Countdown to Kickoff: 62 Days

As we continue on our daily countdown towards the 2007 season, we are now at 62. John McKay took over as head coach at USC in 1960 and won 4 national championships and produced 2 Heisman Trophy winners. His first title came in 1962...

[pic courtesy of: College Football Hall of Fame]

McKay's 1962 team finished with an 11-0 record after beating Wisconsin 42-37 in the Rose Bowl. Tailback U was established during the McKay era. Mike Garrett and O.J. Simpson won the '65 and '68 Heisman Trophy awards, and tailback Sam "Bam" Cunningham helped integrate college football in the south after the famous 1970 game against Alabama, in which they rolled over the Crimson Tide 42-21. John's son Rich McKay is a well respected executive in the NFL, serving as GM for the Atlanta Falcons. John McKay passed away on June 10, 2001 but his legend lives on.

Fight On!