The USC Trojans football team has enjoyed phenomenal success over the years. 1970 and 1975 were not banner years for the program by any stretch; however, Troy defeated rival Notre Dame both years, all but ruining the Fighting Irish's chances for a National Title each time. This lot includes two Trojan-emblazoned, team-signed footballs from those seasons. The first is signed in blue ballpoint by 31 (that we can count) members of the 1970 team, including the USC's "all-black" backfield (the first of its kind in NCAA D-I history) of quarterback Jimmy Jones, running back Clarence Davis and running back Sam Cunningham. On September 12, 1970, USC opened the season visiting the University of Alabama, coached by the legendary Paul "Bear" Bryant, and became the first fully integrated team to play in the state of Alabama. The game, scheduled by Bryant, resulted in a resounding 42–21 win for the Trojans. More importantly, all 6 USC TD's were scored by African-American players. Some signatures on the '70 ball have faded from sunlight exposure, although most remain legible and rate an average 7/10.
The second football with a "Wilson" stamp and "1975 SC" marked by the laces is signed by 48 members of the 1975 team that finished with an 8-4 record. Most signatures are legible, although the ball shows some discoloration over time and many autographs have faded from handling and sunlight. Notables include captains Kevin Bruce and Danny Reece as well as quarterback Vince Evans and running back Ricky Bell. Average boldness is 5-6/10.
Includes Letter of Provenance from the Newport Sports Museum.
Pre-certified by PSA/DNA.