Ransom Dies
Walt Ransom, a backup quarterback on the 1978 national championship team, died on Wednesday. Ransom alleged that USC fraudulently denied him a degree in 1981 but the university retroactively awarded it in 2006. He filed a $2.1 million lawsuit in 2007 that was dismissed because the statute of limitations expired.
WALT RANSOM, MEMBER OF USC'S 1978 NATIONAL FOOTBALL CHAMPS, DIES
LOS ANGELES-Walt Ransom, a backup quarterback on USC's 1978 national championship football team and a first round pick in the 1968 major league baseball draft, died on Wednesday (Jan. 21) in Newport Beach, Calif. He was 57.
Ransom redshirted at USC in 1976 after transferring from East Los Angeles Junior College. He then appeared in just 1 Trojan game in both 1977 as a 26-year-old junior and 1978 as a senior.
After earning All-Los Angeles City honors in both football (as a quarterback) and baseball (as a shortstop) as a senior at South Gate (Calif.) High in 1967, he was the first round draft choice of the Boston Red Sox in 1968. He played 4 seasons in the Red Sox minor league system before returning to football.
He led East Los Angeles JC to the 1974 California state championship as a freshman, then earned JC All-American honorable mention honors in 1975 while appearing in 8 games before getting injured.
After USC, he worked in a variety of businesses, including serving as a volunteer assistant football coach at USC in 1981 and 1982.
He is survived by his mother Lorraine, his brothers Craig, Mike, Tim and Vincent, his sister Colleen and his daughter Lorrie.
Plans for a memorial service are pending.
The Donkey says, way to focus on the negative Scott. The release says nothing of Ransom's lawsuit, yet you feel it should be brought up. The Donkey says "scott you are a scandalous gal."
The Don Key is percipient. Always enjoy his comments.
Somebody out there is using my handle. I am the East Coast Trojan. I never would have made such a crude remark about Rey after the Rose Bowl - even if his post game actions may have been salacious.