Larry Smith

Larry Smith inherited some talent from Ted Tollner, but he helped turn the program around after a lackluster SC 1980s. And in fact the 1988 team was No. 2 and met No. 1 Notre Dame. At the end of the half, a receiver fell down, ND intercepted, Rodney Peete tried to make a tackle but was blocked so hard he dislocated his shoulder, and the ND kid went all the way for a backbreaking td right before half. And that was that, but at least we had a shot at a title that year.

Of course Coach Smith will also be remembered for losing a bowl game to Fresno State, and for stating that nobody any longer feared the SC uniform. After that nice run of 3 rose bowls in a row in the 87 to 89 seasons (with finally a victory in the 90 bowl), it was another dry period for the Trojans until some relatively unknown came to town in 2001 and turned SC into the team of the 2000s (with apologies to LSU).

Coach was a decent man, although he had a bit of that midwest holier than thou bent. But all in all, he was a gentleman, and I will remember him as such.

I was on campus during his career at SC...felt he got a bit of a raw deal when they let him go for JR II.

I always felt that Smith came in as a lion, but left as a lamb. He went 3-8 and 6-5-1 in his last two years. I'll never forget a loss at home to Memphis State, of all teams, during that dismal 3-8 season. He went 3-2-1 vs. fUCLA. The two losses came in his last two years, and were the first of 8 in a row by the bRuins. He was 0-6 vs. Notre Dame, including the memorable 1 v. 2 match-up in the Coliseum. (Damn that Tony Rice). He was fired on New Year's Day after the 24-7 loss to Fresno State in the Freedom Bowl.

I was never that big of a fan of Coach Smith, however this is sad news. I pass on my condolences and prayers to the Smith family. Coach Smith, Fight On!