FOOTBALL

If It’s Friday, It’s Time For A USC Notes Column

It’s pretty laughable that Lincoln Riley said recruiting in California remains priority No. 1.

You think he has visited Mater Dei or any top high school in Southern California much in the past 6-7 months? If Riley wants to bend the truth, he needs to win some games because people are less forgiving with your act when you lose games.

He prefers Georgia. No big deal. Just admit it.

The smug genius isn’t great at admitting things, though, especially after a loss. At some point he will learn he is no longer at Oklahoma and can’t just say things that aren’t true.

  • And now for some history:
  • Ken Del Conte was a halfback on the 1962 national championship team and three-year letterman. He was the third-leading receiver on the 1962 team, returned punts and kickoffs and was awarded the game ball after a 14-0 victory over Washington. He was also elected student body president his senior year.

But in the 1966 picture above, he was playing the lead role of Conrad Birdie in the musical “Bye Bye Birdie” at the Valley Music Theater in Woodland Hills, following a two-week stint in the same role in Salt Lake City.

Del Conte had a long career in Hollywood as an actor, director and producer. He had acting parts in Batman, Bonanza, Charlie’s Angels, CHiPS, Cagney and Lacey and Falcon Crest.

  • I’ve mentioned some famous graduates of Los Angeles High School a few times in this column. You know who else went there? George Toley, who won 10 NCAA championships as the tennis coach at USC from 1954-80.
George Toley

In his first 12 years at USC, he went to the NCAA championships nine times and won six titles. One of his best players was Stan Smith, who is most famous today for the Adidas shoe that bears his name and likeness.

But Toley also won with a stable of international stars, including Alex Olmedo (Peru), Rafael Osuna (Mexico), Joaquín Loyo-Mayo (Mexico), Raúl Ramírez (Mexico) and Marcelo Lara (Mexico).

  • Speaking of Los Angeles High School, Dwight Middleton was another graduate who then went to USC and won the NCAA 440-yard championship in 1966.
  • Actress Greer Garson spoke at USC in 1966 for the unveiling of a collection of rare film memorabilia.
  • Earl McCullough might be the best two-sport star at USC.

He was a wide receiver at USC and played on the 1967 national championship team. He was a first-round pick in the NFL draft and offensive rookie of the year with the Detroit Lions.

He was also a two-time NCAA champion in the 110-yard high hurdles (1967-68) and a member of the USC world-record holding 4 x 110-yard relay team that still holds the record today.

  • This USC basketball roster for 1966-67 contains a couple recognizable names: Tom Selleck and Jerry Sharman, who was the son of former USC All-American Bill Sharman.
  • A USC alum who also worked in the athletic dept. sent me some items that I’m going to publish.

This is part of the crowd of 1,500 USC fans that waited at L.A. International Airport to greet the Trojan basketball team when it returned from the Final Four in 1954. How many do you think would go to the airport today if they could greet the basketball team for a similar accomplishment?

Here is a Christmas card from Chick Hearn in 1957, when he used to announce USC games. I’m including the postmark because in those days, they would include the time of day.

Here is a Christmas card that Corky McKay, the wife of John McKay, sent out on behalf of the McKay family in 1962. Note her personal inscription on the card.

PICTURE OF THE WEEK

This was a hosiery ad featuring Wilhelmina Cooper, Sharon Tate, Josephine Attominoff, and Jean Shrimpton photographed by William Helburn in 1967.

VIDEO OF THE WEEK

Actress Mitzi Gaynor died Thursday at the age of 93. She is best known for her role in the musical “South Pacific.”

https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js

65 thoughts on “If It’s Friday, It’s Time For A USC Notes Column”

    1. SC won’t wait another 70-years for a Final Four

      By the way, Wiley at OK didn’t have to apologize much because he never lost more than 2 games in a season

      Liked by 1 person

      Reply

      1. But he would always choke in the playoffs despite having superior talent. SC ignored that when they paid him the $110 million. Lincoln Riley is not a best value.

        Liked by 1 person

      2. I just tried a football post, but was shut down. Haven’t seem Barrister Guarino in some time – I hope he is ok.

        Like

      4. So many have been missing from the blog: Michael, George, Ed. G (he was back for a couple of posts but largely has been gone), James, Bourbon, Calabasas, Marviena, Wolcott, Flintstone, Steveg, USCdude, the list goes on.

        Like

      1. YOU’RE A F U C K ING POLITICAL NUT-JOB…….SEEK HELP, YOU’RE NOT RIGHT BETWEEN THE EARS

        FREEEEEEEEEEEAK!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

        Like

      2. Cowardly Gabby is back! We had hoped you are perished in a bizarre vending machine accident, but no such luck. You have had a bad week with your heroine Kamala even getting ripped by Democrat Jim Gaffigan: https://x.com/charliekirk11/status/1847095163690406227?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw%7Ctwcamp%5Etweetembed%7Ctwterm%5E1847095163690406227%7Ctwgr%5E3a97a3ccd09f2ac09075dd11402c3e3522f33178%7Ctwcon%5Es1_&ref_url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.thegatewaypundit.com%2F2024%2F10%2Fjim-gaffigan-eviscerates-kamala-harris-democrats-exposes-coup%2F

        Like

      4. Was great when Trump pointed out that if the charity had been raising money to bail out rioters, she’d have been there! So true.

        Like

      1. YAF Calls Out UCLA AGAIN for Restricting the Speech of Patriotic Students. “Will Antisemite Democrat Run UCLA and the other far-left indoctrination centers that call themselves our nation’s universities ever learn? Will they ever recall that Americans, including American students, have First Amendment rights? Will they ever admit that even those who dissent from the left’s agenda have a right to be heard and that university administrators, of all people, should respect that right?”

        Like

      2. It’s amazing how much they trample on the Constitution, especially the 1st Amendment, while claiming Trump would be the one who ignores it. ALWAYS accusing the other side of what they’re guilty, just like our buddy.

        Like

      1. Charming: If that’s all they got on me, that I supposedly am offending Catholics in that clip, then I see smooth sailing the rest of the way

        Prince: Oh there’s more turbulence ahead for both of us

        Like

      2. Corrupt Deep State Biden-Harris Regime Announces Protected Status for Lebanese Murderous Muslims from Country Plagued by Islamic Terrorism To Appeal To Muslim Voters In Michigan.

        Like

      5. Normal people care about Kamala inviting Murderous Muslim Hezbollah terrorists to America, Cowardly Gabby. You are such a full mooner Democrat you told us Senile Biden was as sharp as a tack even after George Clooney admitted it and had Biden deposed. All you care about is destroying this blog and destroying America.

        Like

  7. Let’s see if one more can be sneaked in–

    Charming: There is nothing better than people at their best, and nothing worse than people at their worst

    Prince: And in our profession we often catch the worst

    Like

    Reply

    1. Hamas’s genocidal leader, Yahya Sinwar, was killed in Rafah. Remember, Kamala Harris “studied the maps” and demanded that Israel not enter Rafah. Sinwar would be alive today and terrorizing the world if she got her way. Kamala Harris cannot be trusted as commander-in-chief. https://x.com/mattdizwhitlock/status/1847058531150606369?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw%7Ctwcamp%5Etweetembed%7Ctwterm%5E1847058531150606369%7Ctwgr%5E2bf39d4e6482d780829fb046d48191e817f135d3%7Ctwcon%5Es1_&ref_url=https%3A%2F%2Finstapundit.com%2F678473%2F

      Liked by 1 person

      Reply

      2. When asked by Bret if she would still advocate for trans’ gender affirming surgeries for inmates on the taxpayers’ dime, her reply was “I will follow the law.”

        That wasn’t the question!! She has ZERO business being the leader of the free world. All that would result in is more deaths & suffering. But her voters would lie about being responsible, the way Biden voters do.

        Like

      4. Cowardly Gabby, why do you always invoke violence when we all know you are The Coward of the County?

        Plow Horse

        AUGUST 31, 2024 AT 9:42 PM

        I thought Gabby said a few days back that he was going to the USC marching band pep rally today at the Palms at 2:00 and wanted to “meet up” with Scott.

        Instead, he spent the day trolling the blog.

        Once again a threat followed by a no show. That’s our Cowardly Gabby.

        All talk, no walk.

        Like

    1. Au contraire, my friend. I’ll take either of the two brunettes over Tate. She’s pretty, yes. But I’ve always leaned towards dark haired beauties.

      Diane Lane is one my RARE exceptions.

      Liked by 1 person

      Reply

    1. I wonder if he even knows what triggers the bot to censor posts. Better yet, he should upgrade the Model T software to the 21st century.

      Like

      Reply

  12. Recalling Ken Del Conte and that 1962 SC National Championship team is a reminder that after a dismal 1950s by the football team the start of 1962 had coliseum “crowds” of 29,000, 35,000 and 49,000 before the team caught on with the public

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply

  13. That 1962 team also featured All-American Hal Bedsole who when in high school stormed over my Birmingham team like a man among boys. The Braves had an All-City quarterback named Tom Lupo who was relegated to place-kicking on that ’62 team

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply

  15. Part of the problem for sports teams and fans in Los Angeles is that there is so much sports competition for attention that if you don’t win “they will not come”

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply

  16. As far as the whereabouts of MG goes, he has been known to take occasional siestas from this blog, so chances are he is fine

    Like

    Reply

  17. There were still 6 games to go after Penn St and starting with Maryland tomorrow that will not be a lay down game for SC with Maryland having a quarterback with about the same stats as Moss and throwing to a wideout with the most catches in the Big-10

    Like

    Reply

    1. Detroit Democrats Hold Training Session for Poll Challengers, Reveal: Increased Number of Goons Will Be Present to Abuse GOP Challengers, The Goal Is to Attack GOP Inspectors, All Ballots Will be Allowed!

      Like

      Reply

  18. Oh yeah, and the coast-to-coast traveling teams in the Big-10 are 2-9 with Penn St barely escaping

    With the District of Columbia so close it would be nice if the Trojan team would take the time out to visit the place where the Democrats and Republicans take turns in bringing down the country

    Like

    Reply

  19. Charming: With your cozying up to dictators like Putin there is a concern as to which side you would take in an all out war

    Prince: As usual I’ll be on the winning side

    Like

    Reply

      1. Of course he does. He knows she is as weak as Dementia Joe and he’ll be able to ignore her the same way! Iran feels the same way!!

        Like

Leave a comment