In the middle of UCLA’s domination in basketball under John Wooden, USC actually had a freshman team that went 18-1 and swept the Bruins freshman team during the 1971-72 season. The Trojans even beat UCLA, 89-86, at Pauley Pavilion. The top Trobabes were forward Clint Chapman (17.7 points per game), forward Bill Boyd (15.4), guard Gus Williams (14.3), forward John Lambert (13.5), guard Biff Burrell … Continue reading In Praise Of Freshmen Basketball

I wrote this morning about the controversial hit Mike McKeever put on Cal tailback Steve Bates. Here’s another hit from the same season that appears to be delivered by Marlin McKeever. And below is Marlin after USC defeated UCLA. Continue reading USC Picture Of The Day

Since the USC women’s track won the Pac-12 title last weekend, let’s take a moment to appreciate USC track coach Jess Mortensen. He doesn’t have his name on the field like Dean Cromwell but he won seven NCAA titles and had an 81-0 meet record before his untimely death from a heart attack, a week before the start of the 1962 season. Continue reading A USC Record Few Remember

You just never know who showed up at USC football games in the past. Here is legendary director Alfred Hitchcock speaking at halftime of a USC game in 1959, where he urged female graduates to attend the Alumnae Day Picnic. Hitchcock is speaking at the USC-Baylor game on Nov. 14, 1959, a week before Homecoming vs. UCLA. Also in the late 1950’s, Yankees legend Joe … Continue reading USC Picture Of The Night

In honor of National Pet Day, here is the original George Tirebiter, in full glory and living color, from the 1947 football season. On Oct. 22, 1947, a 30-car parade was held to crown him USC’s official mascot. This is not the cute cuddly Tirebiter that followed and became the model for the statue near Exposition Blvd. This is surly George, who bit UCLA’s Joe Bruin on … Continue reading Time To Celebrate George Tirebiter

Look, Lynn Swann actually signed autographs (and photos) in 1973. But this was before he went to the Steelers and won four Super Bowls and became much too important for everyone. Continue reading USC Picture Of The Night