So Cal's All-Time Roster: No. 16
No. 16:
Our pick:
==Gary Beban, UCLA football (1965-'67)
The 1967 Heisman Trophy winner -- by less than 200 points over runner up O.J. Simpson -- quarterbacked the Bruins to 24 wins in his three seasons, running for 35 touchdowns (the most in school history at the time) and throwing for 4,087 yards. As a senior, he threw for 1,359 yards with eight TDs and eight interceptions, but had 11 rushing touchdowns. The game that was supposed to clinch the award for him was the season-ender against USC. Simpson broke off his legendary 64-yard run to lead the Trojans to the win, but Beban came out with the trophy (given to Simpson the next year).
In 1965, sophomore Beban led the Bruins to a 20-16 win over Mike Garrett and the Trojans with a 49-yard touchdown pass to Kurt Altenberg. UCLA went on to upset No. 1 Michigan in the Rose Bowl 14-12.
Beban missed the '66 UCLA-USC game because of a broken ankle (leading to backup Norman Dow's victory march in a 14-7 decision). However, USC was voted by the conference athletic directors to go to the Rose Bowl because many believed Beban couldn't play due to his injury and USC gave the Pac-10 a better chance to win. UCLA students blocked the northbound lanes of the 405 freeway at Wilshire Blvd. As it turned out, USC lost to Notre Dame 51-0, then lost to Purdue 14-13 in the Rose Bowl while Beban's ankle healed and he could have played.
The Rams drafted Beban after his college career, but he went to the Washington Redskins and only lasted two years as a backup.
He was elected to the College Hall of Fame in '88 and in the SI.com list of the greatest college football players associated with a particular number, Beban has ownership to No. 16.
Runner ups:
==Marcel Dionne, Kings ('75-'87)
==Frank Gifford, USC football ('49-'51)
==Rodney Peete, USC football ('85-'88)
==Lisa Fernandez, UCLA softball ('90-'93)
==Jim Plunkett, Raiders ('82-'86, started wearing it in Oakland in '78)
==Garrett Anderson, Angels ('94- )
Other No. 16s:
==Paul LoDuca, Dodgers ('99-'04)
==Hideo Nomo, Dodgers ('95-'98, also No. 10 in '02-'04)
==Rick Monday, Dodgers ('77-'84)
==Paul McDonald, USC football ('77-'79)
==Augie Garrido, Cal State Fullerton baseball coach ('73-'87 and '91-'96)
Winningest coach in college baseball history included three national titles at CSF ('79, '84 and '95), plus two more at Texas
Sports Illustrated's choice for the all-time No. 16: Joe Montana, over Brett Hull
Did we miss anyone?
You've got our vote, now let's see yours: