Simpson’s Heisman Trophy, Jersey Stolen From USC Display

O.J. Simpson’s 1968 Heisman Trophy and USC football jersey have been stolen from plexiglass display cases in the lobby of the university’s athletic department, a school spokesman said.

Custodians noticed that the items were missing at 10 p.m. Thursday and notified security officers, said USC campus Police Chief Steven Ward. He said someone had unscrewed the covers to the cases to get the memorabilia.

Los Angeles police, who were called to investigate, believe two thieves were responsible, said Officer Lorie Taylor, a department spokeswoman. But she said the department would not explain why.

As a security precaution, USC officials had removed the trophy and the jersey bearing No. 32 from their cases in Heritage Hall just after Simpson’s arrest in the killings of his ex-wife, Nicole Brown Simpson, and Ronald Lyle Goldman. But officials put the items back on display three days later.

“The removal of the trophy and jersey is believed to be the first incident of vandalism or theft against memorabilia located in the building,” the university said in a press release.

However, the university’s student newspaper, the Daily Trojan, reported last spring that USC women’s basketball Coach Cheryl Miller, on a weekend, stopped some youngsters who had broken into the building from stealing the jersey of Charles White, another USC football player who won a Heisman.

This time, White’s Heisman and those won by two other USC stars were undisturbed.

The New York Athletic Club awards the Heisman Trophy annually to the player deemed college football’s best.