Notre Dame was up 24-0 in the 2nd quarter over the USC Trojans. The defending champion Irish were in complete control. Only a late first half TD pass from Pat Haden to Anthony Davis kept ND from a perfect first half. Even then, the Trojans couldn't convert on the PAT.
At halftime, USC Coach John McKay said he needed his team to make a play and that "It's not illegal to block on kick returns." His team heard Coach McKay, and on the kick to start the 2nd half Davis took the ball in his end zone and 100 yards later, after a few good blocks, was in the end zone again to make it 24-12... and from there, the greatest 16 minutes and 31 seconds in football history was taking off. USC would score 35 points in the 3rd quarter alone, with Davis scoring 4 touchdowns in the amazing 55-24 comeback win over their rivals.
Anthony Davis was a star back at Tailback U. Archie Griffin won the Heisman Trophy but possibly AD would have won it had the voting not taken place prior to this game. In his career at SC, Davis won 5 National Championships... 2 as a running back, and 3 as a switch-hitting centerfielder. He was a 2-sport stud... the kind Nike could really get behind. And AD would know as he was the first running back to ever wear the shoes in a game. In fact, the win over Notre Dame was the 2nd time he wore the not-yet-famous brand of sneakers.
And to think... this wasn't Davis' best game ever against Note Dame. Nope. Two years earlier USC beat the Irish 45-3 behing 6 touchdowns by Anthony Davis. A truly remarkable talent and we sit down with him for a 2nd time this week on the Past Our Prime podcast. Please listen wherever you can and don't forget to subscribe to the show.
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