LOS ANGELES -- You could arguably assert that the 1962 USC Trojans football team not only surprised a nation and won the mythical national championship, but they helped legendary coach John McKay from becoming a footnote.

It was hotly rumored that some members of the USC Board of Trustees wanted to oust McKay after a 4-5-1 season in 1961. Combined with his 4-6-0 first-year campaign in 1960, the coach's future was clearly as shaky as a California earthquake.

As it all turned out, that magical 1962 season 50 years ago became the gateway for the John McKay era that brought to this private university the first of his four national championships.

To continue reading this article you must be an Insider

• Recommend0
• Tweet0
• Email
• Subscribe