I’m not going to say linebacker Richard Wood (83) was underappreciated even though when there used to be a committee to pick the USC Hall of Fame, I constantly had to bring his name up to lobby for his inclusion. Eventually Wood made it. He was USC’s first three-time All-American. And he also made the College Football Hall of Fame.
So he’s worth a moment of appreciation. Plus any time there is a color picture, it’s worth looking at here. That’s defensive tackle Art Riley (70) also in the picture.
Scott, I NEVER heard you bring up Batman. I WAS there for several of the nominations AND vote. I’m calling BS.
So YOU nominated Batman?
No. But I sure as heck didn’t nominate JIMMY JONES.
Jimmy Jones was the first true 3 year starter for any major football program in the USA. He was ‘lights out’ his 2nd (sophmore) year (1969) the ‘Cardiac Kids’ year.
I had him in a class for two weeks until he chose to ‘drop’ – Biology for non-science majors in VKC – great class Jimmy should have hanged – we got a front row view of the apiary over in Hancock.
Jimmy blazed a path nationally for every other African-American qb – a full three years as USC’s QB.
Jimmy was a great kid. I played with him my freshman year.
You telling me he was better than Mike Rae? Laughable.
I didnt say that.
I actually raise my eyebrows on him being named to the Hall of Fame as he was not a top 10 USC QB. I beieve the USC Hall of Fame standards should be raised a bit. There are a few others Im not sure should be there.
Agree
Jones was a dog S QB. Mike Rae saved his rear end in the ND game in 71. Even Coach Fertig agreed.
Yeah but you know funny thing about that is USC won the 1970 – you know the year that fraud ‘Thays-mann’ chose to change the pronunciation of his last name to ‘Thys-mann’….the rain – a USC team coming in at 5-4 -1 and the Irish at 9-0 —- the ‘tie’ was against bel-air tech the week before – you had to be there – Parshegian thought it was 1964 all over again – it was but this time even worst.
As to ucla – my – sucla – anyone care to dig up what their sorry backends gave birth to?
I would not call him a dog S QB either. He was a Trojan QB who provided us with great memories. He was a gentleman of a guy. Well respected.
I agree, Mike Rae was much more deserving, but he won in such a dominant fashion it was like watching a factory work. Jones and the Cardiac Kids captured the fancy of the nation with their improbable wins like the last second win over Jim Plunkett and the Indians.
Thanks to Ron Ayala.
Batman was in my dorm his freshman year – Touton Hall!
What was he like as a student?
I remember he took a bet that he couldn’t bash his head through his dorm room wall – he won the bet.
I remember he took a bet that he couldn’t bash his head through his dorm room wall – he won the bet.
69 was a good year, undefeated, but Jimmy Jones frustrated the Trojans’ fans the entire game until the very end when he completed 4 passes in a row, the final one for a td that won the game 14-12.
And in typical SUCLA style they complained about the td.
Richard Wood was one of the four linemen who made up the ‘Wild Bunch.’ They were great collectively in ’69
And they complained about the pass interference that set up the touchdown bomb. Losers always blame the refs.
A great player and certainly a far more intimidating Batman than Michael Keaton or George Clooney.
Clooney almost singlehandedly killed the Batman franchise.
You posted that already – you refuse to accept his wins in 1969 and over ND at the Coliseum in the rain.
I remember seeing Vella with that huge grin on his face as the final seconds ticked down against the Irish – priceless – John finally was named AA his senior year (1971) and then off to the Raiders.
He is not deserving of the Hall of Fame, that’s my point.
Understand – you’ve heard the story that he had an ironclad commitment by McKay that he would be the starter for his three years of eligibility – you have to hand it to him (Jones) a high school player getting that kind of a guarantee from a head coach mere mos. after getting the NC in 1967.
Only because McKay wanted to be the first to have a black QB.
Yeah but it was also the full renaissance of the program as a true dominant national power – Jones coming west drew others to come as well – Richard Wood for one – both from back east. This was as impacting as Lew Alcindor-Kareem Jabarr choosing UCLA a true paradigm shift to the west.
Jones was the qb that famous day in September 1970 against AL. He led the team to a 10-0-1 record in 1969 – defeated MI in the Rose Bowl and Troy finished 3rd that year.
He was as integral in changing America’s perception of black quarterbacks being the ‘first’ to lead a national program – he also went on and won a Grey Cup in the CFL for Montreal Alouettes – he got with what he had and is deserving to be in USC’s Hall Of Fame
Great. He was/is not in the Top 10 QBs in USC history. Mike Rae is. Period. And I like JJ, but he’s not HOF material. BTW, Rae was with Toronto when they won the Grey Cup AND the Raiders when they won the SUPER BOWL.