.
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Your account Scott of McKay’s faux disbelief of reporters denied access to Bovard Field had a previous one that wasn’t faux at all.
In 1957 Noah Dietrich, Howard Hughes right-hand man, had a continuing battle with Hughes about his (Dietrich’s) salary etc.. Anyways the anger came to a head when Dietrich showed up one morning at the Culver City plant to see all his staff milling around in front of the main door. Dietrich asked “What’s going on?” Reply “We can’t open the door -our keys won’t work.” “Nonsense!” And then Dietrich realized his key wouldn’t work either….Hughes had the locks changed overnight.
A great supplement Scott – your sleuthing is remarkable truly remarkable!
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All of us who ever ran an office know & appreciate the “McKay” approach: If a decision proves unpopular always blame it on a subordinate and make it stick.
#NeverFails
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The AH, chicken shit approach as it were. Too bad MG McKay couldn’t blame TBB’s 0 – 26 NFL loser record on some foolish TB subordinate.
McKay got what he deserved.
“CORKY, mix me another dbl., fireball and make it snappy will ya.”
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Clint Eastwood [wish I could say John Wayne]: “We ALL got it coming.”
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Well he started from scratch with an expansion team but made the NFC title game in 1979.
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J.O., you may be on to something with McKay. I have read where he knew he had made the wrong decision to go to the NFL practically the moment he got there,
despite a couple million enticement to leave SC in the middle of the 1975 season.
That team was undefeated at the time of the McKay movement announcement
and they fell apart after that.
Add that to your “legacy,” Coach
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There have been only three college football coaches who won a ‘NC’ that went on to win a Super Bowl –
Barry Switzer – OK and DAL
Jimmy Johnson – Miami – DAL
Pete Carroll – USC – SEA
Besides John McKay who won a college NC there were/are:
Dan Devine ‘The Princess’/Green Bay
Steve Spurrier FL / WAS
Urban Meyer FL, OH St / JAC
Nick Saban LSU, AL / MIA
not including those who were successful at college and went to the pros – Jim Harbaugh, Tommy Prothro, John Ralston,
the one major ‘reverse’ was Bill Walsh – remarkably successful in the pros with SFO and a bust as head coach at ‘Legoland’
It’s not that easy either way and that’s true in any sport / MLB, NBA, NHL etc..
John McKay was a remarkably gifted head coach by any measurement and didn’t have to rely upon a post mortem indicted criminal to ‘assist’ in recruiting and favors as a certain demi-god did at Bel-Air Tech
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Yea, Alv!
#GoodOnYou!
[McKay started out with NOTHING at Tampa — and he built that team into a playoff team in 3 years]…
#Remember:His#1Choice,RickyBell,FoundToBeSeriouslyIll]
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John McKay was a great football coach but was not without sin. You forgot that the NCAA came in 1980 for McKay/Robinson era violations.
https://vault.si.com/vault/1982/05/10/scorecard
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Commie, Commie, Commie, Commie Lush, when are going to quit whining about Wooden’s 10 BB, NC’s.
The difference betwixt Wooden’s and McKay’s NC’s: Coach Wooden won UCLA’s 10 BB NC’s in SINGLE ELIMINATION, TOURNAMENT COMPETITION.
On the other hand CL, McKay’s FB’s team NC’s were VOTED for!!!!!!!!!!!!! (F**King LOL)
Those McKay FB NC’s were unsanctioned by the NCAA – (i.e. McKay’s Div. 1, FB NC’s weren’t worth a runny fireball SHIT.).
Oh yeah, Commie Lush, I forgot, there is one more difference betwixt Wooden and McKay…Wooden was always sober.
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My friend Owns,
All McKay’s NC’s came with victories over very good Notre Dame….and UCLA teams….
#Very,VerySatisfying
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Doak Walker wins the Heisman–
He carried the ball an average of 11 times per game, for over 500 yards, 4.9 yd avg
and had 16 receptions.
It was indeed a Different football era back then
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But come to think of it,
running the football was king
before they discovered you could
throw the darn thing
So you had a ratio of about 8:1 running
Hard to crack a defense when it knows it is a ‘run play
So Doak Walker’s 4.9 yard average might have been super
And with predominately running the scores are low
and touchdowns are Precious few
you remember back when
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