Anthony Davis Goes on ‘Trial’

Another former USC football star was on trial Saturday and a familiar face, Dist. Atty. Gil Garcetti, was involved in the proceedings.

Only this time, despite whispers of a rigged jury, there was laughter and backslapping among Garcetti and other politicians at the mock trial of former USC running back Anthony Davis.

In a fund-raising event sponsored by the Notre Dame Club of Los Angeles, Davis was tried for what the club termed “high crimes and misdemeanors” against the University of Notre Dame.

His crime: scoring 10 touchdowns in historic USC victories in 1972 and 1974.

Garcetti, a USC alum, provided the defense for Davis, while state Atty. Gen. Dan Lungren, a Notre Dame grad, was the prosecutor. State Insurance Commissioner Chuck Quackenbush, a Notre Dame alum, also took part in the event.

Garcetti, who brought true-to-life criminal charges in a losing effort against O.J. Simpson, said he had never served on the defense in his 28-year career.

The move to the other side, Garcetti said, was a no-brainer.

“When I heard [Davis] was being charged, I knew I had to defend him,” Garcetti said before the mock hearing began. “I know he’s innocent, and if there’s an honest jury, we’ll win it. But as with any high-profile case, there’s always a question. . . .”

Lungren had several questions--and comments--for Davis before the crowd of 200 people at Notre Dame High.

In front of presiding Judge Bernie Le Sage, a Notre Dame alum, and six jury members, all with various ties to Notre Dame, Lungren’s opening statement charged Davis with eight violations of the penal code.

Lungren alleged the accused inflicted “cruel and unusual punishment” against Notre Dame in 1974, when he scored four touchdowns in a 55-24 come-from-behind victory and showed “blatant disregard for the feelings of [Notre Dame] faithful.”

Lungren then expressed deep concern that Davis also embarrassed the Fighting Irish in 1972, scoring six touchdowns in a 45-23 USC victory.

Lungren played angriest when recounting Davis’ touchdown celebrations, a demonstration of “obscene live conduct” and a violation of the penal code.

“Rather than a tasteful display of quick prayer and genuflection--as Fighting Irish [players] traditionally do--he attempted a sick dance around the football,” Lungren said.

An informal poll of the jury at that time came back with six guilty verdicts.

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With the pressure cranked up, Garcetti noted the “unhostile atmosphere” before his opening remarks and asked for a change of venue which, no surprise, was denied by Judge Le Sage.

Garcetti then gave two reasons for Davis’ runs to glory: temporary insanity and self-defense.

He appeared to score sympathy points with the jury when he noted that Davis was merely 19 years old--”a kid”--in the 1972 game, and that Notre Dame had tradition, history, height and weight on its side.

“He knew they were out there to kill him,” Garcetti said. “That’s why he kept running.”

The small but surprisingly vocal congregation of USC faithful cheered wildly throughout Garcetti’s statement, but another informal poll of the jury members, all of whom carried hangman’s nooses, delivered the same result . . . six guilty verdicts.

Perhaps as a last-ditch effort, Davis took the stand.

“When a bully hits you, you’ve got to react,” said Davis, who played for San Fernando High School before he went to USC. “My poor mother was crying at home.”

After four seconds of deliberation, the jury delivered a guilty verdict, and Davis was sentenced to life in prison without parole. In addition, Davis was told he must watch replays of Notre Dame-USC football games from 1983 to 1995, when USC went winless in 14 games against Notre Dame.

Quackenbush, after revealing that his freshman and junior years at Notre Dame were ruined because of Davis’ exploits, said Davis would not be granted bail.

Davis was, however, granted clemency by Lungren, who took on a second role as state governor.

Lungren said he was convinced that Davis will suffer more in public than in prison, because, as an alum of USC, “Davis will be subjected to humiliation and eternal scarring of at least another 14-game winless streak against . . . Notre Dame.”

The Notre Dame Club will use part of the proceeds from the event for scholarships to Notre Dame University.

“Everyone’s shaking their head, wondering how in the world did [the Notre Dame Club] pull this off,” Garcetti said, referring to the unique collection of politicians and athletes in attendance. “It was fun, it was a sense of community.”