USC Iconic Play Of The Day

usc-notre-dame-1931In 1931, USC kicker Johnny Baker’s 33-yard field goal defeated Notre Dame, 16-14. It was the Trojans’ first victory in South Bend. USC scored all 16 points in the fourth quarter. Notre Dame’s 26-game winning streak was snapped. After the game, USC coach Howard Jones took the team to the grave of Notre Dame coach Knute Rockne, who died the previous spring in a plane crash. Jones laid a wreath and the team observed a minute’s silence.

When USC arrived back in Los Angeles by train, a parade was held and attended by 300,000 fans.

25 thoughts on “USC Iconic Play Of The Day

  1. That’s a Great Story !

    And what a Great Game !!

    Man, what a show of Respect !!!

    Kudos to the person (Scott) who posted this !!!!!

    FightOn

  2. WOLF…great memory…my grandfather used to tell me about this game and all the thundering herd games..this was in the 50’s and I used to think that is so long ago….and I bet they prayed at his grave, not the pc moment of silence routine

    • AT that time USC was still structured as a religious school, so of course they would have prayed. Many used to joke that the game was the protestants vs the catholics, but not so much anymore.

      • my dad went to SC and dental school and taught there after he semi retired, when he walked us around campus in early 50’s he pointed out the old chapel…as stated it was Methodist

  3. I’m sorry, but call BS.

    The population of Los Angeles in 1930 was less than 700,000.

    Half of them showed up to the parade?

    • Even if it is BS–it is still a nice story. Legends and myths always stretch the truth a bit. That is what helps stoke interest. Fight On!

      • It ain’t no myth – Notre Dame was invincible – Troy prevailed – the fans gathered to honor them.

    • The population of the City of LA was over 1 million in 1930 – that’s not even including the county – an additional 1.1 million.

          • There was 2 million people in LA county in 1930?
            Wow.

            15% of Los Angeles county showed up to the parade/train station, depending on what we want to believe.

          • The Lakers, the Dodgers, the Angels, etc. Too much to do for sports fans in Los Angeles i guess.

          • It’s just doesn’t fit. The team had to take a train. Not many cars yet, or any planes.

            But 300,000 people show up to one spot in 1931?

          • Well then you have no idea of how teams traveled prior to 1945.

            steveg has it right – no: tv, no major league teams (MLB, NHL, NBA or NFL) – USC is what put LA on the map. It’s success is what prompted the boosters to get the 10th Olympiad. It was also the reason Dan Reeves moved the Cleveland Rams here in 1946.

          • Sure, you had to add the population of LA county to make th 300,000 showing up more convincing.

            2 years into the depression and people are spending discretionary income like that. Fine.

          • Look the International Olympic Committee

            awarded the 10th Olympiad to LA in 1923 – yeah for real 1923. The LA boosters were the sole city willing to host the games that far ahead i.e. the population was there to support the games and thus yea verily 300,000 is very believable.

          • As I now understand, there were over 1 million people in LA at that time, so it wasn’t a small town.
            But no, I havent.

  4. Had we known Kiffin was going to get fired at LAX, 300,000 may have shown up at the Airport for a parade that night.

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