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USC football legend C.R. Roberts dies at 87 years old

Wade-Peeryby:Wade Peery07/12/23
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(Photo by Russell Lee /Sports Illustrated/Getty Images) (Set Number: X4130 TK2 R5 F9 )

Former USC football legend and Trojans’ Hall of Famer C.R. Roberts passed away on Tuesday, the University announced on Wednesday. The former fullback died of natural causes in suburban Norwalk, according to the Associated Press. Roberts was 87 years old. He was known for breaking through barriers in the state of Texas where he ran for a record-setting 251 rushing yards and three touchdowns against the Longhorns in 1956.

Check out their brief post below.

The 251-rushing yards in one game set the single-game rushing yardage mark for the USC football program. His record stood for nearly 20 years. Fearing rioting by the segregated crowd in Texas, USC’s coaching staff pulled him from the game early.

“I was upset that they didn’t want me down there,” Roberts said in a 2015 USC online article for Black History Month. “Damn right, I had something to prove to them.”

He helped lead the Trojans to a 44-20 win in the Texas game. Following the historic performance, he was revered as a hero in his return to campus.

Roberts couldn’t sleep on the team plane after he was bothered by boosters that wanted to congratulate him on his performance. It was quite the change from when he initially arrived on campus, and he faced backlash from the predominantly white student body. However, the USC football team welcomed him with open arms.

Following his career with USC, he graduated with a degree in business administration.

During his professional career, Roberts was drafted in the fourteenth round of the 1958 NFL Draft. He instead decided to sign with the Toronto Argonauts of the CFL. Early on in his career with the Argonauts, Roberts ran for 595 rushing yards and five touchdowns.

Eventually he was cut by the Argonauts and Roberts landed with the San Francisco 49ers, where he played from 1959-1962. He tried out for the Pittsburgh Steelers in 1959, but didn’t make their roster.

Roberts was born on Feb. 29, 1936. He grew up in Mississippi and eventually moved to California in grade school. He graduated from Oceanside High School–which is north of San Diego. There, Roberts had a prolific high school football career. He was named the 1953 state football player of the year as a senior, after he scored 65 touchdowns.

USC head football coach Lincoln Riley offered his condolences on Twitter on Wednesday evening, tweeting, “RIP Mr. Roberts.”

The former Trojan legend is survived by his daughters, Cathy Creasia and Chandra Roberts, his son Craig and his four grandchildren.