Advertisement

Reagan Follows Football Script

Share
TIMES STAFF WRITER

Former President Ronald Reagan has been saying it for nearly half a century, so when he paid a surprise visit to USC’s Rose Bowl-bound football team during practice Saturday, the script was never in doubt.

“Win one for the Gipper,” the 78-year-old former actor told the players, repeating a line that has endured since his performance as terminally ill George Gipp in the 1940 film “Knute Rockne--All American.”

Dressed in flared blue jeans, a checked shirt open at the collar and Nike track shoes, a grinning Reagan strolled onto the field about 11:30 a.m. and spent about 20 minutes chatting at the 50-yard line with players who had been told only moments earlier of the visit.

Advertisement

Reagan, who played right guard in college for the Eureka Golden Tornadoes football team, has been an avid Trojans fan since shedding his presidential neutrality earlier this year, Coach Larry Smith said. Twice, Reagan has personally contacted members of the team to offer his congratulations on a fine performance or his condolences because of an injury.

“He’s in Southern California now, so he’s a fan of the Southern California football team,” said Smith, whose squad will be two-point favorites when they meet the Michigan Wolverines in Pasadena for the Jan. 1 Rose Bowl game. “It’s a nice little lift for us.”

Reagan won a round of laughter and applause when he told the team how, as Gipp, he was tripped by opposing players while trying to film a touchdown run. He finally solved the problem by bowling them all over on his 60-yard sprint.

Then he was asked to throw a football to USC’s top receiver, John Jackson, who ran about 10 yards and cut to his right, looking for the pass.

“I think at my age, you better keep it a very short pattern,” said Reagan, as he cocked back and fired a bullet right into Jackson’s hands.

“I’ll take him,” Jackson, 22, later said. “He’s got a nice, tight spiral.”

Before it was all over, Reagan was presented with a large-sized, cardinal and gold colored sweat suit, he slapped hands with the players in a “high-five” salute and he posed crouched on one knee for a team photo.

Advertisement

Then he strolled off, as members of the team, still perspiring from their vigorous practice that morning, relished the moment.

“Everybody’s familiar with the President, but few get to catch a pass from him,” Jackson said. “I’m going to go call my mom right now.”

Advertisement