# 1962 USC Trojans football team

The 1962 USC Trojans football team represented the University of Southern California (USC) in the 1962 NCAA University Division football season. In their third year under head coach John McKay, the Trojans compiled an 11–0 record (4–0 against conference opponents), won the Athletic Association of Western Universities (AAWU or Big 6) championship, and defeated Wisconsin in the Rose Bowl on New Year's Day. USC outscored their opponents 261 to 92, and finished first in both major polls, released prior to the bowls.
Junior quarterback Pete Beathard completed 54 of 107 passes for 989 yards with ten touchdown passes and only one interception. (Bill Nelsen also completed 36 of 80 passes for 682 yards and eight touchdown passes with two interceptions.) Willie Brown was the team's leading rusher with 574 rushing yards (and 291 receiving yards). Hal Bedsole was USC's leading receiver with 33 catches for 827 yards and 11 touchdowns. Bedsole was inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame in 2012.
Two USC players were selected by the Associated Press (AP) for the All-Coast team; end Bedsole and linebacker Damon Bame. Bedsole was a consensus All-American in 1962, while Bame received first-team honors from the AP.

## Schedule

| Date | Opponent | Rank | Site | Result | Attendance |
| September 22 | No. 8 Duke* | | Los Angeles Memorial ColiseumLos Angeles, CA | W 14–7 | 26,400 |
| September 29 | at SMU* | No. 9 | Cotton BowlDallas, TX | W 33–3 | 14,000 |
| October 6 | at Iowa* | No. 6 | Iowa StadiumIowa City, IA | W 7–0 | 55,300 |
| October 20 | California | No. 6 | Los Angeles Memorial ColiseumLos Angeles, CA | W 32–6 | 38,500 |
| October 27 | at Illinois* | No. 4 | Memorial StadiumChampaign, IL | W 28–16 | 31,375 |
| November 3 | No. 9 Washington | No. 3 | Los Angeles Memorial ColiseumLos Angeles, CA | W 14–0 | 46,456 |
| November 10 | at Stanford | No. 2 | Stanford StadiumStanford, CA (rivalry) | W 39–14 | 41,000 |
| November 17 | Navy* | No. 2 | Los Angeles Memorial ColiseumLos Angeles, CA | W 13–6 | 51,701 |
| November 24 | at UCLA | No. 1 | Los Angeles Memorial ColiseumLos Angeles, CA (Victory Bell) | W 14–3 | 86,740 |
| December 1 | Notre Dame* | No. 1 | Los Angeles Memorial ColiseumLos Angeles, CA (rivalry) | W 25–0 | 81,676 |
| January 1, 1963 | vs. No. 2 Wisconsin* | No. 1 | Rose BowlPasadena, CA (Rose Bowl) | W 42–37 | 98,698 |
| *Non-conference gameHomecomingRankings from AP Poll released prior to the game |||||||

## Game summaries
### Duke

| | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| No. 8 Blue Devils | 7 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 7 |
| • Trojans | 0 | 14 | 0 | 0 | 14 |

### SMU

Statistics
* Receiving: Hal Bedsole 4 receptions, 112 yards, 2 TD

### California

Statistics
* Receiving: Hal Bedsole 6 receptions, 201 yards, 2 TD

## Players

The following players were members of the 1962 USC football team.
* Damon Bame, linebacker
* Pete Beathard, quarterback
* Hal Bedsole, end
* Willie Brown, halfback
* John Brownwood, end
* Ron Butcher
* Mac Byrd
* Jay Clark
* Ken Del Conte, halfback
* Craig Fertig, quarterback
* Bill Fisk
* Mike Gale
* Stan Gonta
* Ron Heller
* Fred Hill
* Gary Hill
* Phil Hoover
* Hudson Houck
* Loran Hunt
* Tom Johnson
* Ernie Jones
* Randy Jones
* Gary Kirner, tackle
* Pete Lubisich, guard
* Tom Lupo
* Marv Marinovich, guard
* Rich McMahon
* Bill Nelsen, quarterback
* Gary Potter
* Ernie Pye
* John Ratliff, guard
* Lynn Reade
* Larry Sagouspe
* Armando Sanchez
* Denny Schmidt
* Ron Smedley
* Bob Svihus, tackle
* Toby Thurlow
* Gary Winslow
* Ben Wilson, fullback

## Coaching staff and administration

* Head coach: John McKay
* Assistant coaches: Mel Hein, Mike Giddings, Raymond George, Dave Levy, Charlie Hall, Marv Goux, and Joe Margucci
* Athletic director: Jess Hill
* Senior manager: Mike Leddel