O/NSO: Celebrating the 11 USC national championship football teams edition - Part 2

The Obvious: Last Friday, the O/NSO presented Part 1 of our celebration of USC’s 11 national championship teams, which included the teams from 1928, 1931, 1932, 1939, 1962, and 1967.

The Not So Obvious: In Part 2 of our O/NSO national championship celebration, we examine the national championship teams of 1972, 1974, 1978, 2003, and 2004 with a big assist from the Trojans’ football media guide, photos, and video. So crank up Conquest and let’s get to it.

The Obvious: In 1972, the Trojans (12-0) captured their seventh national title and third under John McKay with a team that is arguably the greatest in college football history.

The Not So Obvious: “The 1972 national champions averaged 39 points per game and never trailed in the second half. In going 12-0-0, the Trojans scored 467 points, second most in school history. The defense intercepted 28 passes, limited their opponents to 2.5 yards per rush, and never gave up a run longer than 29 yards.

“The roster was a perfect blend of talent, youth, and experience. Senior Mike Rae and sophomore Pat Haden handled the quarterback duties. Sophomore Anthony Davis rushed for 1,191 yards despite not starting until the eighth game. All-American fullback Sam “Bam” Cunningham was an outstanding blocker and a tremendous leaper, especially in goal-line situations.Tight end Charles Young was equally adept blocking and receiving, while split ends Lynn Swann, Edesel Garrison and J.K. McKay were excellent pass catchers.

“The defense was fast and strong. Sophomore linebacker Richard Wood burst onto the scene with 18 tackles in the season-opener on his way to garnering All- American honors. John Grant and Jeff Winans anchored the defensive line, while Artimus Parker, Charles Phillips and Charles Hinton led the secondary.

USC was unanimously chosen No. 1 in the final AP and UPI polls, the first team to be so honored.”

Below are the highlights of the 1973 Rose Bowl, a game that USC crushed Ohio State in the second half to clinch the national championship.

The Obvious: In 1974, the Trojans (10-1-1) earned their eighth national championship and fourth for John McKay.

The Not So Obvious: “The 1974 team earned John McKay his fourth national title behind the big-play heroics of All-American tailback Anthony Davis, the steady leadership of quarterback Pat Haden, and the clutch play of a defense that forced the second-highest interception total in USC history. Davis, the runner-up for the Heisman Trophy, rushed for 1,421 yards and 13 touchdowns.

“Senior linebacker Richard Wood, Troy’s only three-time All-American, led the defense. Defensive back Charles Phillips set NCAA records for most interception return yardage in a season (302), most interception return yardage in a game (181), highest average gain per interception for one game (90.5), and most touchdowns on interception returns in a season (3). The win over Notre Dame, dubbed “The Comeback,” was sparked by Davis’ 102-yard kickoff return to start the second half. Trailing 24-0 late in the second quarter, the Trojans scored 55 unanswered points in just under 17 minutes to win going away.

“USC had five players selected to the All-American team for the third consecutive year. A school-record 12 Trojans were selected to the All-Conference squad (since equaled by the 1989 Trojans). Fourteen players from the 1974 team were taken in the NFL draft—an all-time record also shared by the 1976 Trojan team.”

Note: WeAreSC columnist Kevin Bruce (No. 50) was a starting linebacker on the 1974 champs and a future all-conference selection.

Below is the the 1974 “Comeback” win over Notre Dame in the Coliseum that defined this national championship team, a group determined to win the national title.

The Obvious: In 1978, the Trojans (12-1), under head coach John Robinson, receipted for its ninth national championship.

The Not So Obvious: “The 1978 national champions were a USC team stocked with great college players and several future NFL stars. The Trojans finished 12-1. All-American tailback Charles White rushed for 1,859 yards to become the Pac-10 career rushing leader as a junior. Freshman tailback Marcus Allen provided depth. Quarterback Paul McDonald led the conference in passing and tied a USC record with 19 touchdown passes. Fullback Lynn Cain rushed for 977 yards, the most ever by a Trojan fullback. Flanker Kevin Williams had 17 receptions, 10 of them for touchdowns. The offensive line included All-American guard Pat Howell, All-Pac-10 tackle Anthony Munoz (considered by many to be the game’s greatest tackle ever) and All-Pac-10 guard Brad Budde (a four-year starter and the 1979 Lombardi Award winner). The back-ups on the line included future All-Pros Roy Foster and Keith Van Horne.

“The defense featured the talented safety duo of Dennis Smith and Ronnie Lott. Linebackers Dennis Johnson (the team’s tackle leader) and Riki Gray manned the middle, while Larry McGrew and Chip Banks roamed the outside. Rich Dimler, Myron Lapka and Dennis Edwards keyed the defensive line.The Trojans’ only loss was at Arizona State, 20-7.”

Below are highlights of the Trojans 1978 victory over UCLA, a game which featured not only a national championship team but a team of national championship talent.

The Obvious: In 2003, the Trojans (12-1) under head coach Pete Carroll, finally got its tenth national championship and Carroll’s first.

The Not So Obvious: “Head coach Pete Carroll, in just his third year at Troy, guided his Trojans to a 12-1 record and their second consecutive Pac-10 title.

After a 25-year hiatus, USC returned to the top of the college football world when it won the 2003 AP national championship.

“Not many predicted the 2003 team’s success. After all, these Trojans had to replace a Heisman Trophy winner (Carson Palmer) and an All-American safety (Troy Polamalu), among others. Five players won All-American first team honors: quarterback Matt Leinart, wide receiver Mike Williams, defensive end Kenechi Udeze, offensive tackle Jacob Rogers and punter Tom Malone.

“Other key contributors were wide receiver Keary Colbert, who became USC’s career receptions leader, the rotating tailback threesome of Hershel Dennis, LenDale White (the first true freshman to top Troy in rushing) and Reggie Bush, cornerback Will Poole, center Norm Katnik, defensive tackles Shaun Cody and Mike Patterson, placekicker Ryan Killeen and linebacker Lofa Tatupu.

“The Trojan defense topped the nation in rushing defense and was second in turnover margin, forcing 42 turnovers and scoring 8 TDs.”

Below are highlights of the 2003 season that brought the Trojans their first national championship since 1978.

The Obvious: In 2004, the Trojans (13-0) repeated as national champions, giving Pete Carroll his second consecutive title, and a school total of 11 national championships.

The Not So Obvious: “From the start of training camp, the motto for the 2004 USC football team was ‘Leave No Doubt.’ The Trojans did just that, winning their second consecutive national championship. And, unlike 2003, this title was undisputed, as USC demolished Oklahoma in the BCS Championship Game in the Orange Bowl, 55-19. Troy went 11-0 overall (not including two wins vacated due to NCAA penalty; original record: 13-0, a school record for victories) and became just the second team ever to hold the AP No. 1 ranking from preseason through the entire campaign. It was only the 10th time that a team won back-to-back AP crowns.

“Troy set a USC and Pac-10 record for home attendance average, as well as school records for total home attendance, overall attendance average and total overall attendance.

“A school-record six Trojans (Heisman Trophy quarterback Matt Leinart, Heisman finalist tailback Reggie Bush, defensive linemen Shaun Cody and Mike Patterson, and linebackers Matt Grootegoed and Lofa Tatupu) were named All-American first teamers. Leinart and Bush were named the Pac-10 Co-Offensive Players of the Year, while Cody was the Pac-10 Co-Defensive Player of the Year.”

Below is video of one of the greatest USC teams of all-time, the 2004 club that dominated college football.

The Obvious: And finally, you’ve now had a chance to learn about, recall, or relive the 11 USC national championship football teams. So what team was the greatest of the great? You can check out our opinion on the subject in the video near the top of this column, which is a debate between the 1972 team and the 2004 team.

The Not So Obvious: Of course, a bigger debatable question is when will national championship No. 12 make an appearance? We may not know when, but we know it’s coming if history is any indication.