Sports History Network

For college football fans, the early 2000s in Los Angeles weren't just about a team—it was a cultural phenomenon. Recently on Pigskin Dispatch, I had the pleasure of sitting down with award-winning author Monte Burke to discuss his latest book, Men of Troy: The Epic Afternoons, Wild Nights and Enduring Legacy of Pete Carroll's USC Trojans.

If you lived through that era, you remember the energy. But as Monte and I discussed, the story behind the dynasty is even more fascinating than the highlights we saw on TV.

Before Pete Carroll arrived, USC was a storied program that had drifted into two decades of national irrelevance. When Carroll was hired, the reaction from boosters and the LA media was almost universally negative. He had been fired twice in the NFL and hadn’t coached in college for 15 years.

"People went berserk," Monte noted during our chat. "They wondered why they hired a guy on his third strike."

But Carroll brought something unique: an unorthodox, psychology-driven approach. Influenced by the "Summer of Love" and a study of Zen-like focus, he turned the Trojans into a "players-first" program where the primary rule was simply to have fun.

One of the most captivating parts of Monte’s research is the "Hollywood" atmosphere that surrounded the team. With no NFL teams in LA at the time, USC became the city's pro team.

Practices were completely open, leading to surreal scenes where legends like Snoop Dogg, Will Ferrell, and Arnold Schwarzenegger would mingle with players on the sidelines. Monte shared a brilliant anecdote where a student approached quarterback Matt Leinart for an autograph while ignoring Will Ferrell, who was sitting right next to him. That was the level of stardom these "Men of Troy" achieved.

We spent some time revisiting the 2006 National Championship game against Texas—often cited as the greatest game ever played. As Monte describes it, USC was "six inches away" from winning three consecutive national titles, a feat never accomplished in the modern era.

The book dives deep into the human side of that loss, from Reggie Bush’s ill-fated lateral to the "Bush Push" and the missed fourth down by Lendale White. Speaking with the players years later, Monte found that these moments still haunt and define many of them today.

The rise of Pete Carroll didn't just help USC; it lifted the entire conference. The dominance of the Trojans forced rivals like Stanford and Oregon to "get their act together," leading to the hiring of Jim Harbaugh and Chip Kelly. Conversely, Monte argues that when the NCAA sanctions hit and USC "sunk," it acted as an anchor that eventually dragged down the relevance of the entire PAC-12 conference.

Whether you’re a die-hard Trojan or a fan of football history, Men of Troy is a must-read. It’s a story of redemption, ego, celebrity, and the razor-thin margin between immortality and "what could have been."

Listen to the full interview with Monte Burke on the Pigskin Dispatch Podcast and grab your copy of Men of Troy at your local bookstore or on Amazon!

Join us at the Pigskin Dispatch website to see even more Positive football news!

Don't forget to check out and subscribe to the Pigskin Dispatch YouTube channel for additional content and the regular Football History Minute Shorts.

Miss our football by the day of the year podcasts, well don't, because they can still be found at the Pigskin Dispatch website.

In 2010, JamesOn Curry came off the bench for the Los Angeles Clippers and played 3.9 seconds. He was subbed for and never played again.

In 1972, the Ohio State vs. Minnesota basketball game ended in a horrible brawl that sent three Buckeye players to the hospital.

In 1924, the first Winter Olympics got started in Chamonix, France.

And in 1939, Joe Louis fought his friend John Henry Lewis as a favor to his friend to provide a decent payday before retiring.

In 1981, New York Islanders' Mike Bossy scored a pair of goals in the closing minutes to score his 50th goal in the first 50 games of the season.

In 1999, David Duval carded 11 birdies and an eagle en route to the third 59 in a PGA Tour Event.

In 1982, a Super Bowl of firsts. First for both teams, first in a cold weather city, first use of the telestrator, first Super Bowl for John Madden in the broadcast booth and the first time the losing team scored more touchdowns than the winner.

And in 1981, ABA and NBA great Ron Boone retired after playing 1041 consecutive games.

In 1971, ABA commissioner Jack Dolph left his briefcase open courtside during the ABA All Star game exposing pro contracts for two college basketball players who still had eligibility. The contracts were noticed and led to an NCAA investigation. When the investigation ended, Villanova had its entire season vacated while Western Kentucky had its postseason erased.

In 1983, Swedish tennis star Bjorn Borg retired surprisingly after a 16-month absence.

In 1944, the Detroit Red Wings beat the New York Rangers 15-0 in what is still the largest margin of victory in the NHL.

And in 2015, Golden State's Klay Thompson scored 37 in a quarter against Sacramento.

Gridiron Greats Magazine podcast is part of the Sports History Network - The Headquarters For Sports Yesteryear.

EPISODE SUMMARY

Join Co-Host Joe Squires and I as we talk about some auctions and the Seattle Seahawks' history in Championship Games along with some vintage Seahawks football card sets.

GRIDIRON GREATS MAGAZINE BACKGROUND

Gridiron Greats covers 140+ years of North American football history and memorabilia. It was founded in 2002 and published by Franklin Rose who then turned over to Bob Swick and Swick Enterprises starting with Issue 23.

Editor and publisher, Bob Swick has been collecting football cards since 1965. He has written about football cards and memorabilia since 1990 for several major sports collecting publications including Sports Collectors Digest and had his own column, Turning The Pages.

He self-published Bob Swick’s Football Times in the 1990s; he has been interviewed in Tuff Stuff, the Giants Report, the Packers Report, and the Beckett Football Monthly magazine. He has also been a contributor to the Beckett Annual Football Price Guide. Bob also collects programs, yearbooks, media guides, ticket stubs, pocket schedules, and team photos of the Green Bay Packers, of which he is a shareholder.

He is also a member of The Professional Football Researchers Association. Bob brings his expertise to the magazine in the form of his love of all things football-related. His BA in journalism and MS in Economics brings a unique focus to the niche of football memorabilia and history.

We want to thank everyone who takes the time to subscribe to and support Gridiron Greats Magazine. Besides our knowledgeable, generous contributors and most talented illustrator, Jared Kraus, all administrative activities are performed by Bob Swick and his wife, Brenda. Thank you all for your support. We are ever so grateful.

See our Contributors page for a bio on some of our fantastic writers. Without them, this magazine would not exist. We are grateful for their continuing support.

If you would like to be a contributing writer, or subscriber or want to advertise in Gridiron Greats, please contact the Publisher via the information above. Portions of the material presented are the opinion of the contributing writers and not necessarily those of Swick Enterprises, LLC.

CONTACT US If you are interested in any particular football topic that you would like to either see featured in Gridiron Greats or would like to write about, and if you have a Super Collection you want to be considered for an upcoming publication please feel free to contact Bob via email.

The NFL Divisional Round is behind us, and if there’s one thing we learned from the "Pig Pen" this week, it’s that the gap between a "Super Bowl favorite" and "watching from the couch" is razor-thin.

Hosts Darin Hayes and Ed Kleese sat down to recap a weekend defined by emotional endings, coaching carousel chaos, and the polarizing performances of the league’s top young quarterbacks. Here’s the breakdown of the action.

The most debated game of the weekend took place in Denver. While the Bills are heading home, Ed Cleese offered a staunch defense of Josh Allen. The narrative? The Bills have failed to give Allen a margin for error.

"It’s very difficult in the NFL to always operate with zero margin for error," Ed noted. While Allen made mistakes—including a costly fumble before the half—he is often required to play "Superman" just to keep Buffalo in the game. When other quarterbacks like Sam Darnold or Drake May advanced this weekend, they did so despite average performances because their teams stepped up. For Allen, perfection is the requirement, and that's a heavy burden to carry.

The game ended in typical Bills fashion: controversy. The James Cook play sparked a massive debate on social media. Was it a catch? Was it an interception?

Despite rooting for the Bills, Darin and Ed put on their "officiating hats" and agreed that the refs actually got it right. Under the NFL’s "surviving the ground" rule, Cook never established himself before the ball popped out into the defender's hands. It’s a tough pill to swallow for Western New York, but a consistent application of a confusing rule.

Perhaps the most disappointing story was Houston. After a stellar season, CJ Stroud struggled immensely in Foxborough. While the Patriots' defense deserves credit for smelling blood in the water, Stroud looked rattled and "in his own head."

Darin raised a tough question for Texans fans: Do we have the right guy? While Ed isn't ready to move on after only three years, the "playoff choker" label is starting to stick. In the NFL, you’re only as good as your last game, and Stroud’s last two outings were, in Ed’s words, "an absolute F."

The weekend closed with a snowy, frigid battle between the Rams and the Bears. Despite the Rams gutting out a win, all anyone could talk about was Caleb Williams' late-game heroics.

Watching a quarterback run 40 yards backward only to heave a dime into the end zone is the "Caleb Williams Experience" in a nutshell. It was incredibly lucky, slightly ridiculous, and purely athletic. While the Bears fell short, the explosive potential of their young QB was the talk of the night.

The snowy battle between the Rams and the Bears left everyone talking about one man: Caleb Williams. Watching him run 40 yards backward only to heave a dime into the end zone was the highlight of the weekend.

"He’s a physical marvel," Ed noted. While there’s luck involved in those playground-style plays, it takes elite arm talent to throw a "rope" with that kind of velocity after escaping pressure. Darin even suggested Williams might be the next "Captain Comeback" in the vein of Roger Staubach. However, the "Experience" isn't all highlights—his overtime interception reminded everyone that he still struggles with pocket consistency. Despite the loss, the Bears fandom is officially alive.

With the field narrowed to the final four, Darin and Ed are deadlocked at 96 points each. To break the tie, they’re doubling the points for Championship Sunday. Here is how they see the title games shaking out:

The big story here is Bo Nix's health. With the rookie out due to a surprise ankle injury, the Broncos turn to Jarrett Stidham.

1. Darin’s Take:He’s sticking with thePatriots. While he respects Stidham’s "glass slipper" potential under Sean Payton’s tutelage, he believes Mike Vrabel has the Patriots on too much of an emotional high to falter now.
2. Bold Picks:Stidham over 225 yards; Touchdown pass to Courtland Sutton.
3. Ed’s Take:Upset Alert!Ed is picking theBroncos. He believes the 5-point spread is an overreaction to the QB change. He expects the Denver defense to stifle Drake May while Stidham plays "competent" football.
4. Bold Picks:Stidham accounts for 2 TDs and ≤1 turnover; Denver defense records 5+ combined sacks/turnovers.

This is the rubber match. These divisional rivals split their regular-season games, and both won at home on the final play.

1. Darin’s Take:He’s going with theRams. In better weather (mid-40s and sunny), Darin expects the Los Angeles offense to be more explosive than it was in the Chicago freeze.
2. Bold Picks:Sam Darnold commits 2 costly turnovers; Matthew Stafford throws 2+ TDs.
3. Ed’s Take:He’s also siding with theRams, but he’s nervous. "I’m picking against my eyeballs and the analytics," Ed admitted. While Seattle ranks as a historic "DVOA juggernaut," Ed is falling back on the "Hall of Fame coach and Hall of Fame QB" combo of McVay and Stafford.
4. Bold Picks:Sam Darnold commits 2+ turnovers; Puka Nacua makes multiple game-winning plays in the 4th quarter.

It’s the #1 defense (Seattle) vs. the most explosive offense (Rams). It’s a backup quarterback (Stidham) trying to outmaneuver a defensive mastermind (Vrabel).

As the hosts buckle up for a weekend of zero-degree temperatures and single-digit wind chills by the Great Lakes, the rest of the country will be glued to their TVs to see who punches their ticket to Super Bowl 60.

Who are you taking in the title games? Can Jarrett Stidham actually lead Denver to the Super Bowl? Drop your predictions below!

As we head into AFC and NFC Championship weekends, Darin and Ed find themselves deadlocked at 96 points each in their season-long prediction challenge.

With only three games left, the stakes couldn't be higher. Will the seasoned veterans find a way to win, or will we see more "boneheaded" mistakes decide who goes to the Super Bowl?

Join us at the Pigskin Dispatch website to see even more Positive football news!

Don't forget to check out and subscribe to the Pigskin Dispatch YouTube channel for additional content and the regular Football History Minute Shorts.

Miss our football by the day of the year podcasts, well don't, because they can still be found at the Pigskin Dispatch website.

The focus of today's podcast revolves around the 1990 NCAA National Championship game, where the UNLV Running Rebels executed an overwhelming victory against the Duke Blue Devils, solidifying their place in basketball history. The episode meticulously examines the cultural impact of the UNLV team, renowned for their audacious style and formidable prowess, contrasting sharply with the more traditional approach of Duke. We delve into the players who defined this era, including the indomitable Larry Johnson and the trash-talking Greg Anthony, each contributing to the team's unprecedented success. Additionally, we reflect on the profound ramifications of this game, not only for the teams involved but also for the NCAA, as it marked a critical juncture in the evolution of college basketball. Join us as we dissect the elements that contributed to this seminal moment in sports history, revealing the layers of rivalry, identity, and transformation that characterized the 1990 championship.

The Mixtape: 90s Sports Edition is part of the Sports History Network - The Headquarters For Sports Yesteryear.

The Mixtape: 90s Sports Edition Home Page

EPISODE SUMMARY

Episode summary goes here......

THE MIXTAPE BACKGROUND

Step into the time machine with hosts Scott and Derek as they dissect the most electrifying decade in sports history.

90s Sports Mixtape is your weekly deep dive into the era that gave us legendary dynasties, iconic athletes, and unforgettable controversies. Each episode explores the stories behind the headline, from championship runs to shocking scandals, from breakthrough moments to career-defining performances.

Each week on 90s Sports Mixtape, this Texas duo will break down the championships, controversies, and cultural moments that made the '90s unforgettable. Whether it's Jordan's Bulls, Aikman’s Cowboys, or the Trial of the Century of OJ Simpson, no topic is off limits.

Expect deep dives, hot takes, and the kind of passionate arguments that can only come from two friends who've been rehashing these debates for decades.

Subscribe now and relive the glory of the decade that changed sports forever.

HOSTS - SCOTT & DEREK

Scott and Derek first met at Blockbuster Video in college bonding over their shared love of The Big Lebowski. But during those long minimum-wage shifts stacking copies of Armageddon, they quickly found out they had a deeper affection for sports of their childhood and the players and teams they idolized.

From Pete Rose to Nolan Ryan, Larry Bird to Hakeem Olajuwon, these two Texans have spent countless hours debating the top players and thrilling moments from their favorite decade of sports, making them the ideal hosts of The Mixtape: 90s Sports Edition.

The podcast episode delves into the legendary 1990 NCAA National Championship game between the UNLV Running Rebels and the Duke Blue Devils, a match that epitomized the clash of contrasting basketball cultures. The discussion opens with an evocative portrayal of the UNLV team, characterized by their audacious style and formidable presence, which led to attempts by the NCAA to impose regulations on their pre-game rituals. The narrative highlights the individual personalities within the team, including the vigorous coaching style of Jerry Tarkanian and the physical prowess of players like Larry Johnson and Greg Anthony. The episode meticulously unravels the cultural significance of this matchup, emphasizing how the Running Rebels not only reshaped the landscape of college basketball but also became a symbol of a broader cultural movement in the 1990s, challenging the established norms of the sport. As the episode unfolds, it captures the essence of the game itself, marked by UNLV's suffocating defense and explosive offensive play, ultimately leading to their decisive victory over Duke, altering the trajectory of both programs in the process.

Takeaways:

1. The 1990 UNLV Running Rebels revolutionized college basketball with their aggressive playing style and cultural impact.
2. Coach Jerry Tarkanian's unique approach to recruiting and coaching led to unprecedented success for UNLV.
3. The national championship game against Duke showcased UNLV's dominant defense and athletic prowess, leading to a record-setting victory.
4. UNLV's influence extended beyond the court, shaping basketball culture and inspiring future generations of players and teams.
5. The rivalry between UNLV and Duke represented a significant cultural clash in college basketball during the early 1990s.
6. The aftermath of UNLV's success brought increased scrutiny from the NCAA, ultimately leading to controversies and challenges for the program.

Companies mentioned in this episode:

1. NCAA
2. Duke
3. UNLV
4. Converse

In 1973, the Sunshine Showdown in Jamaica between Joe Frazier and Joe Foreman. After Foreman put Frazier on the mat, Howard Cosell screamed, 'Down Goes Frazier!'

In 1989, Super Bowl XXIII in Miami between San Francisco and Cincinnati. But there was more going on in Miami that week that nearly caused the game to be relocated.

In 2006, Kobe Bryant scored 81 in the second best night for an NBA player.

Joined by many of our Sports History Network colleagues, Andrew and Dan discuss the lives and legacies of Gus Williams, Bob Uecker, Fay Vincent, Al Trautwig, John Feinstein, George Foreman, Steve McMichael, Dick Barnett, Jim Marshall, Gerry Philbin, Dave Parker, and Hulk Hogan.

Thanks to Dana and Chuck (Historically Speaking Sports), Bob (Gridiron Greats Podcast and Magazine), and Darin (Pigskin Dispatch) for joining us!

Hello Old Sports is part of the Sports History Network - The Headquarters For Your Favorite Sport's Yesteryear. Contact the show at [email protected] and find us on Facebook at www.facebook.com/HelloOldSports

In 1952, Seattle University shocked the Harlem Globetrotters 84-81.

In 1979, the Pittsburgh Steelers beat the Dallas Cowboys in Super Bowl XIII. The game is known for Jackie Smith's dropped TD pass.

In 1990, John McEnroe became the first player ever disqualified from the Australian Open for misconduct.

In 1984, Bobby Knight unloaded on Michigan head coach Bill Frieder for breaking an 'unwritten rule.'