Quips Only Part of Story

As The Times’ beat writer for USC in some of the glory years for John McKay, I found him to be humorous, waspish, insightful, moody and extremely helpful in analyzing the game for myself and other reporters.

I learned more about the game from him than any other coach I covered.

McKay was usually accessible and could be found many evenings at Julie’s, the popular restaurant near the campus.

It was in 1973 at Julie’s, before the UCLA game, that McKay told of his plan to slow down UCLA’s high-scoring, wishbone-T offense, telling me that I couldn’t write about it until after the game--if it was successful.

His plan was to spread his defensive linemen and linebackers to force the Bruin running backs to run up the middle, where he was banking they would fumble with the triple offense being congested.

The Bruins lost four fumbles, the Trojans slowed the wishbone down and won, 23-13. McKay’s game plan had worked. A Rose Bowl bid was at stake in the game and when the Bruins, four-point favorites, ran onto the field before the kickoff they were waving roses, prompting McKay to tell his assistants: “Look at those silly guys, they actually think they can win.”

McKay’s coaching career at USC was closely identified with the Notre Dame series. When the Irish routed USC, 51-0, at the Coliseum in 1966, McKay vowed that he would never lose to the Irish again--and he came close to fulfilling that prophecy, winning six of the next nine games with two ties--before leaving USC to coach the NFL expansion Tampa Bay Buccaneers.

In 1967, at South Bend, Ind., McKay wouldn’t bring his team onto the field until the Irish made their entrance. Two years earlier, the Trojans shivered in the cold while waiting for the Irish to take the field and were routed, 28-7.

When the referee told the Trojans in their locker room they had to take the field, McKay was adamant, saying his team wouldn’t come out until Notre Dame did. The referee said if the Trojans weren’t on the field in five minutes he would call the game.

“What does that mean?” McKay asked. The referee replied: “It means Notre Dame wins, 2-0, on a forfeit.”

Replied McKay: “That would be the best damn deal we’ve ever gotten in this stadium.”

The Trojans eventually came out and, behind the running of O.J. Simpson, won, 28-7.

In 1974, in one of the most memorable games of the series, USC trailed Notre Dame, 24-0, in the first half before scoring to make it 24-6 at halftime.

After an improbable comeback, USC led, 55-24, with 13 minutes to play. Then McKay sent his reserves onto the field, angering some Trojan alumni, mindful of the 51-0 rout, who wanted to run up a record score on the Irish.

After the game, McKay recalled that Father Theodore Hesburgh, the Notre Dame president, congratulated him, saying, “That wasn’t a very nice thing for a Catholic to do.” Replied McKay: “Father, that serves you right for hiring a Presbyterian [Ara Parseghian].”

McKay, of course, was renowned for his snappy quotes.

Addressing his team before an important game, he said: “In the past we’ve asked you men to win for your parents, your girlfriends, your school and the alumni. . . . I think it’s about time you went out and won one for yourselves.”

Regarding the pressure of coaching at USC, McKay said: “I’ll never be hung in effigy. Before every season I send my men out to buy up all the rope in Los Angeles.”

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JOHN McKAY / In Words

On recruiting his son,

J.K. McKay: “I had a rather distinct advantage. I slept with his mother.”

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On intensity:

“Intensity is a lot of guys who run fast.”

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What he said at halftime to his team, trailing Notre Dame, 17-0, in 1964 (USC won, 20-17):

“If you don’t score more than 17 points, you’ll lose.”

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On whether Notre Dame was the team he most liked to play:

“Well, it certainly wasn’t Idaho.”

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On his Tampa Bay Buccaneers, after they ended a 26-game losing streak:

“Three or four plane crashes and we’re in the playoffs.”

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On the Buccaneers’ execution, after a loss:

“I think it’s a good idea.”