So Cal's All-Time Roster: No. 12
No. 12:
Our pick:
==Charles White, USC football (1976-'79), Rams (1985-88)
His bio on the Rose Bowl legends website notes that the TV show, American Gladiators, held special "Pro Football Challenge of Champions" shows in its third and fourth season, and White won both of them, coming from behind in the Eliminator "thanks to slip-ups by his opponents." The former San Fernando High star didn't do things the easy way.
Even though he was the backup to Ricky Bell, White spent his freshman year gaining 858 yards and running for 10 touchdowns (Bell had 1,417 yards and 14 scores). As a sophomore, White had 1,478 yards. As a junior, he had 1,859 yards. As a senior, it was a magical 2,050 yards -- a Pac-10 record. He finished with 5,598 yards (not including bowl games) and ended up setting or tying 22 NCAA, Pac-10 and Rose Bowl records, while running behind Anthony Munoz, Brad Budde, Keith Van Horn, Pat Howell and Roy Foster.
In the Rose Bowl, he really took to the spolight. In the '77 game against Michigan, he replaced the injured Bell and ran for 122 yards and a TD. In the '79 win over Michigan, he had 99 yards and a phantom 3-yard dive for a score. In '80, he ripped off 247 yards (a record, which included 71 yards during an 83-yard drive on eight plays with 5:21 left).
"Charlie is simply the most competitive athlete I've ever seen," said USC coach John Robinson.
The Heisman was his, preventing Billy Sims from becoming a two-time winner. A College Football Hall of Fame entry came in 1996, a year after he was enshrined into the USC Hall of Fame.
The Cleveland Browns made him the 27th overall choice in the 1980 draft. He eventually hooked up with coach Robinson with the Rams in 1987 and had a league-best 1,387 yards and 11 touchdowns and NFL Comeback Player of the Year honors and a Pro Bowl selection.
Runner-ups:
==Dusty Baker, Dodgers ('76-'83)
==Pete Beathard, USC football ('61-'63)
==Mark Langston, Angels ('90-'97)
Other No. 12s:
==Tommy Davis, Dodgers ('60-'66)
==Jeff Kent, Dodgers ('05- )
==Denise Curry, UCLA women’s basketball ('78-'81)
==Todd Marinovich, Raiders (’91-92)
==Joe Namath, Rams (’77, 4 games, 3 TD passes, 5 Ints.)
==Pat Riley, Lakers ('71-'76)
==Vlade Divac, Lakers ('89-'96, '04-'05)
==Rod Sherman, USC football ('64-'66)
==Gerald Madkins, UCLA basketball ('87-'92)
==Toby Bailey, UCLA basketball ('94-'98)
==Terry Bell, Pepperdine football ('48 little school All American at quarterback)
==Craig Buck, Pepperdine men's volleyball (two-time All-American)
==Ryan Francis, USC basketball ('05-'06)
Sports Illustrated's vote for the all-time No. 12: Tom Brady, over Terry Bradshaw and John Stockton.
Did we miss anyone?
You've got our vote, now let's see yours: